Gang protected Tabish, inmate testifies

One high-profile inmate at High Desert State Prison earned protection from a white supremacist gang member by giving him information on new arrivals, former Aryan Warrior Michael Kennedy said Wednesday in federal court.

Rick Tabish, who is doing time for grand larceny and burglary in connection with casino mogul Ted Binion's 1998 death, worked as a clerk in the prison and provided Kennedy with important data on incoming inmates, Kennedy told jurors. Unlike other inmates, Tabish had access to the Internet.

"He'd give me all kinds of information," Kennedy said of Tabish, who along with Sandra Murphy was acquitted of Binion's murder in a 2004 retrial.

Tabish was not a gang member, but Kennedy said he protected him as if he were part of the brotherhood.

Kennedy told defense attorney Chris Rasmussen that Tabish "might have got in a fight or two, but it was over something stupid." He added Tabish would never be subjected to serious beatdowns because Kennedy was a high-ranking Aryan Warrior.

Tabish also provided Kennedy with the home addresses of police and correction officers so if the Aryan Warriors believed the authorities were out of line, they could "blow up their houses," Kennedy testified.

Tabish's last known attorney, J. Tony Serra, said he wouldn't be privy to that type of information. Serra hasn't heard anything about it or been contacted by prison authorities. Tabish has not been charged in connection with the Aryan Warrior case.

Kennedy testified that the Aryan Warriors sought information about new inmates to determine if they were "pure." The gang zeroed in on child molesters, but also targeted Caucasians, whom it believed were different than "whites," he said. Aryan Warriors conducted a background check on every single white inmate that entered the prison system. A Caucasian is "someone who looks white but doesn't act white," Kennedy said.

The Aryan Warriors prided themselves on being clean-shaven, working out every day and wearing unwrinkled clothing and shined boots, he said.

Kennedy, who signed a plea deal with the government after he and fellow Aryan Warriors were indicted on charges that include belonging to a criminal enterprise, possession of weapons and distribution of methamphetamine, testified for the second day on Wednesday.

Defense attorneys claim Kennedy turned on the defendants and is apt to lie on the stand in order to receive a more lenient sentence.

Kennedy acknowledged that he penned a letter to the state inspector general and outlined the operations of the Aryan Warriors within the Nevada State Prison system after he fell out of favor with the brotherhood and was stabbed numerous times in 2004.

He said he no longer believes in white supremacy, he no longer associates with the group and questions the oath he took that said the Aryan Warriors always make the right decisions.

"The cause has gone nowhere," Kennedy said, looking away from his one-time associates as they tried to maintain eye contact with him. "Look where we all are today."

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