LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE Drugs and Crime Gang Profile Product No. 2002-M0465-001 NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Crips The Crips, one of the largest and most violent associations of street gangs in the United States, is an association of structured and unstructured gangs that have adopted a common gang culture. Crips membership is estimated between 30,000 and 35,000; most members are African American men from the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Crips gangs are most active in the Southwest, Pacific, West Central, Southeast, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Their main source of income is street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and PCP. The gangs also are involved in many other types of criminal activity including assault, auto theft, burglary, carjacking, drive-by shooting, extortion, homicide, identification fraud, and robbery. Background Originally called the Avenue Cribs, the Crips Hardy, Bennie Simpson, Mack Thomas, and Angelo street gang was formed in Los Angeles, California, White, recruited more young men and increased the in the mid-1960s. Raymond Washington, a student gang’s involvement in violent criminal activity. The at Fremont High School in Los Angeles, founded original gang adopted the name Crips when a news- the gang as a political organization and later used it paper article published in the Los Angeles Sentinel in to provide protection from other gangs and to profit February 1972 referred to some Cribs members who from criminal activity. Washington organized the carried canes as “Crips” (for cripples). Cribs in imitation of the Black Panther Party and the Avenues, an older Los Angeles street gang. Wash- During the 1970s in an effort to wrest control of ington, along with the other original members neighborhoods from rival gangs and to increase its Michael Concepcion, Raymond Cook, Melvin profit-making potential, the gang recruited additional members and increased its involvement in criminal This document must be protected and not released to unauthorized individuals. It is to be used by persons in your agency who have a “need to know” the sensitive information contained in this document in order to perform an identifiable and authorized government function. It may not be released beyond your agency without the permission of NDIC. It must be stored in a limited access area or in a locked container during nonduty hours. It must be destroyed by shredding or burning. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE Drugs and Crime Gang Profile—Crips LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE activity. Initially Crips leaders did not occupy formal the Southwest, West Central, Pacific, Southeast, leadership positions but were recognized as leaders and Great Lakes regions and increasingly in the because of their personal charisma and influence. New England, New York/New Jersey, and Mid- These leaders gave priority to expanding the gang’s Atlantic regions. membership to increase its power. By 1978 there were 45 Crips gangs, called sets, operating in Los Alliances Angeles. Some of these Crips sets began to produce Crips belongs to the Folk Nation gang alli- and distribute PCP (phencyclidine) within the city. ance. The alliance was established in the 1980s as They also began to distribute marijuana and a means of protecting gang members incarcerated amphetamine in Los Angeles. in state and federal prison systems. The alliance is In the early 1980s Crips sets began distributing strong within the prison system but less effective crack cocaine in Los Angeles. The huge profits after members are released. The Folk Nation also resulting from crack cocaine distribution induced includes Gangster Disciples, Black Disciples, many Crips members to establish new markets in Black Gangsters, Imperial Gangsters, International other cities and states. In addition, many young men Posse, La Raza, Latin Disciples, Spanish Gangster in other states adopted the Crips name and lifestyle. Disciples, Party People, and Satan Disciples. As a result of these two factors, Crips membership increased throughout the 1980s, making it one of Adversaries the largest street gang associations in the country. The primary Crips rivals are the Bloods street In the 1990s Crips membership and involve- gangs. The Crips-Bloods rivalry began in the late ment in drug-related activity continued to increase. 1960s when Raymond Washington and several Crips sets tried to intimidate rival gangs and law other Crips members confronted Silvester Scott and enforcement in order to control and further expand Benson Owens, students at Centennial High School their drug distribution enterprises. In addition, in Los Angeles. Scott and Owens fought off Wash- some Crips sets reportedly attempted to deal ington and his associates. In response to the attack, directly with Mexican and Colombian drug traf- Scott, who lived on Piru Street in nearby Compton, ficking organizations to smuggle cocaine into the established the Piru Street Gang, the first Bloods United States. (It is unknown whether this activity gang, and Owens established the Westside Pirus. is continuing.) In 1999 at least 600 Crips sets with Other Crips adversaries include gangs belong- more than 30,000 members and associate members ing to the People Nation alliance, particularly the were identified as transporting or distributing Latin Kings. The People Nation is the rival alli- drugs in the United States. ance to the Folk Nation alliance and was created to The Crips remains one of the largest and most protect alliance members in the state and federal violent associations of street gangs in Los Angeles prison systems. As with the Folk Nation, the and the United States. Crips members transport alliance is strong within the prison system but less multikilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana effective once a member is released. The People and smaller quantities of methamphetamine and Nation alliance includes the Black P Stones, heroin from Southern California and Texas for Bloods, Cobra Stones, El Rukn, Insane Popes, distribution in cities throughout the United States. Gaylords, Future Stones, Insane Unknown, King Crips members continue to produce PCP for Cobras, Latin Counts, Latin Dragons, Latin Kings, distribution throughout the country. Over 800 Latin Pachucos, Latin Saints, Spanish Lords, and Crips sets distribute drugs in 48 states, primarily in the Vice Lord Nation. 2 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE National Drug Intelligence Center Organizational Structure Membership The Crips is an association of numerous The Crips is one of the largest and most violent structured and unstructured gangs, also known as street gang associations in the United States. It has sets, that have adopted a common gang culture. A over 800 sets with 30,000 to 35,000 members and set may have from three to several hundred mem- associate members, including more than 13,000 bers. There is no known national leader or national members in Los Angeles. Over 230 law enforce- charter. Crips sets in the Los Angeles area usually ment agencies representing every state except West consist of a leader assisted by several lieutenants, a Virginia and Vermont have reported the presence of drug coordinator, soldiers, and drug couriers. Some Crips in their jurisdiction. The states with the Crips factions outside Los Angeles have a leader- highest estimated number of Crips sets are Califor- ship core consisting of four or five individuals nia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. (See map.) from an original Los Angeles-based set and in- clude numerous local members and associates. For Membership typically consists of African example, five members of the Los Angeles-based American men in their early 30s, although mem- Shotgun Crips form the core of the Shotgun Crips bers range from 10 to 40 years old. There also are in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minneapolis an increasing number of sets with Asian, Native faction maintains ties to the Los Angeles-based American, and Caucasian members, particularly in gang but conducts its own criminal activities. the West Central, Southeast, New England, New York/New Jersey, and Mid-Atlantic regions. All West Central New England WAWA Great Lakes (12)(12) New York/New Jersey MEME Pacific MTMT NNDD ME (1)(1) ND (1)(1) (1) (2)(2) NHNH OROR MMNN (1)(1) OR (16)(16) (25)(25) IDID (16) ID SSDD WI MAMA (3)(3) SD NNYY (1)(1) (1)(1) (1) (12)(12) WY MIMI (12) (3) (15)(15) RIRI (1)(1) IIAA PAPA CTCT NVNV NENE (3)(3) (10)(10) NV (4)(4) (3) (10) (2)(2) (15)(15) (4) OOHH NJNJ IILILL IINN (31)(31) (10)(10) UT (4)(4) (5)(5) CA (12) COCO DEDE CACA (45)(45) MOMO VA (1)(1) (123)(123)(123) KSKS MO (17)(17)(17) (52)(52) KYKY (5) (6)(6) MDMD NCNC (1)(1) TTNN (11)(11) AAZZ OOKK (19)(19) (53)(53) Mid-Atlantic Pacific (41)(41) NNMM (53) ARAR SCSC (11)(11) (9)(9) (10)(10) ALAL GGAA MSMS (13)(13) (45)(45) (12)(12) (13) (45) LALA TX (23)(23)(23) Southeast (86) AAKK (6)(6) FLFL (43)(43) Southwest HAHHIA (1)(1) Number of Crips sets in the United States. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE 3 Drugs and Crime Gang Profile—Crips LIMITED OFFICIAL USE – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE members are required to take an oath and go primarily in Southern California, also produce much through an initiation process. Initiation is achieved of the PCP available in the United States. They in one of three ways—by committing an armed transport PCP in private vehicles, buses, and com- robbery, performing a drive-by shooting, or being mercial aircraft to major distribution centers such as beaten by members in a ceremony called a beat-in, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and kangaroo walk, or bull pen. The initiation is St. Louis. PCP is distributed to other Crips sets and intended to test the prospective member’s courage associates as well as to rival gangs and local indepen- and loyalty.