United Blood Nation

Drugs and Crime Gang Profile U. S. o E PAR T MEN T o F JUSTICE United Blood Nation United Blood Nation is one of the largest associations of street gangs in the United States. The association consists of extremely violent and aggressive street gangs, referred to as sets, that have adopted a common gang philosophy. Although there is some cultural affinity between United Blood Nation and the Los Angeles-based Bloods, United Blood Nation sets tend to be more organized, and the sets share a comprehensive philosophy, expressed in an oath, a prayer; a song, a motto, a concept of war; and 31 common rules. Law enforcement officials estimate United Blood Nation membership to be more than 7,000, with approximately 5,000 members in the New York City metropolitan area. United Blood Nation sets are most active on the East Coast, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Members use violence to protect and expand their drug distribution operations, often torturing, mutilating, and murdering rivals. Increased law enforcement pressure has forced members in many areas to conceal their gang affiliation. Background ideology of the Black Panther Party and promoted a "gangster" lifestyle. United Blood Nation (lJBN), also known as East Coast Bloods or simply Bloods, was founded Within a year of UBN's formation, membership in the New York City Department of Correction in had increased significant! y, and the organization 1993 at the George Motchan Detention Center on began to form multiple sets. The Nine Trey Gang- Rikers Island. Omar "Original Gangster (OG) sters, formed by Leonard McKenzie, was the first set, Mack" Portee and Leonard "Dead Eye" McKenzie followed by the One Eight Trey formed by Omar formed the gang to protect African American Portee. An additional six sets were soon formed. They are Mad Stone Villains, Valentine Bloods, inmates who were not affiliated with baanasv from violent attacks by members of the Neta and Latin Gangster Killer Bloods, Hit Squad Brims, Blood Kings gangs. Portee and McKenzie adopted a gang Stone Villains, and Sex Money Murder. UBN sets philosophy that espoused the antioppression rapidly spread into the community as gang members 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. .I:tMtrEB OFFJCIACUSt- CAW t:I'JI-OReEMENf-SENSI:r-JVF " . Drugs and Crime Gang Profile-United BloodNatlon__~__LIMITED __OFFICIALUSE~=kAW"ENFORCF:-tvfEN::(SENSITtVc- were released from New York City correctional Alliances facilities. They quickly began recruiting new members and taking over lucrati ve crack cocaine markets. UBN members generally respect the gang alliances recognized by most street gangs in the By 1997 a number ofUBN sets had expanded United States. UBN sets typically ally with other into Upstate New York, New Jersey, and Penn- Bloods gangs and with the People Nation alliance. sylvania to take advantage of increased drug The People Nation and Folk Nation alliances distribution profits. As sets moved into these formed in the 1980s in the illinois Department of communities, law enforcement authorities and Corrections during the time when street gangs rivals were confronted with unprecedented levels became more influential in the prison system. of violence and intimidation. By 2000 a few UBN Nearly all Chicago-based gangs aligned with either sets had expanded into the Southeast as members People Nation or Folk Nation for protection within from New York City sets relocated to the region or illinois prisons. These alliances carried over into as members who had joined in prison returned the community, particularly in the Midwest, as home. Local gangs that were otherwise unaffiliated Chicago-based gangs migrated to new drug mar- with UBN sets from New York City but that kets. Although this alignment has limited influence emulated UBN culture have also proliferated. In in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, it is other instances, l.TBN members expanded their becoming more significant in the Southeast. For geographic influence by acting as a source of instance, in North Carolina many gangs are aligned supply for other gangs and transporting drugs from with either People Nation (which includes Bloods) New York City to drug distributors in other areas. or Folk Nation (which includes Crips), and these The establishment of UBN sets in correctional groups consider each other rivals. facilities in various East Coast states has changed UBN sets also have allied with Five Percenters, how African American inmates tend to group in Zulu Nation, Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13), and Black prison. Before UBN was established, relatively Guerrilla Family, as well as local gangs, for mutual few African American inmates in the Northeast fmancial benefit or protection. In some instances, belonged to well-known gangs, and most tended to UBN sets associate with traditional rival gangs such group based on where they resided prior to their as Crips and Latin Kings when such associations incarceration. Now, many African American benefit the criminal enterprises of both gangs. inmates in East Coast prisons join UBN sets or rival gangs. Adversaries Today the predominant sets in New York City UBN's primary adversaries are Crips, Neta, include the original eight sets as well as Five Nine Latin Kings, Dominican Power, Blood Catchers, Brims, Mad Dog Bloods, and Mad Stone Bloods. and Death Before Dishonor. In addition, because Additional sets, most of which are smaller, have UBN is part of the People Nation alliance, it is an formed in communities and correctional facilities adversary of gangs aligned with Folk Nation. throughout the East Coast through migration and emulation. UBN sets have become well established Organizational Structure in many drug markets and are among the most violent gangs in the nation. UBN sets continue to DBN is an association of independent, expand into large and small communities along the structured sets operating in prison and on the East Coast as they seek new drug markets. The street that share a collection of common gang presence of UBN members has been reported in at characteristics. DBN does not have a central least 10 states. governing authority; however, DBN members generally revere Omar Portee as the founder of 2 L:tMITt:uurrlCIAL USE LA'N--ENFe>RCEMENi$E-NSITIVE = I..lMlIED OFFICIAL USE -l.AW EN~-tVE National Drug Intelligence Center DBN, and he holds the honorary title of First Membership Superior or Godfather of DBN. As of 2001 law enforcement authorities UBN sets in the community and in prison have estimated that DBN membership exceeded similar structures. Sets usually have a single leader 7,000. Most members are African American who may be called the fIrst superior, fIve star males-usually with criminal records-although geneml, five star superior general, or by the code many sets have recruited members from other word 101. The leader often is assisted by a second- races and ethnic backgrounds. For example, the in-command who may be called the second superior, Bloods leader at the Rikers Island correctional four star general, four star superior general or by the facilities in 2001 was Latino. Members range code word 102. Leaders are not elected but assert from 9 to 40 years old. The most criminally themselves through their reputation for developing active members are 14 to 25 years old. The criminal enterprises, their ability to effectively average age of new members is 22, and the manage a set's criminal activities, their reputation average age of the older, most respected members for violence, and their personal charisma, among (OGs) is 33. other factors. Assisting the leaders in some sets is a group of members referred to as the Committee. The status of female members varies among Members of the Committee hold midlevelleader- UBN sets; most women act as auxiliary or associ- ship positions, such as Minister of Defense, Minis- ate members. UBN female members and associates ter of Food (in a prison), and Minister of Informa- take an active role in criminal activities by holding tion. They oversee important functions for the drugs and fIrearms for other members, infIltrating benefit of the set within the correctional facility rival gangs to obtain information, imd providing and, to a lesser extent, on the street. Larger sets alibis for members. Some female members and may have additional leadership positions such as associates act as prostitutes to earn money for their commanding officer, captain, and lieutenant. set, and some smuggle drugs and other contraband Rank-and-fIle members commonly are referred to into correctional facilities. as soldiers or principals. Most sets refer to senior or founding members who have earned the respect As with other large East Coast street gangs, of the membership as original gangsters or OGs. UBN has a set of customs and practices. UBN's OGs are usually very influential and mayor may philosophy is expressed in an oath, a prayer, a not hold an official leadership position. They often song, a motto, and a concept of war, all of which coordinate a set's criminal enterprises. must be memorized by members. 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