TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The trial of a high-ranking member of a Cossacks Biker Gang, accused of orchestrating the murder of a rival motorcyclist in East Texas, concluded unexpectedly on Friday with a hung jury.
After deliberations extending until 6:30 p.m., the jury indicated their inability to reach a unanimous verdict, leading to their dismissal. Defense counsel declared it a hung jury, casting uncertainty over whether the trial will be reconvened with a new jury.
Kevin Dale Higgins, 58, identified as the national president of the Ugly Man Cossacks motorcycle club, faces serious charges. His arrest in April stemmed from the murder of Brandon Edwards, a member of the 1%er Cossacks – a rival faction within the broader Cossacks biker gang community. Edwards, residing in Ben Wheeler, was fatally shot in Arp on May 2, 2020.
The trial, centered on accusations against the Cossacks biker gang leader for allegedly ordering the hit, resumed on Thursday, featuring further testimony. Previous hearings have established the backdrop of escalating tensions within the Cossacks biker gang world. Edwards belonged to the 1%er Cossacks, a splinter group that emerged from the Ugly Man Cossacks following a violent shooting incident in Waco back in 2015. In the wake of Edwards’ death, three individuals have already been convicted. Now, Higgins potentially faces a life sentence if found guilty of issuing the “smash on site” order that allegedly led to Edwards’ demise. The defense strategy has hinted at shifting responsibility away from Higgins, the national president of this Cossacks biker gang, towards his second-in-command, Chad Michael Crowell, the national sergeant-at-arms from Eustace. Crowell also faces charges related to directing street gang activities, highlighting the organized nature of these Cossacks biker gangs.
Day three of the trial saw the prosecution call Crowell to the witness stand. He confirmed his close relationship with Higgins, stating that as national president, Higgins personally appointed Crowell to the national sergeant-at-arms role, underscoring the hierarchical structure within the Cossacks biker gang.
Crowell testified that Joshua Tibbits, from Waco, was the most likely individual to have carried out the shooting of Edwards. Tibbits has already been convicted for his involvement in organized criminal activity related to Edwards’ murder and is currently serving a 45-year sentence. Tibbits himself testified earlier in the week, corroborating the chain of command within the Cossacks biker gang but indicating his reluctance to be a fully cooperative witness.
Crowell recounted joining the Ugly Man Cossacks in 2015 while living and working in West Texas. Introduced to the Cossacks biker gang by a friend, he rapidly ascended through the ranks, starting as a probate member, quickly earning patches, and progressing to sergeant of arms positions, ultimately reaching the national level.
During his tenure as Higgins’ national sergeant-at-arms, Crowell stated unequivocally that every command originated from or was authorized by the National President. “That was one of his biggest things is you didn’t do anything without him knowing it,” Crowell emphasized, illustrating the centralized control within this Cossacks biker gang.
Crowell used an analogy, comparing himself to a light switch controlled by Higgins’ commands. “Pretty much the way it was explained to me is ‘I turn you on, I turn you off. As a SA, you have no, you have no authority, and I come to you and say, hey, I need you to do this, I’m turning you on, and as soon as I tell you not to, I turn you off, and that’s all you are.’ That was Doc’s motto,” Crowell explained, referring to Higgins’ nickname “Doc,” and highlighting the absolute authority wielded by the leader of this Cossacks biker gang.
In the aftermath of Edwards’ murder, Crowell testified that he began to distance himself from the Cossacks biker gang and ceased responding to Higgins’ directives. He had considered leaving the group for months prior to the murder but was deterred by fears of violence or even death. “What I knew, what was going on, [Higgins] would’ve never let me leave,” Crowell stated, suggesting a climate of fear and intimidation within the Cossacks biker gang structure.
Crowell detailed his strategy for leaving the Cossacks biker gang without facing severe repercussions. He initiated a relationship with a woman in law enforcement and made this known to other members. According to Crowell, this action violated the club’s bylaws, providing him with a pretext to exit the group.
He claimed to have adopted a different lifestyle in the five years since leaving the Cossacks biker gang prior to his arrest. He testified to dedicating himself to Christianity and now desiring to disclose the truth, portraying a narrative of personal transformation and seeking redemption.
Contradicting earlier testimony from other former Cossacks biker gang members, Crowell denied using his repo business to track license plate numbers of individuals suspected of being 1%ers, further complicating the picture of internal operations within the Cossacks biker gangs.
The defense countered that Crowell’s testimony, being solely based on his word, lacked concrete evidence to substantiate Higgins’ guilt.
The state’s subsequent witness was Texas DPS Special Agent Clay Stillman, based in Longview. Stillman, specializing in organized crime, gangs, and large-scale conspiracies, testified to his extensive familiarity with organized crime conspirators. He detailed his work on the Edwards investigation, recalling a series of violent surveillance operations preceding the murder, painting a picture of premeditated actions within the Cossacks biker gang conflict.
The trial’s unexpected conclusion with a hung jury leaves the future of the case uncertain, and the community awaits news on whether prosecutors will pursue a retrial against the Cossacks biker gang president, Kevin Dale Higgins.
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