INTRO TO STREET GANGS & CORRECTIONS
8/6/2014 10:45:00 PM
LEC1 – Intro
36 state prisons in CA
 Security issues
 Safety of those who work in prisons
 Safety of those who live in prisons
 Safety for those outside prison
 Humane treatment of prisoners
Prison Tattoos
 Part of prison culture
 Have specific meaning
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Important to the wearer
Unique picture language for all type of gangs
Different from body art
LEC2 – Clear & Present Danger
Prison Tattoos
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Video
Status symbol, fashion statement
Accepts all types of income
Country Jail VS State Prison
 County jail – 1 year or less, financial fine
 State prison – 1+, fine is 10k
Video
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Aryan Brotherhood – most vicious, 200 members
o Rival of Mexican Mafia
 Mexican Mafia – 400 members, see themselves as warriors
Gang members & affiliates threaten, terrorize, & commit multitude of
offenses against departmental staff, peace officers, & other offenders
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Large amount of prison violence & crime is attributable to gangs
although less than 10% of CDCR (California Department of Crime
Rehabilitation) offenders are members of prison gangs
Prison Gang VS Disruptive Groups
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Prison gang – any gang which originated & has its roots w/in CDCR
prison system
 Disruptive groups – any gang, other than a prison gang
2011 over 2.3 million in custody
 Estimate was low
 Vast majority of criminals on probation, then prison, parole, jail
Video
 “Slimer” – throw feces
 “Spitter” – those w/ diseases that spit
Old School
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From 1800s to present – corrections has made changes in operating
ideologies
o Punishment
o Rehabilitation
o Prevention
Crime – laws codified rules w/ consequence
Punishment
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Back in the day – fines, banishment, torture
Modern times – solitary confinement, misdemeanor, felony
Redress of wrongs
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Retaliation becomes system of law
Tribal costumers – exchange of money or of property
Fines & punishment
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Tribal leaders, elders, & later, Kings play roles in fines &
punishment
Requires “public action”
Hammurabic Code
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1st comprehensive attempt at “codifying laws of nations”
Code of Draco
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Concept of public good more important than individual
injury/vengeance
Roman Codes
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6th Century AD
o Roman Emperor Justinian wrote his “Code of Laws”
o Code of Laws – create scales of justice
LEC3 – Punishments
Middle Ages
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Vast changes in social structures & growing influence of the church
in everyday life
Sinners had to repay 2 debts – 1 to society, 1 to God
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Capital – Death!
 Corporal punishment – any physical pain except death
o Often matched w/ crime
o Liars’ tongues cut off
o Thieves’ hands cut off
Deterrence?
 Widespread use of capital & corporal punishment in Middle Ages –
seen as deterrences (prevention for future crimes)
To protect/punish inmates & to control behaviors of those who work & guard
them
Is it legal to force a patient to take medicine for mental illness?
 No
Gang Rivalries
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Rules to help control behaviors…are they necessary?
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To keep control in prison & to avoid & minimize violence
Honduras
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Concept of the “standard of human decency ” for in custody
treatment
Federal government help change this standards, yet w/ the over
sight there is still issues
 1995 Honduran prison
San Pedro Sula – North Eastern part
 Gang member 18th Street – Bullet
LEC4 – STANDARD OF HUMAN DECENCY
Prisons
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Concepts of the “standard of human decency” for in custody
treatment
o State
o Federal
o International
Inmates
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Have certain rights
Prison have rules
Court over sees
Inmates – Point of View
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Privacy issues
Peer inmates
Prison gangs
Personal safety
LEC5 – Get Out of Jail
State Prison
 Parole (more than a year, 5k+ fine)
County Jail
 Probation (county, local – punishable for 1 year or less, 5k fine)
Federal Prison
 Federal Parole
Conditions
 Probation/Parole
 Manages behaviors outside of prison for a specified amount of time
 Can include reporting, home checks, & drug checks
 May require employment/education
 Courts may impose condition such as:
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Reporting to supervising officer
Obeying laws
Submitting to searches
Not being in possession of firearms
Staying in sentencing jurisdiction
Reporting any changes of job, residence
Violations of such condition may result in Tourniquet Sentencing:
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Increase in conditions that match the severity of breach of
conditions
Gang terms & conditions
Special conditions of probation include intermediate sanctions
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House arrest
Day attendance centers
Electronic monitoring
Intensive supervision
Summary
o Probation is administered by hundreds of separate agencies
w/ a variety of multiple meanings
o 1.7% of nation’s adults on probation
o African Americans & Hispanics – half of probationers
Revocation
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Court can revoke probation & re-sentences
Court can consider mental competence & order a mental health
examination
Bench warrant can be issued when offender cannot be found
Organization & Role of Probation Agency
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Wide variety of systems: county, state
Role is viewed as a dichotomy
o Societal protection
o Counseling & rehabilitation
o Supervising Officers are left to their own devices…at best, a
balancing act
Decision to Grant Probation
 Presentence Investigation Report evaluates the offender’s
background
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May recommend probation
Plan of supervision
Sentencing Hearing
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Hearing
Presentence Report plays a central role
o Revealing any prior convictions, inflicted bodily harm, used a
weapon, unknown to the victim, indicators of mental illness
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Probation is likely when the bulk of the evidence is that the
offender:
o Is basically pro-social & committed first crime, good
education – work histories, married w/ dependents
Has underlining need to address drug/alcohol abuse
Has a low risk score – lower score = more likely probation
Risk Assessments
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Include but not limited to
o Criminal history, financial history, companions, alcohol/drug
issues, mental health issues
Prison & Jail Overcrowding
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Intermediate sanctions – restricts life, forced in specific area
o Variety of correctional punishments that are more restrictive
than probation but less stringent than imprisonment
o Increased surveillance, tighter controls over non-incarcerated
offenders, rapidly being adopted across nation, innovative
control schemes
Why? – Baby boom entered high commitment rate ages, larger # of
persons @ risk to commit crime & be incarcerated, shift to
conservative beliefs about criminals & how to deal w/ them
o Enactment of more stringent punishments
War on Drugs
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Ecstasy - $20-50
Neurotoxin drug – brain damage
SUMMARY
 Incarceration – rule violations
o Micro-communities
 Punishments past VS present
 Human decency
o Tough in prisons, harder outside of US
o Prison abuse
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Growing # of drug abusers/users in prisons now
First prison gang – Mexican Mafia
QUIZ REVIEW
 Pair of stolen shoes @ San Quentin resulted in division b/w
Mexicans in northern & southern California
 Custodial abuse can be experiences by both juvenile & adults
inmates
 If you end up in a CA state prison, you do not have to necessarily
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have to join a prison gang, but you do have to backup the members
of your own race
Not all gang members display some form of gang membership
indicia; it is really the gang mentality and behavior that makes a
person a gang member.
No female prison gangs in CA
The Mexican Mafia was formed at D.V.I. in Tracy, California.
In the U.S., it is illegal to force mentally ill inmates to take medicine
for mental illness.
Monikers tend to be based on a physical or personality trait of the
particular gang member.
Although gang membership is hard to predict, the Seattle Study has
identified five general risk categories which increase the likelihood
that an individual will join a gang, and they consist of:
neighborhood, family, school, peers and individual factors.
Intermediate sanctions attempt to keep people out of prison, while
still making them to pay for their crime. They consist of a variety of
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correctional punishments that are more restrictive than probation,
but less stringent than imprisonment.
According to Valdez & Enriquez, the term "Sureño" has three
different definitions.
Inmates do have some rights while they are in custody.
The Mexican Mafia was the first prison gang to develop in California.
Generally, people go to jail if their sentence is a year or less and/or
their fine is under $5,000, whereas people go to prison if their
sentence is over a year, and/or their fine is $10,000 or more.
The "1 Percent Rule" suggests that gang members comprise
approximately only 1% of the general U.S. population, and that this
same rule applies to both the military population and the immigrant
population in the U.S.
According to lecture, there are 36 prisons in California, where the
prison system is currently operating at 188% capacity.
Around half of the victims of deadly gang violence are innocent
bystanders.
According to lecture, up to 90% of all of the violence in prisons is
caused by prison gangs, although less than 10% inmates are
members of prison gangs.
Sureños are allied under the Mexican Mafia, and they are
represented by the number 13 and the color blue.
The Mexican Mafia & The Surenos
8/6/2014 10:45:00 PM
LEC1 – CALIFORNIA PRISON GANGS
7 major prison gangs in the state
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1. Aryan Brotherhood – AB
2. Black Guerrilla Family – BGF
3. Mexican Mafia – Eme
4. Nuestra Familia – NF
5. Northern Structure – NS or NR
6. Texas Syndicate – TS
7. Nazi Low Rider – NLR
TOP 4 (AB, BGF, EME, NF) – Most influence
(1956-1957) Gang phenomenon began @ the Deuel Vocational Institution
(worst of worst juvenile criminals), 13 different Hispanic inmates from East
LA street gangs, predominantly from the Maravilla area, joined together &
formed the Mexican Mafia
 Model was the Italian Mafia
EME
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Evolved as one of the most brutal & aggressive gangs ever involved
in statewide criminal activity (out of the top 4)
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Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena – 1 of the early & highly regarded
leaders of La Eme
o Attempted reconciliation b/w La Ema & Nuestra Familia at
CIM (China Institute for Men) in Dec 1972
o Brutally murdered by Nuestra Familia during his truce making
attempts
No formal leadership hierarchy
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Runs in horizontal title, each member has its own program, but
follows EME rules
 Shot callers/Area leaders rise to power on the basis of fear,
respect, & personal ruthlessness
Alliances
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Aryan Brotherhood – fragile
Surenos (All southern Hispanic street gangs) – obedient
o Powerbase for EME
Housed w/in Security Housing Units
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Able to control yards & impose their will through intimidation & fear
instilled by surenos (EME’s foot soldier)
Communication becomes key
Joe Pegleg
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Rose as a pseudo “leader”
Slavic decent, write/spoke in Spanish better than most, selfeducated
Cold, brutal
Who are the members?
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Multiple stays in prison, propensity for violent acts, charismatic
Tattoos & Symbols
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Prison art
2 bars, 3 dots – 13 in Aztec
13, SUR = Sureno gang affiliation
Black hand, eagle w/ claw, “emero”, eme – Mexican Mafia
Communication
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Key for prison gang members
B/w themselves, & sureno outsiders
Mails – right to privacy b/c of confidentiality
Video
Renee Enriquez “Boxer” – orders from Mexican Mafia to kill
 5 bullets in Gayao’s head, killed another girl for her affiliation
 Stabbed Mexican Mafia member – retaliation hit
LEC2 – LA EME & MONGOLS
Mongols
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Outlaw motorcycle gang
Recruiting 18th street (surenos) & nortenos
Drug sales – Eme believes that they should have a cut b/c Mongols
using their surenos
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Eme wants to tax Mongols
Green light on Mongols
Since trouble w/ Eme, many dropped out (mostly surenos)
Video
Failing to follow Eme orders can result in punishment, even death outside of
prison
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Green light list
o List gangs to be disciplined – beating/death
o All members expected to follow Eme’s rules
o Hard candy – death
La Eme influence reaches outside of prisons as well
 Lowell gang – refuses to pay tax for Eme
o Put on Green light list – any gang members can kill
Drug Trafficking
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In southern CA & controls many of the Sureno street gangs
Mafia Meetings
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Eme called all surenos for meetings
Prohibit drive-by shootings
o Don’t kill fellow Hispanic members
o If so, then consequences
Wants to control streets
Eme’s success = Communication in & outside of prison
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60k-100k surenos – soldiers to Eme
Edict – pay a tribute from illegal activities from neighborhood
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Solution = murder
LEC3 – THE MEXICAN MAFIA
Mexican Mafia
 Transnational gang – international drug trade business &
involvement w/ other international criminal activity, including
murder for hire
Tijuana Cartel Link
 Los Arellano
o Doing drug trafficking one day, money laundering another
day, human trafficking another day, etc.
Video – Arellano Drug Cartel
 Billion dollar drug lords
 Murder for hire – David Barron-Corona “El Ch”
o Shot down by his own crew
Renee Enriquez
 1956 DVI – Luis “Huero Buff” Flores
 Cultural preservation
 Original members teenagers, early 20’s
 Members had high tendency for violence
Mexican Mafia Code Names
 eMe – the letter M
 La Clica – the group
 Los Famosos – the famous ones
 La Mariposa – Butterfly
 No graffiti
 Mayan # 13
Video – The Black Hand of Death
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Review
Padrino – sponsor a prospect for eme membership
The Combination – steal merchandise (crates, barrel)
o Hands were dirty when handling merchandise
o Imprints would be left
Left hand – insidious
Mero
If not a member but claim Eme membership = punishable by death
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Video –
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Black Hand Symbol
Adopted from Costra Nostra (NY; Italian Mafia)
Surenos, rival general public know the symbol
Black Hand = Death
It is a right that is earned to wear it (tattoo)
Making of a Member, Mexican Mafia
Small group of individuals, influence over Sureno army
Considering for membership – violent
o Simplistic rule – Mafia is priority over everything, even family
o Surrendering independence
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Charisma, leadership, favored
Surenos need to be born leaders, ranked above, need to catch
attention of Eme
Making of Carnal
1. Needs a Padrino (sponsor/godfather)
2. Each prospect is evaluate
3. Vote is conducted by other Carnales
o Any “no” vote, automatic veto
4. New Carnal is greeted on the yard
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“Closing
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5. Carnales are all involved in the politics of La eMe, to include
voting on lives & participating in hits
Membership is life, only purpose
Called a “member” – new, still being groomed, Carnal – after ½
years
Can recruit new members after 2 years (probation period)
Members have to be completely Mexican
the Books”
Closed books 7 years
 New members sprung up
“Cleaning the House”
 Clean up organization
Review
 Members are recruited by the Eme only
 Total US membership – 150
 Looking for those who are violent & show leadership ability
LEC4
The Rules
1. Not be a coward
2. May not be an informant/rat
3. May not be homosexual
4. Must not raise a hand against another member w/o sanction
5. Must not show disrespect for any member’s family, including sex
w/ another member’s wife/girlfriend
The Gray Rules
1. Must not interfere w/ member’s activities
2. Must not steal from another member
3. Membership is for life
4. Mandatory to assault/kill all defectors
5. Must not politic against another member/cause dissension w/in
organization
6. Eme comes first, even before family
Homosexuality
 Perception
 Giver – tolerated; receiver – not tolerated
 Shouldn’t talk about homosexuality
Review
 Can not be a coward; rate; raise a hand against another member
w/o permission; be a homosexual
 Violation punishable by death, immediate sanction
 Depending on social-political status a member can break the rules
 B/c the membership is made up of rule breakers, EME rules are
broken everyday
 Politicking – when Eme members use the rules against another Eme
member for some type of gain/revenge
 Mexican Mafia has 3 factions
o Official part of Eme org (on continental US)
Three Factions
California
 Small group of individuals
 Org is based on egalitarian structure, 1 man, 1 vote = majority
rules
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De facto leadership
o Carnales de palabra – brothers of their word
 Elite
 Hyperviolent
 Strong social-political skills, business
 Set policies, dictate actions
 True leaders
Federal
Arizona
 2 factions
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o Pete Moreno faction – few of indivudlas
 Authentic Mexican Mafia
 Cooperating arm of other 2 eme
o Lechugas
 New Mexican Mafia members
 Rivals of Eme
 Not recognized by Federal/Ca
 Does not adhere to eme’s rules
Texas Mafia
o Not recognized
 “Mexikanaemi” – “Emi”
 Only recognized by Texas
Review
3 factions: California, Federal, Old Arizona
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All members are equal
One man, one vote
Carnales de Palabra – shot callers
o Men of word
o True leaders
o Social-political status
o Direct activities
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Federal Faction (most organized - vertical)
o Commission of 3 carnales (3 leaders)
o Direct the activity of all Federal Faction members
o Adhere strictly to Eme philosophies
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Arizona Factions Old & New
o Old – recognized by mother group & uses symbols &
terminology as CA & Federal factions
o New (unauthorized faction)
 Not recognized/accepted by mother org
 Called “Lechugas” (Spanish for lettuce; worthless ppl)
 Rivals to Eme (CA, Federal, & Old Arizona)
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Hawaii
o Recognized as official arm of mother org
Surenos
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Review
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Based on intellect
Running kites/decoys/collectors/enforcers for Eme
Carnales divided into 2 groups
Those w/ intellectual status become the leadership ‘carnales de
palabra’
Others become the thugs of the org
Not called surenos unless they work w/ Mexican Mafia
Surenos & Camaradas (type of Sureno, friend of Eme)
o Operational arm of Eme
o Responsible for sanctioned hits
o Murder, collectors, enforcers
2 types of Surenos
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Those who assist & help Eme
o Called surenos in prison
Camaradas
o Other Hispanic street gang members who are in prison & do
not work directly w/ La Eme
Las Senoras
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Wives/Gf of the men of the orgs
Underestimated by law enforcement – not known to participate
Participates in communication & conspiracies
Essential in orgs, w/o – comes w/ standstill
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Willing facilitators…
1. Enhances their social status –
 Recognized as associated w/ Eme
2. Means of status mobility
 Money, political status, power
Las Carnalas
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Review
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Sub-org that support paroling members
Part of Mexican Mafia
Facilitate drug trafficking, provide housing
Female faction
Wife
Girlfriends
Female relatives
Willing participants
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Used
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Social/political status
Power
Money
for…
Communication (Kites, wilas) – runner
Mules for contraband & drugs
Facilitator
Crew leader
Known to abuse their power
LEC5
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How the Mexican mafia works on the street w/ gang members
18th Street Drug operations
2 Types of Surenos in Prison
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Surenos – help La Eme
Camaradas – Back up the browns
o Hispanic prisoners (gang/non gang members) who will get
involved in a race riot, but will not do work for the Mexican
Mafia
Surenos
 General term used on outside
 Refers to any Hispanic gang members living south of Bakersfield,
CA
 Also street gangs in & out of Califas that are named
Sureno/Sureno-13
Review
 Eme members consider themselves “gangsters” b/c of the level of
their behaviors, organized criminal activities & social/political status
w/in the prison system
o View themselves as demi-gods
o Like celebrities
 Gang members – refers to all surenos w/in & outside of prison
system
Solado
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Willing to participate in violence for org
Any violent act, willing to kill, willing to give up their life for death
sentences
Soldiers
Doing it for “la causa” – believe they are part of the cause
Participate hoping for recognition
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Review
 Sureno works for La Eme – also called Solado
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o Solado – also referred to as Sureno
o Typical Soldados/Surenos come from ranks of incarcerated
gang members
o Camarada – gang member who is not a solado (friend for
Eme)
 Back up brown race
Solados – can do work for Mexican Mafia in & out of prison
Sureno Hierarchy & Structure
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Leaders stand out as shot callers – as they accomplish more goals
for gang
Faction Hierarchies
 Federal
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o Comission – Rudolfo Champ
Arizona – Pete B Boy
California
o Carnales – upper group
Review
 All street gangs have some type of leadership, most often a shot
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Chart
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caller
Leadership depends on intellect & prospensity for violence
Eme contact
Shot Caller
Down homie
Members
La Lista (The List)
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Review
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Hit list – placed on list = ultimate sanction
Waiting period where they are to be kill
Placed b/c they broke on rule
Murder can only be murdered by a member
2 types of listas
o La Lista – Carnels 7 only other carnels can make the hit
o General lista/Green Light – anyone can make the hit
Women can be placed on lista
o Can be killed by carnels/soldados/camaradas
o How…
 Witness a crime
 Collateral damage to a crime
 Specifically placed on a lista
Children are never to be killed in any mafia operation
LEC6
Greenlighting
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Early 90’s – Eme orders = stop drive-by shootings
Reps for each gang in OC
o Taxation/Homage – gang territory, 1/3 of illicit profits
 Reps collected & gave to Eme
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Not paid = Green Light
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What
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Targeted by society & incarcerated settings
does this mean on the streets?
Lowell – “tax-free”
All put on Green Light
Eme Street Influence
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Brown VS Black
Discipline handled in a variety of ways
Murder = solution to most problems
Violence – universally understood language
To go against a carnal de palabra is to commit political suicide
Going against the word of management = put on lista
Several types of listas for Eme
The Lista
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Eme’s murder target against Eme
Green Light
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Open season – anyone who needs to get hit & anyone can make the
hit
Hard Candy = Death
Baby Candy = Asault w/o Death
South Siding = 13 surenos, assault a person for 13 seconds
Taxation = collect fines for infractions
Carnal Lista
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For carnals who are going to get hit, only another carnal can make
the hit
Personal Hit Lista
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Private list of a carnal, his soldados, or camradas will make the hit
on a non-carnal
LEC7
Mexican Mafia Member
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Facilitator – only communicates w/ member, sometimes crew chief
o Wives/GF
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Crew Chief – only communicates w/ member & facilitator
o Total autonomy (independence)
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Crew Leader – represents specific area, collects narcotics
o Distribution, Collection, Enforcer, Tax Collection
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Crew member – deal w/ drugs
o Collect $, control territory, under crew Leader
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Gang territories
Stopped Drive By Shootings
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Having meetings @ parks
o Horizontally integrate the Mexican Mafia into the Hispanics
gang sub culture in So Cal
Eme Edict
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Stop drive by shootings
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Purpose – public image to stop the brown on brown killing
Tribute – tax & allow Hispanic street gangs to become a source of
income
Allow Mexican Mafia to evolve from a prison gang into organize crime, for
members to become mafiosos
Review
 Eme members have established ties w/ Mexican DTO
 Arrelano Felix Org
 Eme involved marijuana, meth, arms, & human trafficking w/ AFO
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Used CA based sureno street gang members
SUMMARY
 Solicited to become a member
o Sponsor – Padriono
o Induction – training
o Vetted by Eme
 Horizontal membership
 1 veto = out, can’t come back in
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QUIZ
Power
o Can’t have profound impact on street
o Eme Edict – gain control of street gang narcotic sale
o FBI/Orgs suggest that primary source of income comes from
drug sales
Sureno
o Umbrella term
o All So Cal street gangs
Soldado
o Soldiers of eme
o Personal tasks
Outside street gangs
o Taking Sureno/Sureno 13
Las Senoras
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
An individual or an entire gang can be placed on the "Green Light"
list.
According to Enriquez, "mesas" are ad hoc communities designed to
control prison yards and to generate money for Mexican Mafia
members.
The Mexican Mafia have control over the world's two largest and
most prolific street gangs: 18th Street and MS-13.
Mr. Enriquez believes that the Mexican Mafia was formed for
cultural preservation.
It is very rare that Eme members will directly participate in the
taxation themselves.
In order for a recruit to join the Mexican Mafia, ALL of the members
housed at that facility must vote affirmatively.
Today, the California faction of La Eme seems to be more lenient
about accepting non-Hispanic members than the Federal faction.
According to Enriquez, when it comes to the Mexican Mafia,
"philosophy, not numbers, makes power."
According to Enriquez, the Mexican Mafia is made up of only around
150 gang members, who are considered to be the "cream of the
crop."
Occasionally, the Mexican Mafia will impose a moratorium on the
induction of any new members.
Some female facilitators of La Eme can use the "black hand" symbol
or tattoo to represent their husbands in the organization.
The facilitator is the main source of information between the crew
and the Eme member.
The Oklahoma Mexican Mafia may be an unofficial faction, but they
use the symbol of the black hand.
Both state-level anti-gang statutes and federal-level racketeering
investigations (known as RICO) have been used by law enforcement
officials to disrupt the leadership and activities of the Mexican
Mafia.
If a Latino male ends up in a California state prison, he does not
necessarily have to become a carnal or a soldado, but he MUST be
a camarada.
Every member of the Mexican Mafia has a veto power.
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"Cop killing" has become a status mobility system for all gangs in
the U.S.
One method of gang suppression aims to cut off the communication
between prison gangs, like the Mexican Mafia, and their contacts
both inside and outside of prison.
According to Enriquez, the two main purposes of having Mexican
Mafia connected "street crews" are to supply drugs to local gang
territories and then to tax them for it.
The "Big Four" dominate most of the prison gang activity in
California, but there are a total of seven prison gangs in the state.
PRISON GANG RELATIONSHIPS;
SKINHEADS
8/6/2014 10:45:00 PM
LEC1 – NUESTRA FAMILIA
Nuestra Familia





Began as an idea @ Deuel Vocational Institute (1966)
Organized into a prison gang in San Quentin State Prison (1967)
Began as self-protection group against Eme exploitation
Evolved into a criminally oriented gang w/ goal of controlling all
drug trafficking in California Department of Corrections (CDC)
prisons
Well organized in prison & the community

Membership – lifetime
Leadership

Executive Body – “La Mesa” (the cable)
o Mesa – selected from the leadership of the NF
o Leadership – compromised of category 3 Members
Membership



Video –



Hispanic
Recruited predominantly from Northern California
Many members come from rural areas
o Scornfully referred to by their enemies as “farmers” & “sod
busters”
Pelican Bay
Psychology, business, war books
1,000+ members & associates
o Expand field of operations – Boise, Idaho; Arizona
o Becoming larger gang organization
Operates differently
o Involved in same crime of Eme
o But vertical organization
NF Associates & Alliances



Northern Structure (NS) prison gang
Most who identify as Norteno/Norte – align themselves w/ or be
sympathetic to the NF
Align
o Black Guerilla Family (BGF)
o 1 faction of Texas Syndicate (TS) Prison Gang – migrating to
CA, but small #’s
Video – NF
 Must kill to be a member




Gangster rap CD
o Popular in Nor Cal
o Sold in a typical CD shop
o Police chief organized boycott the store
NF has no problem killing member
o Can kill any deserter
o If can’t kill member, kills family
Membership
o Mexican-American
o
Even
o
o
From Nor Cal
if split up prisoners into other states
Then they can still communicate
And expand membership
Generals



James “Tibbs” Morado
Cornelio “Crony” Tristan
Joseph “Pinky” Hernandez
LEC2 – BLACK GUERRILLA FAMILY
Recruitment through Music

Generations of United Nortenos
NF Symbols, Tattoos, & Documents


Nuestra Familia, NF
Tattoos
o Sombrero w/ a knife through it
o Five point star – North star
 Respect, worthiness, trust, loyalty, commitment
o Eagle
 Conduct/communication, awareness/worthiness,
unity/understanding, security/sacrifice,
equality/education
o XIV
o 114%
NF Enemies


Aryan Brotherhood, Eme, One (1) Faction of the TS, Fresno
Bulldogs Street Gang, & “Surenos” (Southern CA Hispanics)
TRUE – TS is ally, AND TS is enemy
Black Guerrilla Family


Most politically organized, & politically motivated
Symbol – Dragon

Founders
o George Jackson
 Former member of Black Panther Party
 Found Black Family at San Quentin Prison (1966)
 Changed name to Black Vanguard
Became BGF Prison Gang (1971) after Jackson had
been shot & killed during attempted escape from San
Quentin
o Jeffrey Gaulden

Video


Concept – whole black nation needs to create Black Army
Cry for to take over the government
BGF – Revolutionary Movement


Established in military fashion
Based on Chinese Communist Philosophy – 3 Primary Objectives
1. Eradication of racism
2. Struggle to maintain pride/dignity in prison environment & a
racist society
3. Overthrow the US government & end capitalism
Extensive Constitution & Code of Ethics


Repeated references to “The Dragon”
4 main rules of discipline for the BGF are taken directly from the
quotation of Mao
BGF & Alliances





Draw membership from nearly all Black street gangs whether Crips
or Blood
Maintain close ties w/ street gangs to facilitate large-scale drug
transactions
Some areas – run ‘Protection’ rackets on known dealers rather than
deal the drugs themselves
Allied w/ Nuestra Familia prison gang
Not JUST in prison
Enemies

Traditional enemies – Eme & Aryan Brotherhood
Leadership

Formalized rank structure consisting of Supreme Commander,
Generals, Captains, Lieutenants, Soldiers
BGF Symbols




Refer to each other usually in their writings as “Comrade” or “Razle”
Frequently referred to as the “276” or the “Party”
o 276 – numerical placement w/in the alphabet of the letters
BGF
Strong affinity for the use of Swahill & Arabic words & names
Tattoos
o Chinese dragon
o Rifle & sword crossed
o Letters BGF
o 276
Video

Officer Mills killed by inmates
o Attacked b/c he represented the system
New BGF Identities

Anecdotal evidence suggest the Silver Back Gorilla is a symbol used
by BGF members
o Currently not enough corroborating evidence
LEC3 – ARYAN BROTHERHOOD
Prison gang associated w/ street gangs

Propur status
o Representing yourself , acting as your own lawyer
o Loopholes where they meet up with “witnesses/those who
work w/ them on their case” – not recorded
Symbols
 3 leaf clover – shamrock
 666
 AB
 Swastikas
 Viking pictures
Video





Small in #’s
Dominated drug trade, “Alpha-dogs”
Huge egos, functions through terror
Blood in, blood out
The Brand – from branding animals
o Gun slinger attitude
o Attacked anyone that stood in their way
o Calling card – brutality of act, not just murder
Aryan Brotherhood


Began as a Neo-Nazi group formed @ San Quentin prison(1960s)
Self protection against black inmates

Originally as Diamond Tooth Gang
o Later as Bluebird Gang
 Recognized as prison gang (1968)
 No written constitution
o But subscribe to creed which promotes brotherhood & loyalty
Leadership – Vertical

Commission
o Consist of 3 influential AB members (highest ranking)

Council
o Consist of 3 Commission members, along w/ 4 other
influential AB members
Video

1972 – Charles Manson
o Transferred to prison, CA declared death penalty as
unconstitutional
o Asked to be part of AB for protection from blacks
 Rejected, b/c he killed children
o However, used his women to smuggle drugs
Commission



AB Council
Federal – 2 members
CA – 4 members
o Structures can change

Vertically organized
o Federal & State faction
 Both are lead by commission
AB Associates




No specific street gang from which the AB will draw membership
from
No informal link b/w AB & white inmates w/in the jail & prison
systems
ANY white street gangs
Frequently linked w/ white individuals w/in community
o Particularly outlaw motorcycle gangs, who are involved w/
meth use, production, & distribution, 7 who many subscribe
to a white supremacy philosophy
AB Enemies


Engaged in their criminal enterprises, the AB frequently aligns w/
Mexican Mafia prison gang
Tradition enemies – Nustra Familia, Black Guerrilla Family prison
gangs
LEC4 – SYMBOLS
Video
 Can’t kill enemy, then kills enemy’s family
 “Cutouts” – third party used for moving $, drugs, & other
contraband
Symbols



3 leaf clover – shamrock
Usually accompanies by 3 sixes (666) & letters AB
o Same symbol & accompanying letters serve as the tattoo of
membership or “brand”
o Referred to as ‘The Brand’
Spider
Video
Prudo

Wine from fruit, sugar, & ketchup

Notes passed among prisoners often carried on/in the body of
inmate
Writes multiple kites, so if officer catches one, the other ones might
be sent successfully
Kites

Hit & Miss

Invisible writing w/ urine
Sir Francis Bacon

Biliteral cipher
Primary Goal


Transform from dysfunctional prison gang into a viable & productive
criminal org
Pledge – Mind, heart, & life
o “I pledge my mind, heart, & life to AB”
LEC5 – NAZI LOW RIDERS
AB Rico Trial

Criminal charge
Barry Byron Mills – “The Baron”




AB Founder
Indicted for racketeering & conspiracy to commit murder – as well
as actually carrying one out
1979 near-decapitation of inmate John Mazloff (for allegedly
cheating fellow AB leader) “Terrible Tom” Silverestiein in a drug
deal
Eligible for death penalty
Tyler Davis Bingham “TD Bingham” or “Hul k”



AB Leader
Accused of ordering the murders & assault of AB enemies &
dropouts
Eligible for death penalty
Richard Llyd Terflinger


AB jailhouse lawyer
Elible for death penalty for conspiracy in assignation (1983) of
Temple City resident Richard “Lefty” Barnes b/c Barnes’ son Steven
had testified against AB member
Christopher Overton Gibson



Accused of attempted murder for restraining inmate Jeff Barnett
while Steven Hicklin stabbed him
Assaulted Sheriff’s deputy while incarcerated @ West Valley
Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga
Eligible for death penalty
Trial Status – 7/28/06



Jury convicted 4 alleged leaders/Aryan Brotherhood under the
Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organization law
Charges ranged from murder, conspiracy, & racketeering
Result – verdict makes Mills & Bingham eligible for Death Penalty

Death penalty phase began 8/15/06
Nazi Lower Riders




“Dogs of war” – mostly white teenagers middle/upper middle class
homes
From Mission Viejo
La Mirada Punks
o Another white supremacy
NLR
o Recruits white supremacists – white power



o Disruptive group
Formed in CA Youth Authority (1970s)
May have originated in Preston facility of CYA
Late 1970s/early 80’s

o AB gave NLR permission to organize in CDC mainlines
Fills void created by placement of AB members in SHU
Membership


Structure is similar to AB & Eme (limited)
“Hybrid” leadership structure


Lifelong commitment
Blood in, blood out
Rank Structure

Seniors – can grant membership


o Typically requires 5 years as member
o Requires affirmative vote of at least 3 other seniors
o Lack of organization has allowed some individuals to
successfully claim the title of “senior” w/o following these
guidelines
Juniors – can recruit but cannot grant membership
Prospects – possible future members under evaluation
Rule of Membership

Never run from an enemy no matter how outnumbered you are




Never leave a fallen brother behind
Never fail to come to the aid of a brother, regardless of the odds
No politicking against another member
Call each other “brothers”




Consider all other white gangs to be subordinate to them
In exception to AB
Some faction of NLR refuse alliance w/ AB
Origin
NLR


o Mix race white kids want to join white supremacy gangs
o Upset that they were not accepted
 So made NLR
Half Amarasian, Hispanics, etc.
o Throw away whites
Prison gang but also operates on streets
Relationships to Other Gangs


Subservient to AB & compatible w/ Eme
Enemies – Blacks & Northern Hispanics

View themselves as the only future avenue to gain AB membership
o Stepping stone to become AB
Perceive other white gangs as inferior

NLR Granted AB membership
 Richard ‘Smiley’ Miley
 Goran ‘Light Foot’
Not sure if in AB..
 Jason ‘Creeper’ Gann
 Thomas ‘Trouble’ Gray
 James ‘Pee Wee’ Macmajon
Tattoos & Symbols



44 – add up 14+12+18
NLR
Runic/Celtic writing of NLR
SUMMARY
 Eme – large prison gang
o Rivals – Nuestra Familia
 Power from Norteno
o Power from Surenos
o South/North of



Nuestra Familia
o Vertical structure
BGF
o Founder from by affiliated w/ Black Panther
o Communist philosophies of Mao
o Overthrow government
o Most politically-oriented gang
Dead Man Incorporated
o White
o Support writings of Mao
 Aryan Brotherhood
o Smallest size
o Most violent
Primary Goals – TO MAKE MONEY
 Nazi low Riders
o Formed in prison, operate in streets too
o Small in #, but sophisticated
NF – Vertical, Military
BGF – Vertical, Military
AB – Vertical, Commission
NLR – Vertical on Horizontal, Seniors
QUIZ ANSWERS
 The Hammerskin Nation, PENI and NLR can all have direct and
indirect connections to the Aryan Brotherhood.

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
In the skinhead culture, a "boot party" refers to the stomping of a
victim, and the boots are typically steel-toed Doc Martens.
The history of the skinhead movement provides just another
example to support the fact that music is one of the greatest
propaganda tools around.
In the NLR's early years, any mixed-race individual could join,
except those of African-American ancestry.
Skinheads do not tend to use drugs like cocaine and heroin just as
frequently as members of other types of street gangs.
The NLR was formed in a juvenile correctional facility some time
between the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The powerbase and recruitment pool for white supremacy-based
prison gangs lies in the ranks of skinheads.
Attorneys and law enforcement officials can be involved in the
smuggling of contraband into prisons.
The Hammerskin Nation started out as a street gang in Texas, but
is now a group of skinhead street gangs that have united under one
gang.
Most "Peckerwoods" hate Blacks, Asians, and Jews, but they seem
to be able to tolerate Hispanics, probably because Hispanic inmates
provide protection for incarcerated Peckerwoods.
The Hammerskin Nation's name and symbol originated from a Pink
Floyd album named the “The Wall.”
The BGF considers themselves to be a "revolutionary movement."
Some prison gang members have told Valdez that some times it is
easier to get drugs in prisons than out on the streets.
The rise of the punk movement in the U.S. helped to facilitate the
development of skinhead gangs.
PENI functions as both a prison-based "disruptive group" and a
street gang.
There are three types of skinhead gangs: those that are racist,
those that are not racist (SHARPs) and independents.
Prison gangs exploit the "pro per" system in order to help them
conduct business and carry out murders.
PENI is different than other skinhead street gangs because they
tend to have more female members, and fewer juvenile members.



The AB was originally called the Diamond Tooth gang, and then the
Blue Bird gang, before they ultimately became known as the Aryan
Brotherhood.
The NLR was developed in order to fill the void within the prison
system that was left after the CDC began to crack down on the
Aryan Brotherhood.
Generally, the color of the braces worn by skinheads is important.
PRISON GANGS IN CA & TX; GANG GLOBALIZATION
& ILLEGAL MARKETS
8/6/2014 10:45:00 PM
LEC1- BARRIO AZTECA
NF – Vertical, Military
BGF – Vertical, Military
AB – Vertical, Commission


3-4 high ranks
Orders go down
NLR – Vertical on Horizontal, Seniors, Juniors


Only seniors can grant membership
Juniors can solicit new members
Texas Prison Gangs
Barrio Azteca


21
Formed (1986) in Coffield Unit of TDCJ (Texas Department of
Criminal Justice) by 5 street gang members from El Paso, TX
o All 5 had been members of street gang X14
Purpose


Protect & control their local environment through illegal activities
High prospensity for violence

Recruited heavily from street gangs
o Mainly of street gang members locked down in county jails
Juarex, Mexico > El Paso, TX > Everywhere else





Drug trade/corridor
Dope, heroin, cocaine
Transnational prison gang & nationally distributed
o Both borders
o Use parolees
Drug smuggled
o Gangs distribute
Outside jails
o Use traffic narcotics & conduct other business for BA
o BA collects 10% tax on all street gang profits
o Just like Eme
Favored street gangs





Puro Barrio Sandoval
Barrio Cantu Rifa
Varrio Hacienda Heights
Colonel Street Locos
Varrio Northeast
Membership





Initially grew to 35 members & currently has over 1,500 members
w/ most of them being from West TX
Members are now being found in Arizona, CA, Colorado, Illinois,
New Mexico, & Mexico
Formed to unite El Paso street gang members who had been
incarcerated in TDCJ
New member
o Must be sponsored by a Sergeant or above w/ sponsor being
responsible for teaching the recruit al BA rules
Captain must approve the new member before he is accepted into
the gang
o Vertical structure
Violence in 3 perspectives



**Most
Witness
Doer/giver
Victim
prison gang members have 2-3 of these perspectives
LEC2 – BARRIO AZTECA…continued
Rivals



Texas Syndicate
Aryan Brotherhood of TX
Raza Unida


Black Guerilla Family
Nuestra Familia

Gang boss arrested in consulate killings in Ciudad Juarez
o Mexican authorities – arrested a leader of binational prison
gang for the mid-March killings of 3 people associated w/ US
consulate in Ciudad Juarez
o Soldiers arrested senior member of Barrio Azteca gang in
Juarez & turned him over to state prosecutors

In separate incidents, minutes apart (March 13)
o Gunman attacked 2 similar cars leaving a child’s bday party in
Juarez
o Killed consulate employee Lesley Enriquez & her husband,
Arthur Redelfs, who worked @ El Paso County Jail
o Couples’ infant daughter was unharmed in the back seat of
the car
BA
Video
“Capo”

Leader
“La Quota”

Street tax
Pachucos


Mexican-American gangsters
El Paso – Chuco town
Clique on Us

Attack
Barrio Azteca




Closely allied w/ Juarez Cartel – which controlled smuggling routes
& local street sales in the city, which borders El Paso, US, &
Mexican officials
Locked in deadly war w/ gangsters from northwest Mexico’s Sinaloa
state for control of the city
2 years of fighting – killed some 4,600 ppl in Juarez, a city of about
1.5 million
Barrio – means neighborhood, honored hometown of El Paso
Shanks

Homemade knives
Transferred to new facilities

Recruited new members



Operates in 20 states & Mexico
Has grown to 3k-3,500 members (2008)
Para-military leadership (like Nuestra Familia)
BA
“Tiendas”

Drug dealers
Communication

Use codes via radio station requests
“Esquinas”

Affiliates, friends, relatives
“Padrino”

Gang sponsor
“Huaraches”

Sandals

Call each other Indians
Symbols



Indians
Azteca calendar
“21” – 2 is B, B is 2
Structure




Capos – headmaster tattoo
Lieutenants – 2 feathers
Sergeants
Soldiers
National members – Pepsi generation
 Newer members
Originals
Nationals
Involved in…
 Human smuggling, kidnapping, robber, murder for hire, arson,
extortion, auto theft, assault, burglary, weapon violations
LEC3 – HERMANDAD DE PISTOLEROS LATINS (HPL)
Latin Brothers W/ Guns


Originally formed in TDCJ in mid 1980s
Reported throughout TX

Laredo – main power base for gang
(1982)

Texas prisoners Joe Mendoza & Alberto Rodriguez form the
Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos
Early 1985


Alliance is formed b/w HPL & Mexikanemi
Both gangs attempt to destroy Texas Syndicate in 10 year prison
gang war
National

Reported in Minnesota, Tennesse, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan,

Montana, NY, North Carolina, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas,
Kentucky, & CA
Currently in a total of over 29 states
Symbols



Guns crossed
HPL
Uses # 16 & 12
o P&L
Members



US population – estimated over 1,300
Unknown how many members in Mexico
Transnational prison gang
Crimes

Drug trafficking, home invasion robber, humans, arms trafficking, &
assaults
Vertical Para Military Command & Operation Structure






Highest ranking
o Llaveros (key holder)
Encargardo
Soldier
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Captains

Major
Tango Blast




Started in state prison (TDCJ) – 1990s
o Some original members suggest gang initially a sibling gang
formed under Texas Syndicate
o Do dirty work for TS
o Suggested that Tangos formed as a result of members getting
tired of working for TS & formed for protection against
remaining prison gangs like BA & Texas Mexican Mafia
14,000 members – largest prison gang in TX
Lack of structure/hierarchy
o Did not follow traditional membership rules practiced by most
prison gangs
Active in prison & on streets
4 Horsemen


Puro Tango Blast (PTB) – original 4
o Gang’s membership is divided up by cities
Each clicke will identify w/ particular city identifiers, such as name,
skyline, or area code
o Houstone – Houseone (713/281) H town
 Tattoos – incomplete star, Houstone
Large # of members; majority – young kids
o Austin – La Capricha (512) ATX
o Dallas (214) D-Town
 Tattoos – animals (tigers, leopards, eagles, etc.), five
point star, “Dallas”, “214”, D-Town
o Forth Worth – Foros/Foritos (817)

LEC4 – TANGO BLAST
Other cliques = KNOWN AS TANGO



San Antonia – San Anto/Orejones (210)
El Paso – Chuco/EPT (915)
West Texas – Weso/WTX

Corpus Christi – Corpitos/Charco (361)
o Tattoos
 Corpitos

Rio Grande Valley – Vallucos (956)
o Tattoos – “Vallucos”, palm treets
Tango Blast

Voluntary membership

o Criteria = To have spent time in state prison
o Over 8 months
o Recruits are evaluated by crew
 14 days of probation
o Jumped in – beating that lasts 1 minute
Based on geographical location before they go to prison

Younger & newer members = called Pepsi generation
o Don’t always adhere to rules
Tattoos



“Cracks” on horns = against TS
EPT = El Paso
No leader to control street operations
o Little structure, no ranks
Tango Blast VS Tangos

More criminal activity the members is involved him = refers to
himself as ‘tango blast’

Most members refer to each others as ‘tangos’
o Not in violent behaviors



Blasting = involved in violent disruptive behaviors
Drugs from Mexico to Houston
Live by 1 rule = “Keep yourself right”
Representation


Wearing sports gear from hometown
Gang members deny membership
Operation


Prison & street gang
No written rules in/out of prison


In custody – members may elect a cell rep
Communication = Internet
LEC5 – FEMALE PRISON GANGS, JUVENILES, RUSSIAN PRISON GANGS
Female Prison Gangs

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
As of 2011, no reported female prison gangs w/in US
Females process info differently than me
May also look @ violence differently
Females behave differently in custody
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May be mothers/pregnant
o Nurturing
Can females be violent while in custody?
Those who get drugs in prison
o Gets power
o Inmates are exposed to drugs

Drug debts = ‘solved’ w/ violence
Juveniles in Prison

No juvenile prison gangs
o But one did start up in CA youth authority – Nazi Low Riders
o Maintains gang affiliation
 Can be violent
 Usually have multiple chances before having to be sent to adult
prison
Russian Prison Gangs

WEEK 4 SUMMARY
Texas Prison Gangs & CA
 Share same behaviors
 Differences in operations/structure/managing business
 TX
o Texas Syndicate, Aryan Brotherhood, TX Mexican Mafia (not
formerly recognized by CA faction)
o Smaller gangs – social hierarchy
o Barrio Azteca
 Transnational, faction operating on other side of border
o HPL
 Transnational, faction operating on Mexico
 Nationally distributed in US – 29 states
o Tango Blast
 Tired of doing dirty work of TS
 Developed own gang for protection w/in TDCJ
 No vertical/horizontal hierarchy
 Operates like street gang in prison
 Depends where you are from
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 From Houston, go to Houstone; etc.
4 Horsemen
 Tango Blast – most disruptive behavior
Qualifications – 8 months of prison
CA
o Have to be asked to be in the gang, not have qualifications
like TX
Female Prison Gangs
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No prison female gangs in US
Process info differently than men
Use both sides of brain – corpus callosum is dense in women
QUIZ REVIEW
 A few Barrio Azteca members own and operate legitimate
businesses.
 The Northern Structure was used as a "front organization" by the
Nuestra Familia.
 One unique characteristic of the Northern Structure is that
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members are free to leave the gang when they want to.
The Barrio Azteca prison gang does have a para-military leadership
structure.
To join Tango Blast, you do not have to be jumped in, you only
have to do 8 months in custody.
Tango Blast is unique not only because they operate like a street
gang in prison, but because they have no horizontal OR vertical
structure.
While there tends to be a bad social stigma associated with going to
jail or prison, for gang members, being incarcerated has the
opposite effect because it actually elevates their status and
reputation.
Some people believe that Tango Blast will eventually have to adopt
a vertical command structure like other the prison gangs.
The Hermanos de Pistoleros (HPL) prison gang members have been
known to be involved in home invasion robberies.
The Hermanos de Pistoleros (HPL) prison gang originally formed in
TX.
Barrio Azteca is very similar to the Mexican Mafia in several ways:
they are both transnational, control local street gangs, demand
tributary taxes and are directly connected to Mexican drug cartels.
Although prison gangs initially form to protect their members from
other groups, they eventually become just another predatory
organization in the system, because they are compelled to be
violent.
The Texas Syndicate prison gang was initially formed in California
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There are no reported female prison gangs, Asian prison gangs, or
juvenile prison gangs (even though the Nazi Low Riders were
formed in California Youth Authority).
Barrio Azteca is allied with the Juarez cartel.
Typically, Neta members are secretive and will not freely admit
their gang membership.
Prison gangs do not influence activities at the county jail level.
Law enforcement officials have discovered that there are actually
female members of HPL.
Tango Blast has over 14,000 members, 8 cliques, and no leaders.
Members of the Juarez police department (in Mexico) have been
known to work with members of the Barrio Azteca.
Although Barrio Azteca is similar to the Mexican Mafia in many
ways, they have a vertical paramilitary structure which makes them
more organizationally similar to Nuestra Familia and the Aryan
Brotherhood.
Inside of the prison system, there seems to be a truce and alliance
between various sets of Crips that are rivals when they are on the
streets.
GANGS IN THE MILITARY; RUSSIAN & ARMENIAN
ORGANIZED CRIME
8/6/2014 10:45:00 PM
LEC1 – RUSSIAN GANGS
Russia’s 100,000 neglected children

Travel in gangs – living by stealing & finding shelter in deserted
buildings in Moscow & in other cities in the sewers & catacombs
After Russian revolution

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Many youth found themselves homeless & turned to gangs for
survival
Also happened in Europe after WWII
= After major event – homeless youth band together for survival &
can quickly form into a gang
“Gezprizornye” – The Neglected
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“Large groups of Russian youth, finding themselves in a
disorganized society & w/o adequate adult supervision b/c of the
death of 1/both parents or the dislocation of their families, formed
marauding bands, housing themselves in cellars & make shift
shelters near large urban centers .”
Variety of youth subcultures including street gangs
Soviet youth committed offences, not as individuals but as
members of the group
Stilyagi
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(1950s) Soviety government label youths w/ interests in Western
dress & ideas
Rivals – other existing Soviet youth subcultures
Khippi

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“Hippies”
(1960s) Soviet youth subculture evolved even further
Hippie movement in US
Fanaty

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Membership was drawn from middle class
Quickly changed to working class
Largest group associated w/ Spartak soccer team – approx..
100,000 strong
Soviet youth subculture evolved even further (1980s)
= American influence
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Khippi – hippies
Fanaty – gangs of soccer fans
Pacifics – punk rockers
Rokery – bikers
Metallisty – heavy metal band followers
o
o
o
o
Took names of well-known US based bands like Kiss & AC/DC
Members wore leather jackets w/ metal studs
Developed their own style of street graffiti
Some sub groups functioned as true western type street
gangs
o Committed criminal acts etc.
Soviety Union Break Up

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(Nov 9, 1989) Berlin Wall falls
Signifies start of collapse of Soviet Union
Fall of Soviet Union – Christmas day, 1991
In 20 years…
o Breaks up into countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
Russia’s 141.9 million citizens descend from more than 100 ethnic
groups
Nearly 100% literacy
Size geographically 17 million square kilometers
Largest country in the world geographically by 2.5 million square
miles
Russia

Moscow – Capital & largest city


St. Petersburg (Lenigrad 1924-1991) second largest city
During transition from Soviet Union to Russia
o Juvenile delinquency in the form of drunkenness, drug crimes,
violence, & other crimes increases
Russian youth disenchanted w/ communist way of life, desired Western
goods @ the time when economic opportunities were rare/nonexistent

Divorce rates rose, poverty & single parent households increases,
youth became less supervised, schools weaken, & crime rose

Banda – all types of youth groups & gangs
Bezprisornye – current term for Russia – youth groups & gang
Russian Skinheads – ‘skiny’
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Few gangs adopt Nazi clothing & culture to express group identity
Have complex initiation rituals
Involved in criminal acts & hate crimes
Some have vertical organized structure
Heavy metal music
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Job – pass out racist literature
Feel rejected by other Russians
Rivals – youth involved w/ rap music & subculture (rappery)
Russian Street Gangs
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Name themselves after specific locations
Sense of territory
Attracts youth b/w 13-16 years of age
Very few members return to gang after military service
Female participate in smaller #s

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Tend to leave gang for marriage
Alcohol abuse common
Kazan
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Gangs have divided the city up into zones/turfs
Individual gang fight each other for control of turn
Organized gangs
Goals – controlling certain economic spheres, make $

Sub-divided into cliques by age – Brigades
o 14 year olds – husks
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o 16 –
o 17 –
o 18 –
Female Gangs
No authority
Authoritative powers increased w/ age & ranking
Regular meetings
Like many US based street gangs
supers
juveniles
elders
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Gangs can be all male, co-ed, or all female
Small 15-20 members
May identify w/ unique dress style, like wearing bows in their hair,
wide pants, & gaudy makeup
Few organization level but a well defined relationship
Most disappeared by 1996
Currently – almost all females are involved in co-ed type street
gangs
Usually join gangs for protection against physical & sexual violence
Positions in co-ed gangs – mirror their male counterparts

Oldest females 18-22 years old = called wives
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o Attached to a single male member
o Wear extravagant clothes

Prestigious girls 15-18 years old
o Asked to carry out crimes for the gang
o Males in the gang generally do not touch these females

Girl fighters – 16-17 years old
o Participated in criminal activity
o Usually took care of males
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Common girls – used for sex & prostitution
Females left gang = when married or become self-employed as
prostitutes
Criminal activity
o Anything but not limited to robbery, extortion, racketeering,
fights, drug sales, beatings, & homicide
LEC2 – RUSSIAN GANGS (continued)
Russian prison gangs

Developed differently than other ethnic based groups like the
Mexican drug trafficking organizations

Began in prison by thieves
o Common thread – doing crime together
Unlike Italians who forms the LCN type groups or Chinese Triads or
Mexican drug trafficking groups
o All ethnic based OC (organized crime) groups
o Russian OC groups developed from the prison gang &

membership is based on mutual participation in criminal
activities

Soviet prison system in many ways fulfilled the function of ethnic
tie for membership
Thieves world
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Professional criminals adopted behaviors, rules, values, & sanctions
that bound them together
Led by criminal elite ‘voy v zakone’
o Ran prison gangs
Thief in law
Prison life is brutal
Suki (bitch) wars
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Enlisted w/ Stalin, war against Hitler
o Promised freedom, but when war over = sent back to prison
Traitors to thieves world = bitches
o Created own society w/ prison authorities
o Shoemakers, cooks, had knives, etc.
1945-1953 (Stalin’s death)
o Group of criminals released
o Worked w/ government
Segment of prison gangs become coworkers of Russian bureaucracy
o Need of services
Organization structure
o Minimize contact w/ other cells that could lead to
identification of entire org

Each boss ‘pakhan’ controls 4 criminal cells through brigadiers
o Pakhan has 2 spies to watch over each brigadier
 Planning & strategy
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Elite Group – management, organization, ideology
o Support Group & Security Group
 Working Unit – burglars, thieves, prostitutes, street
gangs
Spies to watch working unite to prevent them from becoming too
powerful
Russian OC is entrenched in ‘thieves world’
Group membership recognized in prison & acknowledge on streets
Operate w/ traditional Russian organized crime code of conduct
Obey the ‘Voro V skoy Zakon’ – thieves code
o Members bound by these 18 codes & if broken are subject to
punishment
Prison Gang rules
1. Forsake his relatives-mother, father brothers, sisters
2. No family of his own, no wife, no children; this does preclude him from
having a lover
3. Never, under any circumstances work, no matter how much difficulty this
brings, live only on means gained from thievery
4. Help other thieves, both by moral & material support, utilizing the
commune of thieves
5. Keep secret info about whereabouts of accomplices (dens, districts, hidehouse, safe apartments)
6. In unavoidable situations (if a thief is under investigation) to take the
blame for someone else’ crime, this buys the other person time of freedom
7. Demand a convocation of inquiry for the purposes of resolving disputes in
the event of conflict b/w oneself & other thieves, or b/w thieves
8. If necessary participate in such inquiries
9. Carry out the punishment of the offending thief as decided by convocation
10. Not resist carrying out the decision of punishing the offending thief who
is found guilty
11. Have a good command of the thieves’ jargon, fehnay
12. Not gamble w/o being able to cover losses
13. Teach the trade to young beginners
14. Have, if possible, informants from the rank & file of thieves
15. Not lose your reasoning ability when using alcohol
16. Have nothing to do w/ authorities (particularly w/ ITU-Correctional Labor
Authority) do not participate in public activities, nor join any community
organizations
17. Not take weapons from hands of authorities, not serve in the military
18. Make good promises given to other thieves
= Similar to CA based prison gangs follow
= Violence is used for enforcement
Soviet Era OC Groups
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Worked in an unofficial, but well known collaboration w/
government = corruption
1st Tier – white
o Nomenkltura-Russian governmental organization & high level
officials
nd
2 tier – gray
o Apparatchiks – government bureaucrats
o Shadow economy – exploited their jobs
o Produced goods & services ‘off the books’ that is outside the
state mandated production quotes
o Payment for these goods went into pockets of their 2nd tier
participants
3rd tier – black
o Criminals – ran various illegal activities such as drugs,
gambling, prostitution, extortion
Markets
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White – legal, 1st tier
Gray – legal, but regulated, 2nd tier
Black – illegal, 3rd tier
Relationship b/w Government & Organized Crime

Giant state apparatus thus not only allowed criminal activity, but
encouraged, facilitated & protected it
Transnational

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Members develop relationship w/ drug trafficking organizations
from other countries
Border can porous just & some parts of the US northern & southern
borders are
Incarceration in Russia


B/w mid 1960s-1980s – approx. 35 million people
B/w 28-30 million are tattooed
LEC3 – RUSSIAN & ARMENIAN GANGS
Are Russian gangs working w/ Colombian cartels?

Yes – part of prison gang connection
Russian Gangs in US (Prison gangs)
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(1970s-1980s) Approx. 200,000 Soviet citizens entered country
o Many were Russian-Jewish refugees
Also appears that KGB emptied their prisons
Sent to US as immigrants
(1989) Under Lautenberg Amendment
o 50,000 soviet refugees are allowed to enter the country/year
o (1991) Russia also changed a law to allow people to travel
freely & immigrate to other countries
(1994) Majority of Soviet immigrants declared NY, CA, Washington,
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, & Oregon as

their intended state of residence
o LA + NY = largest
Transnational gang
o Operating in prison & in organized crime in the outside
1st report – law enforcement if Russian OC activity in the US came
in 1975
Gang from Odessa region of Russia was discovered to be involved
in major fraud scheme
Potato Bag Gang

o Selling sacks of potatoes as gold coins
o Victims – other Russians living through US
Female prison gangs
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Russian OC Groups
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(Early 90s) Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported over 5,000
organized crime groups operating in Russia
Over 100,000 members
Over 18,000 leaders – ‘pakhan’
Only around 300 have identifiable vertical leadership structure
o More sophistication
(Mid 1970s-1980s)
o Aligned w/ La Costra Nostra during fuel tax frauds
o Significant percent of profit went to LCN as ‘tax’
(1980) 4 Russian OC groups identified in US
o (August, 1993) FBI reports 15 Russian OC groups operating in
the US
Some groups are highly organized, others are loosely operated
Communication

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East Coast ROC groups communicate w/ West Coast ROC groups
US based ROC groups communicate w/ ROC groups in Russia
ROC groups can be considered transnational gangs
Russian Criminal Gangs
EX-FBI direction Luis Freeh

Over 200 of Russia’s 6k criminal gangs operate in US in 17 cities &
14 states
Russian Members are sent from Russia to US to…

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Consolidate & reinforce links b/w groups in Russia & America
Performed specific crime or professional hit
Some crimes involved form of hyper-violence
o Torture
Tattoos

Stars on knee – leader
Armenian OC
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Based in Hollywood & Glendale, LA county
Home to largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia
Groups appear to be well structure & have a vertical leadership
Approximately 450 members & associates
One group has 150-200 members
Anecdotal evidence suggest a connection to Armenian street gangs
in the area
Tend to model their behaviors after Hispanic street gangs
Aligned w/ Mexican Mafia
Use # 13
Armenians immigrated to LA in mass #s (1980)
o Seeking better opportunities for their children
o Many came from war-torn streets of Armenia & Lebanon
Population worldwide
o Less than 10 million
o Largest population outside of Armenia – LA
o Most settled in Hollywood, Glendale, & North Hollywood, CA
Most recent groups of immigrants
o Live in low class neighborhoods among other ethnic groups, in
particular Latinos
o Latino gang members (esp. Mara Salvatrucha) would
constantly harass Armenian youth in schools/streets
Strong sense of ethnic pride
o Do not let abuse/insults go unanswered
o Simple mad dog from Latino gang member lead to a fight
Fighting – erupted into shootings/killings/retaliation
o Small gang came together around violence
Armenian Power banded together in early 1990s in Hollywood, CA
o Protect Armenian community from other ethnic groups
o Members were guardians of young Armenians who have
come under attack from older, larger gangs
o Considered themselves righteous, like immigrant Italian,
Jewish, & Irish gangs of NY in the early 1990s, coming
together to defend their own from adversaries
o Rivals – Latino barrio gangs (including Mara Salvatrucha)
o Many were militarily trained just like some MS gang

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o Enlisting in military in Armenia was mandatory, esp. during
wartime
To most people in LA, gang was unknown
o Gang was powerful enough to have been included in peace
talks called years ago by Mexican Mafia prison gang to ban
drive-by shootings among Latino gangs
Approx. 120 members
o 1 clique of gang was blamed by LAPD for over a dozen killings
o Almost entirely of rival gang members, & more than 100
shootings
Mimic of Latino gangs
o Spoke in Spanish street jargon
o Armenian Power claimed similar turfs as Latino gangs in
numerous cities in LA b/c Armenians lived in same
neighborhoods as Latinos
Street gang ethics
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AP abided by street gang codes of conduct
Do not commit crimes that involved women & children
Do not let insults go unanswered

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Do not respect the police
Do not become a rat
Respect is created through fear & fear is created through violence
Break rules – All gangs turn against you


“Green Light”
Retaliation – common when rival gang member threw a sign or
attacked member from Ap b/c it was taken as a sign of disrespect
toward their gang
AP modeled after Latino street gangs BUT…
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Formed their unique set of rules based on Armenian ideology
Drug dealing was looked down upon
Members also aimed to preserve purity of Armenian girls
Solving through logic instead of violence was valued
Instead of having formal cliques like most street gangs, AP was a
single united group that did not have any initiation processes like
fight-in/crime-in
8/6/2014 10:45:00 PM
LEC4 – RUSSIAN/ARMENIAN GANGS & CARTELS
Vahagan Akopyan (aka Boxer)


One of the OG from AP, now on LA’s top 10 most wanted
Shot & killed a member of a rival gang for throwing signs
o Boxer + Other members – verbal dispute = Boxer shoots
Armenian Power
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Key witness disappear before trial
Some members considered settling down & raising families b/c this
is what Armenians value the most
After murder of Silent from AP by member of White Fence (2001)

o Many members decided that the gang life wasn’t worth it
(Early 200) original AP members were becoming victims activity
slowed down
Innocent Armenians were also being killed b/c they were mistaken
as AP members
Some LA Armenians have said the gang had brought them shame
o Considered it to a stain on community
o Many also respected AP for their cause
Armenians are spending plenty of nights/days in jail these days

More than 14,000 Armenians in US prison system
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Russian Crime in US

Non-medical goods
o Pirated property, DVD, music CDs
o Soft goods
o Alcohol
 “Fake” alcohol, imported product & selling it as vodka
LEC5 – RUSSIAN GANG BEHAVIORS
Medical/Auto Insurance Fraud
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Mobile medical laboratories conducted unnecessary & false tests on
patients
Sent inflated bills to insurance companies
(1991) case – Smushkevich brothers operating 1st in LA, then
Missouri, Illinois, & Florida collected an estimated 50-80 million
dollars
So Cal – auto insurance carriers are reporting massive schemes w/
stage auto accidents & injuries w/ ROC groups
Staged auto accidents, false billing/medical schemes, working w/
doctors, PT, & nurses
Russian Mafia

Jewelry robberies, terrorized victims, willing to kill any police who
interferes
Loan Sharking
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Usually very high interests rates are charged 25-30%
Target Russian owned businesses
Use extortion/threats/violence to collect $
Auto Theft

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CA younger street gang associates/members steal cars
Adult ROC members own body shops
Body shops – used as chop shops & car parts transported & sold in
the NE part of country
Stolen car parts – can be used to repair cars purchased @
auctions/salvage pools
Steal a car – “surgically” remove all parts & leave hull in public
police to find
Purchase the hull @ salvage prices from insurance company
Rebuild car w/ parts initially removed
Vehicles can also be purchased @ salvage yards , to obtain a VIN
o Salvage VIN is then placed on stolen vehicle
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Video –
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o Vehicles are then taken out of state to register in attempt to
conceal/clear salvage title
Stolen vehicles can also be shipped out of US to foreign countries
via Seattle/Oakland/other port cities
Vehicles are shipped to Europe/Russia where they can be sold for
substantial profit
Russian Mafia
Hyper violent
Collecting interests businesses

Murder
Connected to prison gangs

ROC
o
o
o
members & associates come into the US
Sometimes w/ false id
Contract hits
Target – anybody, but tend to be other Russians associated
w/ ROC groups
o Can be sanctioned hits made by ROC/AOC groups
o Paid assassins used by ROC/AOC
Money Launder


200 million in cash
ROC groups in Russia are wire transferring huge amounts of money

to banks in..
o Finland, Cayman Islands, Europe, US
Amounts can vary from thousands to millions
 Money from drug, human, arms, antiquity trafficking

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Money stolen from Russian government
Use fictitious companies to funnel money through
Money is transferred to “tax haven” countries in Caribbean,
Switzerland, other European countries

California


o Money is usually wired transferred to banks in LA or SF
o Once changed into American currency, then it is transferred
back to Russia
o In Russia – cleaned money is invested in lucrative financial &
industrial projects, real estate, banks, & businesses
Some Roc members
o Remain in CA & open import/export businesses in LA & SF
o Purpose – ship large amounts of cash to & from Russia
ROC & AOC
o Established themselves worldwide & can be considered
transnational gangs
o Operate @ level of organized criminal groups
Prison Tattoos
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Use of full body tattoos by gang & prison members is not unique to
ROC members
Star tattoos – on knees = “I will never get on my knees for
anybody”
o Must be approved by Thieves in Law
Each drop of ink has a meaning
Symbols = language of their own
Each body tells a unique story including time served & crimes
committed
Create language of understanding, rank, etc. – ‘those shunned by
society have sought unity’
Entire tattooed body – “top coats and tails”
No tattoos = criminal fraternity will consider them useless
Before a prisoner can ink his body, he must prove himself
o In prison, only the strongest survive
o Prison tattoos represent complex images of rank, religion, &
rebellion
“Kat”
o Hard labor criminal
o Scoundrel, no moral values
o Practice of tattoos began in 19th century
 Criminals branded across face w/ “Kat” – short for
katorsnic , meaning hard labor criminal
o Over time, criminals began to become proud of these
markings
 Soon after, markings created kind of caste system w/in
prison – social political power
o Display prisoners’ whole life story & criminal records

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Russian prison ink is disciplined & secretive code of images
o Can tell what kind of person someone is based on their
tattoos
o Prisoners now choose their own tattoos
Tattoos used to really mean something, & wrong tattoo could even
mean death
A lot of weight lies behind old prison tattoos
Today, the difference b/w criminal & civilian tattoos is disappearing
o More of a fashion accessory worn by all

Bardak
o “Chaos” tattoo
o Random grudge, placed all over body

Russian prison guard by the name of Baldeav secretly recorded &
decoded prison tattoos for over 3 decades
o Records were collected into a 3 volume encyclopedia , &
serves as the most valuable tool for deciphering criminal
tattoos

Epaulettes
o Signal rank w/in Thieves in Law: Captains, lieutenants, &
colonels wer them
o Snarling tigers, leopards, wolves known as oskals (Russian for
‘big grin’
 Express hostility towards authorities
o Skull – bare your teeth @ soviet power (not afraid of
authority)

Tulip/Rose wrapped in barbed wire w/ dagger
o Convict in prison before age 18

Spider crawling up on right side

o Signifies ‘thief’
o If spider is crawling down – you are done w/ criminal life
o Crawling up – you are not done robbing
Youth & females get tattoos in prisons too
Russian Prisons

Ranks only 2nd to US in # of prison per capita

Prisons are known in Russia as “The Zone”
o Notoriously overcrowded & much more dangerous & deadly
than in US
o Cells – packed w/ over 100 prisoners per cell, slept & use
chairs in shifts

White Swan – most notorious jail
o Complex ruling system w/in prison
o Everything anyone needs to know is inked on their bodies
o Convicts are sent here to be broke
o Crowded prison where prisoners are put in overcrowded cells
to beat/press one another into submission

Prison controlled by “The Vorzecah” – Thieves in Law
o Highest ranking – maintain control through intricate language
in tattoos…lead a completely different lifestyle than other
prisoners
o At bottom – called “downcast”