Top Gang Stories for 2012

This has become an annual report to review some notable incidents that occurred across the Nation involving street gang activity. These gang related stories were only selected because of the particular nature of the story, the political impact, or the implications that the incident has on dealing with the gang phenomenon. We wish all a safe and happy new year.

Social Media took a special roll in Street Gang Activity in 2012

43 Indicted in two rival gangs in Brooklyn, January 19, 2012 (Story)

Two gangs one called the Wave Gang the other called Hood Starz had multiple members indicted in January. The gangs had catchy code phrases such as  “going to the beach,” code for venturing into territory controlled by a landlocked crew in Brooklyn that called itself the Wave Gang. The Hood Starz  gang members would shoot a rival Wave, they congratulated themselves with another breezy-sounding phrase “They would say they ‘clapped him off the surfboard,’ ” Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said.  NYPD announced charges against 43 members of the two rival gangs in Brownsville. 

The charges were a result of a long inquiry during which investigators pursued the gangs not only on the streets, but also on Twitter and Facebook, where members left a trail of clues as they bragged of their violent exploits, the authorities said. The most serious charges are second-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy, both of which carry maximum penalties of 25 years to life in prison. At least 16 of those indicted were already in custody on earlier charges. Eight of the 43 are being sought, officials said Thursday. In the last 18 months, the gangs were responsible for 6 homicides and 32 shooting episodes, most in or around Brownsville, that left 38 people wounded, Mr. Kelly said. The violence was focused between Mother Gaston Boulevard (sometimes called Stone Avenue) and Strauss Street, about 10 blocks away.

Chicago gangs rely on social media to communicate, January 31 (Story)

The more than 68,000 members of Chicago-area gangs often rely on the Internet to coordinate crimes and provoke rival gang members, a law enforcement book says. The Chicago Crime Crime Commission Gang Book says gang members use computers and smart phones for "cybertagging" — graffiti on Web sites — and sometimes boast of their crimes online.   the book pointed to gang members' Web communication about shooting at police officers, threatening a witnesses in a murder trial and boasting about drug dealing, and last year Chicago police monitored social media sites to battle young people robbing and assaulting people in the downtown area.

Chicago PD turns to Social Media for Help to address a gang problem May 30 (Story)

Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said Chicago’s approach to gangs involves “gang audits,” a system the city's 23 police districts use to monitor gang activity and to accumulate data about gangs. The monitoring includes tracking known gang members via Twitter and Facebook.  Gangland homicides “are not a new problem” in Chicago, said Superintendent McCarthy on Wednesday. He described the initiatives as “a new solution we’re applying to it.”

Gangs making a public appearance in a very costly way 

Chicago Vehicle Sticker contest marred in controversy. Chicago,  February 9 (Story) 

It's one of the few politician-sponsored activities that should be free of controversy: a high school art contest.  But an annual citywide competition to design the stickers affixed to every windshield in Chicago has suddenly become a public relations nightmare.The sticker, designed by 15-year-old Herbie Pulgar, depicts Chicago's famous skyline inside of a heart, with a backdrop of the city's blue and white flag. Extending up from the heart are four hands, and above them, symbols representing police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

Pulgar denied the presence of gang imagery in his design, but based on the advice of police including former top cop Jody Weis, Mendoza decided to replace the first-place winner’s artwork. “Unfortunately, whether or not the design was meant to include potential gang symbols, the perception that now exists is that the artwork could be misinterpreted as containing gang related symbols in the city sticker design that could be misinterpreted as potential gang symbols,”  Mendoza said at a news conference in February. “Based on these conversations with these gang experts and the totality of the information, I made the decision to change the 2012-2013 city vehicle sticker design and use the design of the first runner up.” 

Gang Presence Expanding

Norteño gangs increasing presence in Utah March 29 (Story)

The gang, which originated in northern California, used to have various subsets throughout Utah in cities and neighborhood. The Rose Park Norteños, for example, included about 23 documented members who called Salt Lake City home. Twenty more people who identified themselves as Norteños from Porterville, Calif., have carved an identity in Park City. And other "cliques," as they’re known on the streets, such as Familia Por Siempre and Familia Varrio Loco, Mafioso and others have built their criminal enterprise in their respective groups to a few dozen members, Leuluai said. But in recent years, the individual groups of Norteños have decided to join forces to become a unified force, numbering perhaps in the hundreds, known under the general umbrella of "Norteño" — a merger that concerns law enforcement trying to keep pace with the gangs’ activities, which includes drug trafficking and other violent crimes.

Gang Laws

Illinois Governor signs new gang law, Chicago, June  (Story)

Gov. Pat Quinn on signed into law the “Street Gang RICO Act,” which gives state’s attorneys in Illinois similar powers to the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. “Street gang leaders, we’re after you,” Quinn said as he signed the legislation at the Thompson Center, after a weekend during which at least eight people were killed by gun violence, and more than 40 others were wounded.  Chicago’s murder rate was up 36 percent compared to the same time period last year. Recent weekends have been especially violent, with at least 22 people shot and at least three people killed each of the last four weekends. The Memorial Day weekend saw 10 murders and more than 40 shootings.

New Bill authorizes Juvenile Gang Courts, Washington, April (Story)

Yakima County set an important precedent for the new law after becoming the first venue to implement a juvenile gang court in the United States in June, 2011. 

The legislation was one of Yakima County’s state legislative priorities for the 2012 legislative session. The new law authorizes all counties to create a juvenile gang court program modeled on the existing court in Yakima County. 

The statute is also predicted to increase participation in the Yakima County courts. Yakima County’s program is funded through the Yakima County General Fund, subsidized by some Federal Grant monies. 

Yakima County’s juvenile gang court program promotes the involvement of the juvenile gang court judge, evidence based programs, and coordinating services through a team of adult advocates for the minors involved in gang activity. Further, the program emphasizes accountability of the juvenile, parental involvement, and community and law enforcement participation.

Girls in Gangs

Bad Barbies have nothing on "Ken and Barbie", New York, December (Story)

Kelly said there are up to 100 female gang members aligned with the Trinitarios “at any given time,” and that “men and women alike” routinely engage in violence against rival gangs.Yesterday’s Manhattan federal court indictment added Mejia and 25 others to a case originally filed last December against 14 alleged Trinitarios.

It includes charges for nine murders in The Bronx and Yonkers 2005 and 2010, along with a laundry list of other crimes, including 24 assaults and attempted murders and extensive drug dealing and the use of firearms.

Gangs and Prostitution

Street gangs running prostitution rings, Virginia, March (Story)

Federal prosecutors have charged five alleged gang members with trafficking teenage Federal prosecutors have charged five alleged gang members with trafficking teenage girls into prostitution in suburban Northern Virginia, one of the wealthiest areas in the United States, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. The five young men, who were arrested beginning Tuesday, were allegedly members of a Fairfax, Va.-based affiliate of the Crips, the notorious gang with Los Angeles roots that is known for shootouts, drugs and prostitution.girls into prostitution in suburban Northern Virginia, one of the wealthiest areas in the United States, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va.

The five young men, who were arrested beginning Tuesday, were allegedly members of a Fairfax, Va.-based affiliate of the Crips, the notorious gang with Los Angeles roots that is known for shootouts, drugs and prostitution.

Police Warn about Gangs using Facebook to recruit Prostitutes, September (Story)

Facebook is a great way to connect with long-lost friends, and an even better way to connect with new ones. But not everyone who uses the world's most popular social network has good intentions: Police in Texas today are warning that girls are being lured into prostitution by gang members trolling their social media profiles. According to San Antonio Police Detective George Segura, gangs look for girls on Facebook who are showing off a bit too much skin, and are possibly seeking attention. Gang members then approach the girls on Facebook, befriend them, and convince them to meet up in person. No one is too young to be exploited — police say girls as young as 12 are being recruited.

International Street Gang Targeted by US Government

MS-13, Notorious Central American Street Gang, Targeted By U.S. Government As An International Criminal Organization, October (Story)

The Obama administration declared the ultra-violent street gang MS-13 to be an international criminal group on Thursday, an unprecedented crackdown targeting the finances of the sprawling U.S. and Central American gang infamous for hacking and stabbing victims with machetes.The Treasury Department formally designated MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal organization. The aim is to freeze it out of the U.S. financial system and seize what are estimated to be millions of dollars in criminal profits from drug and human smuggling and other crimes committed in this country.

The gang was founded by immigrants fleeing El Salvador's civil war more than two decades ago. Its founders took lessons learned from that brutal conflict to the streets of Los Angeles and built a reputation as one of the most ruthless and sophisticated street gangs, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jason Shatarsky.

For background information on MS-13 read the FBI Threat Assessment. (here)

Gangs links to Organized Crime

Alleged Westies street gang member from Cliffside Park arrested in extortion 'trifecta', New Jersey, (Story)

A Cliffside Park man and purported member of the Westies street gang was among three organized crime associates arrested on extortion charges today, federal authorities announced.  Daniel Hanley, 47, allegedly teamed with Peter Kanakis, a member of Hell's Angels affiliate the Demon Knights, and James Ferrara, an associate of La Cosa Nostra and the Gambino crime family, to collect loansharking debts in New York City.

The deaths keep coming!

Chicago hits its 500th Homicide, Chicago December (Story)

Homicides were up 17 percent over last year in Chicago, and shootings had increased by 11 percent, according to police statistics.Largely contributing to the spike was the unusual number of homicides that occurred during the early part of the year, when the  city experienced unseasonable warmth. In the first three months of the year, homicides ran about 60 percent ahead of the 2011 rate.

Tale of Two Cities: Chicago murder rate rises, New York's drops! Chicago/New York (Story)

Plagued by gang violence, Chicago surpassed last year's murder total of 433 in October and is set for the highest rate of homicide since the third largest U.S. city recorded 512 in 2008. The number is likely to top 500 on the last weekend of the year.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Friday that the nation's largest city could finish the year with the lowest number of murders and shootings since 1963, when it began keeping comparable data. The number of murders this year in New York is only about one-fifth the total of 2,245 homicides recorded in the peak year of 1990.