Oregon white supremacist prison gang members arrested in major drug and firearm bust
A seven-month-long investigation ended Nov 6 with the arrest of three men associated with the white supremacist prison gang, European Kindred (EK).
According to a press release from the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, arrests were made on Nov 6 after four search warrants were executed in Josephine County.
As part of a large drug bust, 33-year-old Eric Kelly, 37-year-old Kyle Thier and 32-year-old Nathaniel David Anderson were taken into custody.
The press release notes that The Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Team has been investigating the prison gang, European Kindred (EK), and several of their members in Josephine County. During the investigation, which focused on firearms, robberies and illegal activity involving marijuana, RADE detectives obtained probable cause to apply for search warrants and arrest several members of the EK.
Seized during the execution of the search warrants were over 30 illegally possessed firearms, over 100 pounds of dried marijuana, over 40 marijuana plants, methamphetamine, heroin, packaging material and scales. Additional charges may be added after reviewing the case in its entirety.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), EK was formed and began to spread throughout Oregon prisons in 1998. As members of EK were released on parole, they established a street gang presence in Portland starting in 2001.
According to a 2010 SPLC article, "EK became notorious as members committed hate crimes, murders, rapes and home-invasion robberies, along with manning identity-theft, methamphetamine-distribution and dog-fighting rings."
The article noted that--as of its publication-- the group had 300 confirmed members in Oregon prisons and 100-125 members on the streets of Portland, as well as in other cities.
According to a probable cause statement, Kelly is known to detectives as a "shot caller" or Top Leader for EK.
The statement notes that Kelly was involved in selling large quantities of meth and heroin. According to the document, kelly and other EK members took part in an armed robbery of approximately $9K on June 7.
According to the statement on Sept 26, he was in possession of a 9mm pistol that he planned to use to murder multiple individuals.
Kelly has a criminal history in the state of Oregon:
- In July 2005 he was arrested and charged with Assault in the 4th Degree and interference with making a report in a domestic violence situation. Those charges were dismissed.
- In Dec 2005 he was again arrested and charged with two counts of Kidnapping in the 1st Degree, one count of 2nd Degree Assault, 1st Degree Robbery, Coercion and Menacing. In Jan 2006 he was sentenced to 2 years in prison with credit for time served as well as 5 years of post-prison supervision.
- In Jan 2012 he was again arrested for possession and distribution of Meth, he pled guilty in July 2012 and was sentenced to parole.
- In Dec 2015 he received a 4-year prison sentence after he was convicted of Attempted Murder and Felon in Possession of a Firearm after he took part in a drive-by shooting at another vehicle.
- He faces the following charges relating to the most recent arrest:
-> Racketeering
-> Robbery in the first degree
-> Robbery in the second degree
-> Theft in the first degree
-> Felon in Possession of a Firearm
-> Delivery of Methamphetamine
-> Delivery of Heroin
-> Delivery of Marijuana
-> Post-Prison Supervision detainer
Thier also has a criminal record in the State of Oregon:
- In June 2007 he was arrested on charges of 4th Degree Assault and 1st Degree Burglary. The burglary charge was dismissed though the assault charge stuck and he was sentenced to parole.
- In June 2009 he was convicted of 1st Degree Burglary and was sentenced to 6 mo with credit for time served.
- In Dec 2008 he was convicted of being a Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and had a related theft charge dismissed. He was sentenced to parole.
- In Feb 2018 he was again convicted of being in possession of a firearm for an incident that took place in March of 2017. After drug charges were dismissed he was sentenced to 30-days in jail.
- He had charges for 1st Degree Robbery and Assault dismissed in June 2019.
- According to the probable cause statement, Thier was also involved in the Robbery on June 7.
- He faces the following charges relating to the most recent arrest:
-> Racketeering
->Robbery in the first degree
-> Robbery in the second degree
->Theft in the first degree
->Delivery of Marijuana
->Felon in Possession of a Firearm (6 counts)
Anderson also has a criminal record in the state of Oregon:
- In March of 2012, he was convicted of Burglary in the Second Degree (2 counts), 1st Degree Theft and Possession of Meth. He was sentenced to parole.
- In Sept 2012 he was convicted in Jackson County of one charge of Burglary and one charge of Theft in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 16 prison time with credit for time served.
- Also in Sept 2012, he was convicted in Josephine County of Burglary in the First Degree and was sentenced to two years in prison.
- He faces the following charges relating to the most recent arrest:
-> Robbery in the first degree-> Robbery in the second degree
-> Theft in the first degree
Other subjects are being sought in relation to this case, but there is believed to be no danger to the public at this time. Anyone with information or questions is asked to call Det. Sgt. Doni Hamilton 541-450-6370 or email dhamilton@grantspassoregon.gov. Please reference case numbers 2020-51213 or 2020-51295.
According to the press release, RADE was assisted by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS), Oregon State Police Southwest Region Marijuana Team (OSP SWR MJ), Basin Interagency Narcotics Team (BINET), the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team (MADGE), Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon Department of Justice – Organized Crime Division (ORDOJ), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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