CONNECTICUT GANG OVERVIEW
AS OF JULY 2011
STREET GANGS
BLOODS
Crips are present in major cities throughout Connecticut and some suburban areas. However, they are vastly outnumbered in prisons and on the streets of Connecticut by Bloods and Latin Kings. Grape Street Crips and Eight Tre Crips are most predominate sets in Connecticut with growing presence of R-2 Crips in New Haven/Hamden and Meriden.
The Latin Kings are no longer the largest gang in Connecticut. They have a presence in most cities in Connecticut. They are the most organized with clear command structures at state, regional and local levels both in prison and on the streets. There is often internal conflict over leadership positions and their internal discipline procedures remain among the most violent in the gang world. They maintain an alliance with Bloods throughout Connecticut. Currently in conflict with Los Solidos (northern Connecticut), Crip/ Folk Nation gangs and “13” gangs.
The Los Solidos are a Hartford, Connecticut originated gang that now has spread throughout the Northeast, Florida and Texas. Their colors are red and blue and their symbol is the theatrical comedy/tragedy masks. In the 1990s they were involved in an extremely violent and deadly war with Latin Kings. They have recently re-emerged in northern Connecticut prisons, Hartford and northern Connecticut cities. Major enemy remains the Latin Kings.
Neta is a prison gang that originated in Puerto Rico and has presence in most cities in Connecticut. Their current status in Connecticut is greatly diminished from the past when they were a major presence in Connecticut.
The Trinitarios are a Dominican gang with very large presence in New York and New Jersey. They can be found in small numbers in some major cities in Connecticut. Their largest presence is in Torrington, Connecticut.
Sur 13 (Sureno 13) refers to predominately Mexican gangs that originated in Southern California and claim allegiance to the Mexican Mafia. There are several different loosely organized sets in most Connecticut cites. They follow growing Mexican populations in various Connecticut cities and towns. In Connecticut they currently consider Latin Kings and Bloods to be enemies.
MS13 (Mara Salvatrucha) is an El Salvadorian/Central American nationalities gang that originated in Southern California and claims allegiance to the Mexican Mafia. They are organized into “cliques” and are considered one the most violent gang in the world. They have a small presence inside Connecticut prisons and can be found in most major cities in Fairfield County and the Hartford area.
18Street is a Southern California based Hispanic gang that also claims allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, however they do not get along with “13” gangs. They have a presence in the Hartford area.
Hybrid gangs are usually loosely organized neighborhood based gangs or crime specific crews. They cannot trace their origins to a national major gang such as Bloods or Latin Kings. They can act as a “farm team” for a national gang. They may have some members who are members of a major gang. They can adopt gang related symbols from several different sources such as rap music, the internet, movies, television shows (Gangland), and borrow symbols from major gangs.
In Connecticut, many hybrid gangs may claim some loose affiliation to a national major gang (usually Bloods). This affiliation is what they claim when members become incarcerated. Currently conflicts between hybrid gangs are the cause of most violence in Hartford. Some of these Hartford gangs are known as Bedroc, The Ave, Orange Street Killas, Westhill, COT, Killa Hill, Nelton Court Posse, etc. Membership generally ranges in age from 13 to 17. Although some of these neighborhood gangs have existed for generations.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs/clubs specifically refer to those organizations that claim to be “1% ers” meaning they are among the one percent of motorcycle riders who have adopted an outlaw lifestyle. They refer to themselves as clubs not gangs, but are heavily involved in criminal activity and violence. They are made up of predominately white males and ride American made motorcycles usually Harley-Davidsons. There are numerous OMG's in Connecticut and are generally aligned into three groups; the Hells Angels dominated Connecticut Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (CCMC), the Outlaw Motorcycle Club dominated American Outlaw Association (AOA), and Independents.
The Hells Angels are the largest and most powerful OMG in the world and are the largest in the northeast and Connecticut. They have four chapters in Connecticut (Bridgeport, Hartford, Middletown Nomads and Stateline). They also have an extensive network of support clubs through CCMC which includes close to twenty other Connecticut OMG's including; James Gang, Charter Oak, Undertakers, Branded Ones, Ruthless for Life, Deuces Wild, Phantom Lords, East Side Crew, etc. Hells Angels supporters and support clubs usually display pins, clothing, other “gear” proclaiming support for the Hells Angels such as ball peen hammer pins and various t-shirts, bumper sticker s, or other items that use the number “81” ( 8 for letter H, 1 for letter A) in the phrasing . The Hells Angels currently consider themselves at war with the Outlaws MC and numerous incidents of violence, including homicide, in Connecticut have been attributed to this war. In Connecticut the Hells Angels and their support clubs vastly outnumber the Outlaws MC.
The Outlaws MC is one of the largest OMG's in the world and they are considered the dominant OMG in the Midwestern United States and Florida. They have a small presence in Connecticut with a Chapter in the Waterbury area and a small chapter in Enfield. They have two support clubs; the Black Pistons MC and Righteous and Unruly MC both located in the Waterbury area. As noted above they are at war with the Hells Angels and acts of violence have occurred in Connecticut.
There are OMG's that have chapters in Connecticut that have no formal alliance with either the CCMC (Hells Angels) or the AOA (Outlaws MC). Three of most frequently seen are listed below and all are generally considered Hells Angels “friendly” while not maintaining formal ties to the Hells Angels.
Hole in the Wall Gang MC: is based in New Haven and has existed there for many years.
Ching-A-Ling Nomads MC: is based in the Bronx, New York and has two Connecticut chapters in New Haven and Wallingford. Historically have close ties to Diablos MC.
Diablos MC: maintain their “National” headquarters in Meriden, Connecticut. This OMG has several chapters in California, Indiana and every New England state except Rhode Island. Currently have Chapters in Meriden, Southington, Waterbury, Torrington, and expected to expand into Bristol. They are one of the largest OMG's in New England.
There are other Motorcycle Clubs in Connecticut that adopt the style of dress that is similar to OMG's but they are usually profession based and do not adopt the “1%” lifestyle.They should not be confused with “1%” outlaw motorcycle gangs.
White Supremacist groups exist in small numbers in Connecticut the most well known is Battalion 14, formerly known as the White Wolves, which originated in Stratford, Connecticut. Scattered throughout Connecticut in the prisons and in various towns and cities are gang members affiliated with Aryan Nation gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood, Nazi low Riders etc. and other similar groups (Neo-Nazis, KKK, racist skinhead groups). They can most often be identified by tattoos and clothing associated with the Nazis, the numbers “14” “88”, variations of the Celtic cross, Nordic Runes symbols, etc.
On behalf of the National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations (NAGIA) and its member associations of which Connecticut Gang Investigators Association (CTGIA) is a founding member. We wish to present to our Law Enforcement, Corrections Officers, Criminal Justice and our Parents, Educators and Business communities a Quick reference guide to gangs. Please be aware that this guide, is a guide, it does not cover every gang in the United States, Canada or our neighbors world wide, yet it will provide a reference to most commonly seen gangs. Should you have questions or are looking for information please contact your local police or sheriff's departments gang unit or juvenile division or contact an Association near you.
Gangs - Quick Reference Flip Book.pdf
Disclaimer: Accuracy
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