VIDEO GANGLAND

Yo Gotti is so gangster

2012-01-24T10:41:00.001Z

Yo Gotti is so gangster. It's one of the reasons we think he had so much trouble releasing his first solo studio album, Live From The Kitchen, which finally hit stores on Tuesday after numerous delays. When we say "gangster," though, we're not necessarily talking about how much weight the Memphis rapper talks about moving in his music or all the street stuff that he says he's involved in. Rather, we're talking about his name—Yo Gotti—which is clearly a moniker that was designed to pay homage to the infamous gangster John Gotti. It's a name Gotti picked up when he was young. But, unfortunately, we also get the feeling that it's a name that's held him back a little bit in his career.
You see, believe it or not, marketing an artist named after a mob boss isn't exactly easy. If you look at the most successful rappers in the game right now—Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay-Z, J. Cole, Big Sean—their rap names are, by and large, an extension of their government names. So when you get a guy like Gotti—who is clearly talented and who could blow up with the proper push—it becomes difficult to market him to the masses because of his name. No matter what you do, you're always going to have people who don't like him and won't give his music a chance simply because he's named after the Teflon Don.
But Yo Gotti is faaaaaaar from the first rapper to run into this "problem." In the past—and, hell, even in the present—there have been a lot of other rappers who have adopted names inspired by gangsters. Some have done so successfully. Others, not so much. So with Gotti's album dropping this week, we decided to take a look back at 10 rappers who named themselves after infamous gangsters. And then we decided whether or not it was a smart business decision for them to do so. Note to all the rappers out there: We're sorry to break this to you, but sometimes, being "gangster" isn't necessarily a good thing

A young member of the Native Syndicate street gang will spend the next eight months behind bars after beating a stranger unconscious with a fence post

2012-01-23T12:39:00.001Z

A young member of the Native Syndicate street gang will spend the next eight months behind bars after beating a stranger unconscious with a fence post in an apparently unmotivated attack. The youth, 14, was handed a sentence of 18 months of secure custody and supervision under the Youth Criminal Justice Act last week after admitting responsibility for an unprovoked summertime attack at a children’s park near Spence Street and Cumberland Avenue. Judge Heather Pullan credited the teen with six months of time already served, meaning he has eight months of jail left to be followed by a period of community supervision and probation. Details of the July 8, 2011 attack were described in court by the Crown as “gratuitous violence against complete strangers.” Prosecutor Sheila Seesahai said the boy approached a group of youths drinking in the park and started attacking them after striking up a short conversation over a “gang scarf.” While two youths managed to escape relatively uninjured, the teen pounced on a 15-year-old boy, knocked him down and repeatedly hit him in the head with the fence picket. “He hit the victim so hard that it shattered … the police just find pieces of it,” Seesahai said. Someone called 911 to report a “bludgeoning,” and officers arrived to find the victim passed out and bleeding from the face, court heard. His attacker was arrested not far from the scene. The youth was granted two shots at bail after his arrest but breached each time, Seesahai said. Since being in custody, he’s had to be transferred to a maximum-security youth lockup twice because of his behaviour, Pullan was told. The teen suffers from impulse issues and has had negative family influences, his lawyer told court. The youth said he “kind of felt bad for the people that I hurt.” “I’m sick and tired of the cockamamie in and out of this place,” he said. Pullan said she recognized the teen came from difficult circumstances, but it didn’t excuse his actions. “It’s not all about you,” said Pullan. “In the end, it’s about protection of the public.”

Police investigating three murders arrested 43 feuding New York gang members

2012-01-23T12:30:00.001Z

Police investigating three murders arrested 43 feuding New York gang members on Thursday based on evidence collected from monitoring what the gang members were saying about the cases on Twitter and Facebook, authorities said. The 25 accused members of the Wave Gang and 18 accused members of rival Hoodstarz have been terrorizing streets in Brooklyn with shootouts that led to the killing of three people and wounding of several others, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. The gang members, ages 15 to 21, bragged about the shootings on the social media sites Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, he said. "By linking their postings and boastings to active cases and other crimes, these officers were able to build their case," Kelly said. Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said authorities will next be going after gangs in other Brooklyn neighborhoods. "We know who you are. We know how you operate," he said. "Make no mistake about it. We're coming after you next." Hynes said the feud that started in August between Wave Gang and Hoodstarz resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, and the wounded included a 9-year-old boy and his father. Wave Gang members often robbed 13- and 14-year-olds by threatening to steal their bikes and electronics to intimidate them into joining their gangs, Hynes said. The 43 gang members were indicted on Thursday on charges including murder, assault, reckless endangerment, robbery and weapon possession, with potential sentences ranging from a year to life in prison.

Rio de Janeiro’s most wanted drugs baron who controlled the drug trade in South America’s biggest favela with fear and intimidation for 30 years has been arrested

2011-11-13T23:03:00.001Z

Rio de Janeiro’s most wanted drugs baron who controlled the drug trade in South America’s biggest favela with fear and intimidation for 30 years has been arrested after a high risk undercover police operation. Photo: AP

Antonio Francisco Bonfim Lopes, known as Nem, was captured after being discovered hiding in the boot of a car stopped at a roadblock, as police surrounded the sprawling Rocinha shanty-town in an attempt finally to wrest back control of the area.

Pictures showed Lopes, 35, looking anguished in handcuffs as he was led to an armoured vehicle by heavily-armed police following his arrest at around midnight on Wednesday.

Brazilian police said the man driving the car had claimed to be a Congolese diplomat in an attempt to avoid the vehicle being searched before the occupants offered a bribe of one million Brazilian reais (£357,000) for police to let them go.

Residents of Rocinha and wealthy neighbouring districts alike were gripped by fear amid concerns that the operation could lead to open street battles between police and criminal gangs armed with machine guns, assault rifles and grenades.

Twelve families were reportedly forced from their houses in the night by gang members who wanted to use them as hideouts, while children who attend schools in the area were being excused from lessons.

Wife of murdered Liverpool gangster Colin Smith appeals for information four years on

2011-11-13T22:55:00.001Z

THE wife of a Liverpool gangster who was shot dead outside a gym four years ago today called for his killers to be brought to justice. Caroline Smith made a public appeal for information on the anniversary of the death of husband and dad-of-six Colin Smith. He was gunned down as he left Nel’s Gym, in Alderwood Road, Speke, on Tuesday November 13, 2007. Caroline, who was with her husband for 13 years and had four sons aged between seven and 12 with him, said: “It has been four years since Colin was murdered and I cannot rest until the people who carried out this cowardly attack on my husband are caught and put before the courts. “I am convinced there are people out there who know who killed Colin and I cannot understand how they can stand by and say nothing. They are as cowardly as the person who pulled the trigger. “Our worlds were turned upside down the night Colin was killed and I ask anyone who has any information which could lead to the arrest of those responsible to contact the police, so we as a family can find some closure.” On the night of his death, 40-year-old Mr Smith, a passionate Evertonian, took his eldest son to football training. Police believe he was “lured” to the gym, in Alderwood Avenue, for the attack. As he left the gym at about 8pm to return to his black Ford Galaxy car, he was shot twice at close-range in the stomach. It was believed to be a gangland hit. Officers today appealed to anyone who was in the area at the time who may have seen anything which could help inquiries to come forward.

Hackers Challenge Mexican Crime Syndicate

2011-11-01T07:35:00.001Z

The hackers’ message, delivered via YouTube by a man wearing a red tie and a Guy Fawkes mask, was as bold and risky as anything produced by the Zetas, Mexico’s most ruthless crime syndicate. But this time, the Zetas were the target. Connect With Us on Twitter Follow @nytimesworld for international breaking news and headlines. They had kidnapped a geek with backup — a respected member of the hackers collective known as Anonymous. “You have made a great mistake by taking one of us,” said the video’s masked figure. “Release him.” Or else, the message said, the names of government officials, taxi drivers and journalists who worked with the Zetas would be published online. The goal, they said, was the arrest of these suspected collaborators, but was there a possibility they might be killed by a rival cartel? Yes, said self-identified members of Anonymous, acknowledging the danger. Beyond that, might the hackers also be targeted? Were they afraid? “Of course,” said a blog post on Monday. Still, some hackers said, it was time for Netizens to fight back in a country where the news media have been cowed into submission, and where the justice system is often complicit in heinous crimes that regularly go unpunished. “We believe it is high time to say enough to the terrible situation caused by the falsehood of the government and lack of scruples of people who do not care about the welfare of their fellow human beings,” they posted. Anonymous appears to already have the information on collaborators. A person with knowledge of its operations, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said that online group conversations on Monday showed that the hackers have “a list of 100 or so of the major contacts of the Zetas.” It was not clear how they obtained the tally, or how accurate it was. And that appeared to be a major concern. A Facebook message on Sunday from one of the so-called hacktivists said there were indications that the Mexican government had tainted the Anonymous operation, known as OpCartel, “putting in doubt the quality of the information.” Whether Anonymous will publish what it has is unclear. The original YouTube message, uploaded on Oct. 6, said that Nov. 5 would be “a day to remember,” and the group has already provided a first strike. Last week, Anonymous defaced the Web site of a former Tabasco State prosecutor, Gustavo Rosario Torres, replacing his usual message with the image of jack-o’-lanterns and an announcement that Mr. Rosario “es Zeta.” But on Monday, in the wake of a security firm’s report highlighting the potential loss of life from naming names, there were more mixed messages. A steady stream of posts on Twitter referring to OpCartel revealed an intense debate over the benefits and costs of moving forward. On Twitter and in private e-mails — members of Mexico’s underground online media said — there appeared to be a widening gap between supporters and opponents of Anonymous’s mission. This may have been by design. The blog post announcing that OpCartel would continue emphasized that “anyone who is not properly protected should immediately and publicly disassociate themselves from this operation.” Several Twitter accounts that had been active on the topic fell silent. Several other members of Mexico’s online crime-reporting community said that OpCartel was causing internal strife, and that they had been asked by friends to stay away from anything having to do with the operation, even basic Twitter posts. Fred Burton, a vice president at Stratfor, which published the report warning against the Anonymous plan, said that fears of reprisals were well founded. “Informants in that world are usually found dangling from a bridge or beheaded,” Mr. Burton said. Those identified by Anonymous would be vulnerable to rival gangs, he said, while the hackers and their supporters might also be targets. And because Mexico’s criminal groups have infiltrated Mexican law enforcement, which has access to sophisticated tracking software, anonymity online might not be enough protection. At least three people believed to have been online tipsters have been killed recently because of what their murderers described on public banners as snitching. Still, perhaps because of the danger — or perhaps because of the desperate need of many Mexicans for a sense of control as crime spirals — support for OpCartel continued to flow through the Web on Monday afternoon. Several Twitter users posted WikiLeaks cables with information about the Zetas. Others offered moral support. “You will never falter you will not fail, bring down the corruption,” wrote a user with the handle @fingers_digita. “PLZ be careful comrades, EXTREMELY dangerous,” wrote @AnonOWS, using the hash tag #justice for emphasis. Even those unsure about OpCartel said that it was significant as a citizen revolt. That was the core defense in the Anonymous blog post, which said a small task force was formed because “the voice of the people have clamored for help.” And according to some experts, regardless of whether OpCartel goes forward, the anger and outrage of Anonymous will be remembered, and channeled for another day. “This is not about a desire for information,” said Hector Amaya, a Mexican professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. “It’s about the need for a remedy.

Gangster suspect Freddie is bailed in Spain

2011-11-01T07:08:00.001Z

SUSPECTED gangland boss 'Fat' Freddie Thompson is enjoying the Spanish sunshine after being freed on bail following a brief court appearance. Mr Thompson (30) was allowed to leave a Costa del Sol court a free man yesterday after more than a fortnight in jail in Ireland and Spain. He was told he was suspected of offences including drugs trafficking, money laundering and unlawful assembly, at the private court hearing in Estepona near Marbella. But he was spared more prison time after agreeing to bail conditions including the surrender of his passport and a ban on leaving Spain. Accomplices He has also been ordered to sign on at the court twice a month -- a requirement likely to bring him into contact with alleged accomplices John Cunningham and Christy Kinahan's sons Daniel and Christopher. Suspected gang boss Christy is in jail in Belgium after being extradited there in August. Mr Thompson's bail address has not been made public. A court source confirmed yesterday: "Frederick Thompson has been released on bail. "He has been informed he is under investigation for crimes including money laundering, unlawful assembly and drugs trafficking. Court "The three conditions of his bail are that he cannot leave Spain, hands in his passport to the authorities and signs on at court twice a month on days fixed by the court." Mr Thompson consented to extradition after being arrested in Dublin on a European arrest warrant on October 14. He spent 13 days in Cloverhill Prison before being flown to Spain last Friday. He is thought to have spent the weekend in prisons in Madrid and Alhaurin de la Torre near Malaga. He is said to be facing nine years in prison in Spain if convicted. Under Spanish law, he has not been officially charged with any crimes.

Fat FreddieThomson has been wanted in Spain for the past 18 months

2011-11-01T06:44:00.001Z

30 year old Irishman, Freddie Thompson, known in the criminal world as ‘Fat Freddie', was arrested by the Garda in Dublin on October 21.

The arrest order dates from 18 months ago and was issued by the courts in Estepona, Málaga. The police consider that Thomson was a member of the Irish gang led by Christopher Kinahan, which was broken up by police in May 2010 in an operation codenamed ‘shovel’ which saw the arrest of more than 30 people in Spain, Ireland and the U.K. They were all linked to large scale drug and arms trafficking, as well as money laundering and other crimes committed on the Costa del Sol.

Thomson is now expected to declare before the court in Estepona this week. Police had thought that he could have been hiding in Holland.
He has been the most famous prisoner in the Clovenhill prison since his arrest.

Marbella police arrested a man considered to be a ‘frontman’ for the group, who was paid a monthly sum for the use of his name. Officially he owned luxury cars and businesses, when in fact he was almost pennyless.

Most of the money is thought to have been laundered in Brazil where real estate was purchased. 60 properties worth an estimated 150 million € have been impounded on the Costa del Sol in connection with the case.

Welcome to Oculto Café – Cordoba’s infamous Satanic saloon.

2011-10-31T23:51:00.001Z

GLASSES shoot across tabletops, busty vamps serve blood-red cocktails, and twisted locals raise a toast to an image of Aleister Crowley. Welcome to Oculto Café – Cordoba’s infamous Satanic saloon. The bar is situated in a maze of narrow, winding streets in the ancient ‘Old Town’ district. Stepping outside for a Marlboro, I scan my surroundings. It’s a chilly, moonlit night and the streets are deserted. Strain your ears, however, and you’ll hear muffled voices coming from dark balconies. It’s like a scene from Interview with the Vampire. As I re-enter, the room falls silent. A cross-eyed chap stares at me… well, I think it’s me… it’s hard to tell. Had my gothic guy-liner run, or had he caught a whiff of fresh meat? In this insular atmosphere, I feel as welcome as Gary Glitter at Tivoli World! Forget fruit machines and pool tables, it’s ouija boards and tarot cards that keep these punters amused. A little weakened, I seize a newspaper and hide in the corner. Alongside ads for ‘Black Angels’ and ‘Colombian Swallowers’, the classifieds are swarming with clairvoyants. I’m shocked! Isn’t Spain supposed to be a God-fearing country? But the truth is, up until the Inquisition (1478), Iberia was a hotbed of magic and sorcery. With the coming of Catholicism, however, mystics – including ‘witches’ and ‘healers’ were round-up and executed. For survival’s sake, Spaniards severed their ties with the ‘other side.’ Today, however, there is growing evidence that Spain is returning to its supernatural roots. Church-going is down (just 14.4%), and stories of Satanism are everywhere. In March 2011, an Almerian church was littered with satanic scrawls. Investigators claimed that the site had been used for a “black mass.” Tenerife’s Arona Cemetery has also been targeted by sinister cults. In 2008, graves were desecrated and animals sacrificed during “bizarre nocturnal rituals”. For sceptics, it’s easy to blame rebellious youth or drug-addicts for these atrocities. However, as someone who’s experienced dark forces – first hand – I try to keep an open mind. It all started in 2001 when I was filming a documentary at Devon’s Berry Pomeroy. In the castle grounds, I indivertibly captured an inhuman figure on camera. Whilst replaying the footage to BBC colleagues, the office computers went wild. In 2009, I moved my family to a 15th century cottage on the West Pennine Moors. Unbeknown to us, our ‘dream house’ was built on a Quaker burial site. During our six-month stay – we endured stamping noises, icy chills and orbs zipping round the lounge. At night, the constant thumping would deprive us of sleep, and we’d trudge into work like a couple of zombies. However, my most recent spooking occurred right here in Andalucia. One evening, I watched a can of Asturiana cider move sideways, hover and then drop off the table! Earlier that day, an old drinking buddy had been buried in Devon – was this his final ‘chin-chin’? Whatever it was, it scared the bejesus out of my missus and she hasn’t slept properly since. Two weeks on, and we’re sitting in Oculto, trying not to blush at orgy paintings. After some Dutch courage, I enquire about a séance at the bar. A black-toothed midget points towards a battered wooden door. Timidly, I wander down the corridor and knock on wood. It’s opened by a raven-haired gypsy. She’s both beautiful and grotesque: Penelope Cruz’s mum meets the Bride of Chucky. Without speaking – she beckons me in with a long, black talon. With low ceilings, purple walls and an absence of windows – the room is claustrophobic and unsettling. Under flickering candlelight, the Victorian death portraits seem to eyeball you from the walls. But it’s the cold air and fetid stench that’s really sending shivers down my spine. The woman glides over to a monolithic Ouija board and orders me to sit. She lays out a clutch of cards, including The Hanged Man, The Fool, The Stig, Jeremy Clarkson, Dog the Bounty Hunter, The Archbishop of Canterbury and Boy George. Okay… I lied about Boy George – but it’s all the scary ones! Suddenly, my stomach churns and I shout ‘Stop!’ I apologise for wasting her time – but I’ve got the heebie-jeebies. A floating cider is hardly The Ring – so why risk opening a fresh can of worms? I chat to Jose, a Pepe Reina lookalike in his late 20s. Around us, weirdoes chuck darts at an image of the Pope (only joking….it’s Desmond Tutu!) Jose is erudite and speaks fine English. Over Osbourne brandies, I pose the question: “So….Are you a Satanist?” “Of course”! Jose replies: Usually, I’d grab my coat, but by now, I’m immune to the madness. After dispelling myths of “priest-beating” and “baby-eating”, Jose insists that Satanists are “Perfectly normal.” Apparently, the only difference is they choose “indulgence over abstinence’, and prefer “vengeance” to forgiveness. Oh…..and they enjoy kinky sex and coke-snorting – but hey… so does the cast of Skins. By 1am I’m craving a Horlicks and a late night snack. I thank Jose and wish him a “hell-of-a-life.” We leave Occulto and hot-foot it to the Corredera for a greasy kebab. After filling our faces, we clamber into a taxi. We’re only 10-minutes from the hotel – but I’m bloated on beer and lamb offal. Back at the room, Jose’s words haunt me. Having spent the last five hours binge-drinking, ogling rude pictures and eating crap – could I be accused of “indulgence”? If Christianity equals modesty, chastity and turning the other cheek, what about all those times I’ve bought designer togs, belted a thug or lusted over lesbians? Perhaps I’m more Satanic than I thought? By bedtime, I’d seen no demons, virgin sacrifices or people snacking on goats’ head soup. This said, not everyone was as friendly as Jose, and the yokels at the bar seemed quite menacing. I’ve yet to decide whether Satanists are ordinary folk – daring to be different, or psychopaths to be avoided at all costs. I DO know, however, that pentangles are not for me. For one – I like animals too much to put their heads on sticks – and secondly, I root for the “goodies” when it kicks off on Buffy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time at Occulto and found the experience enlightening. Whatever they are (or aren’t), there’s a pub full of them in Cordoba, and if you ever feel like taking a walk on the wild side, you know where to head.

Body found in boot of crashed car on Alicante motorway

2011-10-31T16:51:00.001Z

Firemen called out to an accident on the A-31 Alicante-Madrid motorway early on Monday found an unidentified body in the boot of a car which had crashed into the central reservation at Sax and then burst into flames. The body was partially burnt but appears to be that of a man. Reports indicate that the deceased had been tied up and gagged. No other occupants were found at the site and the Civil Guard are now trying to identify the victim and the cause of death.

Hells Angels have had a rough year in California.

2011-10-31T16:39:00.001Z

The Hells Angels have had a rough year in California. Three Northern California members have died violently in the last month amid a turf battle with a rival biker gang. And law enforcement officials on both ends of the motorcycle club's home state are pursuing and jailing members, with 26 Angels and their associates arrested recently in San Diego. The violence spilled into public view in the unlikeliest of places two weeks ago when thousands of Harley-Davidsons rolled up to a San Jose cemetery on a sunny Saturday afternoon to bury a Hells Angels leader who was gunned down weeks earlier in a Nevada casino. A Hells Angel allegedly shot and killed a fellow member at the cemetery and fled — the latest sign of the in-fighting and violence that has plagued the gang in recent months. And if the deadly gunfire were not enough, a member was plowed down by a van a week later near Oakland, the alleged the victim of road rage. While no one is predicting the demise of the notorious outlaw motorcycle club, law enforcement officials and gang experts said the Hells Angels' recent woes still stand out for an organization they describe as violent, sophisticated and disciplined with loyal-to-the-death members. "They are the heavyweight champions of the biker gang culture," said Jay Dobyns, an agent with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who infiltrated the Hells Angels in Arizona for two years beginning in 2001. "And every other biker gang wants the belt." The organization has a long history in California, dating to its founding in 1948 by returning World War II veterans in the dusty town of Fontana and including a notorious incident during a Rolling Stones show in Altamont in 1969 in which a spectator was stabbed by a Hells Angel working security. A jury later acquitted the killer, finding he acted in self defense. The U.S. Department of Justice says the Hells Angels now have as many as 2,500 members in 230 chapters in 26 countries, and are a major source of drug-trafficking. Federal, state and local police have pursued the club for decades, infiltrating it with undercover agents, prosecuting suspects with harsh charges once reserved for the Mafia and indicting members on charges ranging from drug trafficking to mortgage fraud. Yet the club flourished. They opened chapters worldwide, aggressively enforced their trademarks in court like a responsible Wall Street corporation and won high-profile acquittals and other legal battles with law enforcement. The ATF, which handles many federal biker cases, said it arrested more outlaw motorcycle gang members last year than any other since 2003. Police in Germany, Canada and elsewhere also report a surge in motorcycle gang violence, with much of it connected to the Hells Angels. The California Hells Angels' current problems are partly rooted in a battle with the Vagos, a California-based motorcycle club founded in the 1960s. The clubs have been bitter enemies dating at least back a decade to a violent 2001 confrontation at a Costa Mesa swap meet. "These groups are trying to expand their membership and dominance," said Kent Shaw, the California Attorney General's acting head of law enforcement. "There's going to be a number of clashes and it seems to have gotten worse over the last couple years. It seems to be coming to a flash point." After dozens of Vagos took over a bar in Lakeport, Calif., and rode their motorcycles up and down the main drag, officials went so far as to close the downtown to traffic on May 14. Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero said the Vagos were making a statement about controlling the region after one of its members was allegedly beaten by Hells Angels earlier in the year. So Rivero put up a road block that day after the California Highway Patrol and FBI warned that Hells Angels were traveling toward town. The Angels turned back before reaching the road block. But now the district attorney is investigating whether the sheriff violated the club members' civil rights with his plans to stop them. The sheriff is unapologetic. "It's a basic response," Rivero said. "I'm not going to tolerate gang violence in Lake County." A month later, a Vagos member and a friend were severely beaten in a casino. Four Hells Angels have been charged with assault. Three were arrested and the sheriff said they were bailed out by fellow Angel Steve Tausan, who owned a bail bonds company. A fourth is being sought. In September, the two gangs fought again. San Jose Angels leader Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew was slain during a wild shootout with rival Vagos in a Reno-area casino on Sept. 23. It was at Pettigrew's burial where more violence occurred. Two shots were fired, and Tausan, Pettigrew's good friend and high-ranking Angel, lay bleeding with a mortal wound. Police suspect fellow Angel Steve Ruiz of firing on Tausan after they argued over the casino shooting and whether enough was done to protect Pettigrew, the president of the San Jose chapter. Police are now searching for Ruiz, who reportedly was hustled into a waiting car, leaving behind his motorcycle. Investigators initially feared Ruiz was killed and went so far as to dig up Pettigrew's grave in search of a body. But now police believe he is on the run with his girlfriend. San Jose police were out in force Saturday as Tausan was laid to rest at the same cemetery where he was killed during the Oct. 15 funeral. A police spokesman said there were no reports of any disturbances or violence. The Hells Angels didn't respond to numerous phone calls and email messages sent to their clubhouses in San Jose and Santa Cruz, where Tausan served as the chapter's sergeant at arms. The Angels have always maintained they are a club of motorcycle enthusiasts who are unfairly regarded as an organized crime syndicate because of the crimes of a few members acting independently. The club participates in charity events, such as "Toys for Tots" motorcycle runs and blood drives. "When we do right, nobody remembers," the club's Web site states. "When we do wrong, nobody forgets." Karen Snell, a lawyer who won a $1.8 million settlement in 2005 after the San Jose chapter filed a lawsuit claiming illegal police searches during a murder investigation, said Pettigrew, Tausan and the others involved with the case were serious businessmen with families. "They were really responsible clients," Snell said. "In my all my interactions with them, they were always gentlemen." Now Pettigrew and Tausan are dead. "We lost our brother, our father, our son and our friend," said Karen Tausan, Steve's sister. "He left a big hole in our family and we can only hope this will come to an end now."

A deadly spat with origins in Halifax has an eastern Canada police dragnet hunting the gangster wanted for a slaying in Toronto.

2011-10-27T00:48:00.001+01:00

Darnell St. Clair Wright, 32, is wanted for first-degree murder in the Oct. 2 shooting of Jefflin Beals, 25, on Crawford St. near Trinity Bellwoods Park.

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TORONTO - A deadly spat with origins in Halifax has an eastern Canada police dragnet hunting the gangster wanted for a slaying in Toronto.

Toronto Police said Wednesday Darnell St. Clair Wright, 32, is wanted for first-degree murder in the Oct. 2 shooting of Jefflin Beals, 25, on Crawford St. at Lobb Ave., near Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Homicide Det.-Sgt. Wayne Banks said the two men had an ongoing dispute stretching back at least to 2009, when Beals was a target of a drive-by shooting in Halifax.

The father of two wasn’t injured in that attack and he refused to co-operate with police.

Banks said he’s still not yet clear about the motive of the murder, whether it was personal or gang-related.

Police said Beals, was in a friend’s car when a gunman approached on Crawford St. and opened fire.

Beals got out of the car and stumbled to a lane between two homes, but he died by the time emergency crews found him.

The victim had been staying with friends in Peel after arriving in the city just a few days before he was gunned down in the usually quiet area of west Toronto.

Banks said the gang Wright belongs to — the North Preston Finest — is suspected to be involved in the 2009 drive-by, but it’s unclear if the suspect was involved in that shooting.

“We believe he (Beals) was set up — that Wright found out he was in Toronto and that he was set up to be at that location,” Banks alleged.

The location of the murder, a residential street, “there’s no way it was a chance meeting, say like a night club or somewhere like that,” Banks said.

“He was there for a reason and they were waiting for him.”

But Banks doesn’t know yet what lured Beals to the spot.

He warns anyone who helped set up the ambush or is now hiding Wright will face charges.

“This isn’t just about arresting Darnell, this will be finding out anybody involved in the planning of it and anybody involved in the aiding and abetting after it,” he said.

Banks said there’s conflicting street information that Wright is in Halifax, and “we’re hearing information that he’s still in the city.”

Wright is considered dangerous, he said.

Iranians allegedly plotting the terrorist attack tried to hire the notorious Zeta’s drug cartel to carry it out.

2011-10-12T10:06:00.001+01:00

The suspects offered $1.5 million and “multi-ton” quantities of opium as payment. This case illustrates that we live in a world where borders and boundaries are increasingly irrelevant. According to the criminal complaint the Iranian suspect wanted to hire the Zetas because the cartel had access to military grade weaponry including explosives. "I think the Zetas have the reputation of being the most ferocious and violent drug cartel in Mexico and so this Iranian agent may have thought the Zetas will do anything, that they’re cold blooded killers, and they’re capable of pulling something like this off." said Howard Campbell, author of the "Drug War Zone. The Zetas are behind some of the most brutal and brazen killings in Mexico including grenade attacks in public places, a casino fire in Monterrey that killed dozens of people and the murder of a U.S. federal agent working in San Luis Potosi. His partner was wounded. The suspect named in the criminal complaint traveled to Mexico on several occasions to work out the details of the terrorist attack. A source says one meeting happened in Reynosa on the Texas border. In the end, he was not dealing with the violent Zetas but a drug trafficker who is paid informant for the US government.

Los Zetas is depleted, after the capture of four of its top leaders and the dismantling of about 40 cells in that organization in the state of Veracruz

2011-10-12T10:03:00.001+01:00

Los Zetas is depleted, after the capture of four of its top leaders and the dismantling of about 40 cells in that organization in the state of Veracruz in less than four months, officials in this port said.

It is said most of the Zetas are hiding and are not operating, so there is clearly a drop in kidnappings, "levantones" and derecho de pizo or cuota charges in Veracruz and Boca del Rio, mainly.

Military sources also believed that Los Zetas do not have enough people so their operations and finances are being depleted.

But officials warn a reinforcement of assassins may come from Tabasco, Chiapas and Oaxaca.

The dismantling of various cells of the criminal group, it was mainly due to the arrest of leaders and local police commanders who assure safety to the Zetas.

Sense August the Navy has arrested at least 30 members of various local corporations.

In July, seven police officers were arrested Tuxpan by the Navy, and presumed to be involved in the death of a sailor. Among them was a second in command.

A month later in Veracruz, the arrest of Francisco Bautista Carballo, "The Shark" and two of his accomplices, weakened the actions carried out by Los Zetas in the port and Boca del Rio in kidnapping and collecting derecho de pizo or cuotas.

Another cell was dismantled on August 14, when the Navy arrested five members of the cartel involved in the death of four sailors in retaliation for the Navy operating in the state.

In September, six Intermunicipal police officers from Veracruz-Boca del Rio were arrested for carrying out murders and kidnappings for Los Zetas.

In addition, 74 members of this criminal group were also arrested, among them Karim Muñoz Castillo, the plaza boss from Tuxpan.

At the end of the month Angel Manuel Mora, "Commander Devil," was arrested after a clash in Las Brisas, in the port of Veracruz.

Mora served as an alleged chief hitmen in the urban area of Veracruz-Boca del Rio, as well as the alleged person in charge to assure the safety of that criminal group in Ciudad Mendoza, Veracruz route.

On Thursday, the Navy arrested 12 alleged members of the criminal organization Los Zetas, including the alleged new leader in Veracruz.

In recent days, federal forces have killed seven suspected members of Los Zetas who have attacked military convoys.

In the port of Veracruz, the patrols of the Army, Navy and state police are frequent.

But the "hawks", are also in the look out.

Iranian-American used-car salesman who believed he was hiring assassins from a Mexican drug cartel for $1.5 million.

2011-10-12T10:00:00.001+01:00

The United States on Tuesday accused Iranian officials of plotting to murder Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States in a bizarre scheme involving an Iranian-American used-car salesman who believed he was hiring assassins from a Mexican drug cartel for $1.5 million. The alleged plot also included plans to pay the cartel, Los Zetas, to bomb the Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Saudi and Israeli Embassies in Argentina, according to a law enforcement official. The plotters also discussed a side deal between the Quds Force, part of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and Los Zetas to funnel tons of opium from the Middle East to Mexico, the official said. * The plot evidently was discovered at a very early stage. One wonders: How? Through intercepts of phone conversations or emails? Eric Holder, widely believed to be a dead man walking in Washington as a result of Fast and Furious, was front and center at today’s news conference. Holder was a prominent critic of essentially everything the Bush administration did to discover and combat terrorist plots. It would be interesting to know whether the intelligence triumph that Holder celebrated today was yet another example of the wisdom of the Bush administration policies that Obama, Holder and their ilk endlessly demagogued before they found it expedient to adopt them. * One remembers liberal assurances, when a Republican administration was trying to keep us safe from terrorist attacks, that diverse anti-American groups could never cooperate. Democrats went so far as to claim that Shia and Sunni Muslims–who in fact work together in furtherance of terrorist plots all the time, as, to take just one example, when Iran supports Hamas–could never cooperate against America or our allies. Today, assuming the Obama administration is being truthful, we have the spectacle of Iran’s mullahcracy paying a Mexican drug cartel to carry out terrorist attacks. Do radical Muslims really care about technicalities like drug dealing when it comes time to advance their interests? Of course not! On the contrary, this plot represented an alliance of the world’s two major proponents of beheading. * Assuming that the administration’s account is correct, Iran had little doubt that a Mexican drug cartel would be able to get men and weapons across the border to carry out a terrorist attack in Washington. Presumably they were right. One wonders what it will take to get liberals to take border security seriously. If the Mexicans had blown up a D.C. restaurant and killed 100 Americans along with the Saudi ambassador, would liberals finally have started paying attention to the border? I doubt it. * One little detail has gotten lost in most reporting: The alleged plot also included plans to pay the cartel, Los Zetas, to bomb the Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Saudi and Israeli Embassies in Argentina, according to a law enforcement official.

To the School Community: Due to the great insecurity we are living, and since authorities are not giving teachers, parents, students and the community in general the sufficient security

2011-10-12T09:56:00.001+01:00

Parents and teachers hang up a banner on the gates of a school in the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, Mexico on Monday. The banner reads in Spanish "To the School Community: Due to the great insecurity we are living, and since authorities are not giving teachers, parents, students and the community in general the sufficient security, we have decided to continue the work stoppage until security conditions are more favorable."

Bernandino Hernandez/AP

Mexican kidnapping gang's leader arrested

2011-10-12T09:53:00.001+01:00

The suspected leader of the Los Gitanos kidnapping gang, which operates across Mexico and abducted a number of businessmen, has been arrested, Nuevo Leon state officials said Tuesday. "Aaron Bosquez Montes, alias 'El Chico,' 28, was the leader of the Los Gitanos kidnapping gang and demanded ransoms that ranged from 20 million pesos ($1.5 million) to $4 million," Nuevo Leon Gov. Rodrigo Medina said. Bosquez Montes was arrested on Oct. 3 at the Mexico City international airport, Medina said. Twelve of the 15 members of the criminal organization, which had been collecting ransom payments for three years, have now been arrested, the governor said during an appearance at the Nuevo Leon State Investigations Agency, or AEI, headquarters. The gang staged at least nine kidnappings in Nuevo Leon, which is located in northern Mexico, reaping more than 52 million pesos (nearly $3.9 million) in ransom payments. Los Gitanos would conduct a "prior study of its victims" before kidnapping them, targeting "middle and upper class" businessmen and professionals, the governor said. The blow against the gang should "help us continue building confidence" among citizens, Medina said. Photographs of Bosquez Montes traveling overseas and recorded telephone conversations were released by officials. Authorities are asking victims of Los Gitanos to contact them and report the crimes. Kidnapping has become a widespread problem in Mexico in recent years, with gangs of different levels of sophistication targeting victims from various strata of society. In October 2010, Congress approved a bill that stiffens the penalties for kidnappers from 25 to 45 years behind bars when the victims are mutilated or if the criminals are retired or active-duty police officers, and from 40 to 70 years in prison if the victims are killed.

Drug-dealing killer: Chicago cop stopped DEA investigation of me

2011-10-05T21:30:00.001+01:00

high-level drug trafficker admits he was involved in three killings after a Chicago Police officer scuttled a federal investigation into his illegal activities in the mid-1990s, according to a recent court filing. Saul Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty last month to federal drug conspiracy charges, was an informant for Officer Glenn Lewellen for years. But Rodriguez told authorities he and Lewellen were also longtime partners in crime. They allegedly worked together to rip off other drug dealers, splitting millions of dollars in loot. Lewellen recruited Rodriguez as a police informant in early 1996. Rodriguez’s undercover name was “Bill Pager.” From 1996 to 2001, the Chicago Police Department paid him $807,000 for information that led to seizures of drugs and cash, prosecutors said. All the while Rodriguez was making cases for the police, however, he was committing crimes. And Lewellen repeatedly stepped in to keep Rodriguez out of jail, prosecutors said. Rodriguez’s statements to authorities are included in a 188-page document containing evidence prosecutors intend to present against Lewellen and other defendants who face trial in the same case. Rodriguez has agreed to testify against them. According to the document, Lewellen in mid-1996 persuaded the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to stop investigating Rodriguez after 154 pounds of marijuana were seized from a secret compartment in his Buick. Lewellen told the DEA its investigation would harm ongoing Chicago Police Department cases, prosecutors said. Lewellen, who joined the police force in 1986, retired in 2002 to become a homebuilder. But he still managed to obstruct a separate DEA investigation of Rodriguez, prosecutors said. In 2006, Lewellen warned Rodriguez not to speak to a drug courier whose phone was wiretapped, Rodriguez said. At the time, the DEA was investigating Rodriguez’s ties to a cocaine wholesaler, prosecutors said. Lewellen told Rodriguez he got the information from an “agent” who previously worked in Colombia, but didn’t say what agency was involved in the investigation, according to Rodriguez. As Lewellen was allegedly protecting Rodriguez from the DEA, Rodriguez was involved in the murders of three men, prosecutors said. Rodriguez has confessed to orchestrating the slayings in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Rodriguez has also told authorities he arranged for a friend to “escape” from a prison in Mexico in 2003. He said he met with the prison warden while on vacation in Mexico and promised to pay him a $250,000 bribe in exchange for his friend’s freedom. In addition to his career as a drug dealer, Rodriguez became involved in managing boxers and developing real-estate in Chicago and Nevada, records show. The document detailing Rodriguez’s statements to federal prosecutors, filed last month, provides new details about Rodriguez’s relationship with Lewellen. For example, Rodriguez said he bought Lewellen a Ford Crown Victoria equipped with a siren. Lewellen allegedly drove the car while posing as a legitimate cop during drug rip-offs, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez has told authorities that another Chicago Police officer participated in at least one rip-off, but he believes the officer is now deceased. The prosecution’s evidentiary document also provides more information about the three murders in which Rodriguez admits to having a role. Rodriguez said he persuaded Lewellen to frame Juan Luevano with a drug case in 1999. Luevano, who was dating Rodriguez’s former girlfriend, was released from jail after posting bond in the case. Rodriguez said he then met with a high-ranking Satan Disciples gang member who was in prison. The gang leader was angry Luevano was dating his wife, Rodriguez told authorities. The gang leader asked Rodriguez to find someone to “get” Luevano. So Rodriguez said he hired a high-school pal, Manuel Uriarte, to kill Luevano. Uriarte and Andres Flores allegedly shot Luevano to death in 2000 near his home in Cicero, prosecutors said. They’re charged with murder in the same federal drug conspiracy case. Rodriguez also admitted he arranged for the 2001 murder of Michael Garcia. Rodriguez said he acted at the request of a friend who suspected Garcia had killed his brother, prosecutors said. And Rodriguez said he was involved in the 2002 murder of Miguel De La Torre. Rodriguez said he arranged the kidnapping of De La Torre to scare him into providing information about the location of cocaine and money. Rodriguez said he hired Miguel Uriate and his brother Jorge Uriate to squeeze the information from De La Torre, a drug dealer. If De La Torre refused to talk, they agreed the Uriates would kill him, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez admitted he provided Uriate brothers with an electrical cord they used to strangle De La Torre in a garage. Jorge Uriate also faces murder charges in the same case. Lewellen, who is free on $1 million bail awaiting trial, is not charged with any of the killings.

Feds indict 23 Texas Syndicate gang members

2011-10-05T21:22:00.001+01:00

Federal authorities Tuesday announced the indictment of 23 reputed Texas Syndicate gang members and associates on charges including four murders, drug trafficking and extortion. Those charged are primarily in the Uvalde and Hondo areas, but the prison-born criminal group has members throughout the state. Their alleged crimes were committed over the past nine years, according to the indictment, which details the structure and goals the gang, which is led by officers with ranks. The indictment also delves into the gang's strict rules and penalties, including being killed, for going against the organization or disobeying orders. "The (Texas Syndicate) will not hesitate to kill anyone who interferes with the business of the gang or who commits a violation of Texas Syndicate rules. Among those charges under RICO, the acronym for Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization: Cristobal "Little Chris" Velasquez, 33, of Uvalde; Sotero Rodriguez Martinez "June", 41, of Uvalde; Chuco Mario "Mariachi" Martinez, 35, of Uvalde; Larry "Little Larry" Munoz, Jr.,36, of Uvalde; Brian "Tata" Esparza, 31, of Uvalde; Charles "Horse" Esparza, 32, of Uvalde; Ervey "Mad Max" Sanchez, 31, of Uvalde; Mark Anthony Vela, 35, of Hondo; Charles Olan Quintanilla, 32, of Hondo; George "Curious" Sanchez,36, of Uvalde; and, Inez "Bebito" Mata, 41, of Uvalde. Others charged in the case are not accused of violating the RICO law.

Dancehall star Vybz Kartel has been charged with the murder of Jamaican promoter Barrington Burton

2011-10-05T21:18:00.001+01:00

. Photograph: Scott Gries/Getty Images

Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel has been charged with murder. A police statement issued in Kingston on Monday said that the 35-year-old artist was charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of a firearm. Investigators accuse the rapper, whose real name is Adijah Palmer, of conspiring with others to kill a 27-year-old promoter who was murdered earlier this year.

"The allegation is that on Monday, July 11, 2011, Palmer, along with other men, conspired to murder Barrington Burton o/c 'Bossie', a 27-year-old businessman/promoter of a Gregory Park address in St Catherine. Burton was murdered while he was standing with friends along Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park," the police release said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Kartel's defence attorney was reported to have said that his client was prepared to fight the charges. Kartel was initially arrested on Friday for marijuana possession.

Kartel has previously been arrested on charges including assault and illegal gun possession. Those charges were later dropped. A long-running feud with fellow artist Mavado is alleged to have fuelled mob attacks in inner-city neighbourhoods of Kingston. In December 2009, the two met government ministers in an attempt to calm the situation.

Kartel has worked on collaborations and remixes with the likes of Jay-Z, Rihanna and MIA. His international hits include Ramping Shop, Dollar Sign and Clarks. The success of the latter song last year sent sales of the British shoes soaring in Jamaica. A businessman in his own right, Kartel also has his own brands of rum and condoms as well as his owncontroversial range of skin-lightening cosmetics.

Recently, the singer also became the star of locally produced reality TV show Teacha's Pet. Officials from the telecommunications company that sponsors the show were said to be discussing the new charges levelled against Kartel last night.

Tony Montana would be displeased at the news Scarface is going to be remade again

2011-09-23T00:34:00.001+01:00

In 2011 there have already been a slew of remakes of familiar movie favourites.

So it should come as no surprise Hollywood is returning to the well again to reboot silver screen classic Scarface.

Unlike examples such as the critically maligned Straw Dogs or the panned Arthur however, it will be a completely re-imagined flick based on the original concept.

Say hello to my little friend: Perhaps Tony Montana would be displeased at the news Scarface is going to be remade again

Interestingly, while most people think of the 1983 version that starred Al Pacino as iconic Cuban anti-hero Tony Montana when they hear the title today, it is not the original.

The 1932 first entry in the series was a seminal film in its own right, and is regarded as the more ground-breaking of the pair, holding a position as one of the first great talkies.

It followed the exploits of Italian gangster Tony Camonte as he climbed the criminal underground ladder in prohibition era Chicago.

According to Deadline Hollywood the new version will take the same basic concept, in which an immigrant outsider barges his way into the criminal establishment, but have a new distinctive story.

Gunning for revenge: And maybe Tony Camonte would not to too happy either

He will then become a kingpin through his own ruthlessness and brutality, but will be brought down by his flaws and weaknesses.

Specifics about the new main character are being kept under wraps, but no doubt his origin and background will be as vital to the new story as in the previous versions.

Universal Pictures is developing the project, and has reportedly been tasking writers to script a take for a film that will be produced by the company's former chairman Marc Shmuger and heavyweight Martin Bregman.

Good business: Legendary Martin Bregman and Marc Shmuger are producing

The latter produced the Pacino version, as other key hits in the legendary actor's career such as Serpico, Carlito's Way and Sea Of Love.

The decision to remake the movie will no doubt draw howls of derision, although the Brian De Palma remake also drew a lot of criticism at the time because the original is considered a cinematic classic.

The original picture was produced by colourful mogul Howard Hughes, and followed the exploits of the insanely violent gangster Camonte as he claws his way to top.

Original and (arguably) best: The poster for the classic first film

It starred legendary actor Paul Muni in one of his breakthrough roles, which led to a storied career that would see him win an Oscar and be nominated for five others.

The film's second lead George Raft became a professional success thanks to his role as Camonte's best chum Guino Rinaldo, with his character's trait of habitually flipping a coin becoming a classic reference.

After the original ending was deemed too violent by censors, Hughes funded a new one, but when it was still deemed too violent he had the original put back in and showed it in more lenient states in the US.

The De Palma version charts the life of Montana, as the Cuban refugee rises from the bottom to become a cocaine kingpin in Miami.

It contains iconic cinema moments including Al Pacino sniffing away at a small mountain of cocaine on his desk as he prepares for a final shootout with gangster rivals.

Nuestra Familia

2010-11-12T12:36:00.000Z

Nuestra Familia

Satans Slaves Funeral Tribute

2010-11-12T12:34:00.000Z

Satans Slaves Funeral Tribute

Man gets shot 22 times- yardie gangsters drugs war.

2010-11-12T12:28:00.000Z

Man gets shot 22 times- yardie gangsters drugs war.

JAMAICAN GANGSTAS

2010-11-12T12:25:00.002Z

JAMAICAN GANGSTAS

Guack Link Jamaican Gangsters "Top Shottas"

2010-11-12T12:25:00.001Z

Guack Link Jamaican Gangsters "Top Shottas"

hells angels on the run! (freeway)

2010-11-12T12:23:00.001Z

600 Hells Angels Motorcycle Marin County Poker Run and BBQ

2010-11-12T12:21:00.000Z

600 Hells Angels Motorcycle Marin County Poker Run and BBQ

Hells Angels - Outlaws

2010-11-12T12:19:00.000Z

Hells Angels - Outlaws

Shootout after

2010-11-12T12:18:00.000Z

Shootout after

Shooting at Caesars Palace

2010-11-12T12:16:00.000Z

Shooting at Caesars Palace

Shooting and Killing in a Casino

2010-11-12T12:15:00.000Z

GANG SHOOTING CAUGHT ON TAPE REAL FOOTAGE MUST SEE

2010-11-12T12:14:00.000Z

GANG SHOOTING CAUGHT ON TAPE REAL FOOTAGE MUST SEE

Crips vs Bloods

2010-11-12T12:13:00.000Z

Crips vs Bloods

Black to Brown, the Color of Change- NEWSWEEK NewsweekVideo

2010-11-12T12:12:00.000Z

Gang Wars Take Their Toll (feat. Lil Eazy E, DJ Quik)- NEWSWEEK

2010-11-12T12:11:00.000Z

Latino Gangs 2

2010-11-12T12:10:00.000Z

Oakland Latino Gangs

2010-11-12T12:09:00.001Z

Oakland Latino Gangs

Halls Angels 81, AFFA WORLDWIDE

2010-04-15T16:33:00.003+01:00

GERMAN HELLS ANGELS

2010-03-20T19:15:00.000Z

SONNY BARGER HELLS ANGEL visit Europe Germany Booksigning

2010-03-20T19:12:00.000Z

gangland video - latest news and videos

2010-03-20T19:08:00.000Z

gangland video - latest news and videos: "VIDEO : Snoop dogg - Crippin' 2 tuff Author: doncarlito7 Keywords: Added: September 5, 2008"

gangland video - latest news and videos

2010-03-20T19:05:00.001Z

gangland video - latest news and videos: "VIDEO : SNOOP DOGG CRIP WALK GANGLAND VIDEO BY MAD MIKE BORTON WWW. Author: MadMikeTVdotcom Keywords: Added: December 15, 2007"

SNOOP DAWG

2010-03-20T19:03:00.001Z

Pelican Bay One

2010-03-20T19:00:00.001Z

my man Author: elizabethsanchez85

2010-03-20T18:56:00.000Z

Latino Street Gangs - Insane Gangster Satan Disciples

2009-02-28T11:13:00.000Z

Latino Street Gangs - Insane Gangster Satan Disciples

CICERO SATAN DISCIPLES

2009-02-28T11:11:00.001Z

CICERO SATAN DISCIPLES

Satan Disciples - Gangland - Chicago Gangster Town

2009-02-28T11:07:00.000Z

Chicago Gangster Town

Gangland - The Devil's Playground

2009-02-28T11:06:00.000Z

Satan Disciples -

Satan Disciples - Gangland - The Devil's Playground

2009-02-28T11:03:00.000Z

The Devil's Playground

Satan Disciples - Gangland - The Devil's Playground

2009-02-28T11:02:00.001Z

Satan Disciples - Gangland - The Devil's Playground

MS13 Gang Creeps Into Canada

2009-02-16T13:49:00.000Z

The "Great White North" has been invaded by the "Mara Salvatrucha" hispanic gang, reputed to be the largest gang in the World, with 17,000 members in the USA and over 175,000 members in Central America.What's worse, a local canadian priest defends MS13 members and gives them refuge in his church, saying that police should "stop harassing them" and "give them jobs instead of jail".

The ex-military called "Zetas" are a mini-army of "El cartel Del Golfo" directed by "Osiel Cardenas"

2009-02-16T13:45:00.000Z

The ex-military called "Zetas" are a mini-army of "El cartel Del Golfo" directed by "Osiel Cardenas", whom was only just extradited to the United States

10 armed gang member where killed during operations conducted by Brazilian police.

2009-02-16T13:43:00.000Z

10 armed gang member where killed during operations conducted by Brazilian police.

Almighty Latin Eagles

2009-02-16T13:38:00.001Z

Almighty Latin Eagles

Insane Spanish Cobras

2009-02-16T13:34:00.000Z

The Insane Spanish Cobras started in the late 1940s or early 1950s, more than likely the early 1950s like 1952 or 1953 because that was the year that Puerto Rican immigration began on the North side of Chicago. Back in the 50s they were known as the Crazy Snakes. In the year 1960 a group of government workers known as Gang Outreach Workers were working with the Spanish Cobras. Gang Outreach Workers went around Chicago getting to know the gangs and working with them to attempt to help them fight poverty and steer the gangs in positive directions. In 1960 there is documentation of these workers working with the Spanish Cobras of the north side of Chicago. The Cobras are said to have been founded by King Cobra. Who was the Spanish Cobra leader for a long time. Throughout the 1960s the Spanish Cobras feuded heavily with the Latin kings and other white and Puerto Rican gangs. In the late 1960s (probably 1969) the Spanish Cobras united with some other north side gangs. They united with the Imperial Gangsters, Latin Eagles, and the Latin Disciples, to form ULO (United Latino Organization). Also the YLO was formed as well which included and still includes the YLO Disciples (YLODs) and the YLO Cobras (YLOCs). In 1978 King Cobra guided the Spanish Cobras into the FOLK nation because all of ULO voted to join Folks. In the year 1979, the Latin Kings told the Insane Unknowns to kill King Cobra, so the IUKs killed King Cobra in 1979. By the early 80s the Cobras had expanded around the north side quite significantly, they were located around: Augusta to North Ave/ California Ave to western; Lemoyne and Springfield; Maplewood and Division, and Artesian and Potomac and others. They attended Von Humboldt Grade school and Clemente H.S.

There was a group of Cobras that formed in the early 80s or possibly the 1970s known as the Spanish Cobra Disciples or (Mid town Cobras or West Town). They were located from Ridgeway to Grand/ Pulaski to Wabansia, and on Division ST. These Cobras attended Noble Grade School, Cameron Grade School, Orr H.S., Shurz H.S., and Clemente H.S. They used the pitchfork in their symbols and also wore the also flew the colors of black and blue along with black and green. The Spanish Cobras soon expanded their territory beyond their original hoods in Humboldt Park where they started. They set up shop in Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Albany Park, and into Kelvyn Park. The Cobras fought vicious wars with the Latin Kings and the Insane Unknowns in the 1970s and the 1980s. In the late 80s the Cobras began to expand into Koz Park which would cause a war between them and the Simon City Royals a few years later. In the year 1992 the Spanish Cobras created the Insane Familia that was the unity of a group of Folk Nation gangs from the north side that consisted of: Orchestra Albanies, Ashland Vikings, Insane Dragons, Insane Dueces, Harrison Gents, and in 1995 the C-Notes, and for a short time later in the 1990s the Latin Lovers and the Latin Jivers.

The Insane was then added to their prefix to represent that they joined the familia. The Insane was not created in 1992; the Spanish Cobras have been using Insane since the early 80s and quite possibly as far back as the 1970s. The Insane Familia separated them from the Maniac Family led by the Maniac Latin Disciples. The MLDs and Cobras were growing into power at a tremendous rate and both gangs wanted to control the drug trade on the north side; therefore, in the early 90s (once interalliance fighting became very acceptable) the two gangs went to bloody war. The Cobras now are enemies with Maniacs and even Almighty gangs like Imperial Gangsters, Simon City Royals, Latin Eagles, and Harrison Gents (left the Insanes long ago). Tuffy C took over as chief after King Cobras murder in 1979, but now it is said that the Cobras are ran by Crazy C. The Cobras are now very large in number and have sets in the suburbs and even other states.

Insane Spanish Cobras chicago latinos street gangs

Gang members in South Central Los Angeles, the "hood" is a brutal war zone, where streets are defended, often to the death.

2009-02-03T12:37:00.000Z

Gang members in South Central Los Angeles, the "hood" is a brutal war zone, where streets are defended, often to the death.

muslim gangs in the UK .

2009-02-03T12:35:00.000Z

muslim gangs in the UK .

Benchill Mad Dogs

2009-02-03T12:33:00.000Z

BBC North West Tonight report about David Cameron's hooded friend, Ryan Florence, and his fellow "soldiers." Wearing the staple all-black uniform with a hood and spouting the staple mindless garbage. This particular teenaged gang from the Wythenshawe area of Manchester call themselves the "Benchill Mad Dogs."

Compton Varrio Tortilla Flats and Fruit Town Pirus, a Blood gangs

2009-02-03T12:31:00.000Z

Alex Alonso discussing the Black and Brown conflict in 2002 while doing gang territory research in Compton while a film crew follows him. Compton Varrio Tortilla Flats and Fruit Town Pirus, a Blood gangs have been involved in a violent clash that started in 1998 that left over two dozen murdered. Other part of Los Angeles have been seeing similar racial challenges.

L.A.Gang capital of the world Nine leaders of the 18th Street gang, which has operated for years in the Pico-Union and Westlake areas.

2009-02-03T12:19:00.000Z

Chicago Outfit Gangster Paul Shiro Sentenced

2009-01-27T11:30:00.001Z

A federal judge in Chicago today sentenced 71-year-old jewel thief Paul "the Indian" Schiro to twenty years in prison following his September 2007 racketeering conviction in the so-called Operation Family Secrets trial, and in imposing the sentence the judge concluded that Schiro was responsible for the 1986 murder of his friend Emil Vaci:A jury had found Schiro guilty of racketeering but couldn't reach a verdict on Vaci's killing. But U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel found that the prosecution had proven by a preponderance of evidence that Schiro had helped kill Vaci. And the judge took that into account in sentencing Schiro, as the law allows. * * * Schiro, a career criminal and close friend to infamous Chicago mobster Tony Spilotro, was essentially on call to do the mob's bidding, Zagel noted. When the Outfit asked him to help kill his friend, Zagel noted, there was "no evidence of hesitation." Vaci was killed in Phoenix outside the restaurant where he worked because the Chicago mob feared he was cooperating with a federal criminal investigation into the disappearance of a man who had helped the Outfit skim millions of dollars but then ripped off the mob. Schiro did not pull the trigger on his friend but was in a nearby car, acting as a lookout and listening to a police scanner, according to court testimony. Mob killer-turned-government witness Nick Calabrese testified at trial that Schiro took part in the planning of Vaci's killing. Calabrese said he and an accomplice pulled Vaci into a van, then Calabrese shot Vaci several times in the head and dumped his body in a canal.Schiro is the first defendant from the Operation Family Secrets trial to face sentencing: "Prolific mob killer Frank Calabrese Sr. is to be sentenced Wednesday, while mob bosses James Marcello and Joseph 'Joey the Clown' Lombardo are to be sentenced next week."This marks the second major mob conviction against Schiro: "He was convicted in 2001 for his role in the mob-connected jewelry theft ring headed by William Hanhardt, a former Chicago police chief of detectives, and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison."

Kingston, the most violent area in all of Jamaica

2009-01-27T11:24:00.001Z

Highest murder rate in the world for a country not officially at war. Kingston, the most violent area in all of Jamaica, and speaks to gang members there.
“A study carried out by A. Harriott shows that the homicide rate in Jamaica is four times higher than the world rate, with the city of Kingston having the highest rate in the world at 109/100,000

Associate of the Taliban Gang

2009-01-27T10:36:00.000Z

Associate of the Taliban Gang

Sickening but realistic violence between warring gangs and is being promoted as a chance to "come and see the real Australia".

2009-01-20T17:32:00.002Z

LEADING actor in a movie depicting violent Lebanese gangs set for release in cinemas next month has been arrested and jailed in real life. Ali Haidar, 19, is languishing in a Sydney cell at Silverwater on a serious assault charge but the makers of The Combination are hoping to have him out for the film's premiere next month. The film is tipped to perform well at the box office with the 200 people who have watched private screenings reacting well.It captures sickening but realistic violence between warring gangs and is being promoted as a chance to "come and see the real Australia".

Juarez Citizen Command was funded by local businessmen sick of abductions and extortion in the city, home to factories that export goods to the United

2009-01-20T16:37:00.001Z

vigilante groups are threatening Mexico's drug gangs near the U.S. border in retaliation for a wave of murders and kidnappings that killed 1,600 people in this city alone last year.
One group in the border city of Ciudad Juarez pledged last week to "clean our city of these criminals" and said their mission was to "end the life of a criminal every 24 hours.death in a jail of Guatemala GRAPHIC"The emergence of vigilantes would be a new twist to a vicious drug war that killed 5,700 people in Mexico last year and forced the United States to give hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Mexican government.
Ciudad Juarez, a manufacturing center in the desert across from El Paso, Texas, was the scene of the worst violence in 2008 as drug cartels fought each other as well as staging kidnappings for ransom and extorting businessmen.In an e-mail to news organizations, the "Juarez Citizen Command" said it was funded by local businessmen sick of abductions and extortion in the city, home to factories that export goods to the United States.While none of the city's 1,600 in the last year were undoubtedly the work of vigilantes, a body was found on Jan. 7 with a message next to it that read: "This is for those who continue extorting."And six men in their 20s and 30s were shot dead and dumped together in Ciudad Juarez in October with a cardboard sign reading: "Message for all the rats: This will continue."Drug gangs often leave threatening messages with the bodies of their victims, but security officials said those two incidents might have been the work of vigilantes.Another group, "Businessmen United, The Death Squad" put a video on Internet site YouTube last June threatening to go after kidnappers and criminals in Ciudad Juarez, the biggest city in Mexico's Chihuahua state. The video is no longer on YouTube.State officials in Chihuahua said they were investigating who was behind the messages.
"We cannot tolerate the presence of these type of faceless, anonymous groups," said Manuel del Castillo, a spokesman for the state government.Retiring CIA chief Michael Hayden said last week that Mexico's drug violence was possibly a greater problem than Iraq for President-elect Barack Obama. The U.S. Justice Department also says Mexican gangs are one of the biggest threats to the United States.Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent tens of thousands of troops and federal police to battle drug gangs but the violence has become worse since he took office in 2006.At least two other groups calling themselves vigilantes have sent statements to news organizations in the past two months, one in the northern state of Sonora bordering Arizona, and the other in the Pacific state of Guerrero, home to the beach resort of Acapulco.In Ciudad Juarez, some residents say they would welcome vigilantes. "That way they would stop the gangs, the mafia. People are leaving here because of so many murders," said David Hinojosa, 30, who shines shoes in the city.The city has been rocked by gun battles and beheadings by rival gangs fighting over smuggling routes into Texas, despite the presence of around 3,000 troops and federal police.But local lawmakers say encouraging vigilantes is a mistake. Some residents question whether soldiers are moonlighting as hitmen for drug gangs, a charge the army denies.

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2009-01-20T16:18:00.000Z

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2008-12-23T14:19:00.000Z

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2008-12-23T14:14:00.000Z

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2008-12-22T00:25:00.000Z

Gangland: The Gotti Boys Of New Orleans! (Plus Lil Story Of Rapper Soulja Slim Who Passed Away. R.I.P) "Die, Snitch, Die" [Full TV Documentary Episode]

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Hidden Valley Kings sentenced to over 20 years

2008-12-13T13:08:00.000Z

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Gang-tied crimes net hefty sentences
Judge hands down prison terms in Charlotte drug ring for 6 men accused of being Hidden Valley Kings.Suspected members of Charlotte's most notorious home-grown gang were sent to prison Tuesday for a sophisticated drug operation that for years terrorized the Hidden Valley neighborhood.Six men identified by federal authorities as members of the Hidden Valley Kings along with one of the gang's alleged drug suppliers were sentenced to between 10 and 25 years in prison.“This gang turned a nice neighborhood into a shooting gallery,” said U.S. District Judge Frank Whitney, admonishing the gang's reputed leader. “Your organization was responsible for at least three murders, maybe more. Those murders are just horrendous.”Roscoe Abell, 30, the alleged leader, was the first of 18 people scheduled to be sentenced this week. He got 20 years in prison.His alleged Lieutenant, 25-year- old Emmanuel Keller, got 24 years.With nicknames like “Sweets,” “Beat-A-Man” and “The Rock,” the alleged gang members pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell crack, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana.Prosecutors portrayed the Kings as a well-organized gang that controlled the streets of the northeast Charlotte neighborhood, extorting money, selling drugs and threatening to kill any associates that snitched on them.They sought to control all drug dealing in Hidden Valley and surrounding areas, dividing turf into zones and requiring dealers to pay “block taxes” to sell there, according to court documents.Authorities broke up the Kings last year, indicting 20 gang members or associates, in what had been Charlotte's largest crackdown on gang crime since agents busted the Outlaw motorcycle gang in the 1980s. This summer, authorities nabbed 26 members of MS-13, a violent gang with roots in El Salvador.Organized in the early 1990s, the Kings are not affiliated with any national gang, and police have documented more than 125 members.
“This gang had a stranglehold on the good people in that neighborhood,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Zolot told the judge Tuesday.Hidden Valley is a subdivision of about 12,000 people with modest ranch homes on streets with storybook names: Snow White Lane, Cinderella Road, Friendly Place.It began as a middle-class neighborhood in the 1960s and became one of Charlotte's first integrated neighborhoods in the 1970s. But over the years, as some residents moved out and many homes became rentals, the community has struggled with crime.Judge Whitney called the Kings “a group of local terrorists.”He noted that the leader, Abell, had a bullet proof vest. “That's a stunning piece of evidence about the sophistication of this gang,” the judge said.The gang also has been linked to fights, car thefts, break-ins and murders, including a high-profile killing in 2005 that began as a fight at Eastland Mall and ended in a rolling shootout along North Tryon Street.
On Tuesday, the streets of Hidden Valley were quiet as people came home from work, and some homes were draped with Christmas lights.Longtime resident William Mustafa said he's glad things are better but wishes Charlotte had stepped in before these young men took up gang life.“More could have been done or should have been done to give these young men some outlets instead of spending all that money to put them in jail,” said Mustafa, chairman of the Hidden Valley neighborhood association.
Not everyone sentenced Tuesday was a gang member. Danielle Jermaine Jackson, accused of selling drugs to the gang, got the harshest sentence: 25 years and 10 months.
“I want to apologize to the court and my family for the things I've done in the past and the choices I made,” Jackson, 26, told the judge.His attorney, Lyle Yurko, praised the government for bringing down the Hidden Valley Kings, saying: “Violent street gangs in America are a form of terrorism.”
On Tuesday, friends and family turned out for the sentencings, as the defendants were individually paraded into court.As Abell was led from the courtroom, he smiled and waved goodbye to his mother, Dot Abell, and two sisters.“It hurts,” said Dot Abell, who teared up outside the courthouse. “I won't be able to see him for 20 years. I won't be able to talk to him.”Mary Chisholm, Keller's grandmother, didn't think her grandson deserved so much prison time.“They're taking away his whole life,” she said. “That's too harsh. That's not justice.”Two others sentenced Tuesday received 20 years: Lorenzo “Big Zo” Johnson, 26, and Chavius “The Rock” Barber, 25.
Alonzo “Lil' Zo” Johnson, 24, got 13 years.And Jermer “Beat-A-Man” Lowery, 28, was sentenced to 10 years.“It doesn't pay to be a gang member. It doesn't pay to be a drug dealer,” prosecutor Zolot said during a court break Tuesday. “Eventually, authorities will root out the gang members in our community.”

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2008-12-13T13:05:00.000Z

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2008-11-30T19:52:00.000Z

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2008-11-20T14:20:00.000Z

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2008-11-20T14:16:00.001Z

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2008-11-20T14:13:00.000Z

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Aryan Brotherhood

2008-11-17T13:32:00.000Z

"I will stand by my brother
My brother will come before all others
My life is forfeited should I fail my brother
I will honor my brother in peace and war"
They also live by the motto, "in for life and out by death"
Aryan Brotherhood of Texas has reportedly been operating in Texas since the 1970s. Specific and significant reportings include:
San Quentin State Prison
California State Prison at Corcoran
Pelican Bay State Prison
USP Marion
Folsom State Prison
California Institution for Men in Chino
the Harris County Jail in Harris County
the new supermax Estelle High-Security Unit in Hunstville.
Garner Correctional Institution, Connecticut
Lompoc, Calif., Federal Prison
High Desert State Prison, Nevada
Central Mississippi Correctional facility in Pearl, Miss.
The Aryan Brotherhood also operate in other states, such as the Arizona AB and the California AB, which are apparently hostile towards each other.
The Aryan Brotherhood are concerned with White-Supremacy and self-protection from Black and Hispanic gangs. The recent conviction of 4 Aryan Brotherhood members in Santa Ana, California, one of the largest death penalty cases in U.S. history, revealed an allegedly "ruthless" gang who regularly murdered those who opposed the system, growing so out of control that even its own ranking members could not consider themselves safe. Two of the gang members convicted in July's trial, both deemed eligible for the death penalty, had allegedly ordered a 1997 race war at a prison in Lewisburg, Pa. that killed two black inmates. The same two, in addition to another accomplice, murdered inmate Arva Lee Ray at the Lompoc, California, penitentiary in 1989. The trials also revealed that members were inspired by Nietzsche, Machiavelli, and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." In 2006, alleged righleader Barry "The Baron" Mills was put to trial for the murder of two black gang membres, along with 3 other alleged leaders, including Tyler Davis "The Hulk" Bingham, Edgar "The Snail" Hevle, and Christopher Overton Gibson, all of whom are already serving time in prison. Mills orchestrated a successful contract murder against two black inmates in a Pennsylvania prison in 1979. Mills also planned a murder against Walter Johnson, an inmate who allegedly punched mafia don John Gotti in the eye in an Illinois prison in 1997. Gotti paid Mills $500,000 to kill Johnson, and Mills, who was staying at a Colorado prison at the time, agreed. However, the contract was never completed, and Gotti died in prison in 2002. Initially formed for the protection of whites against blacks in prison, the gang gradually moved to criminal enterprise. In prison, they strive to control the sale of drugs, gambling, and "punks," or male prostitutes. According to Parenti, "Racial warfare comes second to business." The Aryan Brotherhood has carried out contract killings for the Mexican Mafia, but racist beliefs prevent members from consorting with African Americans, including even taking a cigarette or a candy bar from them.Released or paroled members have smuggled money or drugs into prison, including marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines. The creed by which the Brotherhood members operate under is:

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2008-11-17T12:58:00.000Z

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2008-11-14T01:30:00.000Z

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2008-11-12T11:11:00.001Z

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2008-11-09T17:17:00.001Z