SMITH COUNTY—Chad Crowell of Eustace who was charged with Direct Activities of Street Gang which is a first degree felony, pled guilty Feb. 6 and was sentenced the same day to six years’ probation. 
According to Smith County judicial records, Crowell was arrested in April 2024 for his connection to the murder of Brandon Edwards of Arp and was accused of leading a motorcycle club called the Ugly Man Cossacks. Crowell pled guilty to giving orders which resulted in the death of Edwards and accepted a sentence of six years’ probation. 
Crowell will be required to report for probation in Smith County for six months before serving the rest of his six years in Henderson County. He was additionally sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service and is no longer allowed to contact his former club members. He is also required to serve 10 days in jail each year of his probation.