Aryan Warriors member punished

A member of the Aryan Warriors was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in a federal penitentiary for his role in a prison gang that dealt drugs, engaged in murder and corrupted jail guards.

Kory Crossman pumped his fist when U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson agreed to give him the lower sentence of a range outlined in Crossman's plea deal with the federal government.

Crossman already has served 32 months of a 52-month sentence for a weapons possession charge. Dawson agreed to allow the new sentence to run concurrently with his present prison term.

Dawson said he gave Crossman a break "to encourage others who are in this case to plea and save the government the expense and time of having to go to trial."

Fourteen members of the prison gang were indicted in 2007 on charges related to distributing methamphetamine and promoting white supremacy through the use of violence and extortion. The gang was active inside and outside of Nevada's prison system.

Crossman was arrested in 2005 after selling methamphetamine on the Aryan Warriors' behalf to an undercover informant on several occasions.

Daniel Egan also pleaded guilty and in September was sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison.

Crossman, sporting a bald, tattooed head and a striped prison jumpsuit, briefly addressed the court.

"The government didn't have to give me the deal, but they did," he said. "I'm going to try to make the most of it."

Crossman requested to be imprisoned in Sheridan, Ore., where an extensive treatment program for methamphetamine use is offered. He also asked to be jailed with Egan so they can work through the program together.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker @reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.