Survivor Alum Brandon Hantz Arrested for Arson, Racketeering

Survivor alum Brandon Hantz has been arrested for arson and racketeering, Us Weekly can confirm.

Hantz, 33, was named alongside 13 additional defendants in an indictment filed by the United States of America in the Southern District of Texas on February 11, per court documents obtained by Us. Hantz is facing two charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of arson of a building used in interstate commerce. The former reality star could serve up to a total of 40 years in prison.

Hantz also received a forfeiture allegation which included a $100 special assessment per each charge.

According to the filing, Hantz and the other defendants have been accused of being members of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang in a Texas chapter. Hantz allegedly goes by the nicknames “Loco” and “Gun Drop.”

The indictment claims that the Bandidos are a criminal organization that operates internationally in “at least 20 countries” and has “approximately 107 chapters in the United States.”

Members of the Bandidos allegedly wear a leather or jean vest called a cut with a patch that reads “I support Bandidos Worldwide,” per the docs. Patches can also have a “one percent” symbol. Bandidos members also must own and ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The paperwork alleged that the defendants have engaged in “acts of violence, namely, acts involving murder, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution and witness intimidation.”

The docs allege that Hantz went on a Bandidos outing to the Bimboz Bar and Grill in February 2023. The filing claimed that Hantz and other alleged Bandidos members “aided and abetted the assault of 14 members” of a rival gang called the Greybeard MC. While Hantz has only been charged with arson and racketeering, some of his fellow defendants have been accused of assault and murder.

TMZ was first to break the news and reported that Hantz’s home was investigated. A family member of Hantz told the outlet that the former reality star allegedly left the gangs last year.

Survivor fans were introduced to Brandon in the South Pacific season, which aired in 2011, as the nephew of the series’ most notorious villain Russell Hantz. Brandon came into the game as a born-again Christian who wanted to repair the reputation of the Hantz’s family name. Despite wanting to keep his familial connection a secret, Brandon came clean to his tribe on day four. He made it to the final five of that season after being convinced to give up his immunity and was blindsided by the tribe.

Two years later, Brandon returned to Survivor for its Caramoan season which featured multiple players from previous seasons. He famously feuded with tribemate Phillip Sheppard and infamously poured out the group’s rice rations. After the rice incident, the tribe forfeited a challenge and verbally voted out Brandon without going to Tribal Council.