By Mary Manning (contact)

Wed, Sep 17, 2008 (1:11 p.m.)

A member of the white supremacist gang, the Aryan Warriors, was sentenced to over 16 years in prison today for ordering violent prison assaults of two men in order to enhance his position in the gang, U.S. Attorney Greg Brower of Nevada said.

Daniel Joseph Egan, also known as "Dano," was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to 200 months in prison and six years of supervised release.

The 33-year-old Egan was originally indicted in July 2007 and pleaded guilty in July 2008 to two counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering.

Egan admitted that he was a leader in the Aryan Warriors, a criminal gang that seeks to control the Nevada prison system and to operate throughout Nevada, including Las Vegas, Reno and Pahrump, 60 miles west of Las Vegas.

The Aryan Warriors -- made up of white men who espouse racial purity -- corrupt prison guards, distribute narcotics, extort money from people through threats and the use of violence, run illegal gambling operations and assault other inmates.

Egan admitted that he stabbed an inmate to become a member of the Aryan Warriors. Then, as a gang leader, he approved of and ordered assaults on other inmates.

Egan admitted to ordering the October 2004 assault on Mark Fechtman, a rival prison gang member housed at High Desert State Prison. Fechtman was slashed with a razor type weapon and was cut on the face, head and back.

Egan also admitted to ordering the January 2005 assault on inmate Cody Dunn, who ran gambling operations for the Aryan Warriors at Ely State Prison and High Desert State Prison and was believed to be an informant. Five Aryan Warrior prospects stabbed Dunn 16 times.

Egan's sentence was enhanced because of the seriousness of the injuries to the victims, because the assaults were motivated in order to increase his position in the gang and because he is an organizer or leader of the gang.

Egan also has a lengthy criminal history including numerous drug, dangerous weapons and theft offenses.

The Nevada federal case against the Aryan Warriors includes 12 other defendants. Ten of those are awaiting trial on viiolent crime, racketeering and drug charges. Two other defendants, Robert Allen Young, also known as "Lil Rob," and Kory Allen Crossman, also known as "Lobes," have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.