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Aryan Brotherhood
The Arayan Brotherhood, also known as the AB, was originally ruled by consensus but is now a highly structured entity with two factions, one located within the California Department of Corrections (CDC) and the other within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The majority of the members of the AB are Caucasian males, and the gang is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S. The main source of income for the AB is derived from the distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine within the prison systems as well as on the street. Some AB members have established business relationships with Mexican DTOs that smuggle illegal drugs into California for distribution by the AB. The AB is notoriously violent and is frequently involved in murder-for-hire. Although historically linked to the California based Hispanic prison gang the Mexican Mafia, tension between the AB and La Eme is becoming increasingly evident as demonstrated by recent fights between Caucasians and Hispanics within the CDC.
Barrio Azteca
The Barrio Azteca is one of the most violent prison gangs operating within the U.S. Barrio Azteca is a highly structured criminal entity and has an estimated membership of 2,000 persons. Most members of the Barrio Azteca are either Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males. Barrio Azteca is most active in the Southwestern region of the U.S., primarily in federal, state and local correctional facilities in Texas, as well as on the outside in communities located in Southwestern Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. Barrio Azteca’s main source of income is derived from the smuggling of heroin, powdered cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside the prison systems. Members of the Barrio Azteca often transport illicit drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border on behalf of DTOs. Barrio Azteca members are also involved in crimes such as alien smuggling, arson, assault, auto theft, burglary, extortion, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery and weapons violations.
Black Guerrilla Family
The Black Guerrilla Family (BGF), originally called the Black Family or the Black Vanguard, is a prison gang founded in 1966 at the San Quentin State Prison in California. The BGF is highly organized along paramilitary lines with a supreme leader and a central committee. BGF has an established national charter, a code of ethics and an oath of allegiance. BGF members operate primarily in the states of California and Maryland. BGF has approximately 100 to 300 members, a majority of whom are African-American males. A primary source of income for the BGF is derived from the distribution of cocaine and marijuana. BGF members obtain drugs primarily from Nuestra Familia and Norteño members or from local Mexican drug-traffickers. BGF members are also involved in other criminal activities including auto theft, burglary, drive-by shooting and homicide.
Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos
The Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) is a Hispanic prison gang formed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in the late 1980’s. HPL operates in most prisons and on the streets in many communities in Texas, particularly Laredo. HPL is also active in several cities in Mexico, and its largest contingent in that country is located in Nuevo Laredo. HPL is structured and estimated to have 1,000 members. HPL members maintain close ties with Mexican DTOs and are involved in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution.
Mexikanemi
The Mexikanemi prison gang, also known as the Texas Mexican Mafia or Emi, was formed in the early 1980’s within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The Mexikanemi is highly structured and is estimated to have 2,000 members, most of whom are Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males living in Texas at the time of their incarceration. Mexikanemi poses a significant drug-trafficking threat to communities in the Southwestern U.S., particularly in Texas. Mexikanemi gang members reportedly traffic multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; multi-ton quantities of marijuana; and thousand-tablet quantities of ecstasy from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside prison. Mexikanemi gang members obtain narcotics from associates or members of the Jaime Herrera-Herrera, Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, and/or the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes Mexican DTOs. In addition, Mexikanemi members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, a Mexican paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cardenas-Guillen DTO as its personal security force.
Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia prison gang, also known as La Eme (Spanish for the letter M), was formed in the late 1950’s within the California Department of Corrections (CDC). La Eme is a loosely structured criminal organization with strict rules that must be followed by the estimated 350 to 400 members. Most members of La Eme are comprised of Mexican-American males who previously belonged to a Southern California street gang. La Eme is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S., however, its' power base remains in California. The Mexican Mafia’s main source of income is extorting drug distributors outside prison and distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana within the prison systems and on the outside streets. Some members of La Eme have direct links to Mexican DTOs and broker deals for both themselves and their associates. La Eme is also involved in other criminal activities including controlling gambling and prostitution within the prison systems.
Nazi Low Riders
The Nazi Low Riders (NLR) are a violent California based prison gang which subscribes to a white supremacist philosophy. The NLR's have approximately 800 to 1,000 members, most of whom are Caucasian males with a history of street gang activity and drug abuse. The NLR's operate in correctional facilities and communities, primarily in the Pacific and Southwestern regions of the U.S. The NLR's primary sources of income are derived from the distribution of multi-ounce to multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine, the retail-level distribution of heroin and marijuana, and the extortion of independent Caucasian drug dealers and members of other white power gangs. The NLR's also engage in violent criminal activity such as armed robbery, assault, assault with deadly weapons, murder and attempted murder; in addition, they commit identity fraud, money laundering, witness intimidation and witness retaliation.
Ñeta
Ñeta is a prison gang that began in Puerto Rico and spread to the U.S. Ñeta is one of the largest and most violent prison gangs, with approximately 7,000 members in Puerto Rico and about 5,000 members in the U.S. Ñeta chapters in Puerto Rico exist exclusively inside prisons; once members are released from prison they no longer are considered to be part of the gang. In the U.S., Ñeta chapters exist both inside and outside prisons in 36 cities and within 9 states, primarily in the Northeastern region. Ñeta’s main source of income is derived from the retail distribution of powdered and crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana and, to a lesser extent, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), ecstasy, methamphetamine and PCP (phencyclidine). Ñeta members also commit crimes including assault, auto theft, burglary, drive-by shooting, extortion, home invasion, money laundering, robbery, weapons and explosives trafficking and witness intimidation.
Nuestra Familia
Nuestra Familia and its subordinate organization Norteños are highly structured and extremely violent prison gangs. Originating within the California penal system, Nuestra Familia has an estimated 250 members, while Norteños membership is estimated to be over 1,000 persons, consisting primarily of Mexican-American males who formerly belonged to street gangs in Central and Northern California. Nuestra Familia and Noreños are active primarily in state and federal prisons and in communities of the Pacific region of the U.S. The main sources of income for Nuestra Familia and Noreños are derived from distributing cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine within prison systems as well as in outside communities and by extorting drug distributors on the streets. Nuestra Familia is also involved in other criminal activities including homicide and robbery.
Public Enemy Number One
Public Enemy Number One (PEN1) is the fastest-growing Caucasian prison gang in the U.S. with an estimated membership of between 400 to 500 persons. PEN1 operates in the prison systems and communities of California, and, to a lesser extent, in locations throughout the Northeastern, Pacific, Southwestern, Southeastern and West Central regions of the U.S. PEN1 members espouse a white supremacist philosophy and pose a criminal threat both inside and outside prison due to an alliance with the Arayan Brotherhood and the Nazi Low Riders. PEN1 members derive their income from distributing mid-level and retail-level quantities of methamphetamine. In addition, PEN1 members engage in violent criminal activities such as assault, attempted murder, homicide, auto theft, burglary, identity theft and property crimes.
Sureños and Norteños
As individual Hispanic street gang members enter the prison systems, they set aside their former rivalries with other Hispanic street gangs and unite under the name Sureños or Norteños. The original Mexican Mafia members, most of whom were from Southern California, considered Mexicans from the rural, agricultural areas of Northern California as weak and viewed them with contempt. To distinguish themselves from the agricultural workers or farmers from Northern California, members of the Mexican Mafia began to refer to the Hispanic gang members that worked for them as Sureños (Southerners). Inmates from Northern California became known as Norteños (Northerners) and are affiliated with the Nuestra Familia. Because of the size and strength, Fresno Bulldogs is the only Hispanic gang in the California Department of Corrections that does not fall under the Sureños or Norteños, but remains independent.
Sureños gang members’ main sources of income are derived from the retail-level distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine both within the prison systems and in the community, as well as the extortion of drug distributors on the streets. Some members of the Sureños have direct links to DTOs and broker deals for the Mexican Mafia as well as their own gang. Sureños gang members are also involved in other criminal activities such as assault, carjacking, home invasion, homicide and robbery.
Norteños gang members’ main sources of income are derived from the retail-level distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and PCP (phencyclidine) both within the prison systems and in the community, as well as the extortion of drug distributors on the streets. Norteños gang members also are involved in other criminal activities such as assault, carjacking, home invasion, homicide and robbery.
Texas Syndicate
The Texas Syndicate (TS) is one of the largest and most violent prison gangs active on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border and poses a significant drug trafficking threat to communities located in the Southwestern United States. The TS is highly structured and is estimated to have 1,300 members, most of whom are Mexican-American males between the ages of 20-40. Members of the TS smuggle multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, and multi-ton quantities of marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside of prison. TS gang members have a direct working relationship with associates and/or members of the Osiel Cardenas-Guillen Mexican DTO. In addition, TS gang members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, the paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cadenas-Guillen DTO.
Four Horsemen, Tangos, and Tango Blast
Texas prison officials first noted the presence of a gang known as the Four Horseman in 1998. Some Hispanic gang members entering the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) from the cities of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston were not interested in joining an established prison gang and established the Four Horseman to protect one another and to engage in illegal activities, particularly drug-trafficking, to make money. The Four Horseman became known as the Tangos, because its members wore tattoos that reflected the town (or tango) in which they resided prior to their incarceration. As interest in the Tangos grew among Hispanic gang members entering the TDCJ from other areas of Texas, only inmates from West Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio and El Paso were allowed into the gang. Of the eight groups now recognized as Tangos, six are part of what is now known as Tango Blast or Puro Tango Blast. Tango Blast includes Tangos from the four original cities as well as the West Texas and Rio Grande Valley areas. Tango Blast differs from the Tangos in that separate Tango Blast members sometimes band together to help one another. The rapid growth of the Tango Blast poses a significant new security threat within the TDCJ and elements of the Tango Blast appear to be challenging the Texas Syndicate for control of illegal prison activities. Upon release from prison, Tango members appear to return to their local street gangs, rather than continue their prison-based gang affiliations.
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