Brandon Hantz, a former contestant on the reality television series Survivor, has been arrested on charges of arson and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Hantz, known for his turbulent appearances on Survivor's 23rd season in 2011 and 26th season in 2012, is among 14 individuals indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas. The allegations are tied to a violent turf war with a rival gang in 2019.
Hantz, who gained notoriety during his time on Survivor, first competed in the show's South Pacific season in 2011. He was the 15th contestant voted out, leaving on day 36. Hantz returned for Survivor: Caramoan in 2012, where he made headlines for pouring out his tribe's food supply, leading his tribe to intentionally forfeit an Immunity Challenge to vote him out by day 13.
"It was clear that he was very upset. That's why I asked him to come to me, so I could separate him from the rest of the contestants," – Jeff Probst
Hantz's arrest comes as part of an investigation into the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, where he is allegedly known by the monikers "Loco" and "Gun Drop." The indictment, announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office, is linked to a turf war with a gang known as B*EAST.
"Today’s indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang." – Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon
"The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets. Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities." – Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon
If convicted, Hantz could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge. His legal representation's contact details were not immediately available for comment.
Hantz is the nephew of Russell Hantz, a notorious figure from Survivor known for his villainous gameplay. Despite his familial ties to reality TV fame, Brandon Hantz's journey has been fraught with personal challenges. In his own words, he reflected on his mindset during Survivor.
"I am going to win this time around because I capitalize on every mistake I make in my life in general, so that's just how it's gonna happen." – Brandon Hantz
"I did one thing wrong: I allowed myself to beat me. I beat myself, man. I beat myself in the game of Survivor and that's what people saw. They saw a convicted man. They saw a person that could not even forgive himself for some of the things he did in the past." – Brandon Hantz
The charges against Hantz are serious and reflect broader issues within gang-related criminal activities. As the legal process unfolds, the public will be watching closely to see how these allegations impact both Hantz's personal life and his public persona.
