California is home to some of the most varied and populated cities in the United States, as well as some of the most known and vicious gangs.
These criminal groups operate in many regions and sectors of the state, participating in drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, murder, and other unlawful activity. Here are the five most violent gangs sweeping over California.
1. Armenian Power
Armenian Power, or AP, is a street gang founded in the 1980s by Armenian immigrants in Los Angeles. The gang is made up of several factions or cliques, each with its area and leadership. Armenian Power is recognized for using the color black, the letter P, and the Armenian flag as emblems.
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Armenian Power is involved in a variety of crimes, including identity theft, fraud, extortion, and murder. Armenian Power has around 250 members in the United States, with a strong presence in Southern California, particularly in Glendale, Burbank, and Hollywood.
2. MS-13
MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational gang formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants escaping their home country’s civil conflict. The gang has subsequently spread to other regions of the United States, Central America, Europe, and Australia. MS-13 is notorious for its cruelty, ritualistic executions, and use of machetes as weapons.
The group commits a variety of crimes, including human trafficking, prostitution, abduction, and drug smuggling. MS-13 has an estimated 10,000 members in the United States, with a large presence in Southern California, particularly the San Fernando Valley and the Pico-Union region.
3. Crips
The Crips are one of the largest and oldest street gangs in the United States, formed in Los Angeles in the late 1960s by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams. The gang is made up of several subgroups or sets, each with its own identity, territory, and leadership.
Crips is notable for using the color blue, the word C, and the number 6 as symbols. Crips are involved in a variety of crimes, including robbery, murder, and drug distribution. Crips have an estimated 35,000 members in the United States, with a major presence in Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, Compton, Long Beach, and Inglewood.
4. Nuestra Familia
Nuestra Familia, or Our Family, is a prison gang founded in the late 1960s by Mexican-American convicts in the Soledad Correctional Training Facility. The gang is organized on a militaristic structure and follows a stringent code of conduct.
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Nuestra Familia is in charge of the majority of the drug trade and other criminal operations in Northern California, particularly in rural regions and the Central Valley. The gang also has a long-standing feud with the Mexican Mafia, another prison group that dominates Southern California. Nuestra Familia has over 2,000 members in and out of jail, with a network of associates and supporters known as the Norteños.
5. Hell’s Angels
A group of World War II veterans created Hells Angels, a motorcycle club, in California in 1948. Law enforcement authorities classify the group as an illegal motorcycle gang since it is involved in a variety of crimes, including drug trafficking, extortion, racketeering, and murder.
Hells Angels is noted for using the color red, the word A, and the death’s head emblem as symbols. Hells Angels has around 2,500 members in the United States, with a large presence in California, particularly in the Bay Area, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Sacramento.
Conclusion
California, known for its numerous cities, is also dealing with prominent and dangerous gangs. Armenian Power, for example, commits a variety of crimes, but MS-13, which has a global influence, is known for its ferocity.
\The Crips, a long-standing gang, rule Southern California, while Nuestra Familia runs the drug trade in Northern California. The Hells Angels, a motorcycle organization that has gone criminal, operates across the state. These gangs, who engage in a variety of unlawful activities, provide considerable hurdles to police enforcement.