Gang Profiles
Overview of Gang History in the Pacific Northwest
“The Real Deal on Gangs in the Northwest Region of the U.S.!”
By Gabriel Morales © 1998-2008
Street gangs have been active in Washington State and Northwest well before the 1980s. Asian gangs have existed for many years since the time of the Triads, Tongs, Yakuza, or Boryokudan both in the Far East and here in this country, including Washington State. Organized Crime elements from the Irish, Jewish, and Italian communities were present by the 1920, just not as large as East Coast and Mid-West Crime Families. Pachuco gang members were present in Washington State in the 1930-40s and some belonged to what could be called a pre-Texas Syndicate organization. Outlaw Bikers have been active in Washington State since at least the late 1950s. Also in the 1950s, many local papers talked about youth gangs that occasionally rumbled in the area of North Seattle. Aryan Brotherhood members were housed at McNeil Island in the 1970s when it was a Federal BOP Pen and many of their family members and associates would visit them or stay here. There were Nuestra Familia and Norteños in Yakima in the late 1970s and Sureños were active in the Yakima Valley by the early 1980s. Jose Cruz “Jimmy Joe” Lucero was a recognized Mexican Mafia member from California who ran the “Chicano Club” for the Hispanics in the late 1970s. Both Florencia 13 and 18th Street were active in Seattle by the early 1980s. 18th Street also grew very strong in Portland, Oregon. Mara Salvatrucha appeared in the Seattle area by 1996. Some of the first local Sureño gangs in Seattle were South Side Locos and Varrio Locos. You also had homegrown gangs like United Latinos 206 who grew fast in the 1990s. Norteños spread over to Idaho as well as Sureño gangs.
When Crips, Bloods, Sureños and Norteños moved up from California in the early 1980s, the gun violence greatly increased and that is when law enforcement first recognized them and these gangs finally made it to the attention of the public via the news media. By the mid-1980s, the Gangster Disciple Folk Nation became known in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area by way of Chicago, Illinois. Many teens from Projects like Yesler Terrace, Rainier Vista, Holly Park, etc, did not like the California Crips and Bloods trying to tell them what to do. These were some tough local kids! At the same time many in law enforcement were targeting the famous Crips and Bloods, so many local kids turned FOLKS/Disciples instead. Other local teens did join L.A. gangs like Elm Street Pirus from Compton, or Hoover Crips/Criminals. Many of these L.A. gangs spawned local off-shoots like the Hilltop Crips who were first known as “14th Street Lil Loakes”. Many children of “Boat People” who first fled to refugee camps and later came to the United States in the early 1980s, gravitated towards Crips and Bloods because that is who many of them encountered when they settled into Section 8 and Public Housing. Female gangs are an interesting phenomenon, but they are not new! Girls have been involved in gangs since gangs were ever around. As the female population being incarcerated is going up slowly in recent years so has the slight rise in female gang members. There are now Native American gang members, Pacific Islander gangs, and new immigrant groups like East African Posse, Eastern Europeans, and many gangs are present up in Canada. GPS has documented the true evolution of Northwest Gangs as shown in our trainings!
By Gabriel Morales © 1998-2008
Street gangs have been active in Washington State and Northwest well before the 1980s. Asian gangs have existed for many years since the time of the Triads, Tongs, Yakuza, or Boryokudan both in the Far East and here in this country, including Washington State. Organized Crime elements from the Irish, Jewish, and Italian communities were present by the 1920, just not as large as East Coast and Mid-West Crime Families. Pachuco gang members were present in Washington State in the 1930-40s and some belonged to what could be called a pre-Texas Syndicate organization. Outlaw Bikers have been active in Washington State since at least the late 1950s. Also in the 1950s, many local papers talked about youth gangs that occasionally rumbled in the area of North Seattle. Aryan Brotherhood members were housed at McNeil Island in the 1970s when it was a Federal BOP Pen and many of their family members and associates would visit them or stay here. There were Nuestra Familia and Norteños in Yakima in the late 1970s and Sureños were active in the Yakima Valley by the early 1980s. Jose Cruz “Jimmy Joe” Lucero was a recognized Mexican Mafia member from California who ran the “Chicano Club” for the Hispanics in the late 1970s. Both Florencia 13 and 18th Street were active in Seattle by the early 1980s. 18th Street also grew very strong in Portland, Oregon. Mara Salvatrucha appeared in the Seattle area by 1996. Some of the first local Sureño gangs in Seattle were South Side Locos and Varrio Locos. You also had homegrown gangs like United Latinos 206 who grew fast in the 1990s. Norteños spread over to Idaho as well as Sureño gangs.
When Crips, Bloods, Sureños and Norteños moved up from California in the early 1980s, the gun violence greatly increased and that is when law enforcement first recognized them and these gangs finally made it to the attention of the public via the news media. By the mid-1980s, the Gangster Disciple Folk Nation became known in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area by way of Chicago, Illinois. Many teens from Projects like Yesler Terrace, Rainier Vista, Holly Park, etc, did not like the California Crips and Bloods trying to tell them what to do. These were some tough local kids! At the same time many in law enforcement were targeting the famous Crips and Bloods, so many local kids turned FOLKS/Disciples instead. Other local teens did join L.A. gangs like Elm Street Pirus from Compton, or Hoover Crips/Criminals. Many of these L.A. gangs spawned local off-shoots like the Hilltop Crips who were first known as “14th Street Lil Loakes”. Many children of “Boat People” who first fled to refugee camps and later came to the United States in the early 1980s, gravitated towards Crips and Bloods because that is who many of them encountered when they settled into Section 8 and Public Housing. Female gangs are an interesting phenomenon, but they are not new! Girls have been involved in gangs since gangs were ever around. As the female population being incarcerated is going up slowly in recent years so has the slight rise in female gang members. There are now Native American gang members, Pacific Islander gangs, and new immigrant groups like East African Posse, Eastern Europeans, and many gangs are present up in Canada. GPS has documented the true evolution of Northwest Gangs as shown in our trainings!
GPS also teaches about Black gangs, Asian gangs, White Supremacists, and other Security Threat Groups. We have taught gang classes to many groups, including police, corrections, probation and parole officers, juvenile workers, schools, Job Corps, church groups, etc. if you are interested in our services. We look forward to hearing from you! Take care out there!
For additional information and/or any questions about this gang or other gangs or to make any comments about this page please contact me.
Gabe Morales
Author/Trainer/Gang Specialist
Owner-Gang Prevention Services
<< Back to Gang Profiles List
For additional information and/or any questions about this gang or other gangs or to make any comments about this page please contact me.
Gabe Morales
Author/Trainer/Gang Specialist
Owner-Gang Prevention Services
<< Back to Gang Profiles List