Case # 15CF0165
Date: March 20, 2015
WIFE OF WHITE SUPREMACIST GANG LEADER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RETALIATORY KIDNAPPING AND ASSAULT STEMMING FROM OPERATION STORMFRONT
*Three additional white supremacist co-defendant gang members pleaded guilty in this case mid-jury trial
SANTA ANA – The wife of a white supremacist gang leader was sentenced today to 20 years in state prison for the retaliatory kidnapping and assault of a man for the benefit of the gang. This criminal case stems from the December 2010 Operation Stormfront, the largest-ever takedown of white supremacist prison and street gang criminal enterprises in Orange County.
Ruthie Christine Marshall, 45, who goes by the moniker “Mama Bear,” pleaded guilty Jan. 27, 2015, to one felony count each of kidnapping, aggravated assault, extortion by force or threat, and a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity.
Three additional white supremacist co-defendant gang members were previously charged and were being tried before a jury alongside Marshall. These three defendants changed their plea from not guilty to guilty mid-trial, on July 29, 2011, and were each sentenced to life in state prison. They were convicted of the following counts:
| DEFENDANT NAME & “MONIKER” | AGE | FELONY CHARGES, ENHANCEMENTS, & PRIORS |
| Jeffrey Michael Peek
moniker “Dopey” |
32 | 1 count aggravated assault
1 count kidnapping for ransom with bodily harm Enhancement – criminal street gang activity Strike prior – 2005 robbery Prison prior – 2001 possession of methamphetamine |
| Alexander Manfred Lind
moniker “Turtle” |
45 | 1 count aggravated assault
1 count kidnapping for ransom with bodily harm 1 count assault with semi-automatic firearm 1 count street terrorism Enhancement – criminal street gang activity Prison prior –2007 car theft Prison prior – 2005 possession of methamphetamine 2 prison priors – 2005 second degree burglary Prison prior – 2004 possession of a controlled substance Prison prior – 1997 unlawful possession of tear gas |
| Jessie Raffensberger
moniker “JJ” |
36 | 1 count aggravated assault
1 count kidnapping for ransom with bodily harm 1 count assault with semi-automatic firearm 1 count street terrorism Enhancement – criminal street gang activity Prison prior – 2010 possession of methamphetamine Prison prior – 2009 car theft Prison prior – 2007 possession of methamphetamine Prison prior – 2004 possession of methamphetamine |
A fifth co-defendant, Jose Luis Gonzalez, 46, pleaded guilty in this case Jan. 21, 2011, to one felony count of aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in state prison. Gonzalez does not have any ties to the white supremacist gang.
Marshall is married to a white supremacist gang leader, who was in custody at the time of the crime. She often transmitted messages and gave orders on his behalf to other white supremacist gang members.
In 2009, Marshall received a phone call from her husband in jail where she was instructed to setup a three-way call between herself, her husband, and other gang members. Marshall connected the three-way phone call through with the other gang members. Marshall’s husband ordered the gang members, over the phone, to extort money from another white supremacist gang member for violating a gang rule.
On or about July 10, 2010, to July 15, 2010, Marshall’s friend, Jeremy Ball, took her car for several days without permission. The car was impounded when Ball was stopped by police in a traffic stop. Marshall was unable to retrieve it from impound because she could not pay the required fees. She sought out the help of white supremacist gang member Peek to assault Ball as retribution.
On July 19, 2010, Marshall and Peek lured Ball to a motel with the intention of assaulting him.
Gonzalez was in the motel at the time and participated in the assault. Marshall, Peek, and Gonzalez punched or beat Ball, carried him into the bathroom, and held him against his will overnight while demanding money to pay the impound fees. Marshall’s arm was in a cast and she repeatedly hit Ball with the hard cast during the assault. Ball was able to escape the following morning.
On Aug. 5, 2010, Ball was again lured to another motel. Marshall enlisted the help of white supremacist gang members Lind and Raffensberger, and the defendants assaulted Bell, held him against his will, and demanded money for the impound fees. Marshall hit Bell with her cast and Raffensberger hit him in the face with a semi-automatic pistol. They committed these assaults for the benefit of their white supremacist prison and criminal street gangs.
Deputy District Attorney Christopher Alex of the Gangs Unit prosecuted this case.
Background
Operation Stormfront was conducted in December 2010 and was the largest-ever takedown of white supremacist prison and street gang criminal enterprises in Orange County. It was conducted in collaboration by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, United States Attorney’s Office, and United States Secret Service.
To read the full press release regarding all of the Operation Stormfront cases, visit www.orangecountyda.org and in the upper right search tab, search for “Operation Stormfront” and select the Dec. 16, 2010, press release entitled, “Orange County, State, and Federal Law Enforcement Take Down White Supremacist Prison and Street Gangs in Largest Sweep of its Kind.”