10 Notorious Gangs That Are STILL ACTIVE
Trinitarios
Situated between Queens and the Bronx and lying in the middle of the East River is a notorious prison called Rikers Island. It was here, in 1993, that the Dominican-American gang the Trinitarios was established. Two inmates, Leonides Sierra and Julio Marine, formed the gang while serving time for homicide, and it became the first Latino gang to be started in New York City. Known for their wielding of machetes, Trinitarios are heavily embedded in the illegal drug business. The gang rose to national prominence in June of 2018, when a large group of members chased and killed teenager Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, falsely believing he was a member of a rival gang.
Public Enemy No. 1
The California-based gang Public Enemy No. 1 was formed back in 1986, having emerged out of the state’s hardcore punk culture. The gang is currently active throughout California, with their presence being heavily felt in the Orange County area of Los Angeles. The group is quite small, only consisting of a few hundred members. But that hasn’t made them any less notorious. Public Enemy No. 1 partakes in the usual gang activity, like drug trafficking and burglary, but their main MO is identity theft. The gang steals valuable personal information through their contacts inside various financial institutions. They also have close alliances with various white nationalist groups, including the Aryan Brotherhood.
Barrio Azteca
Also known as Los Aztecas, Barrio Azteca is a Mexican-American gang prominent in the American South. While it was formed in El Paso, Barrio Azteca is now spread throughout the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Unlike some other gangs on this list, Barrio Azteca also spans multiple countries, with a heavy presence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. This location is paramount, as the gang is heavily involved in the cross-border drug trade. With thousands of members, Barrio Azteca is a major player in the Mexican drug war and rivals the Sinaloa Cartel. The gang is incredibly violent, having carried out numerous large-scale killings and even targeting U.S. Consulates.
The Irish Mob
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Having been around since the late 1800s, the Irish Mob has become a mainstay of American culture throughout the years. Being a popular subject of gangster films like “On the Waterfront,” “Black Mass,” and “The Departed,” many people have heard of the group and are aware of their illicit activities. While the mob has roots all across Ireland and the United States, it is most famously associated with the city of Boston. It’s here where the Irish Mob War of the ‘60s took place, and it’s where both the Winter Hill Gang and famous crime boss Whitey Bulger were situated. Bulger was convicted of crimes ranging from homicide to money laundering and was given two life sentences in 2013.
The Crips
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There is one major name in street gangs, and that’s the Crips. Based largely in Southern California, the Crips are the lifelong rivals of the Bloods and are notable for their use of blue clothing. Like the Irish Mob, the Crips have become mainstays in popular culture throughout the years and have been linked to many high-profile crimes. A founder, Stanley Williams, was sentenced to death, member Tiequon Cox helped perpetrate a mass homicide in 1984, and members Orlando Anderson and Duane Davis remain the prime suspects in the killing of Tupac. With such notable publicity and membership as high as 35,000, the Crips are easily one of the most notorious gangs in America.
Hells Angels
Founded back in 1948, the Hells Angels have grown to become one of the most notable motorcycle clubs in the world. Gangs of this variety, including the Hells Angels and the Mongols, have long been subjected to close scrutiny by law enforcement. In fact, the Netherlands has banned the Hells Angels outright, and the United States Department of Justice believes that they are involved in organized crime. Regardless of their official status, the Hells Angels have been involved in many violent and noteworthy incidents throughout the years, including the killing of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Free Concert in 1969. They may also have ties with organized crime in New York, including the famous Gambino and Genovese crime families.
The Aryan Brotherhood
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Dating back to the mid-'60s and born out of San Quentin, the Aryan Brotherhood is perhaps the most well-known prison gang in American history. A white nationalist organization, the Aryan Brotherhood consists of violent neo-Nazis who partake in widespread criminal activity. They are perhaps most famous for conducting acts of prison violence. In fact, the FBI claimed in 1992 that a quarter of all prison killings came at the hands of the Aryan Brotherhood. It’s said that in order to join the gang, one must commit an assault or murder. But their activities certainly aren’t limited to the penal system, and the Aryan Brotherhood is considered an extremely dangerous and prolific organization.
The Latin Kings
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With membership nearing 50,000, the Latin Kings is one of the largest Hispanic and Latino gangs in the world. Like the Aryan Brotherhood, they operate both in and out of the prison system, and their spread reaches from North America to Europe. The Latin Kings started as a social movement back in the mid-'50s to protect Latinos from violent racial discrimination, but it quickly devolved into a street gang. Members follow an ideological religion called Kingism and have been involved in numerous crimes throughout the United States. The founder of the gang’s New York chapter, Luis Felipe, was found guilty of ordering hits from prison and sent to a supermax called ADX Florence, where he is serving time alongside terrorists.
Yakuza
This term is not actually the name of the syndicate itself, but the title of its members, much like our use of the word “gangster.” The gang consists of many internal organizations, with the largest being Yamaguchi-gumi. As for the syndicate’s name, the yakuza call themselves “ninkyō dantai,” meaning “chivalrous organizations.” The police see it quite differently, and their title, “bōryokudan,” means “violent groups.” Easily Japan’s most famous and notorious crime syndicate, Yakuza have long enjoyed prominence in pop culture, featuring heavily in the likes of video games and film. It was founded back in the 17th century and is about 12,000 members strong, which is a far cry from the organization’s heyday in the 1960s.
The Sicilian Mafia
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Hailing from the Italian island of Sicily, the Sicilian Mafia is perhaps the most famous organized crime syndicate in the entire world. The gang is still active in Western Sicily and is composed of over 5,000 members. The Mafia earns money through a wide variety of illicit activities, including but certainly not limited to protection rackets, smuggling, and contract rigging. The Sicilian Mafia is also widely noted for its intimidation tactics, and it has garnered a fierce reputation for being brutally violent and confrontational. Between the original Sicilian iteration and its popular American offshoot, the Mafia is the final name in notorious gangs.
