El Dorado County (Sept 25, 2024). – Jason Corbett, 52, of Paradise, was sentenced to life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. The case marks another step in dismantling Aryan Brotherhood (AB) activity within California’s prison system, with El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office playing a critical role in a multi-agency task force.
Corbett’s involvement in the Aryan Brotherhood, a notorious white supremacist prison gang, extended from 2011 to 2016, during which AB members coordinated drug trafficking and murders, often using smuggled cell phones from behind bars. On July 28, 2018, Corbett murdered an inmate at High Desert Prison. According to court documents, the victim falsely claimed to be an AB member and accumulated a large drug debt, violating the gang’s strict code of conduct. Corbett carried out the murder with premeditation to maintain his status within the gang.
Corbett’s co-defendant, Pat Brady, 54, pleaded guilty to the same murder in January and was sentenced to life in prison in August. Three additional co-defendants—Ronald Yandell, 62, Billy Sylvester, 56, and Danny Troxell, 71—were found guilty in April of RICO conspiracy, murder, and drug trafficking charges. Sentencing for Yandell and Sylvester is set for November 2024, while Troxell’s will follow. Another defendant, Kathleen Nolan, 70, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the drug trafficking operation and awaits sentencing in December. Charges remain pending for Kevin MacNamara, 44, who is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and supported by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, ATF, and several local agencies, including the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office.
