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Aryan Nations (AN)

The Aryan Nations (AN), also known as the Church of Jesus Christ Christian, was founded in the late 1970's by Richard Girnt Butler, a Aeronautical Engineer, who became a Christian Identity pastor in Wesley Smith’s Church of Jesus Christ Christian. The AN is the action arm of the church. The group is headquartered on a 20 acre compound in Hayden Lake, Idaho. Butler and his group publicly profess white supremacy and advocate the elimination of members of the Jewish faith and the black race from society.

In 1984, violence involving some of the members of the AN intensified with their possible involvement in a racially motivated murder, armed robberies, the bombing of a religious institution, and the assault of Federal law enforcement officers. AN members are usually armed and, because of their recent violent activities, pose a threat to any law enforcement personnel.

On April 23, 1984, at Seattle, Washington, four white males robbed a Continental Armored Transport truck of approximately $500,000. Two individuals armed with handguns accosted one of the truck guards as he approached the truck after a pickup at a department store. One of the unknown subjects flashed a hand-printed sign to the driver telling him to "Get out or you die." The driver opened the truck, money bags were taken, and the four unknown subjects escaped in cars driven by two other individuals. The getaway vehicles were recovered shortly thereafter. Investigation has determined that these vehicles were purchased for cash, shortly before the robbery, by white males answering ads in a local newspaper.

In December 1984 six associates of the AN, Andrew Barnhill, Bruce Carroll Pierce, Gary Lee Yarbrough, and Robert J. Mathews (deceased), Denver Parmenter and Randolph Duey were charged in connection with their alleged participation in this robbery.

On July 19, 1984, in Ukiah, California, a Brinks truck, carrying approximately $3.5 million, was robbed by eight to ten white males. A shotgun and rifle were fired at the truck, and a handwritten sign stating, "Get out or die." was shown to the driver. The truck stopped and was opened. The subjects escaped in vehicles that were recovered shortly thereafter. These vehicles were purchased for cash, after being advertised for sale in a local newspaper, by white males shortly before the robbery. Subsequent investigation resulted in Andrew Virgil Barnhill, Richard Scutari, Bruce Carroll Pierce, Denver Parmenter, Gary Lee Yarbrough, Robert J. Mathews (deceased), Charles Ostrout, Ronald King, Suzanne Tronatzky and Jean Craig being charged with this Brinks truck robbery.

On October 18, 1984, Gary Lee Yarbrough, an AN member, exchanged gunfire with three Special Agents of the FBI near his residence in Sandpoint, Idaho. No injuries were sustained. A warrant was issued that same day charging Yarbrough with Assault on a Federal Officer. A subsequent search of Yarbrough's residence produced numerous weapons, ammunition, explosives and lists containing the names of Federal, local, and judicial law enforcement officials as well as the name and office location of the FBI case Agent for the AN.

On November 24, 1984, Gary Lee Yarbrough was arrested by Special Agents of the FBI as he was trying to flee a motel in Portland, Oregon. Before he could be arrested, AN member Robert J. Mathews fled the area exchanging gunfire with a number of pursuing FBI Special Agents, slightly wounding one Agent. The motel manager was also slightly wounded. Mathews, however, successfully escaped. Searches of the motel room and Mathews' vehicle yielded fully automatic weapons, handguns, hand grenades, and over $30,000 in cash.

On December 7, 1984, AN member Robert J. Mathews was involved in a shootout with FBI Special Agents at Whidbey Island, Washington who were attempting to arrest him on charges of Assaulting a Federal Officer and violation of the Hobbs Act. Mathews fired at the FBI Special Agents for several hours, refusing to surrender. During the gun battle, a fire ignited in the residence and ultimately consumed it. A body, later identified as Mathews, was recovered as were three automatic weapons.