Aryan Warriors prison gang leader sentenced

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 | 12:08 p.m.

One of the Aryan Warriors prison gang members convicted of multiple felonies in July was sentenced Monday to more than 24 years in federal prison.

Kenneth Krum, also known as “Yum Yum,” 40, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison and six years of supervised released.

Krum was convicted by a jury of federal racketeering and drug conspiracy charges, including multiple acts of murder, attempted murder, extortion, operating an illegal gambling business, identity theft and fraud, and drug trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said

Four of the convicted gang members have now been sentenced. Krum received a harsher sentence than the other gang members because the court found that he had a leadership role in the gang. He also possessed a firearm and manufactured methamphetamine.

Charles Gensemer, 45, and Robert Young, 31, were sentenced on Dec. 9 to 35 years and 17 years in prison, respectively. James Wallis, aka “Gargoyle,” 48, was sentenced in November to 25 years in prison. Michael Wayne Yost, aka “Big Mike,” 55, is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

Authorities said members of the Aryan Warriors gang, made up of white men, distribute narcotics, extort money from people through threats and violence, run illegal gambling operations and assault other inmates. The organization, which operates in Las Vegas and elsewhere in the state, wants to control the Nevada prison system, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

During the trial, authorities said Krum became an Aryan Warrior while in state prison and became a lieutenant in the organization. After his release in March 2005, Krum began working with other gang members to establish a “Street Program” to distribute drugs in Las Vegas.

Fourteen people were originally charged in the case in 2007. Seven pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 16 years. Ronald "Joey" Sellers is awaiting trial.

In addition, Michael Kennedy, an admitted leader of the Aryan Warriors, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy in a related case. Michael Calabrese, an Aryan Warriors associate, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony gun possession and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.