GANG

1
Security Threat Groups Overview Criminal
Street GangsIn the MILITARY MAJ ACKLEN
Division Provost Marshal1st Infantry Divison
NOTE No changes will be made to this briefing
without the permission of the author.
2
Kenneth F. Kelly, MHRSecurity Threat Group
Advisor Author/Lecturer Masters Degree in Human
Relations - University of OklahomaBachelor of
Science Degree in Criminal Justice - Troy State
University Security Threat Groups
Investigations in Rural Small TownsMaster
Level 1 Gang Specialist Training Behavioral
Science Threat Analysis Gang and
Terrorism Certified in Gang Problems Grades
K-12 Certified in Gang Counseling
Techniques International Association of Chiefs
of PoliceMilitary Police Corps Regiment
Association Honorable Order of Kentucky
Colonels National Fraternal Order of
Police National Major Gang Task Force National
Alliance of Gang Investigators Association Florida
Gang Investigators Association Tennessee Gang
Investigators Association Correctional Peace
Officers Foundation, Inc. Colorado Security
Threat Intelligence Network GroupEmail
kellyken_at_us.army.mil Website www.kellyken.com
NOTE No changes will be made to this briefing
without the permission of the author.
3
CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
Purpose
The goal of this overview is to provide general
knowledge of gang related activities and the
military connection.
4
WHAT is a gang?

• There is no single, accepted nationwide
  definition of youth gangs.
• It has been firmly established that the
  characteristics and behaviors of gangs are
  exceptionally varied within and across
  geographical areas.
• A communitys gang problem (however affected
  from other areas) is primarily and inherently
  homegrown.

(Klein, 2002)
5
State Statutory Definition of the term "Gang"
6

• A gang is defined as a group of three or more
  people, male or female, who interact among
  themselves to the exclusion of others.
• They have a group name.
• The claim a territory or neighborhood.
• They may have recognizable symbols or
  graffiti.
• They engage in crime or anti-social behavior
  that supports the gangs existence.

7
Gangs And The Military
The military has been labeled asa major
contributor to gang, extremist and hate
groups WHY
Recruitment
Stealing of Military Equipment
Learn New Skills
Training
8
WHY GANG MEMBERS JOIN THE MILITARY

• Attempt to leave the Gang Life
• Seeking Legal Employment
• Recruitment of Dependents and Soldiers
• Weapons Acquisition/Trafficking
• Learn Tactics
• Drug Trafficking

9
Gangs and the Military
There is ample evidence that members of the Armed
Forces have had previous, or have current and
active contact with criminal street gangs and
extremist groups.
10
Gangs and the Military

• Societal problems cross over into military life.
• Army leaders fight gangs with education,
  training, positive influence.
• You gotta be realistic, its in the Army, a
  former gang member said. Even when I was in
  Germany, I was reppin (representing a gang) a
  little bit at my first duty station. Went over
  there and wanted to be part of the crew, part of
  the in crowd. People bring baggage. You bring
  baggage wherever you go.
• FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. (TRADOC News Service, April
  13, 2004)

11
Gangs and the Military
Some of America's most notorious street gangs are
turning up in the military. But they aren't just
serving their country. Instead, many are taking
the opportunity to learn a very deadly trade.
In The News NBC17 February 24, 2005
12
Gangs and the Military
Military weapons in hands of gangs By John
Kidman, Frank Walker and Eamonn DuffOctober 19,
2003The Sun-Herald

• Grenades have been found at the scenes of two
  recent gang attacks, while police are
  investigating reports that one group has acquired
  an assault rifle fitted with a grenade launcher.
  Some believe the weapons to have been imported
  from the war zones of the Middle East.
• Unlimited access to handguns and in some cases,
  military-styled assault weapons.
• State of lawlessness as a form of "urban
  terrorism.
• Semi-automatic pistols and a military assault
  rifle were used to execute 34-year-old
  father-of-four.

13
Effects on the U.S. NAVY

• Several black males came to San Angelo from
  Houston, Texas, to establish a branch of the
  Lynch Mob. One active duty U.S. Navy E-5 was
  been identified associating with these gang
  members
• In Shreveport, Louisiana, a U. S. Navy active
  duty member and a civilian were shot while
  attending a cookout at a friends residence.
  This was a known area for drugs and street gang
  presence.
• In Los Angeles a known gang member just back from
  Iraq firing on two California police officers
  -- he kills one quickly using tactics perfected
  on the battlefield. "Using strictly military
  tactics he learned in the Marine Corps, he
  applies suppressive fire power right into the
  corner," "He didn't learn those tactics as a gang
  member."

14
Effects on the U.S. AIR FORCE

• Two separate groups, the Black Hawks and the
  Rebels were comprised of dependent males
  between age 14 and 20. They committed vandalism
  and attempted auto theft. In the three months of
  existence, 28 cases were initiated.
• 10 to 15 off-post Philippino and Black males
  carrying bats, chains and numchucks came on base
  to assault a dependent Black male gang member.
• Pope AFB, North Carolina a homicide was
  committed involving several active duty Army
  personnel and a civilian, all were members of
  local gangs.
• Alaska Several Security Policemen were
  identified as recruiters for the Klux Ku Klan

15
Effects on the U.S. ARMY

• Fort Hood An active duty service member
  (female) identified as a high ranking gang member
  in the State of Texas was convicted for 2 counts
  of Homicide (gang related).
• Fort Carson An active duty service member
  (male) identified as the 2 gang leader for the
  Gangster Disciples in the State of Colorado was
  convicted for purchasing guns for other gang
  members in Chicago and Gary, Indiana. He also
  paid Soldiers to bring drug from Mexico by way of
  Fort Bliss.
• Germany Death to a soldier in Kaiserslauten was
  gang related.

16
Effects on the U.S. ARMY

• Fort Polk An active duty member who claimed to
  a member of the Zulu Warriors was involved in
  a drive-by shooting.
• Fort Polk An active duty member entered the
  on-post club and flashed his Blood gang signs and
  two Black males pistol whipped the soldier. It
  was discovered later that the two males were
  members of a Crips gang located in Shreveport.
• Fort Bragg Several Soldiers with extremist
  views were convicted for killing two Blacks in
  Fayetteville.
• Fort Lewis Family Member/Husband and his three
  children were hacked to death by two members of
  the Cedar Block Piru Bloods of Los Angeles. They
  were accompanied by a United States Army
  Specialist.

17
INDICATORS OF GANG ACTIVITY

• Increase in graffiti
• Slang talk/sign flashing
• New clothing styles
• Increase in narcotics

18
Pages from a Gang Knowledge Book
031 LOVE FOR BLOOD
Courtesy of K. Ferguson Kelly, STG-A
19
(No Transcript)
20
The Secretary of the ArmysTask Force (TF) on
Extremist Activities
Gang-related activities appear to be more
pervasive than extremist activities as defined in
Army Regulation 600-20. Gang activity both
off post and on post (i.e., billets, military
housing areas, schools, and Morale, Welfare, and
Recreation facilities), sometimes involve family
members and young soldiers.
21
1 AD soldiers on Guard Duty 2002
22
Confiscated photos Health Welfare Kitzingen 2003
23
Confiscated photos Kitzingen 2003
24
Subject in Drug Case 2003
25
Alliances

• Think of this as the American and National
  leagues of gangs
• Currently all documented gangs aligned under
  these two
• People Nation Folk Nation
• Latin Kings Black Gangster Disciples
• Vicelords Black Disciples
• Spanish Lords Gangster Disciples
• El Rukns Imperial Gangsters
• Bishops La Raza
• Gaylords Spanish Cobras
• Latin Counts Latin Eagles
• Kents Latin Disciples
• Gangs (30,000) membership in US documented at
  over 1 million

26
(No Transcript)
27
Folk Nation and People Nation
Folk Nation Dress to the Right
Blue/Black Six Pointed Star Upside Down
Crowns Bent Rabbit Ears Pitch Forks pointed Up
People Nation Dress To The Left Red/Black Five
Pointed Star Right Side Up Crown Straight Rabbit
Ears Pitch Forks Pointed Down
28
"Black Gangster Disciples and Folk Gangs"

• The Black Gangster Disciples are originally a
  Chicago gang.
• Founder was David "King David" Barksdale and
  they considered themselves a "Nation" (BGDN) not
  a gang.
• Came from two different organizations that
  combined forces, the Black Disciples and the
  Gangster Disciples. In an effort to improve
  their image they are also known as Better Growth
  and Development
• President was David Barksdale and Vice
  President was Larry Hoover.

29
"Latin Kings"

• The Latin Kings grew out of the 1940 and 50s
  Chicago gang wars.
• One of their slogans, Amor De Rey, means "King
  Love".
• They developed a philosophy of "Kingism" and
  became a part of the "People Nation" under the
  5-point star during the 1960s polarization of
  Chicago gangs.
• They will also use a 5-point crown or 3-pointed
  crown.
• They have an established "Charter" and have
  well documented rules which members must strictly
  adhere to.

30
"Bloods and Pirus"

• In 1972, some Centennial High School youth in
  the City of Compton from Piru Street fought Crip
  gang members who were expanding throughout South
  Central Los Angeles.
• The Pirus beat the feared Crips that day.
• In their honor ever since, Black gang members
  from Compton who were not Crips referred to
  themselves as Pirus.
• Other Black gangs (many of whom were already in
  existence for years) who did not become aligned
  with the Crips, became known as Bloods.
• Bloods will usually wear red, but not always,
  for instance Limehood Pirus are known to wear
  green.

31
"Crips"

• This gang was founded about 1968 by Raymond
  Washington and his crime partners from the East
  Side (of Interstate-110) in South Central Los
  Angeles.
• Washington originally started up a gang called
  the "Baby Avenues", but after he got into a beef
  with another member, he decided to start his own
  gang called the "Crips".
• By 1971, Stanley "Tookie" Williams from the
  West Side joined Washington and the "Crips".

32
Soldiers who were members of the Gangster
Disciples had this made at a German/American FEST
33
(No Transcript)
34
GANGSTER DISCIPLE GRAFFITIALLIGNED WITH FOLK
NATION FOUND NEAR THE HELI-PAD LEIGHTON
BARRACKS 2001
35
FOLK STAR
36
(No Transcript)
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
MOTIVATORS FOR JOININGCRIMINAL STREET GANGS

• Protection
• Money Drugs
• Control of the Environment
• Racial Similarities
• Cultural Similarities

• Acceptance by Peers
• Loyalty and Reward
• Recruitment
• Intimidation
• Control of Turf
• Common Enemies

FINALLY A SENSE OF BELONGING
40
UCMJ Action

• Art. 81 - Conspiracy
• Art. 92 - Failure to Obey a Lawful Order
• Art. 116 - Rioting and Breach of Peace
• Art. 117 - Provoking Speeches and Gestures
• Art. 134 - General Article (Discredit to
  Armed Forces)
• Art. 134 - Soliciting Another to Commit an
  Offense

41
PROACTIVE RESPONSES

• Avoid denial of gang dynamics
• Develop standard procedures
• Know/enforce Policies and regulations

• Educate leaders and organization members of the
  consequences for participation
• Consider involuntary separation of violators
• Initiate UCMJ actions for violations of military
  law

SHARE-SHARE-SHARE!!!!!!!!
42
Online Resources
California Gang Investigator's Association
http//www.cgiaonline.org/ Provides a forum for
all law enforcement officers (including
corrections, prosecutors, parole and probation)
to exchange ideas. Florida Gang Investigators
Association http//www.fgia.com/ An association
of law enforcement and criminal justice
professionals who are dedicated to the prevention
of gangs and suppression of gang-related activity
within the state of Florida. Gangs in Los
Angeles County http//www.streetgangs.com/ Gang
Graffiti, brief history, homicides, and more.
Gang Prevention Incorporated http//www.gangpreve
ntioninc.com/ Street gang identification
awareness and activity training for Law
Enforcement, Military, Prosecution, Corrections,
and Probation and Parole. Training is offered to
educational institutions and selectively provided
to the private sector as well. A 400-page street
gang identification manual is available to Law
Enforcement only. A 3-day gang specialist course
is offered at various times throughout the year.
IAACI Web http//www.iaaci.com/ The
International Association of Asian Crime
Investigators, in association with the
International Asian Organized Crime Conferences,
provide focus on the criminal justice system's
response to organized crime in Asia.
Massachusetts Department of Corrections STG
http//www.state.ma.us/doc/GANG/gang1.htm
Massachusetts DOC has a similar program
documented on the web. Midwest Gang
Investigators Association http//www.mgia.org/ A
non-profit organization comprised of law
enforcement officers and members of the criminal
justice community from Michigan, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and
Missouri. National Gang Crime Research Center
http//www.ngcrc.com/ Provides research on gangs
and gang members, disseminate information through
publications and reports, and provide training
and consulting services. National Major Gang
Task Force http//www.nmgtf.org/ A consortium of
criminal justice professionals from Federal,
state and local government agencies who
specialize in gang interdiction and suppression.
National Youth Gang Center http//www.iir.com/nyg
c/ A comprehensive, coordinated response to
America's gang problem by the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Southeastern Connecticut Gang Activities Group
http//www.segag.org/ Non-profit law enforcement
association focused on disseminating information
to combat the rise in violent youth and gang
activities. Tennessee Gang Investigators
Association http//www.tngia.tn.org/ Provides an
online outlet for information relating to TNGIA,
links to other associations, online resources,
and a public forum relating to gangs. Texas Gang
Investigators Association http//www.tgia.net/
The TGIA was formed to promote a closer working
relationship among gang investigators with a view
towards the rapid dissemination and exchange of
information concerning gang related incidents,
suspects and investigations
43
"QUESTIONS"
Courtesy of K. Ferguson Kelly, STG-A