Gangs: Page 9

La Cosa Nostra: Alive and Kicking

On the strength of 16 indictments, federal agents arrested 119 alleged members of La Cosa Nostra Sicilian Mafia in late-January raids in the Northeast. This was an outstanding blow against the Mob, but it's not a fatal blow.

(From l. to r.) Rafael 'Chispas' Sandoval, Jimmy Capola of the Gambino family, and Robert 'Robot' Salas. Photo courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Hells Angels: Taking Away Their Toys

When you plan a raid of Hell Angels outlaw motorcycle gang locations for felons, drugs, and guns, don't assume you'll encounter good old boys who ride bikes as a hobby and don't mean to hurt anyone.

The author is second from right. Photo courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Roots of the Armenian Power Gang

In Los Angeles, the Armenian Power street gang was linked not only to the Sureño alliance and the Mexican Mafia prison gang, but also to their elders in the Armenian organized crime groups. They often victimized members of their own community, and supported the radical politically motivated acts of groups such as the JCAG.

Gang Finances: Living Off the Grid

Gang members belong to a gangster culture, believing that only lame punks do menial work for "the man." Why be a lowly worker, when you can be the boss? As a carjacker, burglar, armed robber, or drug dealer, you are the boss. You own your own business. You call the shots.

Photo courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Equal Justice Under the Law?

If ending corruption is the real goal, let's apply all the regulations equally across the board. I can support mandatory financial disclosure for all gang-unit officers, if this attempt to ensure equal justice under the law is applied to all corruptible government employees equally.

Los Angeles attorney Richard Fine was jailed and disbarred, when he exposed the fact that Superior Court judges have been receiving illegal money under the table from county supervisors in addition to their lawful salary from the state. He made the October 2010 cover of California Lawyer.

Edged Weapons and Gang Culture

Edged-weapon gang culture flourished most prominently in American jails and prisons. Every inmate is expected to be able to defend himself. Gang members take this to mean they must be armed with an edged weapon.

Prison Shanks

The jail-made "shank" is fashioned from this material by sharpened by scraping the metal on concrete floors. A handle is fashioned from paper or cloth. Since the length of the shank is small, the handle is often held in the palm of the fist with the blade protruding from between the middle and ring fingers like a push dagger.

Do You Speak Swahili?

In prison, forms of black slang and African languages are used to code conversations to prevent non-black inmates and staff from understanding the communication. They also serve as a racial recruiting tool.

Radical African American groups preach the myth that the African race is a super race and new gang recruits can return to their African warrior tribal roots. Photo courtesy of Rich Valdemar.

A Swahili Dictionary

The Black Panther Press' underground "New Afrikan Swahili Dialect Dictionary" is a guide to words and phrases used by black gang members in prison. Break the code by learning these translated terms.

Do You Speak Nahuatl?

Mexicans and Mexican Americans who can barely say taco are being taught dialects of the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl. In California prisons both the Mexican Mafia and the rival Nuestra Familia use this Aztec mythology to recruit and train soldiers for their wars.

The tattoo on this man's head is an Aztec shield symbol for eternal war.

A Nahuatl Dictionary

A Nahuatl dictionary was intercepted in a prison in September 2000. It contains the code to the ancient Aztec language now being used by gang members. Break the code by learning these translated terms.

Drug Cartel Challenge Coin Recovered

American and Mexican law enforcement agencies have recovered similar badges, patches, coins, flags and other items produced by the Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs). The items solidify military cohesion among cartel soldiers.

Mexican drug cartel members see themselves as soldiers in an elite army. They use badges, patches, flags or other militaristic symbols to represent this.

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