Texas woman pleads guilty to racketeering charges

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a 49-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to her role in a criminal enterprise that orchestrated a killing and distributed methamphetamine in East Texas.

Vicki Stark-Fitts of the Liberty County town of Hull admitted Thursday to multiple racketeering charges. Authorities say she was associated with a gang called SWS, an acronym that often stands for Separate White State.

Stark-Fitts and three others were named in a federal indictment returned Aug. 7. The other three have each pleaded guilty to murder. The indictment targeted members of SWS and also the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas.

Prosecutors say the four conspired to kill a fellow SWS member who earlier had shot an ABT associate. The member was killed to prevent retaliation against SWS by ABT.

Stark-Fitts faces life in prison.