Biker gang leader gets life in prison for giving orders that killed East Texas motorcyclist

TYLER, Texas — A former outlaw motorcycle gang leader was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for issuing orders that killed an East Texas motorcyclist. 

Kevin Dale Higgins, of Kemp, national president of the Ugly Man Cossacks, was convicted of directing activities of a street gang following a jury trial in connection with the death of Brandon Edwards, a rival motorcycle gang member. He was then sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday, according to judicial records. 

Edwards, a 1%ers Cossacks member, was chased down and shot to death in 2020 in the Chapel Hill area. 

Three men were convicted and sentenced for killing Edwards. Joshua Ray Tibbits was sentenced to 45 years after a trial, and Jose Antonio Valenzuela and Jeffery Ryan Griffin received 22-year prison sentences each following guilty pleas. 

Later on, Higgins and Chad Michael Crowell, of Eustace, a national sergeant at arms of the Ugly Man Cossacks, were charged with directing activities of a criminal street gang. Documents said that members like Tibbits, Griffin and Valenzuela were given a “smash on sight” order to harm 1%ers Cossacks, and that order came from national leaders, such as Crowell and Higgins.

Crowell, who has since left the Ugly Man Cossacks, testified in Higgins’ trial that violence was encouraged in the gang. 

An investigator said a “smash on sight” order against the 1%er Cossacks was issued because of the disrespect that the Ugly Man Cossacks felt when the 1%er Cossacks split off. 

Crowell’s charge remains pending at this time. 

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