Life sentence for white supremacist in Illinois prison murder

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A white supremacist from Minnesota was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for killing a Jewish inmate at an Illinois prison.

In May, Brandon Simonson, 41, of Moorhead, Minnesota, was found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hate crime, and assault in the death of Matthew Phillips.

Prosecutors said Simonson, also known as “Whitey,” and another prisoner, Kristopher Martin, 43, conspired to beat Phillips because he was Jewish. Both men beat Phillips while incarcerated at the Thomson Penitentiary to gain membership in a white supremacist prison gang known as the Valhalla Bound Skinheads.

Evidence presented at the seven-day trial in the U.S. District Court in Rockford showed that on March 2nd, 2020, Simonson punched and kicked Phillips in the face and head, even after he was unconscious.

Phillips died of his injuries three days later. He had been serving a sentence for distributing heroin and money laundering.

Martin, 43, of Brazil, Indiana, pleaded guilty earlier this year and will be sentenced on October 9th, 2025.

“Antisemitic violence has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. “Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable and will not be tolerated anywhere in our district, including in our prison system. My office and our law enforcement partners will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.”