TYLER, Texas — The national president of an outlaw motorcycle gang was arrested Tuesday for allegedly giving orders that led to the shooting death of a motorcyclist in the Chapel Hill area nearly four years ago.
Kevin Dale Higgins, 57, of Kemp, was charged with directing activities of a criminal street gang charge, which is a first-degree felony, and remains in the Smith County Jail on a $2.5 million bond.
Higgins is the national president of the Ugly Man Cossacks (an outlaw motorcycle gang). He is the second person within the gang's leadership to be arrested for giving orders that investigators say caused the May 2, 2020 death of Brandon Edwards, 33, of Ben Wheeler, and other crimes, according to arrest documents.
Chad Michael Crowell, 38, of Eustace, was booked into the Smith County Jail on the same charge and bond on April 16. His arrest affidavit states Crowell is a national sergeant at arms of the Ugly Man Cossacks.
Arrest affidavits for both Higgins and Crowell say they told their subordinate members to commit violent acts against members of the rival motorcycle gang, 1%er Cossacks.
One of the Ugly Man Cossacks, who was found guilty in Edwards' death, said Crowell informed them of the "smash on site" order (a directive to commit violent acts) against the 1%er Cossacks. However, based on an understanding of the "club's operating procedure," they believed the order ultimately came from Higgins, the affidavit read.
Edwards, a rank-holding member of the local 1%er Cossacks, was chased by three Ugly Man Cossacks members and shot to death on FM 850 in Chapel Hill in 2020. Joshua Ray Tibbits, of Waco, Jose Antonio Valenzuela, of Longview, and Jeffery Ryan Griffin, of Robinson, have been sentenced to prison for engaging in organized crime in connection with Edwards' death.
Tibbits was found guilty and sentenced to 45 years, while Valenzuela and Griffin pleaded guilty and received 22-year prison sentences each.
Valenzuela said the order meant Ugly Man Cossacks members should assault any 1%er Cossacks members they see in public. Valenzuela told police the "smash on site" order came from Higgins through Crowell, the document read.
The affidavit showed a part of a Ugly Man Cossacks meeting minutes in February 2020 read, "Smash on site, no matter what," regarding the 1%er Cossacks. Crowell said the Higgins wanted members to "hurt 'em until they change their name." If an Ugly Man Cossacks member didn't assault a 1% Cossacks member, Crowell said they would be in trouble.
According to the affidavit, Edwards' shooting death is just one of the criminal acts that Crowell and Higgins are accused of ordering. Those crimes include:
- Aggravated assault in Hubbard in January 2020
- Aggravated assault involving brass knuckles and a handgun in Gilmer in February 2020
- Aggravated robbery and stabbing in Upshur County in February 2020
- Non-fatal shooting in Harrison County in March 2020
Ugly Man Cossacks members were getting rewarded for following the "smash on site" order like Valenzuela, who was promoted to regional sergeant at arms after criminal acts committed in February 2020. Valenzuela told police that without the "smash on site" order from Crowell and Higgins, none of these events would've happened, according to the affidavit.
Some of the rewards that members received for following the order include patches, tattoos and a promotion in rank, the document said.