Largest gang in the united states

From prison gangs to extortion rackets to neo Nazis, the United States is home to a variety of criminal groups and organizations.

The clandestine world of gang warfare is a favourite for Hollywood movies. It is what earned The Godfather its popularity over the years; the narrative has been repeated numerous times. But did you know that such gangs exist? It seems like the social nature of human beings pushes people to amalgamate based on common interests. And people create gangs with rigid codes and brotherhoods that bind them for life.

Largest gang in the united states

More than 1. Some even source weapons from the military. While many of these groups are regional and only loosely organized, many gangs are expanding their ranks and establishing themselves at international levels. The gang is one of the most rapidly expanding criminal groups in the country, with a reach that extends across 32 states , from Maryland to Hawaii. Though loosely connected, the gang is thought to be the largest street gang in California, with roughly 15, members. They have also infiltrated the U. Based out of South Los Angeles, Florencia 13 is part of a terrifying gang war scene that has turned L. The gang has racked up charges ranging from piracy to conspiracy to sell drugs and murder over the last few years. They also have been cited as another gang infiltrating the U. In , six members were given life sentences out of the 94 that pleaded guilty to their crimes. Originally based out of El Paso, Texas, Los Aztecas have become a powerful paramilitary force on both sides of the Mexico border. Now many of the gang's members are recruited from Texas prisons, and some of its work takes place inside prison walls, such as heroin production. Los Aztecas work with the Juarez cartel and Los Zetas running drugs, smuggling illegal aliens and murdering consulate officials. The gang has a military structure that has helped keep order.

Youth may join gangs due to a lack of other opportunities, such as after school social programs and extra curricular activities. Although these groups may not always occupy the spotlight, they remain a persistent security concern for the country. Throughout the United States, the gang issue has undergone substantial changes over the years, marked by an increase in the number of gangs and gang members, the prevalence and use of firearms, and the establishment of a persistent, enduring gang presence largest gang in the united states major U.

Approximately 1. Many American gangs began, and still exist, in urban areas. In many cases, national street gangs originated in major cities such as New York City and Chicago [5] but they later grew in other American cities like Albuquerque [6] and Washington, D. The earliest American street gangs emerged at the end of the American Revolutionary War in the early s. After the early s, however, gangs began to focus on criminal activity, one example being the Forty Thieves , which began in the late s in the Five Points area. During the late s, gangs reemerged as a criminal force in the Northeast, [10] and they emerged as new criminal enterprises in the American West [14] and the Midwest.

When he was 13, three white teenage boys beat Benny Ivey. The skinny blond adolescent had to show he was tough enough to become a Black Gangster Disciple. It was , the height of the crack era, and many white kids wanted to join black gangs that did not welcome them, so they initiated each other into home-grown copycat versions. Others grew up like he did: the child of poor crack and opioid addicts, ripe to be ensnared by a world promising brotherhood, loyalty and respect. Ivey, now 41, is muscular and likes to keep fit, even though he only weighs pounds. He sports a buzz cut and has tattoos over much of his body. Ivey was 12 when he began sniffing Scotchgard. He soon followed his adoptive parents and two uncles — all school dropouts — into addiction. By 15, Ivey had dropped out of school and broken into probably houses, robbed a crack dealer, had a cop kick his face into the pavement, and started selling meth to support his own addiction.

Largest gang in the united states

About one to two percent of United States Armed Forces members are estimated to belong to criminal gangs in the United States , a much higher proportion than in the civilian population. The report listed at least eight instances in the previous three years in which gang members obtained military weapons for their own use. The report "Gang Activity in the U. In , James N. Burmeister and Wright were in the U. Army , and part of Fort Bragg 's 82nd Airborne Division. Burmeister and Wright were both arrested at a trailer park where police found a 9-mm semiautomatic pistol, a Nazi flag, white supremacist pamphlets, and other gang paraphernalia. Both men were sentenced to life in prison. Former skinhead T.

Eric dier vs russia

They weren't always violent as they started as a prison soccer team. The increasing social isolation felt by African-American communities across the nation continued unabated in the s and 90s, leading to higher rates of social pathologies, including violence. Retrieved June 5, The secret organization has a massive influence and commands the allegiance of even more people. Originally formed as a protection racket for Salvadoran refugees in the city, the group gradually evolved into a violent criminal organization involved in activities like drug and human trafficking. In addition to drug trafficking, this gang is involved in various criminal activities, including assault, auto theft, fraud, homicide, and money laundering. The 18th Street gang maintains a presence in 44 cities across 20 U. Ethnic and Racial Studies. A multi-year joint federal and state investigation of the Holland Latin Kings HLK resulted in the prosecution of thirty-one of the gang's members. Houston Chronicle.

Having insight into some of the most dangerous parts of our society is always an exciting and intriguing topic. The lives of those living in gangs are unique and offer an understanding of US history and culture, especially since they have been present in US society for more than years.

Presently, their membership primarily comprises individuals of white descent, although they also include many members of Latin American and African American backgrounds. Read also Traumatised Mozambique region seeks answers after jihadist attack. The gang has been accused of engaging in human trafficking, drug smuggling, extortion, and assassinations, among many other crimes. Media coverage tends to focus on regions where gang violence is on the rise, at times inadvertently fostering the perception of a widespread and ongoing escalation. One retired detective said in "When you compare them to other street gangs like the Bloods and the Crips , none compare to the organization of the Latin Kings. Today, these gangs are shifting their focus towards operations with reduced visibility and detection rates, such as human trafficking and white-collar crime. Black gangs of Los Angeles began forming into territorial-based groups by the early s, and two federations of black gangs, the Bloods and the Crips , emerged during that period. The list of the biggest gangs in the world wouldn't have been complete without an Italian gang. Murder rates plummeted. Law enforcement agencies reported in that gangs affiliated with ethnicity and non-traditional gangs had expanded in the years prior. Article Talk. Following the outbreak of internal gang violence, Felipe and 19 others were charged with murder and racketeering ; the indictment process ended in with 39 Latin Kings and 1 Latin Queen indicted under the RICO Act. The New York Times.