8 most dangerous prison gangs
Criminal organization that originate and operate within the penal system
Prison gangs are criminal organizations that origination within the penal system and they have continued to operate within correctional facilities throughout the United States. Here are 8 dangerous prison gangs in the United States. Each description is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and is depicted with that particular gang's tattoos and symbols.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Typically, a prison gang consists of a select group of inmates who have an organized hierarchy and are governed by an established code of conduct. They generally have fewer members than street gangs and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs), and are structured along racial or ethnic lines.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Nationally, prison gangs pose a threat because they are an important link between drug-trafficking organizations (DTO), street gangs and OMGs, often brokering the transfer of drugs from DTOs to gangs in many regions.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Ayran Brotherhood, also known as the AB, is a highly structured entity with two fractions, one located in within the California Department of Corrections (CDC) and the other within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The majority of AB members are Caucasian males, and the gang is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The main source of income for the AB is derived from the distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine within the prison systems as well as on the street.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Some AB members have established business relationships with Mexican DTOs that smuggle illegal drugs into California for distribution by the AB.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The AB is notoriously violent and is frequently involved in murder-for-hire.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Although historically linked to the California based Hispanic prison gang the Mexican Mafia (La Eme), tension between the AB and La Eme is becoming increasingly evident as demonstrated by recent fights between Caucasians and Hispanics within the CDC.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexican Mafia prison gang, also known as La Eme (Spanish for the letter M), was formed in the late 1950's within the California Department of Corrections (CDC).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is a loosely structured criminal organization with strict rules that must be followed by the estimated 350 to 400 members.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Most members of La Eme are comprised of Mexican-American males who previously belonged to a Southern California street gang.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S., however, its' power base remains in California.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexican Mafia's main source of income is extorting drug distributors outside prison and distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana within the prison systems and on the outside streets.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Some members of La Eme have direct links to Mexican DTOs and broker deals for both themselves and their associates.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is also involved in other criminal activities including controlling gambling and prostitution within the prison systems.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexikanemi prison gang, also known as the Texas Mexican Mafia (La Eme) or Emi, was formed in the early 1980's within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexikanemi is highly structured and is estimated to have 2,000 members, most of whom are Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males living in Texas at the time of their incarceration.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi poses a significant drug-trafficking threat to communities in the Southwestern U.S., particularly in Texas.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi gang members reportedly traffic multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; multi-ton quantities of marijuana; and thousand-tablet quantities of ecstasy from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside prison.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi gang members obtain narcotics from associates or members of the Jaime Herrera-Herrera, Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, and/or the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes Mexican DTOs.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In addition, Mexikanemi members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, a Mexican paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cardenas-Guillen DTO as its personal security force.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) is a Hispanic prison gang formed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in the late 1980's.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL operates in most prisons and on the streets in many communities in Texas, particularly Laredo.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL is also active in several cities in Mexico, and its largest contingent in that country is located in Nuevo Laredo.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL is structured and estimated to have 1,000 members.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL members maintain close ties with Mexican DTOs and are involved in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Barrio Azteca is one of the most violent prison gangs operating within the U.S.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca is a highly structured criminal entity and has an estimated membership of 2,000 persons, most of whom are either Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca is most active in the Southwestern region of the U.S., primarily in federal, state and local correctional facilities in Texas, as well as on the outside in communities located in Southwestern Texas and Southeastern New Mexico.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The prison gang's main source of income is derived from the smuggling of heroin, powdered cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside the prison systems.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Members of the Barrio Azteca often transport illicit drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border on behalf of DTOs.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca members are also involved in crimes such as alien smuggling, arson, assault, auto theft, burglary, extortion, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery and weapons violations.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Black Guerrilla Family (BGF), originally called the Black Family or the Black Vanguard, is a prison gang founded in 1966 at the San Quentin State Prison in California.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
BGF members operate primarily in the states of California and Maryland. The prison gang has approximately 100 to 300 members, a majority of whom are African-American males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
A primary source of income for the BGF is derived from the distribution of cocaine and marijuana. BGF members are also involved in other criminal activities including auto theft, burglary, drive-by shooting and homicide.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Dead Man Incorporated (DMI) is a violent prison gang that originated in the 1980s by three prison inmates.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
DMI operates primarily in the Maryland Division of Corrections (MDOC), where gang membership is estimated to be more than 370 members; consisting of predominantly white males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In 2006, leadership within MDOC gave the go-ahead to a DMI member to begin recruiting in Virginia.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The DMI member assaulted a law enforcement official to ensure his incarceration and ability to begin recruiting DMI membership in the Virginia prison system.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The main source of income for DMI gang members is committing murder for hire, acts of intimidation and violence, and drug distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Texas Syndicate (TS) is one of the largest and most violent prison gangs active on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border and poses a significant drug trafficking threat to communities located in the Southwestern United States.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The TS is highly structured and is estimated to have 1,300 members, most of whom are Mexican-American males between the ages of 20-40.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Members of the TS smuggle multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, and multi-ton quantities of marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside of prison.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
TS gang members have a direct working relationship with associates and/or members of the Osiel Cardenas-Guillen Mexican DTO.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In addition, TS gang members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, the paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cadenas-Guillen DTO.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Other prison gangs not included in this list: the Four Horseman, otherwise known as Tangos; Public Enemy Number One (PEN1); The Nazi Low Riders; Ñeta; and Nuestra Familia. To read more about these prison gangs, visit the United States Department of Justice.
PHOTO: United States House of Representatives
Prison gangs are criminal organizations that origination within the penal system and they have continued to operate within correctional facilities throughout the United States. Here are 8 dangerous prison gangs in the United States. Each description is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and is depicted with that particular gang's tattoos and symbols.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Typically, a prison gang consists of a select group of inmates who have an organized hierarchy and are governed by an established code of conduct. They generally have fewer members than street gangs and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs), and are structured along racial or ethnic lines.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Nationally, prison gangs pose a threat because they are an important link between drug-trafficking organizations (DTO), street gangs and OMGs, often brokering the transfer of drugs from DTOs to gangs in many regions.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Ayran Brotherhood, also known as the AB, is a highly structured entity with two fractions, one located in within the California Department of Corrections (CDC) and the other within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The majority of AB members are Caucasian males, and the gang is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The main source of income for the AB is derived from the distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine within the prison systems as well as on the street.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Some AB members have established business relationships with Mexican DTOs that smuggle illegal drugs into California for distribution by the AB.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The AB is notoriously violent and is frequently involved in murder-for-hire.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Although historically linked to the California based Hispanic prison gang the Mexican Mafia (La Eme), tension between the AB and La Eme is becoming increasingly evident as demonstrated by recent fights between Caucasians and Hispanics within the CDC.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexican Mafia prison gang, also known as La Eme (Spanish for the letter M), was formed in the late 1950's within the California Department of Corrections (CDC).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is a loosely structured criminal organization with strict rules that must be followed by the estimated 350 to 400 members.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Most members of La Eme are comprised of Mexican-American males who previously belonged to a Southern California street gang.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S., however, its' power base remains in California.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexican Mafia's main source of income is extorting drug distributors outside prison and distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana within the prison systems and on the outside streets.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Some members of La Eme have direct links to Mexican DTOs and broker deals for both themselves and their associates.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is also involved in other criminal activities including controlling gambling and prostitution within the prison systems.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexikanemi prison gang, also known as the Texas Mexican Mafia (La Eme) or Emi, was formed in the early 1980's within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexikanemi is highly structured and is estimated to have 2,000 members, most of whom are Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males living in Texas at the time of their incarceration.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi poses a significant drug-trafficking threat to communities in the Southwestern U.S., particularly in Texas.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi gang members reportedly traffic multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; multi-ton quantities of marijuana; and thousand-tablet quantities of ecstasy from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside prison.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi gang members obtain narcotics from associates or members of the Jaime Herrera-Herrera, Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, and/or the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes Mexican DTOs.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In addition, Mexikanemi members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, a Mexican paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cardenas-Guillen DTO as its personal security force.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) is a Hispanic prison gang formed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in the late 1980's.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL operates in most prisons and on the streets in many communities in Texas, particularly Laredo.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL is also active in several cities in Mexico, and its largest contingent in that country is located in Nuevo Laredo.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL is structured and estimated to have 1,000 members.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL members maintain close ties with Mexican DTOs and are involved in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Barrio Azteca is one of the most violent prison gangs operating within the U.S.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca is a highly structured criminal entity and has an estimated membership of 2,000 persons, most of whom are either Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca is most active in the Southwestern region of the U.S., primarily in federal, state and local correctional facilities in Texas, as well as on the outside in communities located in Southwestern Texas and Southeastern New Mexico.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The prison gang's main source of income is derived from the smuggling of heroin, powdered cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside the prison systems.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Members of the Barrio Azteca often transport illicit drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border on behalf of DTOs.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca members are also involved in crimes such as alien smuggling, arson, assault, auto theft, burglary, extortion, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery and weapons violations.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Black Guerrilla Family (BGF), originally called the Black Family or the Black Vanguard, is a prison gang founded in 1966 at the San Quentin State Prison in California.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
BGF members operate primarily in the states of California and Maryland. The prison gang has approximately 100 to 300 members, a majority of whom are African-American males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
A primary source of income for the BGF is derived from the distribution of cocaine and marijuana. BGF members are also involved in other criminal activities including auto theft, burglary, drive-by shooting and homicide.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Dead Man Incorporated (DMI) is a violent prison gang that originated in the 1980s by three prison inmates.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
DMI operates primarily in the Maryland Division of Corrections (MDOC), where gang membership is estimated to be more than 370 members; consisting of predominantly white males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In 2006, leadership within MDOC gave the go-ahead to a DMI member to begin recruiting in Virginia.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The DMI member assaulted a law enforcement official to ensure his incarceration and ability to begin recruiting DMI membership in the Virginia prison system.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The main source of income for DMI gang members is committing murder for hire, acts of intimidation and violence, and drug distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Texas Syndicate (TS) is one of the largest and most violent prison gangs active on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border and poses a significant drug trafficking threat to communities located in the Southwestern United States.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The TS is highly structured and is estimated to have 1,300 members, most of whom are Mexican-American males between the ages of 20-40.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Members of the TS smuggle multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, and multi-ton quantities of marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside of prison.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
TS gang members have a direct working relationship with associates and/or members of the Osiel Cardenas-Guillen Mexican DTO.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In addition, TS gang members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, the paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cadenas-Guillen DTO.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Other prison gangs not included in this list: the Four Horseman, otherwise known as Tangos; Public Enemy Number One (PEN1); The Nazi Low Riders; Ñeta; and Nuestra Familia. To read more about these prison gangs, visit the United States Department of Justice.
PHOTO: United States House of Representatives
Prison gangs are criminal organizations that origination within the penal system and they have continued to operate within correctional facilities throughout the United States. Here are 8 dangerous prison gangs in the United States. Each description is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and is depicted with that particular gang's tattoos and symbols.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Typically, a prison gang consists of a select group of inmates who have an organized hierarchy and are governed by an established code of conduct. They generally have fewer members than street gangs and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs), and are structured along racial or ethnic lines.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Nationally, prison gangs pose a threat because they are an important link between drug-trafficking organizations (DTO), street gangs and OMGs, often brokering the transfer of drugs from DTOs to gangs in many regions.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Ayran Brotherhood, also known as the AB, is a highly structured entity with two fractions, one located in within the California Department of Corrections (CDC) and the other within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The majority of AB members are Caucasian males, and the gang is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The main source of income for the AB is derived from the distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine within the prison systems as well as on the street.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Some AB members have established business relationships with Mexican DTOs that smuggle illegal drugs into California for distribution by the AB.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The AB is notoriously violent and is frequently involved in murder-for-hire.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Although historically linked to the California based Hispanic prison gang the Mexican Mafia (La Eme), tension between the AB and La Eme is becoming increasingly evident as demonstrated by recent fights between Caucasians and Hispanics within the CDC.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexican Mafia prison gang, also known as La Eme (Spanish for the letter M), was formed in the late 1950's within the California Department of Corrections (CDC).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is a loosely structured criminal organization with strict rules that must be followed by the estimated 350 to 400 members.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Most members of La Eme are comprised of Mexican-American males who previously belonged to a Southern California street gang.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is primarily active in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the U.S., however, its' power base remains in California.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexican Mafia's main source of income is extorting drug distributors outside prison and distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana within the prison systems and on the outside streets.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Some members of La Eme have direct links to Mexican DTOs and broker deals for both themselves and their associates.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
La Eme is also involved in other criminal activities including controlling gambling and prostitution within the prison systems.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexikanemi prison gang, also known as the Texas Mexican Mafia (La Eme) or Emi, was formed in the early 1980's within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Mexikanemi is highly structured and is estimated to have 2,000 members, most of whom are Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males living in Texas at the time of their incarceration.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi poses a significant drug-trafficking threat to communities in the Southwestern U.S., particularly in Texas.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi gang members reportedly traffic multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; multi-ton quantities of marijuana; and thousand-tablet quantities of ecstasy from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside prison.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexikanemi gang members obtain narcotics from associates or members of the Jaime Herrera-Herrera, Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, and/or the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes Mexican DTOs.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In addition, Mexikanemi members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, a Mexican paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cardenas-Guillen DTO as its personal security force.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) is a Hispanic prison gang formed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in the late 1980's.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL operates in most prisons and on the streets in many communities in Texas, particularly Laredo.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL is also active in several cities in Mexico, and its largest contingent in that country is located in Nuevo Laredo.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL is structured and estimated to have 1,000 members.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
HPL members maintain close ties with Mexican DTOs and are involved in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Barrio Azteca is one of the most violent prison gangs operating within the U.S.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca is a highly structured criminal entity and has an estimated membership of 2,000 persons, most of whom are either Mexican nationals or Mexican-American males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca is most active in the Southwestern region of the U.S., primarily in federal, state and local correctional facilities in Texas, as well as on the outside in communities located in Southwestern Texas and Southeastern New Mexico.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The prison gang's main source of income is derived from the smuggling of heroin, powdered cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside the prison systems.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Members of the Barrio Azteca often transport illicit drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border on behalf of DTOs.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Barrio Azteca members are also involved in crimes such as alien smuggling, arson, assault, auto theft, burglary, extortion, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery and weapons violations.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Black Guerrilla Family (BGF), originally called the Black Family or the Black Vanguard, is a prison gang founded in 1966 at the San Quentin State Prison in California.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
BGF members operate primarily in the states of California and Maryland. The prison gang has approximately 100 to 300 members, a majority of whom are African-American males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
A primary source of income for the BGF is derived from the distribution of cocaine and marijuana. BGF members are also involved in other criminal activities including auto theft, burglary, drive-by shooting and homicide.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Dead Man Incorporated (DMI) is a violent prison gang that originated in the 1980s by three prison inmates.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
DMI operates primarily in the Maryland Division of Corrections (MDOC), where gang membership is estimated to be more than 370 members; consisting of predominantly white males.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In 2006, leadership within MDOC gave the go-ahead to a DMI member to begin recruiting in Virginia.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The DMI member assaulted a law enforcement official to ensure his incarceration and ability to begin recruiting DMI membership in the Virginia prison system.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The main source of income for DMI gang members is committing murder for hire, acts of intimidation and violence, and drug distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The Texas Syndicate (TS) is one of the largest and most violent prison gangs active on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border and poses a significant drug trafficking threat to communities located in the Southwestern United States.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
The TS is highly structured and is estimated to have 1,300 members, most of whom are Mexican-American males between the ages of 20-40.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Members of the TS smuggle multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, and multi-ton quantities of marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside of prison.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
TS gang members have a direct working relationship with associates and/or members of the Osiel Cardenas-Guillen Mexican DTO.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
In addition, TS gang members maintain a relationship with Los Zetas, the paramilitary/criminal organization employed by the Cadenas-Guillen DTO.
PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice
Other prison gangs not included in this list: the Four Horseman, otherwise known as Tangos; Public Enemy Number One (PEN1); The Nazi Low Riders; Ñeta; and Nuestra Familia. To read more about these prison gangs, visit the United States Department of Justice.
PHOTO: United States House of Representatives