Prison gang leader guilty in murder

White supremacist boss admitted on the stand to ordering killings in the past

Five years after three members of a white supremacist prison gang stabbed a man to death, an Anne Arundel County jury found the gang’s leader was an accomplice in the murder who ordered his men to kill 43-yearold John O’Sullivan in August 2016.

Joseph Leissler, 52, unexpectedly took the stand in his own defense during the weeklong trial. His frenzied testimony included his admission that he’s commanded the deaths of several men, but not O’Sullivan, he assured. The jury thought otherwise.

Leissler was found guilty on all five counts, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and supervising a gang that resulted in O’Sullivan’s death. The jury deliberated for about two hours.

Two members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a national neo-Nazi prison gang that’s led by Leissler in Maryland, stabbed and cut O’Sullivan 54 times in the hallway of Jessup Correctional Institution. The attack was in retaliation for an assault on one of their members at Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown. O’Sullivan was an high-ranking member of rival gang Dead Man Inc., and his murder a message not to mess with the Aryan Brotherhood.

Vincent Bunner, 28, and Calvin Lockner, 40, were convicted of second-degree murder in January 2020 for stabbing O’Sullivan. Brian Hare, who stood lookout during the attack, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

Hare and Sean Almony, the second-incommand of the Aryan Brotherhood, testified against their gang boss. Almony, also known as Sean Almond, detailed six different assaults he witnessed Leissler approve or order himself in a five year period. Almony was granted immunity for his testimony in three separate trials for O’Sullivan’s murder, meaning he is exempt from being charged for any crimes he admitted to while on the stand.

Almony, 37, referred to his former father figure as “Big Joe” or “Nazi Joe” while explaining to the jury how the white supremacist gang made money selling drugs and food, recruited members — including correctional officers — and battled to earn a reputation for violence under Leissler’s direction.

Almony and Hare described the rules governing the Aryan Brotherhood as a strict creed practiced by a secret code considered above Maryland’s rule of law. All decisions needed Leissler’s approval, Almony testified.

“Once a full member there was no out. You had to be killed,” he said.

Defense attorneys Thomas Rafter and Jane McGough didn’t try to argue that Leissler wasn’t involved in a gang. Instead, they pinned the conspiracy and the murder on Almony, who acted as a “council member” with the same, if not more, authority, they argued. Almony spread the plan to kill O’Sullivan and gave one member a knife, he admitted.

Whether Leissler was the first or secondin-command doesn’t matter, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess told the jury in closing arguments, he still supervised and partici

pated in a criminal gang.

After writing vigorous notes to his attorneys during Almony’s testimony, Leissler took the rare step Friday of testifying at his own murder trial. In telling his side of the story, Leissler erupted in emotion, choking on grief over his mother’s death one moment and shouting in frustration the next.

Wearing a white button down, sneakers and a plastic face mask as a coronavirus precaution, Leissler told the jury in a swirl of swear words, gang members’ nicknames and assurances that Almony had the authority to order his own attacks. Leissler testified he took a step back from power in hopes of seeing his dying mother the next month.

Leissler, who’s been in isolation for five years since the murder, recalled the anger his “brothers” had over the assault of their fellow member in Hagerstown, mimicking the men’s voices for affect and pledging his love for his “family.”

“I never ever said I ordered a hit on O’Sullivan,” Leissler said, his body leaned into the microphone and his voice broadcasted throughout the courtroom.

“I would never say that. That’s indespicable,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “End quote.”

Worked up from recalled memories and Almony’s testimony the day before, Leissler railed against other members of the Aryan Brotherhood. He told the jury that he, unlike other overtly racist members of the gang, is not bigoted. The Aryan Brotherhood uses race as a means of psychological intimidation to make other inmates fear them, Leissler said.

And Leissler, who has a Nazi swastika tattooed on his chest and requires his members to ink the symbol on their bodies, has a Jewish fiancé and Black family members, he told the jury.

“I’m not a racist. I have best friends that are Black, in prison and on the street,” Leissler said. “I don’t agree with interracial [relationships]. I don’t. That doesn’t make me racist.”

Given the opportunity to question the gang leader directly, Leitess asked Leissler if he punished Bunner, Lockner and Hare for ruining his chance to see his mother when they killed O’Sullivan.

“Yes,” Leisser said.

“You do order murders of people?” Leitess asked.

“Under the circumstances,” Leisser replied, starting to cry.

After a day-long testimony during a trial that unveiled lies and plans by Almony to sabotage the gang that Leissler considers his life’s work, the former leader became overcome by his perceived sacrifice.

“I want f---ing Vincent Bunner dead. I want Lockner dead. I want Almond dead. I want my justice. You’re going to make me f---ing kill you (Almony). That’s exactly how I feel,” Leissler said from the stand.

Leitess fired back: “You just admitted to the jury you put a death sentence on those three men.”

Leissler, who is serving life in prison for his role in robbing and killing a disabled man in Kensington, faces two possible life sentences. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 2.