Motorcycle gang national president arrested in 2020 Smith County death of ‘rival gang’ member

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – A 57-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly giving orders to members of an “outlaw motorcycle gang” that led to the May 2020 death of a man.

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Kevin Higgins, 57 of Kemp, identified in an arrest affidavit as the National President of the Ugly Man Cossacks, was arrested a week after the National Sergeant at Arms was arrested on the same charges.

Both men were arrested on the charge of directing activities of a street gang. In his affidavit, it is stated that investigators determined the National Sergeant at Arms, Chad Crowell, had called a meeting in Fall 2019 where he announced that if they see a member of “rival gang” the 1%er Cossacks, “you are to put him down.”

According to the affidavit, the rivalry stems, in part, from “each ‘club’ claiming to be the ‘real Cossacks,'” and the order, while given by Crowell, was understood to have ultimately come from Higgins.

Brandon Edwards, who was identified as a Sergeant at Arms for the 1%er Cossacks, was found shot to death off FM 850 in Chapel Hill by Smith County authorities in May 2020, and three reported members of the Ugly Man Cossacks were initially arrested in his death.

All three men have since been convicted for organized criminal activity in connection to the case.

Higgins was booked into the Smith County Jail, and his bond was set at $2.5 million.

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