Witnesses say he was killed for being in the Aryan Brotherhood in Los Angeles County

James Field vowed to pierce the lips to avoid revealing the secrets of the Aryan Brotherhood.

He dreams of one day joining the joint organization that ruled the prison yard that most of his adult life. He testified that he robbed, blackmailed and killed them until he convinced his idols to open up his day.

Now Field is a protective witness for federal prosecutors seeking convictions of three prominent Aryan Brotherhood leaders.

“I've been treating prison politics for a long time,” he testified in Fresno court last week. “This life – violence, drug use, this white supremacist stuff.”

The Aryan Brotherhood was created in prison, but Field testified that its influence had penetrated the streets of Los Angeles County. From Lancaster to Long Beach, drug dealers and fraudsters rub shoulders with former officials like Field on dirty motels, gambling shops and crash mats, saying he forged them in late 2021 , instruct me to do anything I can bring money to my brother. transparent

In the world of Field, it seems that everyone drives a stolen car and cheats on the situation of unemployment benefits. Death was swift, cheap and allegedly distributed in the orders of men in prison.

Field, 37, admitted to killing three men over a two-week period. According to his testimony, the homicide robbery on the Hollywood Hills and the kidnapping of Bellaffer.

The defendant's lawyers denied that they were related to the Aryan Brotherhood, who were an unreliable narrator who hoped to escape life imprisonment by pointing his finger at others. “The murderer, the thief, the drug dealer-their basic instincts,” said a lawyer in the opening remarks.

Field contrasts with his rough prison tattoos, bondage and blue prison-issued jumpsuits, who were allowed to switch prison uniforms to sports jackets and casual pants. The three long-term prisoners wore reading glasses and heard expressions mostly because Phil said they used him to collect debts, hawkers, Rob and murder.

His testimony highlights the extent of street crime in Los Angeles, directed by prisoners on mobile phones. He told the jury that he shot a man while an incarcerated gang leader listened on the speaker's phone.

Field testified that in his inability to the environment, the only authority that people feared was the Aryan Brotherhood.

“I grew up in the prison system in California,” he said. “These handsome guys are considered gods in that world.”

“The only person who bothers me”

When Field left prison in December 2021, he knew it was only a matter of time before he could go back.

As a teenager, he entered and exited the juvenile detention center and later graduated from a state prison where he served car theft, burglary and assault. There, he said, older criminals taught about the Aryan Brotherhood, a group of about 30 people whose words were the law of thousands of white prisoners.

Field testified that on the street, the Aryan Brotherhood controlled white gangs and hate groups. He belongs to both. First, he was a member of the Lakeside Mafia and later joined a costume called “Supreme Power Skins”. A magic nail was stabbed in his face, and “14” and “88” on his head – referring to the teachings of Hitler and the imprisoned white supremacist David Lane.

Field said he went from Bakersfield to San Diego to rob people and sell drugs after leaving prison. He testified that he had worked primarily for Jayson “Beaver” Weaver, a member of Aryan Brotherhood.

Weaver, 47, pleaded not guilty to allegations of beating and murder. He plans to be tried next year. His attorney declined to comment.

In January 2022, Field testified that Weaver asked him to charge some money from an illegal gambling store in Lancaster. There he met Michael Brizendine, a 230-pound front fence with blue eyes and blonde nicknamed “cornmeal.”

Field testified that both were brought to “work” by Francis Clement. The defendant at the Fresno trial of Clement, 58, pleaded not guilty to rackets and murder. Clement has been imprisoned since 1985, denied any affiliation with the Aryan Brotherhood at the parole hearing.

Field said he and Brixendin met two other people in a room at a Long Beach motel, gathering in bed with Clement, Weaver and the third famous Aryan Brotherhood member, Way Waylon Pitchford had a video conference call.

Field testified that prisoners wanted them to rob a man who “burned” Priceford in the drug deal. Target to live on the Hollywood hills. Clement said they should pretend to be a utility worker so that he can open the door.

Pitchford, 47, pleaded not guilty to allegations of beating and murder. Next year, he plans to hold a trial with Weaver. His attorney did not return the request for comment.

The next morning, one knew only when Nick came to the motel room. Field recalls that he brought a friend, a “child” who looked about 19 years old. Field said he and Nick pushed the teenager to the bathroom with a muzzle, tied him up with a zipper, and brought the key to Mercedes.

Field drove the stolen Mercedes and bought a hard hat and orange shirt on Home Depot, while Brizendine rented a U-Haul to carry items from the house.

Wearing utility workers, Field, Brizinding and Nick knocked on the door to the Spanish Revival on the Outpost. Field said no one answered, so Britzinding kicked the ball. Guns, they went to the room until Field found a man talking on the phone.

Field testified that he tightened the man, named Clement. He asked them if they had robbed the right person because the victim “looked unaware of what happened.” According to Field, Clement said they were in the right house and told them to start loading U-Haul.

Field fled when they saw a text message on the victim's phone that police were coming. He told Clement that when Brizendine kicked the ball, the plan went wrong. Clement was angry.

According to Field, “Playboy f-up is up.” “Take care of it.”

Field met in a gambling hall in Rosamund. Brizendine was driving a red Dodge Ram, whose girlfriend rented a fake driver's license but never returned.

Field follows the truck to the distant house in Lancaster. He was on the phone with Weaver when he opened the Ram's passenger door.

“I brought the weaver to the speaker and told the Corn Brothers that he wanted to talk to him.” As Brisentin leaned against the phone, Phil pulled a gun from behind and put the He shot to the head.

The next morning, Brixendin's girlfriend checked the location of her cell phone and found him at the home of a woman she knew. She testified that she thought Brizendine was cheating and drove to the house on West 48th Street and threw the ram's door.

She yelled at Britzinding before realizing she hadn't moved.

The woman who was pregnant with Britzending's child faced the field. She said at first he denied killing Britzinding. Then he told her: “Michael is the only one who bothers me.”

“A dark and quiet place”

He testified that a week after he killed Brizendine, he brought the stolen Mercedes to Bakersfield and picked up a bunch of fentans for Pitchford. Ni. He said a police car “lighted me” as he drove away from a gas station in San Fernando.

Inside the car is a gun, a bag of 1,000 fake M30 pills and a quarter pound of fentanyl. The field hit the gas and speeded up until he widened a pickup truck.

Field was treated for an ankle fracture and explosion and walked out of the hospital without facing the charges, he said. Four days later, he testified that he had obtained a text from Clement on Signal, an encrypted messaging application.

“We'll be happy,” Clement wrote, according to the news displayed in the court. “I think I need you to contribute someone to me.”

A man "Death Team" Tattooed above his eyes.

Ronnie Ennis and James “Jimbo” Yagle are members of the Pen1 gang, occupying the abbreviation of Public Enemy No. 1. They kidnapped a kidnapping, allowing two hostages to escape from Bellflower's apartment, testified. Clement told Field that Ennis and Yagle also took two duffel bags “to the brothers” from the hostages.

It's not clear what's inside the bag – but the gang wants them back.

Field said he went to Lakewood with three Pen1 members, where Jaeger and Ennis surrendered the bag. Field testified that Ennis knew he was in trouble. He took out the gun with a sign of trust when he thought he was beating.

They drove into two cars and headed for Pomona. According to the signal message displayed to the jury, Clement wrote: “Now find a dark and quiet place.”

They pulled off the highway, turned around on the reservoir street, and stopped. Field handed Yagle the gun and said he needed to kill his friend Ennis.

He testified, “I want him to think he has a chance.”

Yagle got off the bus. Phil aimed the gun at Yagle and pulled the trigger. It was trapped. He went another lap, shooting Yagle in the chest.

Field recalls Ennis took off. Other PEN1 members chased him. He heard a burst of gunfire.

Then Field's phone rang. He testified that it was Clement. “Frank asked me, 'What the hell is that?'” Field recalled. “I said, 'That's Ronnie's screaming.'”

Field said he received a text from Clement when he drove back to his motel room, saying, “Be proud of you.”

“What's this?”

Field was indicted in 2023. He was held at the Fresno County Jail, and he told Weaver that he was tricked into talking to informants about the Britzinding homicide.

Field recalls Weaver scolded him for talking about “brother’s business.” Other prisoners shot him with strange expressions or avoided him. Field said that one day he was alone in the jail's entertainment area and he heard a prisoner trying to Jimmy Gate. He wondered if the man would be free and stab him to death.

He testified, “I sat there for three hours and was ready to take it because that's what you should do in your life – accept your punishment.” “I went back to my cell that night, thinking about myself,' Is that what it means? '”

Field said he thought about everything he had done for the Aryan Brotherhood, but also thought of the people he was injured. “I just finished,” he testified.

Field reached an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to three murders. He said in exchange for his testimony, he hoped he would receive less than life imprisonment.

After he testified, federal agents led Field out of court. The sha ropes on his wrists and ankles twisted as he crossed the two crying women, he described killing Brixendin.

“Sorry,” he whispered.