Pope County drug trafficker with ties to white supremacist gang sentenced to life

A Little Rock 55-year-old has been sentenced to life in federal prison for conspiracy to violate racketeering laws, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Marcus Millsap was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller.

Millsap was indicted in September 2019 for his involvement in a white supremacist prison gang known as the “New Aryan Empire,” or NAE. NAE’s slogan is “to the dirt,” referring to the fact that members must remain in the organization until they die.

Evidence at trial established that Millsap and others used the NAE as a corrupt organization to conduct racketeering activities, including drug distribution, solicitations of murder and attempted murder.

At trial, the prosecution presented evidence that in May 2014, Millsap sold methamphetamine to an individual named Bruce Hurley, who was working as a confidential informant. Once Hurley completed the controlled purchase of methamphetamine and reported back to law enforcement, a traffic stop located more methamphetamine in Millsap’s vehicle.

Millsap was convicted in the methamphetamine case, and while on an appeal bond, Millsap solicited members and associates of NAE to kill Hurley for his work in cooperating with law enforcement against Millsap. In January 2016, other NAE members attempted to murder Hurley. That attempt failed, and NAE members and associates continued attempting to arrange Hurley’s death. This conduct resulted in Millsap’s conviction for attempted murder in aid of racketeering.

“The United States will not tolerate the vile and outrageous crimes committed by members and associates of the New Aryan Empire or any other white supremacist group,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “If you are a member or associate of this or any other violent criminal organization, know that the United States will stop at nothing to dismantle and disrupt those who pose a threat to our communities and the future of our children, and the United States will seek significant prison sentences.”

In addition to the life sentence, Millsap was ordered to pay a $200,000 fine and was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release should he ever be released from prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Pope County Sheriff’s Office; the Russellville Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Arkansas State Police; 5th Judicial Drug Task Force; the Conway Police Department, and the Arkansas Army National Guard’s Counterdrug Unit.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liza Brown and Stephanie Mazzanti.