Criminal Street Gangs in the United States

Title 18 U.S.C. Section 521(a)(A) defines criminal street gangs as ongoing groups, clubs, organizations, or associations of five or more individuals that have as one of their primary purposes the commission of one or more criminal offenses. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 521(c) further defines such criminal offenses as (1) a federal felony involving a controlled substance; (2) a federal felony crime of violence that has as an element the use or attempted use of physical force against the person of another and (3) a conspiracy to commit an offense described in paragraph (1) or (2).

Criminal street gangs are located throughout the United States (U.S.), and their memberships vary in number, racial and ethnic composition, and structure. Large national street gangs pose the greatest threat because they smuggle, produce, transport, and distribute large quantities of illicit drugs throughout the country and are extremely violent. Local street gangs in rural, suburban and urban areas pose a low but growing threat, transporting and distributing drugs within specific areas. The local street gangs often imitate the larger, more powerful national gangs in order to gain respect from their rivals.

Criminal street gangs will continue to pose a serious domestic threat to many communities throughout the U.S. In the long term it is highly probable that U.S. based street gangs will increase their role in trafficking drugs, particularly involving the smuggling of drugs into the U.S. from international sources of supply. Furthermore, it is highly probable that several U.S. based street gangs will increase their relationships with international criminal organizations and drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) as a means of obtaining access to the global illicit drug market. The following are some of the more prominent criminal street gangs currently operating in the U.S.

18th Street Gang
Formed in Los Angeles, 18th Street is a loosely associated set of cliques, each led by an influential and prominent member. Membership in 18th Street is estimated to consist of between 30,000 to 50,000 individuals. In California, approximately 80 percent of the 18th Street gang’s membership is composed of illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America. 18th Street is active in 44 cities and in 20 states. 18th Street’s main source of income is derived from the street-level distribution of cocaine and marijuana, and to a lesser extent, heroin and methamphetamine. 18th Street gang members also engage in crimes such as assault, auto theft, carjacking, drive-by shooting, extortion, homicide, identification fraud and robbery.

Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation
The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) was formed in the 1970’s by Luis Felipe. ALKQN shares a common culture and structure with the Chicago-based Latin Kings but they do not report to the Latin Kings. ALKQN membership is estimated to consist of between 2,200 to 7,500 individuals, divided among several dozen chapters which operate in 15 cities and in 5 states. A primary source of income for the ALKQN is derived from the distribution of powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana. The ALKQN is also involved in various types of criminal activities including assault, auto theft, burglary and homicide.

Asian Boyz
Asian Boyz is one of the largest Asian criminal street gangs operating in the U.S. Formed in Southern California in the early 1970’s, the Asian Boyz are estimated to have between 1,300 to 2,000 members operating in at least 28 cities and in 14 states. Asian Boyz is composed primarily of Vietnamese and/or Cambodian-American males. Members of the Asian Boyz are involved in producing, transporting and distributing methamphetamine, as well as ecstasy and marijuana. In addition, the Asian Boyz are involved in other criminal activities such as assault, burglary, drive-by shooting and homicide.

Black Peace Stone Nation
The Black Peace Stone Nation (BPSN) is one of the largest and most violent associations of street gangs in the U.S. The BPSN consists of seven highly structured criminal street gangs with a single leader and a common culture. The BPSN has an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 members, a majority of whom are African-American males from the Chicago metropolitan area. The BPSN’s primary source of income is derived from the street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and, to a lesser degree, methamphetamine. Members of the BPSN are also involved in other types of criminal activity including assault, auto theft, burglary, carjacking, drive-by shooting, extortion, homicide and robbery.

Bloods
The Bloods are an association of structured and unstructured gangs that have adopted a single gang culture. Large, national-level Bloods gangs include such entities as the Bounty Hunter Bloods and Crenshaw Mafia Gangsters. Bloods membership is estimated to consist of between 5,000 to 20,000 individuals, most of whom are African-American males. Blood gangs are active in 123 cities and in 33 states. The main source of income for the Bloods is derived from the street-level distribution of cocaine and marijuana. Bloods members are also involved in the transportation and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and to a lesser extent, PCP (phencyclidine). The Bloods are also involved in other criminal activity such as assault, auto theft, burglary, carjacking, drive-by shooting, extortion, homicide, identification fraud and robbery.

Crips
The Crips are a collection of structured and unstructured gangs that have adopted a common gang culture. Crips membership is estimated to consist of between 30,000 to 35,000 individuals, most of whom are African-American males from the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Large, national-level Crips gangs include the 107 Hoover Crips, Insane Gangster Crips and Rolling 60s Crips. Crips gangs operate in 221 cities and in 41 states. The main source of income for Crips gangs is derived from the street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and PCP (phencyclidine). The Crips also are involved in other criminal activities including assault, auto theft, burglary and homicide.

Florencia 13
Florencia 13 (F-13 or FX-13) originated in Los Angeles in the early 1960’s and gang membership is estimated to be more than 3,000 individuals. Florencia 13 operates primarily in California and increasingly in Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Utah. Florencia 13 is subordinate to the Mexican Mafia (La Eme) prison gang and claims Sureños (Sur 13) affiliation. A primary source of income for Florencia 13 is derived from the trafficking of cocaine and methamphetamine. Florencia 13 gang members also smuggle into the U.S. for distribution multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine and methamphetamine obtained from their sources of supply in Mexico. In addition, Florencia 13 gang members produce large quantities of methamphetamine in Southern California for local distribution. Florencia 13 gang members are further involved in other criminal activities, including assault, drive-by shooting and homicide.

Fresno Bulldogs
The Fresno Bulldogs (Bulldogs) are a criminal street gang that originated in Fresno, California, in the late 1960’s. The Bulldogs are the largest Hispanic street gang operating in Central California, with a membership estimated at between 5,000 to 6,000 individuals. The Bulldogs are one of the few Hispanic street gangs in California that claim neither Sureños (Southern) nor Norteños (Northern) affiliation. The Bulldogs do associate with Nuestra Familia gang members, particularly when engaged in the trafficking of narcotics. The street-level distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin is a primary source of income for Bulldog gang members. In addition, the Bulldogs are involved in other types of criminal activity including assault, burglary, homicide and robbery.

Gangster Disciples
The Gangster Disciples criminal street gang was formed in Chicago, Illinois, in the mid-1960’s. The Gangster Disciples are structured like a corporation and are led by a Chairman of the Board. The Gangster Disciples gang membership is estimated to consist of between 25,000 to 50,000 individuals, a majority of whom are African-American males from the Chicago metropolitan area. The Gangster Disciples are active in 110 cities and in 31 states. The Gangster Disciples main source of income is derived from the street-level distribution of cocaine, marijuana and heroin. The Gangster Disciples are also involved in other types of criminal activity including assault, auto theft, fraud, homicide and money laundering.

Latin Counts
The Latin Counts are a violent Hispanic criminal street gang that originated in Chicago in the mid-1960’s. The Latin Counts are composed of at least five structured factions with an estimated 400 to 600 members and associate members. Most members of the Latin Counts are either Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males. The Latin Counts are most active in the Great Lakes region. The Latin Counts derive a source of income from the street-level distribution of crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Members of the Latin Counts are also involved in other types of criminal activity including assault, auto theft, carjacking, drive-by shooting, home invasion, homicide and weapons trafficking.

Latin Disciples
The Latin Disciples, also known as the Maniac Latin Disciples and the Young Latino Organization, originated in Chicago in the late 1960’s. The Latin Disciples is composed of at least 10 structured and unstructured factions with an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 members and associate members. Most members of the Latin Disciples are Puerto Rican males. Maniac Latin Disciples is the largest Hispanic gang in the Folk Nation Alliance. The Latin Disciples are most active in the Great Lakes and Southwestern regions of the U.S. The Latin Disciples are involved in the street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, heroin, marijuana and PCP (phencyclidine). Members of the Latin Disciples are also involved in other criminal activity including assault, auto theft, carjacking, drive-by shooting, home invasion, homicide, money laundering and weapons trafficking.

Latin Kings
The Chicago based Almighty Latin King Nation, commonly referred to as the Latin Kings, is a collection of over 160 structured criminal street gangs, referred to as chapters, operating in 158 cities and in 31 states. The Latin Kings current membership is estimated to consist of between 20,000 to 35,000 individuals. Most members of the Latin Kings are either Mexican-American or Puerto Rican males. The main source of income for the Latin Kings is derived from the street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Latin King gang members primarily obtain their drugs from several Mexican DTOs that operate along the U.S.-Mexico border. Members of the Latin Kings also engage in other criminal activities such as assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft and money laundering.

Mara Salvatrucha
Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, is one of the largest Hispanic criminal street gangs operating in the U.S. Traditionally, MS-13 consisted of loosely affiliated groups known as cliques, however, law enforcement officials have reported increased coordination of criminal activity among MS-13 cliques in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and the New York metropolitan areas. MS-13 is estimated to have between 30,000 to 50,000 members and associate members worldwide, and between 8,000 to 10,000 members residing in the U.S. MS-13 members are involved in the smuggling of illicit drugs into the U.S., primarily powdered cocaine and marijuana. MS-13 members are also involved in the transportation and distribution of drugs throughout the U.S. MS-13 members also engage in other criminal activities including alien smuggling, assault, drive-by shooting, homicide, identification theft, prostitution, robbery and weapons trafficking.

Tiny Rascal Gangsters
The Tiny Rascal Gangsters (Tiny Rascals) are one of the largest and most violent Asian criminal street gangs in the U.S. The Tiny Rascals are composed of at least 60 structured and unstructured gangs, commonly referred to as sets, with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 members and associate members who have adopted a common street gang culture. Most members of the Tiny Rascals are Asian-American males. Tiny Rascal sets are most active in the Southwestern, Pacific and New England regions of the U.S. The Tiny Rascals are involved in the street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine. Tiny Rascal members are also involved in other types of criminal activity including assault, drive-by shooting, extortion, home invasion, robbery and theft.

United Blood Nation
The United Blood Nation (UBN) is a loose confederation of criminal street gangs, or sets, that once were predominately African-American but now include Asians, Caucasians and Hispanics. UBN originated in the Rikers Island Jail in New York City in 1993, and then proceeded to spread throughout the East Coast of the U.S. Membership in the UBN is estimated to exceed 7,000 individuals. UBN derives a source of income from the street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin and marijuana. UBN members also engage in other types of criminal activity including arson, carjacking, credit card fraud, extortion, homicide, identity theft, intimidation, prostitution and weapons distribution.

Vice Lord Nation
The Vice Lord Nation, which is based in Chicago, is a collection of structured criminal street gangs operating in 74 cities and in 28 states, primarily in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. Led by a national board, the Vice Lord Nation consists of an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 members, most of whom are African-American males. The main source of income for the Vice Lord Nation is derived from the street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Members of the Vice Lord Nation also engage in other criminal activity including assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft and money laundering.