Bloods, Netas & Latin Kings
Bob B.
It all began with Leonard "Deadeye" MacKenzie. While living in
eight-by-10-foot concrete cells on Rikers Island, Deadeye and fellow prisoner
O.G. "Original Gangsta" Mack founded the New York chapter of the United Blood
Nation in 1993. Ever since, this razor-toting gang has been wreaking havoc
inside the city’s jails.
There appears to be little connection between these incarcerated gang members
and the recent spate of slashings committed by teenagers claiming to be
Bloods. But in the jails, the gang’s rapid growth has sparked a violent turf
war. The Bloods have usurped the Latin Kings as the strongest of the 52
prison gangs operating in New York City. Among the city’s 17,741 inmates,
there are now 550 Bloods, and 345 Latin Kings.
As members of the Bloods are shipped upstate to serve their sentences, their
influence and power are quickly spreading to prisons across the state, from
Attica to Great Meadow to Sing Sing. Along the way, the Bloods are enraging
not only the Latin Kings, who are often their targets, but also some
correction officers, who fear they are unprepared for this new challenge.
Gangs have long been a presence inside New York State prisons, and have grown
far more organized, and dangerous, over the last decade. In the long run, the
ability of the state’s 69 prisons to cope with its growing gang problem could
determine how much gang violence spills onto the city’s streets. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Steve Cohen, who successfully prosecuted the former Latin Kings
leader, says, "It’s imperative that the penal system does a good job at
preventing the development of gangs within their facilities...because today’s
prisoner is tomorrow’s neighbor."
Before the birth of the Bloods, the Latin Kings had far more members, and
clout, than Rikers’s black groups, which included the Five Percenters and the
Jamaican Posse. At the time, Hispanic gangs—the Latin Kings and the
Netas—ruled Rikers, dictating which channel aired on the jails’ televisions
and who could use the inmate phones. The Latinos stuck together so tightly
that the Bloods likened them to the Nazis, constantly calling them "the
Germans."
So Deadeye decided to start a new, fiercer black organization. He named it
after the notorious Los Angeles gang, though the two gangs do not appear to be
connected. Sherman "Sherm da Worm" Adams, an 18-year-old Blood awaiting trial
at Rikers for attempted murder, explains: "The Bloods started because Latin
Kings and Netas were trying to oppress black people."
The birth of the New York Bloods had less to do with a coherent race-based
ideology, however, than with the politics of prison living. For inmates
craving cigarettes, drugs, sneakers, or even a bar of soap, gangs could
provide access to hard-to-get goods. Gang membership offered a way to combat
the loneliness of incarceration by creating a sense of family—gang members
refer to each other as "brothers"—which many prisoners do not have outside of
jail. And perhaps most significantly, gangs promised protection.
To announce their presence, the Bloods stuffed red bandannas in their back
pockets and donned red sneakers and sweatshirts. When Rikers officials banned
these displays, the Bloods showed their solidarity in less visible ways,
slipping on red watches or wrapping red shoelaces around their pinkie fingers.
"A Blood must let it be known that he’s a Blood at all times," explains one
member. The gang also broadcast their strength, and aggravated the Kings, by
chanting in the cell blocks:
"Peace to the Almighty Bloods!"
"Peace Blood!"
"Peace to the Almighty Bloods!"
"Peace Blood!"
The Bloods attracted the most attention with their initiation rite, which
required would-be members to "blood in" or slice someone. "The Bloods came out
of nowhere with such fury and force, stabbing everybody," says a correction
officer. "They were like kamikazes, attacking the Latin Kings without any
provocation. It just created chaos in the jail system. Alarms were going off
constantly."
He chronicled this prison gang war for Stress, a Queens-based hip-hop
magazine, which runs a column about life inside Rikers titled "Tales From tha
Rock." "They ready themselves for battle as the time gets closer for the cells
to open," he wrote in early 1996. "They lace their North face coats with Hip
Hop magazines and books to provide protection from the steel shank that might
penetrate the down filled coat and puncture a lung or a heart."
To disguise their plans for attacks, the Bloods adopted numerical codes.
Across the recreation yard, they would order hits on other inmates by shouting
"013," which means "tear him up." To warn a fellow Blood to "be on the lookout
for an ambush," they might whisper "186" to him as they passed in the law
library.
The Bloods’ violence even overflowed into the jail’s visiting rooms. "I’ve had
brothers slashed while their family is visiting them—in front of their mother,
their brother—because of a beef on the inside," says Blondie, 27, a
spokesperson for the Netas. "To us, that is way, way out of line."
Antonio Fernandez, the 30-year-old leader of the New York Latin Kings known as
King Tone, insists the Bloods dominate the city’s jails because his own group
has largely abandoned its criminal ways and is pursuing a political-activist
agenda. "They have a stronger population in jail because we stopped committing
crimes," King Tone says. "Instead of sending my kids to jail, I’m sending
them to school. The Bloods can have the jails ‘cause I don’t want them
anymore. The system we want to run is City Hall."
In 1994, the city’s Department of Corrections created the Gang Intelligence
Unit to crack down on groups like the Bloods and the Latin Kings. It deciphers
the gangs’ codes, puzzles through their slang-riddled literature, and pieces
together their hierarchies. Investigators discovered that the New York Bloods
are divided into eight "sets," with names that advertise their obsession with
violence, including the Gangsta Killer Bloods, the Sex Money Murder Bloods,
the Concepts of War, and the Nine Trey Gangstas.
Ironically, in light of the recent media hype about the Bloods, gang violence
is actually on the decline inside the city’s jails. Earlier this year, there
were 150 slashings a month. That number has since plunged to 25 or 30. Some
attribute this drop in violence to the Gang Intelligence Unit’s efforts.
Others believe it has more to do with the fact that the Bloods have
established their dominance. "They have made their point," says a correction
officer. "Their point was don’t fuck with us."
The recent slashings by young so-called Bloods have led to increased scrutiny.
Now federal investigators are trekking to Rikers to interview the gang’s
leaders, who may face racketeering charges for their actions behind bars. Not
suprisingly, these leaders are trying to distance themselves from the recent
high-profile attacks.
"We do not advocate, condone, or like what’s going on the streets," says Sherm
da Worm. As the highest-ranking Blood in Rikers’s Adolescent Reception and
Detention Center, he holds the title Superior of All Adolescents. "Those sets
out there are renegade sets," Sherm says. "What they’re doing is against our
code of honor. The code [includes] no black-on-black crime. The issue that
bothers us the most is when that 59-year-old black lady on DeKalb Avenue was
cut. That was just wrong. She was a mother. You give a female respect. As a
Blood, you’re supposed to know that."
The state’s most violent young prisoners usually wind up in Coxsackie
Correctional Facility. As a result, this maximum-security prison outside
Albany has had more than its share of troubles with the Bloods.
Donald Premo, a 48-year-old correction officer at Coxsackie, is about twice
the age of most inmates. The cultural and age differences that separate him
from the prisoners make it tough for him to follow their conversations, even
when they are in English. "I haven’t got a clue what they’re saying," says
Premo. "They speak a street dialect."
When the Bloods first began appearing inside Coxsackie 18 months ago, Premo’s
job suddenly got more exciting, and more difficult. Even though the state
correction department has a gang intelligence unit, Premo worried that he was
unprepared for this new challenge. "My biggest complaint," the prison guard
says, "is that I’m trying to do a very tough job with very little information
about what I’m fighting."
Premo began to fear that the Bloods were seizing control. The rotund officer
found himself racing into slippery shower stalls to pull apart the soapy,
naked bodies of Bloods and Latin Kings. When he worked late one night, Premo
heard the eerie midnight chanting of the Bloods. And he noticed that some
Latin Kings, who were locked in for 23 hours a day, stopped leaving their
cells during their one hour of recreation time because they were being
pummeled by the Bloods.
The Bloods-versus-Kings violence has certainly not been limited to Coxsackie.
In July, when a Blood leader stepped into Sing Sing’s B Block Yard, which was
considered Latin King territory, a dozen Kings attacked him with single-edge
razor blades. During an August brawl between the Kings and the Bloods inside
the mess hall at Clinton Correctional Facility, inmates squirted liquid soap
on the floor to slow down the officers running in to break up the fight.
These tales of violence inside New York’s prisons are nothing new. Slashings
and beatings have long been part of prison life, far preceding the birth of
the Bloods. In 1996, there were 1637 inmate-on-inmate assaults—a rate of 24
per 1000 inmates.
Some correction officers say that, with the rise of the Bloods, they
themselves feel targeted for the first time. "Violence in the inmate
population is a fact of life," says Premo, who is the treasurer of his local
union. "Routinely, staff got hurt intervening. But this year we started seeing
officers being popped without warning, with no rational explanation."
Statistics released by state officials in August seem to contradict this
assessment. They show that the number of attacks by inmates against staff is
actually decreasing. In 1996, there were 889 assaults on staff—down from 962
in 1995 and 999 in 1994. Nevertheless, union officials insist that because
these figures cover the entire state system, they gloss over volatile
situations in individual prisons. For example, there were 35 assaults on
Coxsackie staff members during the first half of the year, compared to only 42
attacks for all of 1996.
"When one group gets so strong that they dominate the inmate population,
we...become the next target," Premo says. "In that sense, we’re the ultimate
gang. We’re not a gang, but we are the strongest, most organized force in the
jail. We have to be. We’re outnumbered 10 to one. But when any one
organization gets really powerful, they start to believe they can beat us."
Opinions vary wildly on how serious a threat prison gangs pose. George Knox,
director of the National Gang Crime Research Center, believes that 20 per cent
of the nation’s inmates belong to gangs. But he insists that figure is much
higher for New York State, which he says has one of the worst prison gang
problems in the country. According to Knox, New York ranks third after
California and Illinois in terms of the size and strength of its prison gang
popluation.
Not surprisingly, the state Department of Correctional Services disagrees.
James Flateau, the agency’s spokesperson, refuses to reveal how many gang
members are incarcerated in New York’s prisons. "We believe we have a lot less
of a problem than other jurisdictions," he says.
The size and influence of prison gangs varies from facility to facility. Four
months ago, union officials at Coxsackie told The Times-Union in Albany that
they feared a riot was imminent. The officers claimed Coxsackie’s gangs were
growing out of control, and they blamed state prison officials for not
aggressively tackling the problem. Since the officers made their complaints
public, the number of assaults by inmates has dropped.
Robert Gangi, executive director of the Correctional Association, worries that
guards sometimes exploit this explosive issue to further their own
agenda—including pushing for more prison construction. "The city’s union and
the state’s union will often engage in hyperbole when describing stories from
behind the walls because they see political advantage in getting more sympathy
for their members," Gangi says.
In its fight against gangs, the state has one powerful weapon that most states
do not possess: 14 maximum-security prisons. With so many high-level
facilities, officials are able to transfer gang leaders constantly. "Keep them
moving so there’s always bickering between them about who’s the leader," says
Anthony Sportiello, president of the correction officers’ union at Sing Sing.
"That always keeps us a little tiny bit ahead of them."
Nevertheless, some correction officers worry that prison gangs have grown so
powerful that the state needs to adopt a more sophisticated approach,
including better training for officers. One prison guard at Sullivan
Correctional Facility even launched a Web page for fellow officers that
includes intelligence about New York’s prison gangs. It features the
constitution of the Almighty Latin King Nation, the Neta’s history, a charter
for the Bloods, and a dictionary of prison gang slang. About the gangs which
plague the state’s prison system, Premo says, "We’re in control. All we want
to do is stay there."
--
"The True Administration of Justice is the Firmest Pillar of Good Government"
(Inscription above the entrance to the New York State Supreme Court, NYC)
________________________________________
Homepage: under renovation!
mailto:bobb...@bestweb.net
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________________________________________
"Don't you know, everybody's innocent in here?"
Andy in "The Shawshank Redemption"
Bob B.
John Hilty wrote:
> It should be mentioned that the article upon which "Bloods, Netas, & Latin Kings"
> is based comes from the Village Voice, published October 14, 1997. See the
> following website for the orginal article:
>
> http://www.villagevoice.com:80/ink/news/42gonnerman.shtml
Yes...that's right.
I cut and pasted the article, but omitted the source.
BUT- Everyone knows that CO's can't write that good.
Bob B.
LSchry
>: "The Bloods started because Latin
> Kings and Netas were trying to oppress black people."
What!!??
I thought that their black skin, kinky hair, negro features,
were the reasons they were rejected on sight.
Blacks have been oppressed 4 ever,
being born black is a handicap.
> "Peace to the Almighty Bloods!"
>
> "Peace Blood!"
>
> "Peace to the Almighty Bloods!"
>
> "Peace Blood!"
Peace!!?? and you are slashing faces w/razors and box cutters.
> The Bloods attracted the most attention with their initiation rite, which
> required would-be members to "blood in" or slice someone. "The Bloods
came out
> of nowhere with such fury and force, stabbing everybody," says a
correction
> officer. "They were like kamikazes, attacking the Latin Kings without any
> provocation. It just created chaos in the jail system. Alarms were going
off
> constantly."
Why not just go into the jails, where they dominate, and
just eliminate them.
It would be for the good of all mankind.
One way to stop crime, make sterlization mandatory,
if you want to get parole.
TEuska
> One way to stop crime, make sterlization mandatory,
> if you want to get parole.
Perhaps just for convicted rapist, murderers, repeated
robbers.
Not for all convicted persons, but for those mentioned above,
I think it is an idea that merits looking into.
Rasputin
On Mon, 20 Oct 1997 20:28:10 -0400, "Bob B." <bobb...@bestweb.net>
wrote:
>
>
>John Hilty wrote:
>
>> It should be mentioned that the article upon which "Bloods, Netas, & Latin Kings"
>> is based comes from the Village Voice, published October 14, 1997. See the
>> following website for the orginal article:
>>
>> http://www.villagevoice.com:80/ink/news/42gonnerman.shtml
>
>Yes...that's right.
>
>I cut and pasted the article, but omitted the source.
>
>BUT- Everyone knows that CO's can't write that good.
>
> Bob B.
whatdaya meen we caint right good?
Raz
MCJZ
Latin Kings Representin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A.L.K.N.
Amor De Rey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amor De Rey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amor De Rey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amor De Rey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amor De Rey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amor De Rey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHS
MCJZ wrote:
Not even a Charter King at that. The Kings (both flavors), NETAs, Five
Percenters, PBB- You all have one thing in common- You are all worthless
gangster punks with no more motive for existence that to push dope and
make money.What you should be typing if you had any truth in you would
be something like 'Amor De Moolah".
If you hurry, you can catch the next tramp steamer back to PR before the
DEA catches up with you. Again.
wtt...@erols.com
Doris Torres wrote:
>
> You all have one thing in common- You are all worthless
> >gangster punks with no more motive for existence that
> to push dope and make money.
>
> with the CIA, The United States Government.
>
> CIA in IRANCONTRA, pushed arms to make money in order to
> finance the Contras.
>
> Push dope (nicotine count as an addictive drug) to make money.
>
> Congressmen, Senators raked in a lot of $$$$$ to look the other
> way, while the tobacco companies pushed their murderous, addictive
> nicotine products.
I don't want to defend tobacco but do you really think you can
compare it to heroin or crack.
Bertram Moshier
Doris Torres (Tor...@worldnet.att.net) wrote in article <63qku1$m...@mtinsc05.worldnet.att.net>:
: You all have one thing in common- You are all worthless
: >gangster punks with no more motive for existence that
: to push dope and make money.
: Push dope (nicotine count as an addictive drug) to make money.
: Congressmen, Senators raked in a lot of $$$$$ to look the other
: way, while the tobacco companies pushed their murderous, addictive
: nicotine products.
Ah, I think the key word is "illegal," which you didn't include.
If you just say "addictive drug," you include many things that are
legal and/or not even covered by law. Remember your body actually
is a drug manufacturing plant and a legal one! You need only know
what to do to yourself to cause your body to make a drug for you.
mmm, for some drugs but not all - of course.
I know I make it sound easy and it isn't (until you get some real
experience).
--
Bert - Visit alt.clothing.sneakers and then participate.
- Finally, get others to participate!
Sneaker G/PG FTP site:
WWW URL: http://www.os2rus.com/users/Sneaker_G/Sneaker_G_Files.html
FTP URL: ftp://sneakers:ru...@ftp-sneakers.os2rus.com
Line by line: host: ftp-sneakers.os2rus.com
userid: sneakers password: rule
Contact snea...@bga.com to submit something to the sneaker
FTP site (G rated only).
Sneaker sex/arousal mailing list - check out:
wtt...@erols.com
rodeo wrote:
>
> In article <346315...@erols.com>, wtt...@erols.com says...
> >
> >Doris Torres wrote:
> >>
> >> You all have one thing in common- You are all worthless
> >> >gangster punks with no more motive for existence that
> >> to push dope and make money.
> >>
> >> with the CIA, The United States Government.
> >>
> >> CIA in IRANCONTRA, pushed arms to make money in order to
> >> finance the Contras.
> >>
> >>
> >> Congressmen, Senators raked in a lot of $$$$$ to look the other
> >> way, while the tobacco companies pushed their murderous, addictive
> >> nicotine products.
> >
> >compare it to heroin or crack.
>
> that, because of the length of time and effort it takes to become 'addicted'
> to nicotene, that it is much more addictive and difficult to withdraw from.
>
> rodeo
Being addicted to nicotine myself, like I said I won't vouch for
tobacco companies, however if you study the effects of heroin and crack
and other lethal drugs on the mind and body, I don't see how you can
compare them. Look at the drug abusers in the street. What would you
rather find on your kids, a cigarette or dope?
rodeo
>> many of the so-called 'experts' (a/k/a has been leaks under pressure)
contend
>> that, because of the length of time and effort it takes to become
'addicted'
>> to nicotene, that it is much more addictive and difficult to withdraw
from.
>>
>> rodeo
> Being addicted to nicotine myself, like I said I won't vouch for
>tobacco companies, however if you study the effects of heroin and crack
>and other lethal drugs on the mind and body, I don't see how you can
>compare them. Look at the drug abusers in the street. What would you
>rather find on your kids, a cigarette or dope?
cigarettes, i guess. but might i also add that the most debilitating
drug is a legal one.....alcohol. it does more individual/sociological
harm than all the illegal drugs combined.
rodeo
kmjriggs
get a life and stop trying to blame society for all your problems and
admitt to the truth.You gangsters are nothing but a bunch air thieves that
shouldn't use up air better spent on mules.
Bertram Moshier <snea...@bga.com> wrote in article
<63vafg$93a$1...@news3.realtime.net>...
> Doris Torres (Tor...@worldnet.att.net) wrote in article
<63qku1$m...@mtinsc05.worldnet.att.net>:
>
> : You all have one thing in common- You are all worthless
