Preliminary analysis of the Crips and Bloods street gang activity in Oklahoma

              N 40008 C931b 1991 c.4
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS
OF THE CRIPS AND BLOODS
STREET GANG ACTIVITY
IN OKLAHOMA
Strategic Intelligence Summary
Prepared By
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and
Dangerous Drugs Control
Intelligence Division
September, 1991
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE CRIPS AND BLOODS
STREET GANG ACTIVITY IN OKLAHOMA
INTRODUCTION
Black youth gang activity has risen markedly during the past
five years and continues to grow at an alarming rate in the State
of Oklahoma. The largest concentrations of gang members lie in the
metropoli tan areas of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, although gang
activity is being reported with greater frequency in the rural
areas of the state. It is the purpose of this analysis to provide
an overview of street gang activity in Oklahoma and its scope of
influence, so that logical predictions can be made regarding future
trends and possible solutions to the issue.
Gang economics are grounded in the drug trade, and territory
is divided by rival gangs. Any infringement by one "set" onto the
territory or "turf" of another gang set is usually met with
violence, which can include physical beatings, drive-by shootings,
open gang warfare, and execution-style murder.
During the past several years, metropolitan areas of Oklahoma
have seen an influx of Los Angeles based street gang members.
These individuals are particularly violent and usually derive their
resources from the sale of crack cocaine. The gangs buy low priced
cocaine in Los Angeles, where they often deal directly with
Columbian suppliers. The drug is then brought to Oklahoma, cooked
into the rock form of cocaine known as "crack," and sold here where
the market price is high. Gangs often operate or supply so called
"rock houses" using local drug dealers to enhance their
organizations.
Crips and Bloods brought their cocaine to Oklahoma. They have
also brought their lifestyles. Today thousands of young Oklahomans
call themselves Crips or Bloods and have adopted the sociopathic
behavior of their fellow Los Angeles gang members. Lack of respect
for human life is a status sYmbol in gang cultures. Those accorded
the highest ranking in these organizations are frequently the ones
who demonstrate the greatest degree of ruthlessness.
In metropolitan areas, the indiscriminate discharge of fire-arms
is becoming common. Oklahoma City alone has experienced some
250 reported drive-by shootings. They have resulted in 14
fatali ties in the past year. Tulsa has experienced similar
incidents.
Gang graffiti is highly visible in gang infested neighbor-hoods.
The cryptic messages, usually touting violence against a
rival gang, can be readily interpreted with some degree of study.
Also common are so called "Hood Houses," which are vacant homes or
businesses taken over by gang members and used as a sort of
2
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clubhouse. In many neighborhoods, citizens have been forced out of
their homes by gangs which have taken over other property on the
block.:1.
Local gang members tend to range from about ten years of age
to the early twenties. Some gang sets have "Pee Wees" who are mem-bers
too young to participate in bona fide gang activity, but have
aspirations of becoming real gang members, and are utilized for
menial tasks and chores.
Local gang members (as opposed to Los Angeles gang members)
have been here-to-fore considered insignificant and simply imitat-ors
of real Los Angeles gang members. At present, it is difficult
to tell local gang members from a Los Angeles gang member. Local
Crip and Blood sets have divided Tulsa and Oklahoma City into local
set turf. It is the opinion of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics
that local Crips and Bloods pose as great or greater a threat to
local society than the Los Angeles gang members operating in
Oklahoma. Local metropolitan gang members are spreading their
influence and lifestyles to mid-sized Oklahoma towns having black
communities, in much the same way that Los Angeles gang members
spread their lifestyles and influence to Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
HISTORY OF THE GANG PROBLEM
There is a long history of black street gangs in Los Angeles.
The first gangs can be traced back as far as the 1920s, when family
members and close friends banded together in the rough south-central
Los Angeles area.2 The main reason that these groups ini-tially
formed was for self-defense. In rough neighborhoods , a
group was stronger than any individual. These gangs provided pro-tection
from rival gangs, and eventually evolved a source of income
through criminal activity. Those considered the "toughest" or the
"smartest" on a given block emerged as gang leaders.
Throughout the years, additional gangs developed, and their
level of criminal sophistication increased. Between 1955 and 1965
there was a significant increase in gang activity in the Compton
area of Los Angeles. The first Crip gang activity is believed to
have started in 1969 on the campus of Washington High School. Mem-bers
of this initial Crip street gang were mainly involved in
extortion, assault, and robbery. The origin of the Crip name is
unclear; some sources hold that the name is derived from the motion
. ,
:1.Reference Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Intelligence Sources
2 Information in this paper regarding gang origins and
characteristics is based upon the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms publications Crips and Bloods Street Gangs, Volumes 1 and
2, published in 1989.
3
picture entitled Tales From the Crypt. Another theory is that it
comes from the "Cribs," an offshoot of the Slauson Street Gang in
Los Angeles. Other stories include that the name comes from the
fact that early members carried walking canes as a form of gang
identification, and "crips" comes from "cripples." Another view
holds that the name is derived from "kryptonite," the substance
"more powerful than Superman."
As the Crips developed into a large loosely knit organization,
they increased in power and influence. Addi tional gang sets
developed throughout the area, all with well-earned reputations for
violence and ruthlessness. Since drug trafficking was the
strongest black market available, Crips members turned to drug
trafficking as a source of income. Phencyclidine (PCP), known on
the streets as "angel dust," became a main drug of choice. Members
of these sets began to travel to other communities, dealing drugs,
and spreading gang influence throughout the Los Angeles area and
elsewhere. 3
SET IDENTIFICATION
Members of a particular gang "set" typically wear certain
articles of clothing to show membership in a gang. Usually, color
is the main indicator. For example, those affiliated with the
Crips wear blue clothing as a symbol of their membership. This
probably started on the campus of Washington High School in Los
Angeles, where blue is the school color. However, the gangs soon
began using other symbols of affiliation.
In Compton, a group of black youths, wanting to protect them-selves
from the Crips, formed a rival gang. They adopted the name
of a major street in Compton as their name, calling themselves the
"Pirus." Members of the Pirus became affiliated with other rival
gangs, and the name Bloods was commonly used to refer to this new
entity. Compton Bloods still refer to themselves as Pirus. Blood
sets wear red clothing to show their affiliation. This may be
because of the geographical proximity of the initial gang
territories to Centennial High School in Compton, where red is the
school color.
Prior to the cocaine boom in the United States in the early
1980' s, Crips and Bloods members made most of their money from
extortion, robbery, and burglary. These activities established the
gangs as organized criminals with illegal sources of income. How-ever,
in early 1982, gang members began dealing in "crack" cocaine.
That drug became the drug of choice among many young black males.
3 Clandestine Phencyclidine laboratories and major
distributors of the drug began to appear in Oklahoma in the late
1970's.
4
A vicious cycle of dealing, using, and increased dealing was
established as gang members became addicted to crack cocaine. Drug
trafficking expanded the economic base of these gangs, and provided
funds needed to further their growth and geographical expansion to
cities throughout the continental United States.
As street gangs become better financed and more numerous, the
battles for territorial control are becoming more violent. Gang
warfare has become widespread. A deadly tactic employed to attack
rival gang members is the "drive-by shooting." Gang members using
pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, or fully automatic weapons, fire
on their targets from moving vehicles. Of the many homicides
resulting from drive-by shootings, several of the murdered have
been innocent bystanders.
GANG CHARACTERISTICS
Black street gangs are by nature territorial, and a system of
identifying the different gang turfs has emerged. Gang territory
is marked by spray painting graffiti on walls and is usually in the
predominant color of the gang. The sYmbols portrayed in the graf-fiti
not only signify turf, but chronicle the current state of af-fairs,
e.g., gang rivalries, warfare, supply of drugs, and other
significant information about the gang condition. Gang graffiti is
usually a sign of increased gang presence in a given community.
Gang members often communicate with each other by means of
"placas," a scientific term that means a form of non-verbal
communication. Characteristically, gang members use hand signs and
symbols as codes. Only gang members and associates are supposed to
know the codes, which tell of gang activity and identify individ-uals
as gang members. Hand signals and graffiti show gang affil-iation
but also communicate ideas, ~' an impending shooting.
Gang members have different ways of displaying their "colors."
They wear clothing that is the primary or secondary color of their
gang. They may also carry colored handkerchiefs to signify gang
affiliation.4 The handkerchief may be carried inside the waist-band,
as a "flag," or worn on the head or used as a mask during the
commission of a crime. Other accessories include hats, shoelaces,
and belts in the color of blue or red. Secondary colors such as
brown, black, and purple are used by certain gangs to indicate gang
affiliation.
4 The movie Colors is based upon the use of colored clothing
to symbolize gang affiliation. Colors are like a national flag for
street gangs.
5
SOCIAL VALUES
Members of the Crips and Bloods share a general outlook on
life, which includes loyalty to other members of their set. It is
important to young gang members to affect the appearance of a cal-lous
and ruthless individual. The more violent and dangerous a
particular gang member is perceived to be, the more respect he is
accorded by both fellow and rival gang members.
Initiation of an individual into a gang is done in one of
three different ways: committing an armed robbery with other gang
members as witnesses, performing a drive-by shooting, or letting
members of the gang physically beat up the prospective member which
is referred to as the "kangaroo walk" or "bullpen." The initiation
process is often called "courting" and is designed to show courage
and gang loyalty. 5 For instance, if a prospective gang member
commits murder, he may claim to have displayed both courage and
loyalty by violating the law and taking a personal risk to join the
gang.
Gang members strive to develop a ruthless public image. In
courting such an image, some develop a sociopathic mentality that
differs radically from other types of juvenile offenders. 6 The
violent gangster image can be enhanced by performing a drive-by
shooting, robbery, or other crime. The act itself confers on the
member an elevated position within the gang, since it demonstrates
the congruence between the idea and the reality of ruthlessness in
action.
ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE IN OKLAHOMA
In Oklahoma, there are two main groups of black street gangs:
Crips and Bloods. These groupings are divided into individual
gangs called sets, to which members belong. While each set is a
separate gang, they are identified with either the Crips or
Bloods.?
5 Such behavior can be seen in all cultures historically as a
"rite of passage," whereby a boy becomes a man. For further
reference on this Cf. Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand
Faces and Sir James Frazier's The Golden Bough.
6 Herman Jones, M.D., Asst. Professor of Psychiatry and
Neurology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. 1991.
? Dr. Herman Jones observes that sets with more than fifteen
members tend to divide and create new sets.
6
A territorial phenomenon, sets originate in a neighborhood
that becomes its usual area of operation. There is no limit on the
number of members that may be in a single set. Some sets are com-prised
of as few as five members. Others may number several hun-dred.
Some sets are offshoots of larger sets, compounding the
problem of determining set size.
Gang members are usually between 9 and 25 years old. Some
Original Gangsters may be in their 30s.8 Most of the criminally
active youth are between the ages of 14 and 18. There is no tra-ditional
chain of command for these gangs. Older members, es-pecially
Original Gangsters, have the most influence. If a chron-ological
approach based on age is used, the structural breakdown of
the black street gangs is as follows:9
1. Original Gangsters. Otherwise known as O.G.'s, these
members are the upper echelon of gang command. They plan
narcotics trafficking strategies, manage large sums of
drug money and its distribution throughout the gang, reap
high benefits from gang activity, and make decisions
about gang affairs, including drive by shootings and
other violent assaults. The O.G. 's tend to remain apart
from day to day gang acti vities, with many actually
running legitimate businesses as fronts for their gang
involvement.
2. Gangsters. The gangsters or "G's" are the backbone of
the street gangs. They are usually younger than the
Original Gangster's (14-17 years old), carry out gang
activities, answer to the Original Gangsters, and super-vise
the younger gang members. In general terms, these
members represent the rank and file street gang
membership.
3. PeeWees. Also called Baby Gangsters, they are usually 9-
13 years old and are used by senior gang members to per-form
such menial tasks as runners, sentries, or other
tasks including the writing of graffiti.
4. Tiny Gangsters. Tiny Gangsters, also called "T.G.'s,"
are the youngest members of black youth gangs. They are
usually between the ages of 6 to 9 years old. They pri-marily
carry out very menial tasks for older gang mem-bers.
This may include running, recruiting, and general
chores.
B See below.
9 Reference ATF and Los Angeles Police. These structures have
been observed in Oklahoma City street gangs.
7
GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION
The Los Angeles based gangs discovered that the entire United
States is a market for drugs. Consequently, gangs have sent envoys
to all parts of the United S~ates to scout out potential territor-ies
and establish connections. Geographically, gang expansion has
been from Los Angeles to other West Coast cities, eastward to major
United States urban areas, and finally to smaller towns and cities
throughout the nation.
One peculiarity is that young gang members tend to imitate the
California gang style, forming their own neighborhood gang exactly
like the California equivalent. These local sets of Crips and
Bloods usually have some relationship to the California gangs.
Many Oklahomans have family ties to California dating back to the
westward migration of Dust Bowl days. This may partially explain
the close link between Oklahoma gang members and those on the west
coast.
According to an ATF report, there are currently over 30 Los
Angeles gangs trafficking in narcotics in at least 21 different
states including California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Alaska,
Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico,
Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Illinois, Florida,
Maryland, and Hawaii.10
The early primary location for cocaine shipments from South
America was Miami, Florida. That focus has now shifted to Southern
California. Members of the Crips and Bloods have established con-tacts
with Columbian sources and flooded the market with crack
cocaine. Cocaine, in rock or crack form, has become the drug of
preference in economically depressed communi ties, where it was for-merly
available on a limited basis due to high cost.11 Crack
cocaine represents a new marketing approach for the distribution of
cocaine. Selling smaller units ("rocks") of the drug has made it
more affordable and has increased the market base. That base is
made firm through addiction.
The general profile of a Crips or Blood gang member is as
follows: black male, age 16-22 years of age, rarely having iden-tification,
and frequently using alias names. He often wears
"FILA" brand jogging suits and tennis shoes, professional sports
jackets and caps bearing the names of Los Angeles teams, and some-times
Adidas sweatshirts. He may also wear Dickey brand cotton
work pants or bib-style overalls (clothing is worn in a style
called the L.A. "sag," where the pants sag below the hips, reveal-ing
the cleavage of the buttocks.) Nike tennis shoes are also
10 ATF, Crips and Bloods Street Gangs, vol 1-2, 1989.
11 Reference DEA and OBN intelligence sources.
8
popular among gang members. The colors of clothing worn by gang
members tend to reflect their gang colors. Other indicators are
large sums of cash, gold jewelry, pagers, and mobile phones. Al-though
these colors and styles represent a general profile of gang
members, they have learned that the police watch for these signs
and often dress more discreetly.12 These indicators are general
and gang styles change continually.
Generally, Los Angeles gang members do not operate crack
houses from which drugs are sold; rather, they tend to supervise
operations and collect proceeds from drug sales. They keep in
touch with local dealers by using pagers and mobile phones.
Gang members tend to use the same motels on a regular basis.
For instance, ATF chronicles a recent California gang investigation
which revealed the gang members continually used Sixpence Motels
between Los Angeles and Tacoma, Washington as a location from which
to conduct their illegal drug trade.13
A list of the main California sets has been developed by
Compton, California Police Department and other agencies:
Crip sets: Acacia Crips
Compton Crips
East Coast Crips
Fronthood Crips
Ghost Town Crips
Harbor City Crips
Main Street Crips
Payback Crips
Raymond Crips
Rollin' 30's
Bible Crips
Dodge City Crips
Eight Tray Gangsters
43 Gangster Crips
Grape Street Watts Crips
Insane Crips
Original Valley Gangster
Playboy Crips
Rollin' 20's
Rollin' 60's
12 The Western States Information Network (WISN) has cataloged
the general profile of a gang member as follows: Black males 15 to
24 years of age, rarely having identification, using alias names,
wearing close-cropped or geri curl hair styles, giving local
addresses with Los Angeles ZIP Codes and Area Codes, wearing red
clothing to signify Blood membership and blue clothing to signify
Crips membership.
13 ATF, Crips and Bloods Street Gangs, vol 1-2, 1989.
9
Blood sets: Athens Park Boys
Bounty Hunters
Black P-stone
Brim Sets
89 Family Blood
Inglewood Family Blood
Outlaws
Cedar Block Piru
Leuder Park Piru
Rollin' 30's Piru
Ujima Village Blood
Bishop Sets
Bloodstone Villains
Blood Fives
Denver Lane Sets
Harvard Park
Miller Gangsters
Compton Piru
Cross Atlantic Piru
Lime Hood Piru
Main Street Swans
Van Ness Gangsters
Al though the list is not comprehensive, it represents the
major gangs in the Los Angeles area. Many of these gangs have
migrated to other areas, expanding from original cells to new
sets.
Gang activity has increased steadily throughout the State of
Oklahoma during the past four years. In the years 1986-87, only
minimal numbers of gang-related police contacts were made through-out
the metropolitan Oklahoma City area. ~4 Crips members from
Compton, California had been observed establishing gang presence in
the Tulsa and Muskogee areas during late 1986 to early 1987. Mem-bers
of Los Angeles Crips gangs were observed travelling to and
from Oklahoma and California. Police authorities suspect that much
of this travel was to supply drugs and return money. Intelligence
indicates a number of these gang members were originally from Mus-kogee,
Oklahoma and had moved to the Los Angeles area in the early
1980's to find work.
In early to mid-1988, there was a sharp increase in gang ac-tivity
in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It was concentrated
in the Northeast side and suburbs of the city. Although most of
this gang activity included the sale of crack cocaine to members of
the black community, a new market opened in the heroin trade with
the arrest and imprisonment of Johnnie Lee Sanders, a long-time
heroin distributor. Many early Oklahoma City gang members became
involved in the heroin business as a result of the collapse of the
Sanders organization. Although gangs in the Oklahoma City area
originated from Los Angeles-based Crips and Bloods, as the problem
expands fewer of the gangs seem to have direct ties to Los Angeles.
HISTORY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY GANG PROBLEM
During the early development of gang activity in Oklahoma
City, only a few gang members and their associates were identified.
Likewise, only a few sets were recognized. One reason for this is
~4 Sources include Oklahoma City Police Department and other
intelligence sources in the metropolitan area.
10
that this time period was an initial recruitment stage for prospec-tive
gang members. It was also a time when the groundwork for drug
distribution networks was established. Lack of intelligence on
gang activity was due to both ignorance of the operation of street
gangs on the part of law enforcement and to a general lack of in-terest
in what appeared to be an insignificant juvenile gang
phenomenon.
In mid-1988, media attention focused upon Los Angeles gang ac-tivity
in Oklahoma City. The press brought popular attention to
the emergence of gangs and various strategies and counter-measures
to combat the growing problem. Local law enforcement officials
traveled to Los Angeles and observed the gang problem first-hand.
Fearing a full-scale crackdown would serve to glamorize gang life-styles
in the press, many police departments downplayed the role of
gangs in local violence. In some cases, local governments denied
the existence of organized street gangs.~5
From late 1988 to 1989, gang activity grew, and a broad market
was established for drug trafficking. There was an increase in
gang-related crimes (drug trafficking, assaults, robberies, drive-by
shootings) and a decrease in classic juvenile crimes (burglary,
larceny, etc.). It was common to see large groups of young black
males congregating at locations known to police as gang hang-outs.
Frequently during these congregations, violence erupted. During
this same time-frame, gang related homicides began to rise.~6
In 1990-1991, Oklahoma City's gang problem has continued un-abated,
with many Original Gangsters starting legitimate fronts for
gang activities. Other cities throughout the state are now report-ing
similar increases in gang activity. Gang-related shootings
have been reported in Hugo, Frederick, Elk City, and Lawton. a, 7
Ardmore police report a surge in other types of gang activity.~B
~5 This approach was, in fact, recommended by some instructors
to law enforcement officials.
~6 Oklahoma City has seen a large increase in the number of
drive-by shootings over the past two years.
~7 Recent information obtained by an on-site visit by an OBN
Intelligence Agent and discussions with local law enforcement and
community officials from these areas reveals a significant increase
in their gang activities. There was a gang related assault of an
older female during a robbery in Hugo.
~BChief Bill Culley of Ardmore P.D. recently reported having
a gang fights, shootings, armed robberies, threats on law
enforcement officers, drug dealing in public housing areas, and
other indicators of a significant gang problem throughout Ardmore
to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
11
Available statistics indicate a jump in young black violent
juvenile offenders.~9
OKLAHOMA CITY SETS
Oklahoma City currently has an estimated 75 local Crips and
Bloods sets operating in the metropolitan area. Many of these have
a California connection. Others are simply modeled upon the Cali-fornia
gangs with no direct link. In no instance is a set compris-ed
strictly of California gang members. Typically, if a set has a
California connection, it will be one or a few individuals from
California, with rank and file members comprised of locals. In
this circumstance, the Californians hold executive positions in the
gang as Original Gangsters.20
CRIME and AGE STATISTICS
It is clear that black street gangs are mainly comprised of
juveniles. Consequently, indicators of increased gang activity are
visible upon examination of juvenile crime statistics. The Okla-homa
County Juvenile Center has published useful statistics on
juvenile crime in its annual report.2~
In FY90, there was a 13.1% increase in juvenile admissions to
the detention center over FY89. The total admissions for FY89 were
1,190 and for FY90 were 1,346. The average daily population of the
Oklahoma County Juvenile Center in FY88 was 35.1 persons, FY89 was
38.16, and in FY90 was 45.65. The average age of youth detained at
the facility was 15.3 years. In fact, admissions increased stead-ily
in all age groups except 17 year olds. However, this may be
because Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent
to Distribute is now a reverse certification offense.22
In addition to a steady increase in overall admissions during
the past three years, the percentage of black admissions has risen
from 47.3% in FY89 to 60% of all admissions in FY90. "Non-white"
~9 See page 21 for further information.
20 A listing of known Oklahoma City sets is contained in
appendix 1 of this document.
2~ All statistical information in this section has been
obtained from the Oklahoma County Juvenile Center Annual Reports
for FY88-90.
22 Reverse certification means juveniles charged with this
crime could be handled as adults and not through the juvenile
justice system.
12
These gangs are mainly individuals from Oklahoma City and are
responsible for a visible increase in street violence. It is im-possible
to measure the exact extent of the problem. Conservative
estimates place total gang membership in the greater Oklahoma City
region at around 3,500, with some estimates as high as 9,000
members. 27
The problem appears to be inextricably welded to long-standing
socioeconomic conditions. Poverty is a condition common to most of
the areas which develop street gangs. The youth of these areas
have a limited range of available economic, educational, and social
opportunities. Street gangs offer these alienated youths a means
of identity. Violence is their most basic form of language, the
lowest common denominator.
Gang membership has become part of a dangerous rite of passage
for some of our children. Obviously, an urgent need exists to un-derstand
and curb this phenomenon. Failure to do so will result in
the loss of more young lives to violence and a spiraling increase
in juvenile crime.
While this preliminary report has focused on black street
gangs, the gang problem is not unique or confined to the black com-munity.
Indeed, intelligence reports indicate the probable exist-ence
of white juvenile gangs including an all white Crips set in
Western Oklahoma; the existence of well developed Hispanic gangs,
and the likelihood of an Asian gang presence in Oklahoma.
27 The figure of 9,000 members is an unconfirmed estimate of
statewide membership totals.
14
APPENDIX 1
KNOWN GANG SETS IN OKLAHOMA CITY
A list of known Oklahoma City crips sets is as follows:2B
1. Blood Killer Crips (BKC). The geographic locale or number of
members of the BKC gang not known at this time.
2. City Girl Gangsters (CGG). The CGG gang is located along Mar-tin
Luther King East, between 23rd and 36th Streets. The
extent of membership is unknown.
3. Eight Ball Posse (8-Ball). The 8-ball gang is located in the
same turf as the CGG and has an estimated 25 members.
4. Eight Trey Gangsters (8/3 or 8-tre [sic]). The 8-Trey gang is
located in the Prince Hall Village and other unknown areas.
The estimated membership is 150-200 members.
5. Fonshill Crips (FSC or FSGC). The FSC gang is located between
Lottie and Martin Luther King and 23rd to 30th Streets. It
has an estimated membership of 30.
6. Grape Street Crips (GSC). will Rogers Court apartments. The
estimated membership is 40.
7. 24 Grape Street Crips (24GSC). Will Rogers Court. This gang
is an offshoot faction of the Grape Street Crips.
8. Hard Hoover Crip Gangsters (HHG/HHCG). This gang is located
in many different areas around Oklahoma City. It is a large
set with an estimated 1,500 members.
9. 107 Hoover Crips (HH/107 or H107). This gang is located be-tween
NE 16th and 23rd and Lottie and Martin Luther King and
has an estimated membership of 400.
10. Five Deuce Hoover Crips (5/2 HH or HHG). This gang is cur-rently
reported to be located in Midwest City and has an
estimated 100-200 members.
11. Imperial Village Crips (IVC's). Will Rogers Courts Apts. This
gang has an estimated membership of 50-75 members.
28 The figures and estimates contained in these descriptions
are based upon information obtained from intelligence sources at
the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. They are statewide membership
estimates that are not confirmed.
15
12. Insane 20's (IRTC or IS/20's).
west City and far Northeast
estimated 50 members.
This gang is located in Mid-
Oklahoma City. It has an
13. Rolling 20's Crips (R 20's or RTC). The Rolling 20's gang is
located primarily in Midwest City and has an estimated 150-200
members.
14. Rolling 60's Crips (60's or RSC). Located in Northwest Okla-homa
City, Midwest City, and some small factions in Southwest
Oklahoma City. The estimated membership is 100.
15. Westside 60'sCrips (w/S 60' s). Located in Northwest Oklahoma
City and Midwest City. The membership is estimated at 100.
16. Rolling 90's Crips (90's or RNC).
homa City, Muskogee, and Ardmore.
members.
Located in Northeast Okla-
There are an estimated 200
17. Neighborhood Crips (N-Hood or NHC). Located between NE 23rd
to 36th, and between Martin Luther King and 1-35. This gang
has an estimated 50 members.
18. Rolling Rich 100 Crips (RR 100's). This gang is located main-ly
in Del City, and the extent of membership is not known.
19. 24 Karat Crips (24K). Northeast Oklahoma City, Del City, and
Forest Park. This gang, along with the offshoot 18 Karat
Crips (18K) and 14 Karat Crips (14K), have a total of as many
as 100-125 members.
20. Playboy Gangster Crips (PGC' s) . Loca ted in Del City, the
number of members in this gang is unknown.
21. Kelly Park Crips (KPC's). This gang is located in Edmond and
the number of members is unknown.
22. Young Boyz Inc. (YBI's). Located in Del City with an unknown
membership.
23. Westside Crips (WSC). This gang, with roots in Phoenix, Ari-zona,
is located in will Rogers Courts and has approximately
75 members.
24. Stevenson Village Crips (SVC's). Located in the Will Rogers
and Ambassador Courts with unknown numbers. This set also has
roots in Phoenix, Arizona.
25. Mainstreet Crips (MSC). This gang is also referred to as the
Mainstreet Gangster Crips (MSGC' s). With ties to Phoenix,
Arizona, this group is located throughout Northeast Oklahoma
City and in Del City and has approximately 150 members.
16
26. Southeast Village Gangster Crips (SEVGC). This gang is locat-ed
in the Ambassador Courts Apartments and has approximately
100-150 members.
27. Shotgun Crips (SGC) and Westside Shotgun Crips (W/S SGC's).
These gangs are located throughout Northeast Oklahoma City and
have an estimated membership of 1800-2000 members.
28. Oceanside Compton Crips (OSCC). This gang, located in North-east
Oklahoma City, Muskogee, and Tulsa, has an estimated 50
members.
29. Westside Compton Crips (WSCC). This gang is located in North-west
Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with approximately 30 members.
30. Original Tulsa Crips (OTC's). This gang is located at North-east
Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Boley, and Muskogee. The number of
members of this gang is not known.
31. Koolies Gangster Crips (KGC's). This gang is located in the
Putnam City schools Area and has approximately 50 members.
32. Pitt Center HOod Crips (PCH's). This gang is located in
Northeast Oklahoma City, mainly in the Riley Leroy Pitts Park
area. The number of members is estimated at 30.
33. Wildwood Gangster Crips (WWGC or WWCG). Located in the Wild-wood
area of Northeast Oklahoma City. The number of members
is not known.
34. Underground Crips (UGC's). This gang is located in Northeast
Oklahoma City and Del City.
35. Third World Posse Crips (TWC). Located in the North Highlands
area of Oklahoma City and Del City. The number of members is
not known.
36. Oakgrove Posse (OGP). Located in Kerr Village in Southwest
Oklahoma City. The number of members is not known.
37. Prince Hall Villains (PHV's) and Prince Hall Village Gangster
Crips (PHVGC's) are located in the Prince Hall apartments and
the Sooner Haven apartments in Northeast Oklahoma City. The
membership is estimated at 150.
38. Trey-Six Gangster Crips (3/6 GC's). Located in the Sooner
Haven Apartments in Northeast Oklahoma City. Membership is
estimated at 50.
39. Trey-Five-Seven Crips (357's or Tre-57). Location/membership
are unknown.
17
40. Park Estates Gangster Crips (PEGC' s). Located at the Park Es-tates
in Northeast Oklahoma City. Estimated membership is 90.
Approximately 50% of the PEG's are reported to be claiming
Blood's affiliations.
41. Musgrave Mafia and AK Assault Posse (MGM or M&M's). Located
in the Musgrave Addition in Northeast Oklahoma City, with
approximately 50 members. There are indications that M&M's
claim 456 Bloods affiliation, and the set is "split" between
being a Crips or Bloods set.
42. Nutty Bloc Compton Crips (NBCC's). Shares territory with the
24 Karat Crips. The number of members is unknown; only 8 are
currently identified.
43. Walnut Street Gangster Crips (WGC' s) The estimated membership
is unknown at this time. The location of this set is North-east
Oklahoma City, between N.E. 10th and N.E. 23rd Street on
walnut Street.
The major bloods sets in Oklahoma City are as follows:
1. Banana Street Bloods (unk). The exact location and membership
of this gang are unknown.
2. Black Peastone Bloods (unk). The exact location/membership of
this gang are unknown.
3. Bloodstone Villain Bloods (unk). The exact location and
membership of this gang are unknown.
4. Bounty Hunter Bloods (unk). The exact location and membership
of this gang are unknown, although intelligence indicates that
this set is currently making a aggressive move to establish
their presence as an Oklahoma faction of the Bloods.
5. City Boy Gangsters (CBG's). This gang is located in the North
Highlands area of Northwest Oklahoma City and has an estimated
75 members.
6. Cool Boy Gangsters - Membership is estimated to be 20-30 mem-bers
who are currently still claiming this set. The location
is currently unknown. This gang is reported to be disbanded
with the majority of the membership moving to the 456 Pirus.
7. Eastside Piru Bloods - (ESPG). The location of this set is
predominantly Northeast Oklahoma City. Current membership is
estimated at 90 to 100 members.
8. 8th Street Brims - The exact location and estimated membership
of this set is currently unknown.
18
youth admissions comprised 69% of all admissions. Further, during
FY89, the Center accepted 129 youths from other counties, while in
FY90 the Center only accepted 20 youths from other counties. This
may be attributed to overcrowding. The Intake Unit at the Center
received 4,268 referrals involving 3679 youth during FY89 and 4,969
referrals involving 4,076 youth in FY90. During FY90, 3,165 juve-niles
were referred to the Center for delinquent acts as opposed to
2,797 in FY89. This is a 12% increase in a one-year span. Delin-quent
acts include arson, assault and battery, assault and battery
with a weapon, burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, auto theft,
murder, manslaughter, rape, possession of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance, robbery, and other violent crimes.
What is clear from these figures is that more juveniles are
being arrested in Oklahoma County for violent crimes, and of those
arrested, more are black males. In fact, arrests are increasing to
the point that the Juvenile Center is experiencing what is describ-ed
as chronic overcrowding. 23 Preliminary statistics for FY91
indicate that the trend is continuing, with more black male
juveniles being arrested for delinquent acts.24
At the Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau, overall detention admis-sions
rose by 20% in the two year period from 1988 to 1990, from
1,195 to 1,429. The percentage of blacks admitted to the facility
has risen during that same period from 52% to 56%, while the aver-age
age of all detentions has dropped slightly from 15.6 years to
15.3 years.25
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
It is the opinion of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics
that Oklahoma has a significant problem with Crips and Bloods
street gangs, primarily comprised of black juveniles and covering
large areas of Oklahoma City and to a lesser degree, surrounding
and outlying communities.26
23 Oklahoma County Juvenile Center Annual Report. FY90. Page
iii.
24 Oklahoma County Juvenile Center. Statistics from July 1990
to December 1990.
25 Bill Bledsoe, Director, Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau, 1991.
26 Early indications are that the "core" of gang activity in
Oklahoma City can be found in and around government financed
housing projects. Intelligence indicates the same phenomenon is
probably occurring in the Tulsa area.
13
{I
"II:
•
9. Five Point 0 (5.0) Bloods. This set has been predominantly
seen in the far Northeast quadrant of Oklahoma County; specif-ically
the Spencer and Dungee areas. Current membership is
estimated at 300+ members.
10. Four Five Six Piru Bloods - (456's). This set is predominant-ly
seen in the Northern half of Oklahoma City; more specifi-cally
the North Highlands housing addition. It should also be
noted that recent intelligence has indicated this particular
set making an aggressive move to establish its presence in the
Edmond, Oklahoma area. The current estimated membership is
150 to 200 members.
11. Four Five Seven Piru Bloods - (457's). This set, which is an
offshoot of the 456 Pirus, is predominantly seen in the Ed-mond,
Oklahoma, area. The current membership is estimated at
50 to 60 members.
12. Fifty-fourth Street Piru Bloods - (Unknown). Little is known
about this set; membership is also currently unknown.
13. Five Deuce Brims (52 Brims). The exact location and
membership of this set is currently unknown.
14. Gangster Crew Posse - (GCP' s). This set is predominantly seen
in the Spencer, Dungee, and Green Pastures areas of Oklahoma
County. The current membership of this set is estimated at
approximately 60 members. It should be noted that only 22 of
these members have been identified.
15. Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods - (IFG's). This Blood fac-tion
is believed to be the largest Blood set in Oklahoma with
membership estimated at 600+. This set has been seen predom-inantly
in the Spencer and Midwest City, Oklahoma, areas; al-though
members have been identified establishing themselves in
Forest Park, Tulsa and purportedly the Muskogee area. It
should also be noted that intelligence sources purport this
set to be the most violent of the Oklahoma Blood sets.
16. Jungle Bloods - (Unknown). The location and membership of
this set are unknown at this time.
17. Lime Street Piru Bloods - (LSPB/LSPG/LSB). This Blood set is
located predominantly in the Northern half of Oklahoma City
with some members establishing factions in the Spencer-Midwest
City areas. This set is also a very large set with membership
ranging between 200 and 300 members. It should also be noted
that this set also has been purported to have a high
propensity for violence.
19
18. Musgrave Mafia - (MGM or M&M). This set has a current esti-mated
membership of 50 to 100 members. The location is pre-dominantly
the Musgrave housing addition in Northeast Oklahoma
City. It should be noted that although listed as a Blood set,
some members of this set are also split into a Crips faction.
(See #41 on Crips list)
19. North Highlands Piru Posse - (NHP). The predominant location
of this set is North Highlands housing addition in Northwest
Oklahoma City. The membership of this set is currently un-known;
it should be noted, however, that intelligence indi-cates
this set to be comprised of members from the 456, 457,
and CBG Bloods sets.
20. Northside Piru Bloods - (NSPB or NSPG). This set is located
predominantly in the North half of Oklahoma City. Its
membership is currently estimated at 70 to 80 members.
21. Park Estates Gangsters - (PEG's). This set is located in the
Park Estates housing addition in Northeast Oklahoma City.
Estimated membership is 90 members - 50% of which are a split
of the faction claiming Crips affiliation.
22. Piru Bloods - (Unknown). Location of this set is predomi-nantly
the Northeast quadrant of Oklahoma County. Membership
is currently estimated at 50 members.
23. Rolling Thirties Bloods - (RTB's or 30's). This set is pre-dominantly
seen in Northeast Oklahoma City and in Midwest
City. Current membership is estimated between 50 to 75
members.
24. Six Deuce Brims - (62 Brims). The exact location/membership
of this set is currently unknown.
25. Shotgun Bloods - (SGB's) . This set is located throughout
Northeastern Oklahoma County with membership ranging between
100 and 200 members. This set is purported to be enforcers
for the United Bloods Nation (UBN).
26. Thirty Eighth Street Pirus - (38th St.). This set is located
in the Forest Park, Oklahoma area. Membership is estimated to
be between 15 and 20 members.
27. Tree Top Bloods - (Unknown). The location and estimated
membership are unknown at this time.
28. Van Ness Gangsters aka: Van Nuys Gangster Bloods - (VNG's).
Located throughout the Eastern half of Oklahoma County with
membership currently estimated at 300+ members. This set is
closely affiliated with the IFG Bloods and also has the same
violent reputation.
20
29. Vice Lord Gangster Bloods - (VGB' s). Located predominantly in
the Spencer and Dungee areas, membership is currently
estimated at 200+ members.
30. Westside Seventh Street Bloods - (W/S 7th St.). This set is
purported to be a Brims faction of the Bloods. The exact
location and estimated membership are currently unknown.
31. Westside Piru Gangsters - (WPG's).
are currently unknown.
Location and membership
32. PLB Bloods - (PLB's). This set has recently been observed to
be establishing their presence in the Springlake housing addi-tion
located in Northeast Oklahoma City. There is no current
intelligence data related to membership or set affiliation.
21