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The Order (white supremacist group)

Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:54:49 PM Wikipedia source

The Order, also known as the Silent Brotherhood, was a neo-Nazi terrorist organization active in the United States between September 1983 and December 1984. The group raised funds via armed robbery. Ten members were tried and convicted for racketeering, and two members were tried and convicted for their role in the 1984 murder of radio talk show host Alan Berg. The Order's main objective was to start a white supremacist revolution against the United States, after which, Black Americans, Jewish Americans, "race mixers", and other perceived enemies would be exterminated. Inspired by The Turner Diaries, the organization declared war on the federal government of the United States under Ronald Reagan, which it called the "Zionist occupied government". The Order drew up a hit list of enemies, and on June 18, 1984, radio talk show host Alan Berg was murdered in front of his home by Bruce Pierce, assisted by other members of the Order. Berg was number two on the Order's list. In December 1984, authorities were able to track down Robert Jay Mathews, the organization's leader, to a house on Whidbey Island in Washington State, where he refused to surrender. Mathews was suspected of wounding an FBI agent in a previous shooting in Oregon. During a shootout, the house was ignited by incendiary flares and became engulfed in flames, with Mathews being killed.

Infobox

Formation
September 1983; 42 years ago (1983-09)
Dissolved
December 1984; 41 years ago (1984-12)
Type
Paramilitary, White supremacist, neo-Nazi
Purpose
foment a white supremacist revolution against the "Zionist Occupation Government", establish an all-white homeland in the Pacific Northwest, and commit genocide against blacks, Jews, "race-mixers", and other perceived enemies
Location
mw- United States
Key people
Robert Jay Mathews (leader)David Eden LaneLouis Beam
Affiliations
Aryan NationsThe Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord

Tables

· Members
David Charles Tate
David Charles Tate
Name
David Charles Tate
Associated Group(s)
Church of Israel and Aryan Nations
Sentence
Life imprisonment without parole
Status
Incarcerated at Southeast Correctional Center
Richard Joseph Scutari
Richard Joseph Scutari
Name
Richard Joseph Scutari
Associated Group(s)
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
Sentence
60 years
Status
Incarcerated at FCI Mendota Released January 21, 2025
Thomas Allen Martinez
Thomas Allen Martinez
Name
Thomas Allen Martinez
Associated Group(s)
National Alliance
Sentence
3 years probation
Andrew Virgil Barnhill
Andrew Virgil Barnhill
Name
Andrew Virgil Barnhill
Associated Group(s)
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
Sentence
40 years
Status
Released on April 24, 2008
Ardie McBrearty
Ardie McBrearty
Name
Ardie McBrearty
Associated Group(s)
Posse Comitatus
Sentence
40 years
Status
Released on July 3, 1995
David Eden Lane
David Eden Lane
Name
David Eden Lane
Associated Group(s)
Aryan Nations
Sentence
190 years
Status
Died while incarcerated at FCI Terre Haute on May 28, 2007
Bruce Carroll Pierce
Bruce Carroll Pierce
Name
Bruce Carroll Pierce
Associated Group(s)
Aryan Nations
Sentence
252 years
Status
Died while incarcerated at USP Allenwood on August 16, 2010
Sharon Merki
Sharon Merki
Name
Sharon Merki
Associated Group(s)
LaPorte Church of Christ
Sentence
25 years
Jean Margaret Craig
Jean Margaret Craig
Name
Jean Margaret Craig
Sentence
40 years
Status
Died in prison on April 18, 2001
Denver Daw Parmenter II
Denver Daw Parmenter II
Name
Denver Daw Parmenter II
Associated Group(s)
Church of Jesus Christ–Christian
Sentence
20 years
Randolph George Duey
Randolph George Duey
Name
Randolph George Duey
Associated Group(s)
Aryan Nations
Sentence
100 years
Status
Incarcerated at FCI Butner Medium
Frank Lee Silva
Frank Lee Silva
Name
Frank Lee Silva
Associated Group(s)
Ku Klux Klan
Sentence
40 years
Status
Released on August 18, 1998
Gary Lee Yarbrough
Gary Lee Yarbrough
Name
Gary Lee Yarbrough
Associated Group(s)
Aryan Nations
Sentence
60 years
Status
Died while incarcerated at ADX Florence in 2018
Zillah Craig
Zillah Craig
Name
Zillah Craig
Jackie Lee Norton
Jackie Lee Norton
Name
Jackie Lee Norton
Associated Group(s)
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
Sentence
6 months plus 5 years probation
James Sherman Dye
James Sherman Dye
Name
James Sherman Dye
Sentence
20 years
Robert E. Merki
Robert E. Merki
Name
Robert E. Merki
Associated Group(s)
LaPorte Church of Christ
Sentence
30 years
Name
Associated Group(s)
Sentence
Status
Ref.
David Charles Tate
Church of Israel and Aryan Nations
Life imprisonment without parole
Incarcerated at Southeast Correctional Center
Richard Joseph Scutari
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
60 years
Incarcerated at FCI Mendota Released January 21, 2025
Thomas Allen Martinez
National Alliance
3 years probation
Andrew Virgil Barnhill
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
40 years
Released on April 24, 2008
Ardie McBrearty
Posse Comitatus
40 years
Released on July 3, 1995
David Eden Lane
Aryan Nations
190 years
Died while incarcerated at FCI Terre Haute on May 28, 2007
Bruce Carroll Pierce
Aryan Nations
252 years
Died while incarcerated at USP Allenwood on August 16, 2010
Sharon Merki
LaPorte Church of Christ
25 years
Jean Margaret Craig
40 years
Died in prison on April 18, 2001
Denver Daw Parmenter II
Church of Jesus Christ–Christian
20 years
Randolph George Duey
Aryan Nations
100 years
Incarcerated at FCI Butner Medium
Frank Lee Silva
Ku Klux Klan
40 years
Released on August 18, 1998
Gary Lee Yarbrough
Aryan Nations
60 years
Died while incarcerated at ADX Florence in 2018
Zillah Craig
Jackie Lee Norton
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
6 months plus 5 years probation
James Sherman Dye
20 years
Robert E. Merki
LaPorte Church of Christ
30 years

References

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