A leader of the Soldiers of Aryan Culture made his initial appearance in federal court in Salt Lake City Tuesday morning, a court statement said.
Tracy David Swena, 27, was moved to Utah for the court appearance from a federal prison where he is serving a sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. His release date on that charge is 2007, the statement by the U.S. Attorney for Utah said.
In December, a 13-count indictment was returned charging Swena with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy and Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering Activity, the statement said.
Prosecutors believe Swena is a "general" in the Soldiers of Aryan Culture — an organization that promotes white supremacist ideology inside and outside Utah jails and prisons to gain and maintain power. The group is associated with acts of violence, including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, extortion and conspiracy to distribute narcotics, the statement said.
In addition to Swena, two other men were indicted with a violation of the RICO statute, the statement said. Also, 11 other members or associates of Soldiers of Aryan Culture were indicted on other charges.