We have all heard the horror stories of the young, white, middle-class kid that goes to prison and gets turned out. This is a common theme in movies and television shows that depict prison as an urban jungle where Caucasians are the prey. But although this can and will happen, it is a rare occurrence rather than a routine happening. It is just one of the extreme things that can happen in prison. Joining a gang is another one.
Gang life in prison is not about preparing for a law abiding life in society, but about creating a thriving world for the brothers inside. If you are a white kid in prison, serving a lengthy sentence and feel the need to clique up, there are a lot of different options, depending on where you’re at. You can join the Aryan Brotherhood, the Nazi Low Riders, the Aryan Circle, PEN1, Aryan Nation, the ABT, Simon City Royals or the Dirty White Boys, among others.
White prison gangs and most all prison gangs are generally into the same types of activity- drug dealing, gambling, loan sharking, extortion, contract hits, running stores and in some cases prostitution. White prison gangs in general have terrible reputations in prison, as do all gangs, but none worse than the Dirty White Boys. The Dirty White Boys are the most hated white prison gang in the federal Bureau of Prisons.
The Dirty White Boys started at FCI El Reno in Oklahoma in the mid-80s and from there went on to become the largest white prison gang in the federal prison system. They spread like an infectious disease and have come to epitomize unorganized crime- they have no governing body, no outside influence, and no leaders. The closest thing they have to leadership is individual shot callers on certain prison yards.
In essence, they answer to no one but themselves. They court drama and create chaos. In some cases, there will be as many as 10 Dirty White Boys on a compound, with no shot callers at all. We got with a bonafide Dirty White Boy member to get the details of life in a white prison gang. Introducing Johnny Rotten, a go hard Dirty Whitey Boy who did his whole sentence in the vicious United States Penitentiaries in the feds. He has asked that his real name not be mentioned and we will respect that request. He gives us a glimpse into the life of a white prison gang member.
Where have you done your time and how long where you locked up for?
I fell in 2000 and was sent to USP Lompoc in California. I’ve been to Lompoc, USP Atwater, USP Lee County, USP Hazelton, USP Lewisburg and USP McQuerry. I did 10 years of a 10 year sentence, day for day.
When and why did you join the gang?
I wasn’t introduced to the Dirty White Boys until I hit USP Atwater in 2002. I’ve always been an independent person and a loner. To tell you the truth I had a beef with the first DWB I met. But when I went to Lee County I met one of my best friends, Donny Shultz, who is an old school Dirty and one of the best dudes I ever met. Me and him became real close and I started hanging out with all the other Dirties. And as all stories go, Donny and the other Dirties there started getting on me about hooking up with them. They saw me beat two DC Blacks with a lock, who both had knives and were trying to stab me and were impressed. On my prison resume it was a big plus. At first I was like no way, I work alone and need no one to back my play. But it wasn’t about someone backing your play, it was a brotherhood, a family, a sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself.
What did the gang mean to you?
Like I said, it was a brotherhood, it meant a lot to me to be a Dirty. Some of the best people I ever met were Dirty White Boys- Donny Shultz, Mikey Eck, Early, James King, Rob Rosso and many more. But on the other hand some of the biggest pieces of shit were wearing the same patch I was.
What’s it like being in a gang in prison?
Every time you hit another yard, you try to make a good name for yourself and the brothers and someone else comes along and fucks it up for the others, it’s a never ending battle. But I love my brothers and am proud to wear this patch.
What type of things were you into?
I was one of the front line types. What I mean by that is, I was always doing a lot of crazy shit. I remember one time at Lewisburg one of the guards gave me a heads up on a really sick sex offender, so I didn’t say anything to anyone. I just went and smashed the dude. But I didn’t just stop there, I knocked the dude out on the top tier and drug his ass down the stairs by his ankles while everyone was watching, not just to really mess the dude up, but also to show everyone what could happen to them if it was called for. After dragging him down the stairs I really started in on him. I almost caught a new charge on that one.
What type of things were the Dirty White Boys into?
Most of the shit that was going on was your typical prison shit, beefing with other gangs, making moonshine, selling dope, doing contract hits, running a store or poker table. Doing lots of time in the hole.
Who did you all beef with?
We have had a lot of problems with a lot of different gangs, mostly the Aryan Circle and the Texas Aryan Brotherhood. Every gang you ran across wants to be at the top of the food chain, but not all can. Only those who are willing to do what it takes can be on top.
How did the Dirty White Boys start?
The Dirty White Boys was founded as a softball team in El Reno and has grown from there. All Dirties in the USP’s don’t recognize those from the FCI’s because they are just not willing to take it as far as it needs to be taken in order to make a name for themselves. If you are in a prison gang your job is to get in trouble and to cause as much trouble as possible, so you can’t front in a medium FCI prison, you have to be in a high-max USP or you are just faking.
In the world of prison gangs that just about sums it up. Prison is a world unto itself and life in a white prison gang is something else altogether. We don’t recommend it. But we recognize that it is an integral part of prison culture. As the Dirty White Boys spread through the federal system more and more members joined. Some got out, some stayed out, some went back to prison in different states. As the gang members recidivated their numbers grew and split into many state prison systems they were housed at. To get another perspective, we talked to Rebel, a Dirty White Boy who got down in the California Department of Corrections and even did some time in the Utah system. We are not revealing his real name either, at his request.
How did you get down with the Dirty White Boys?
I came in under a convict that did 15 years in Bloody Beaumont. We have no structure per say in the California prison system. I am a Dirty White Boy and am so proudly. As a father, husband and family man on the free side of the wall, I still wear my Brand proudly and have had made hats boldly blazing DWB and 707 that I wear daily.
What were you all trying to accomplish in the CDC?
We do have a mission about us, at least when I joined. We are mostly over the age of thirty, been through the trenches and put in our work while representing the whites and abiding by the rules. Most of us earned the respect of our peers and have stood in war or battle. We give the respect we expect from all we deal with, and will get off where we feel disrespected, not needing to ask or get permission from another man to do so.
What do the Dirty White Boys mean to you?
If you share the DWB tattoo with me, then you better have my back as well as I will have yours. Leave me hanging and I’ll be coming after your ass as I would expect you to if I failed you in your time of need. We are focused on our future and our family, getting home to them safely. Most of my brothers I’ve associated with inside were still faithful to their county cars and we supported any major actions made by the peckerwoods, outside of stupid dope debts, miss me with that bullshit.
What problems did you experience in the CDC as a DWB?
I would say the only negative aspect to the California prison DWB is we have a Modesto/Fresno skinhead click trying to claim the DWB name and tattoo as theirs, and while in new Folsom in 2005, I was actually approached about my need to cover or remove my own tattoo, which of course did not happen and will never be taken from me easily or at all.
What experiences have you had in other state systems as a DWB?
While in Utah in 2004 I caught some time in the Salt Lake City jail and found we are deep in their system, but contrary to what has been reported, had no conflict with the Silent Aryan Crusaders (SAC) or Silent Aryan Warriors (SAW). In fact we walked the day room and looked out for one another.
As a DWB what are your beliefs?
I am not prejudice, I am racist and that doesn’t mean that I don’t have friends from all ethnic backgrounds. A DWB is one who lives his life standing on his morals and unfortunately man’s law may have taken me to prison, but being a DWB I am free and live my life to the fullest no matter where life may take me. I look out for my brothers and all whites in the pen who I am associated with. If confrontation arises, I’ll rise to the challenge. If we disagree you have three choices- accept me, respect me or leave me be. Take it anywhere else and the DWB in me will definitely show you the errors of your ways.