Federal Jury Convicts Four Unforgiven Members for Violent Racketeering Offenses
TAMPA, Fla. — An eight-year investigation into the “Unforgiven” – a notorious white supremacist gang that operates inside and outside of Florida’s prison system – secured a huge win this week, when a grand jury found four key members guilty of a range of violent acts.
The case, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tampa Field Division, was also made possible by contributions from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Corrections Inspector General’s Office, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, St Pete Police Department, Lake City Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Middle District of Florida.
ATF’s Tampa Field Division began investigating the “Unforgiven” in October 2015. The defendants -- Maverick Maher, 42, of Pensacola; Scott Marchall, 48, of Port Richey; Brandon Welch, 36, of Milton; and Joshua Williamson, 39, of Live Oak -- are now awaiting sentencing hearings for the following charges:
| Defendant | Conviction Offense(s) | Maximum Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Maverick Maher | Assault in aid of racketeering (3 counts) | 20 years in prison (per count) |
| a/k/a Saxon | Conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering (3 counts) | 3 years in prison (per count) |
| Threats in aid of racketeering | 5 years in prison | |
| Conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering | 3 years in prison | |
| Conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering | 3 years in prison | |
| Threats in aid of racketeering | 5 years in prison | |
| 20 years in prison | ||
| 20 years in prison | ||
| Brandon Welch | Assault in aid of racketeering | 20 years in prison |
| a/k/a Scumbag | ||
| Joshua Williamson | Assault in aid of racketeering | 20 years in prison |
| a/k/a Chaingang | ||
| Scott Marshall | Kidnapping in aid of racketeering | Life in prison |
| a/k/a Solo | Assault in aid of Racketeering | 20 years in prison |
Since its founding, the gang has grown to include members inside and outside the department of corrections. The Unforgiven has a written “constitution” which described the means of gaining membership—by committing an extreme act of violence—and calls for violence against members who commit “violations.”
Members organized for meetings to discuss Unforgiven business. During these meetings, members in bad standing were discussed and their membership voted upon. In addition to in-person meetings, the Unforgiven Council used the Marco Polo messaging application to discuss and vote on violations, which included “patch takings” or the involuntary removal of the gang’s tattoo. The evidence at trial established assaults on five members of the Unforgiven who were attacked and mutilated.
On Jan. 2, 2019, Welch and Williamson stabbed fellow Unforgiven member J.T. in the Columbia Correctional Institution. Welch and Williamson attacked J.T. to gain or maintain membership in the Unforgiven. Testimony and evidence established Welch and Williamson stabbed J.T. twelve times and caused significant injuries requiring J.T. be transported via helicopter for medical care.
On Jan. 19, 2019, Maher confined and defaced C.L., a member of the Unforgiven, to maintain membership in the Unforgiven. Testimony of witnesses established Maher sat on C.L. while he forcibly tattooed over numerous existing tattoos on C.L.’s body.
Maher also aided or abetted two additional attacks. In July 2020, members of the Unforgiven attacked C.S. in his home in Lake City, Florida, and struck C.S. with a shotgun before slicing open his back to deface his “patch.” Testimony established Maher sent the group from a church meeting in Satsuma, Florida to enforce a vote taken by members.
Testimony and evidence also established that Maher targeted W.H., a member of the Unforgiven. Unforgiven members attacked W.H. in his living room within Pasco County in June 2020 and forcibly tattooed over W.H.’s Unforgiven tattoos.
In November 2019, Scott Marshall and two other Unforgiven members lured R.S. to a home in Pasco County. The men held R.S. against his will and forcibly covered R.S.’s Unforgiven tattoos. Parts of the attack were videotaped by one of the assailants and shared with Unforgiven members over Marco Polo.
Maher conspired with others over the Marco Polo application to assault a number of Unforgiven members, as well as “grey boys” and “race traitors” in response to perceived disrespect to the enterprise.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Beckman and David Sullivan.
Relevant DOJ press releases:
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