Gangs Lehigh Valley Gangs Run and you only go to jail tired. Sgt. Bachert, APD.

Gangs

Lehigh Valley Gangs

“Run and you only go to jail tired.” Sgt. Bachert, APD

Gang Alliances

• People Nation Sets (gangs)

• Latin Kings• Bloods

• Spanish gangs• Spanish Lords

• El Rukns• Latin Counts

• Kents• Chicago based

• Folk Nation Sets (gangs)

• CRIPS • Black gangs

• Black Gangster Disciples• Black Disciples

• Cobras• Eagles

• Chicago based

Mentality & Philosophy

• Folk & People• “Folk before family”

• “I will not let my brother fall to a knee.”• “All is all.” (people)

• “All is well.” (people”• “All is one.” (folk)

People nation identifiers

• Five pointed star• Champagne glass• Five pointed crown

• Number 5• Pyramid

• Cane & top hat• Crescent moons

• Left side: hand signs / roll up left pant leg / untie left

shoe / jewelry on left / hand in left pocket

Folk nation identifiers

• Pitchfork• Six pointed star

• Number 6• Heart with wings

• Heart with devil’s tail• Tattoo: BOS(S):

brothers of the (strong) struggle

• Identifiers• Right side oriented for clothes / tattoos / jewelry /

pants leg / cap

trends

• National trends• 1. drug distribution• 2. organized crime

ties• 3. increased use of

technology• 4. infiltration military• 5. increased role for

women

• PA trends• 1. major increase in

gangs• 2. constant movement

• 3. constant metamorphosis

• 4. influx from Mexico & Latin America

• 5. income: drugs

gang - definition

• Basics• 1. formal / informal

group• 2. ongoing

organization• 3. group of 3 or more

• 4. who have:

• a. common name / signs / symbols

• b. engage in crime• c. own code of

conduct• d. gang more

important than family / religion

gang facts

• 1. formed for defense than prey

• 2. multiply by dividing• 3. access to weapons

• 4. no fear of punishment

• 5. recruit for “at risk” youth

why gangs spread

• 1. police pressure• 2. denial syndrome• 3. seek areas with

limited police• 4. recruit from prisons

• 5. poor family structure

• 6. areas lacking community resources

crime

“can’t be eliminated – only displaced”

what do kids see?

• 1. media glorification of gangs

• 2. violent video games

• 3. violent rap music• Violent movies /

television• Statistically proven

gang statistics

• 1. one million members nationally• 2. 31,000 gangs• 3. 11% female

• 4. Latino / Black majority

• 5. 14% white• 6. 5% Asian

• 7. 46% multiracial / ethnic

gang principles

Respect + Revenge + Retaliation = Thugism

entry into a gang

• 1. jump in – physically beaten• 2. walking the line – act of bravery

• 3. blessed in – free pass• 4. blood in – take / loose blood• 5. burned in – cigarette burns

• 6. sexed in (girls) – group sex or “roll the dice” with HIV member

• 7. criminal act

gang member’s attitudes

• 1. anti-authority• 2. anti-police

• 3. anti-cooperative• 4. life is cheap• 5. smarter than

authorities

statistics: Allentown Police Department

Based on SRO reports:20 arrests per month

200 referrals per monthVast majority gang-related

sign language (formal)

fastest growing language in prison and in gangs

recognition of gang membership

• 1. colors• 2. symbols• 3. tattoos• 4. graffiti• 5. jewelry

• 6. burn marks• 7. haircuts (symbols)• 8. check notebooks

gangs

• What graffiti says:• 1. gangs present

• 2. territory• 3. crimes

• 4. Identifiers• 5. # of members

• 6. vocabulary• 7. violence

• 8. drugs• Read / photograph /

remove

• Unwritten rules of gangs

• 1. supreme loyalty to gang

• 2. sharing of profits• 3. never inform on the

gang

why join a gang?

• 1. poor family life• 2. poor academics

• 3. socially poor• 4. unmotivated

• 5. non-acceptance• 6. lack of protection• 7. thrill of lifestyle

• 8. false beliefs• 9. boredom

• Factors for admission to gang

• 1. age• 2. experience• 3. background

• 4. loyalty• 5. courage• 6. daring

• 7. reputation• 8. knowledge

street gang profile

• 1. average age 12-24 (8 to 60)

• 2. majority male• 3. any race

• 4. Education (3rd – 12th)• 5. military trained (tactics)

• 6. infiltrate police (intelligence)

• 7. more recruitment of upper class kids

• 8. more and more violent crime

• 9. types of identifiers and hangouts

• 10. WILL HIDE WEAPONS IN SCHOOL

FOR EASY ACCESS

gang structure

• Leader • Vice President

• Enforcer• Minister of

Education• Soldiers

• Young members• Associates

types of gangs

• Supergangs: Crips / Bloods / People / Folk

• Hybrid: influenced by 2 or more gangs

• Ethnic – Asian / Mexican• Scavenger –

unstructured• Territorial – obvious

• Corporate – set-up like organized crime

Lehigh Valley gangs

Bloods aka Piru / Damu

• Piru (street in Los Angeles)

• Damu (blood in Swahili)

• Major color: RED• Minor colors: black /

green (money)• Symbol

• Five pointed star

• Major tattoos• Pit bulls

• MOB (member of blood)

• MOM (money over bitches)

• Burn patterns• Blood walk: dance to

show membership

Bloods

• Terminology• 900 words / numbers

• 001 – tear him up• 730 – time to eat

• 357 – blood for life• 411 – snitch

• 555 – I need a gun• 775 – the hood

• Use of cryptoquotes for codes

• N stands for A etc• Won’t recognize the

letter c (CRIPS)• Violence

• Based on Sun Tzu – create so much

violence enemy won’t retaliate

Bloods

• Blood pledge• “I pledge allegiance to our

flag the United Bloods in the chapter and to the real OG’s for what we stand, one set, under

blood oath for each blood to carry the burden for all

bloods.”

• Symbols• Hats: Anaheim Angels /

Bosox / Braves / Mariners • Miami Heat shirt

• Terms• Wolf pack – attack

• Mr. Windows – murder• Desert Storm – war

• Burners – guns• 5 poppin / 6 droppin – bloods shooting / CRIPS

dying

CRIPS

community revolution in progress

CRIPS

• Colors• Major color: blue

• Minor colors: black / white• Symbols

• 6 pointed star• Pitchforks• Tattoos

• Six pointed star• pitchforks

• Tattoos• Left side only

• Burned on• Terminology

• Drink milk – attack• Special walk

• Special hand sign

Latin Kings

Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation

Latin Kings

• Colors• Major: black & gold• Red – support fallen

gang members• Symbols

• 3 or 5 point crowns• Beads

• black / gold: 5 black / 5 gold / 1 white = 360

beads• Primarily Puerto Rican

• Tattoos• Crowns / lion / ADR (love

for the king)• Eyebrows

• Shave 3 lines into each brow

• Use gold paper & black ink

• Entry by application• Probationary period • Rules: “The King’s

Manifesto”

Latin Kings

• 1. structured / organized• 2. constitutions

• 3. “all for one” mentality• 4. internal discipline

extreme• Violations:

• Suspension / termination / assault /

death• Holidays

• 06 Jan: “Kings Holy Day”• First week of March –

“Kings Week”

Latin Kings

• 5 pointed crown• Respect• Honesty

• Unity• Respect

• Love

• Color significance• Black: knowledge of

the ancients / superiors of the past

• Gold: the sun that shines on their crown

• Red: fallen brothers

Typical hierarchy

• Crown Council – policy• Chief of Security –

enforcement• Treasurer – money

• Investigators – vetting new members

• Finance committee – drug purchases

• Business committee – drug distribution

• Secretary – minutes at inner circle meetings

• Typical prayer• “”Our Father the King of

Kings, you can have my heart at your will and let your sun shine upon our colors as your sun shines

upon the earth.”

Random “King” facts

• Crossed arms – right over left

• Never cover right hand – crown

• N.I.K.E. – Nation Inca King & Everlasting

NETA

• Closely tied to Latin Kings

• Developed in the Puerto Rican prison system (Rio Pedras Prison)

• Male only

• “independence for the island of Puerto Rico”• Members – must recruit 20 candidates

• 30th of the month – celebration of death

of NETA’s

NETA

• Colors• White / blue / red

• Beads• 78 white / 7 blue / 1 red +

a cross• Tattoos

• 3 dots / teardrop• 14-point code of

discipline• Black substituted for

blue

• Terminology• BOS – beat down on

sight• TOS – terminate on sight

• SOS – shoot on sight• Insects – prisoner

convicted of an improper crime – will die in 24

hours

Mara Salvatrucha

“Army of Ants”Mara – gang / salvatrucha – Salvadoran guy

Newest and most violent gangSo far only the Pen Argyl area

Found in 33 states

Mara Salvatrucha

• Birthplace: El Salvador• Weapon of choice:

machette• Assisting terrorists into

U.S.• Graffiti

• MS13 & MSXIII• Shoelaces tied as XIII

• Membership requirement: assault a police officer

• Drug trade• Will tax other drug

dealers or eliminate them• Tattoos

• Hands: spider webs• MS anywhere• Female figures

• 3 dots … (prison / hospital / cemetery)

• 13 – lucky number• M – 13th letter of alphabet

MS - 13

• MS – 13 membership:• Salvadorians

• Guatemalans

• Hondurans• Vows: gang / God /

family – that order

Mara Salvatrucha

Hand sign: devil’s horns

Pinkies up: “All hail MS”

Pinkies down: death / beating

Mexican Mafia

• Chacteristics• EME – eternal war

• MM• M

• Mexican flag (with snake & eagle)

• Handprint in black

• Mexicans• Mexican-Americans

• Hispanic• Women – high regard

• Drug dealers / extortion

• “blood in blood out”

Asian gangs

• 50 Asian gangs found in Montgomery County

• Symbols / tattoos:• 5 dots ….. (north, south,

east, west & sad lonely life); dragons / panthers /

tigers• Specialize in home

invasions

Aryan Brotherhood

• White / male• Shamrock clover leaf

• Swastikas• Double lightning bolts

• 666• “getting high & getting

over (prison stretch)”• “blood in blood out”

• Violence for acceptance

White power groups

• Colors: black & red• Steroid abusers

• Tattoos• Pit bulls / #14

• Keystone State Skinheads: largest &

most violent• “Those Opposed” white

power band out of Allentown

• Shoelaces / suspenders: black /

white / red