'1-740:; 1 If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. n ....., .~{ .\; :~,'",',~~',' ~:;' -- ~~'; -"" .";",:. ~ ·n..n~Sr: r ~,;..-:~f.--r '" ,,- ~ ~,"'; ~'l~ ~. - ~~-- -"' .. : . -.. 'i:,~' ~~'. ~.:i:. ~'\;' 1t,,:,f~;·t' ~}/::: .. : ~::::.{.~ "..-:." ., -.~:{~~ .i~.: ~.,.~. . ,'. ..... -,: ;-:.~~~·f. • ',I - ~~,~,' ~ ~~. :., _.l~ ~~:)J PRODUCED BY: AFOSI Investigative Operations Center~ Directorate of .Threat AnalYsis ,' . Bolling DC AFB~ -:11>~1l,. ~.:.~..t :. ~~ rr:.~ ... " ,~,,~. . ~ ~ ~. "',,-,:!-,, .,.- '~\~~'Q,: -:"' ::t· • MAY 1992 Key Judyements o Street gang violence involving the Air Force community is escalating. o Active duty Air force personnel and their dependents are being targeted for exploitation or recruitment by street gangs. • 147403 U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the p~rson or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Nat,/oIna l.l.n stltute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this eq material has been gra~~:&'lic Domain U.S. Dept. of the Air Force to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permission of the ........ owner. . • • TABLE OF CONTENTS (U) PREFACE iii • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • II " • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • INTRODUCTION ................................... . iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................. . 1 DEFINITION ..................................... . 3 BACKGROUND ................................... . 3 NAMES AND TYPES OF MAJOR STREET GANGS ............ . 5 GANG IDENTITY .................................. . 7 STREET GANG SURVEYS ............................ . 9 COMMENTS ..................................... . 19 • • ii • PREFACE This report addresses the street gang phenomenon and how it impacts upon the US Air Force. The report is intended to give Air Force commanders and members an awareness of this growing problem. It is hoped this report will provide some insight to problems caused by gangs and aid in finding solutions. Although there are various types of gangs this report is limited to street gangs. The report was prepared by Special Agents Mike Deshields and George Jackson, of the Directorate of Threat Analysis, Investigative Operations Center, Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The Directorate thanks those US agencies, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD), Los Angeles, CA; Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF); Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); California Gang Investigators Association, Los Angeles, CA; Drug Enforcement Administration; Riverside, CA Police Department and AFOSI field units whose contributions helped create this report. Comments are welcome and may be addressed to AFOSI/lOC-DTA, Bolling AFB,Washington, DC 20332-6001. Telephone commercial (202) 767- 5176 or Defense Switched Network (DSN) 297-5176. • • iii • INTRODUCTION AFOSI conducted an assessment of areas surrounding many USAF installations to determine the impact local street gangs have had on the installation. In nearly all surveys each installation was in some manner affected by a local street gang. The impact ranged from selling drugs to assaulting or recruiting USAF members and dependents for membership in gangs. In one instance, USAF members had formed their own gang. The assessments disclosed many local gangs have formed out of a need for self protection from established gangs moving into their areas. In some instances local gangs aligned themselves with established gangs such as Crips or Bloods. Local gangs are usually referred to as "wannabes" by the established gangs. They imitate the behavior of the established gang, and wear their colors but are not considered true gang members. These "wannabes" can be ruthless in their attempts to establish legitimacy and build a reputation for being tough or "bad." They usually do the established gangs bidding to gain their favor. • • iv • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During the past 20 years street gangs have evolved from local, loosely formed groups operating in only large cities to relatively sophisticated, often trans regional organizations. Until recent years, gangs in general were closed societies content to operate within their established territory or "turf". The growth of the more successful gangs and a proliferation of gangs in general, as a result of illegal but lucrative activities, has led to an increasing number of inter-and intra-city turf wars and violent confrontations between rival gangs. Although reliable figures are not available, the finances generated by some of the larger gangs from narcotics trafficking, theft rings, and other criminal enterprises may rival that of some small US corporations. The logical extension of this increase in finances and in rapid growth has been the desire of gangs to expand their operations to other locations and recruit members from outside the original gang territory's population. One group of potential members apparently being targeted by gangs is that of active duty USAF personnel and their dependents, especially those still in their teens. Teenaged dependents in junior and senior high school appear to be of most interest to the gangs for recruitment, but active duty military are also sought. The extent of this recruitment effort, and its impact on the USAF is difficult to assess. It is apparently being driven by three assumptions common among the gangs involved. First, gangs see the USAF community '. as a source of steady revenue (a young population with no unemployment) - either for sales of narcotics or as a pool of potential victims. Some gang leaders also believe USAF personnel can easily facilitate the smuggling of narcotics and other contraband to other regions of the U.S. aboard USAF aircraft. Finally, gangs believe that USAF members have access to military weapons and munitions. The extent to which gangs have made inroads into the USAF community is difficult to assess for a number of reasons. The majority of gang activities take place outside the confines of the bases during the hours of darkness, and USAF personnel participating in these activities may not be identified by local law enforcement as USAF members or dependents. Activities that do take place on installations, such as thefts, assaults or narcotics trafficking are often viewed as singular incidents and not recognized as gang related. Gang members are not always easily identifiable. Indicators of gang membership, such as hand signals or the wearing of a particular type or color of garment, often are not obvious to those not intimate with gang customs. Airmen involved with a gang are not likely to discuss their association with supervisors and do not exhibit behavior that is apparent in the performance of their daily duties. . • 1 The impact of gangs on the USAF varies widely at installations. Although instances of significant gang-related activity affecting the USAF has • been relatively limited, the close proximity of USAF personnel and dependents living in the metropolitan neighborhoods of the nation's larger cities, the increasing degree of organization evident in most gangs, and the desire of the gangs to infiltrate the USAF community indicate the problem is likely to increase during the next several years. If left unchecked, gang influenced activities may become a major contributor to criminal activity involving USAF members within five years, particularly in sale and use of narcotics. • 2 • DEFINITION A gang is a group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and engage in acts injurious to public health and public morals; who pervert or obstruct justice or the due administration of laws, or engage in (or have engaged in) criminal activity, either individually or collectively; and who create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the community. BACKGROUND The street gang phenomenon has existed for many years. However, in the last few years street gangs have expanded across the country, primarily because of gang involvement in drug trafficking. The gangs sought to increase drug profits by expanding their operations. The two most noted street gangs are the Crips and the Bloods. These gangs originated in the Los Angles, CA area, where they formed initially to protect themselves and their territory or turf. When the gangs became involved in the cocaine trade and began to reap vast profits, turf took on a new meaning. As gangs grew, their turf decreased in size and the total number of areas of operation in a given city began to dwindle. This process led the gangs to become more violent toward one other as they competed for drug profits, with innocent citizens often hurt by the • violence. When the LA area became saturated, the gangs started to spread across the country. Members with relatives or friends in various cities were sent out to develop new drug markets and cultivate new gang members. This active recruitment effort specifically targeted teen males in junior and senior high school, many of which included USAF dependents. USAF members were also targeted to become gang members to help facilitate drug sales and to secure weapons. Today's gang members are more educated than most individuals realize. The major gangs are highly organized and have spread throughout the U.S. Like the military or major corporations, these gangs have recruitment and training teams. The gangs use enforcement teams that move into other states to help establish new markets, and their reliance upon rapid and deadly violence and the use of weapons to enforce their will has been demonstrated frequently. Gang members favor high powered, large capacity, large caliber handguns such as 9mm semiautomatic pistols and rifles such as the AK-47 as a way to command respect. However, gangs will use whatever kind of firearm is available. They have proven they will not hesitate to use these weapons, even against law enforcement officers. In fact, the killing of a law enforcement officer may elevate the perpetrator's status and reputation. The spread of gangs and gang activities to USAF installations and the USAF community is occurring. USAF dependents have high potential for becoming gang members because they are exposed to gangs in the public • 3 school system. This group not only must cope with peer pressure to join these gangs, but also with the pressure to seek protection from rival gangs. • Additionally, gang members who join the USAF bring their gang mentality with them, a phenomenon which will likely increase as gang members grow older and look to the USAF for employment. ....-,- U ~~ ~.. ~ \..J\ \.! --)~~)' (~=.~ l <...j 1~1 f . d. ,- ~m:0Jr~, ,~:to"' .........~ ~.~ ... A member of the US military forces serving in the Persian Gulf War is shown demonstrating his membership in the Los Angeles 1200 Block Crips gang through his hand signs. His moniker according to the printed words at the top. is ItBam Dog. This photo was obtained during execution of a search warrant II at a gang member's house by municipal police. • 4 • NAMES AND TYPES OF MAJOR STREET GANGS CRIPS A black street gang which started in Los Angeles, CA, whose members deal in drugs, intimidation, protection and murder. It is a rival gang to the Bloods; members are violent, known to use automatic weapons to include AK- 47s. It is loosely organized with no central leadership. The gang's basic color is blue. BLOODS or PIRU A black street gang which also originated in Los Angeles, its members deal in illegal sale of drugs, protection rackets and murder. A rival of the Crips, members are known to use automatic weapons to include AK-47s. The members are loosely organized with no central leadership. Their preferred identifying clothing color is red. MEXICAN MAFIA and NUESTRA FAMILIA Two Mexican prison gangs which started in the California prison system, • they deal in illegal drugs, intimidation and murder, and are highly organized with a central leadership. They are territorial and have been known to work for other gangs. They are also known for their violence. JAMAICAN POSSE A Jamaican organized crime group, known for extreme violence. Posses deal in drugs, intimidation, protection and murder. Different factions are centrally controlled by leaders in Jamaica. SKINHEADS A white supremacist group, known for inciting racial violence. Some have been known to associate with the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations. ASIAN GANGS Asian gangs are based on ethnic background. They are known for their violence and primarily victimize other Asians. They are involved in drugs, prostitution, gambling, intimidation and murder. The aforementioned list includes some of the major street gangs that are • prominent in many cities across the country. It does not include the names of numerous local gangs. 5