Kirk, Giuliani Propose National Gang Task Force

 Top Illinois Gangs to be Targeted: Latin Kings and Vice Lords

Highlight Kirk’s strong record of combating gangs that threaten Illinois communities

 

Chicago, IL – With recent reports citing Illinois as the highest gang members per capita state in the nation, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined Congressman Mark Kirk in Chicago yesterday to highlight Kirk’s strong law enforcement background.

“I’ve known Mark Kirk for a long time and like me, he is a fiscal conservative, social moderate, who is tough on crime and a friend to law enforcement,” Giuliani said.  “Gangs are a problem that Illinois cannot afford to ignore. Illinois deserves a Senator who has a record of being tough on crime like Mark Kirk.”

Kirk and Giuliani emphasized the need for the Anti-Gang Task Force Act which establishes and provides $20 million in funds for a national gang task force with corresponding regional task forces to target gangs.  The task force would include:

1. The Federal Bureau of Investigation;
2. The Drug Enforcement Administration;
3. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives;
4. The United States Marshals Service;
5. The Directorate of Border and Transportation Security of the Department of Homeland Security;
6. The Department of Housing and Urban Development;
7. State and local law enforcement; and
8. Federal, State, and local prosecutors.

According to the FBI National Gang Threat Assessment, significant Chicago-based gangs include Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Vice Lords, and Black P. Stones.

“We have seen gang violence here in Chicago tear communities apart,” Kirk said. “To be effective, we must develop a comprehensive federal-state-local partnership backed by the necessary resources to clean up our streets and take down leaders of the top gangs who threaten our communities: starting with the Latin Kings, Vice Lord ‘Nation’ and moving down the list from there. As Senator, I will make this one of my top priorities.”

As Senator, Congressman Kirk will build on the work he has done in the 10th Congressional District, including establishing the Top Ten Most Wanted Gang Members of Lake County list with Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, creating the Northern Illinois Gang Taskforce with the Waukegan Police Department and backing resources for law enforcement to ensure men and women in uniform come home safely.

From the National Gang Intelligence Center’s 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment:

 
Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (National)

The Latin Kings street gang was formed in Chicago in the 1960s and consisted predominantly of Mexican and Puerto Rican males. Originally created with the philosophy of overcoming racial prejudice and creating an organization of “Kings,” the Latin Kings evolved into a criminal enterprise operating throughout the United States under two umbrella factions—Motherland, also known as KMC (King Motherland Chicago), and Bloodline (New York). All members of the gang refer to themselves as Latin Kings and, currently, individuals of any nationality are allowed to become members. Latin Kings associating with the Motherland faction also identify themselves as “Almighty Latin King Nation (ALKN),” and make up more than 160 structured chapters operating in 158 cities in 31 states. 

 

The membership of Latin Kings following KMC is estimated to be 20,000 to 35,000. The Bloodline was founded by Luis Felipe in the New York State correctional system in 1986. Latin Kings associating with Bloodline also identify themselves as the “Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN).” Membership is estimated to be 2,200 to 7,500, divided among several dozen chapters operating in 15 cities in 5 states. Bloodline Latin Kings share a common culture and structure with KMC and respect them as the Motherland, but all chapters do not report to the Chicago leadership hierarchy.

The gang’s primary source of income is the street-level distribution of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Latin Kings continue to portray themselves as a community organization while engaging in a wide variety of criminal activities, including assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft, and money laundering.

Vice Lord Nation (National)

Vice Lord Nation, based in Chicago, is a collection of structured gangs located in 74 cities in 28 states, primarily in the Great Lakes region. Led by a national board, the various gangs have an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 members, most of whom are African American males. The main source of income is street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Members also engage in other criminal activity such as assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft, and money laundering.
 

Black P. Stone Nation (National)  

Black P. Stone Nation, one of the largest and most violent associations of street gangs in the United States, consists of seven highly structured street gangs with a single leader and a common culture. It has an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 members, most of whom are African American males from the Chicago metropolitan area. The gang’s main source of income is the street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and, to a lesser extent, methamphetamine. Members also are involved in many other types of criminal activity, including assault, auto theft, burglary, carjacking, drive-by shootings, extortion, homicide, and robbery.

Gangster Disciples (National)

 
The Gangster Disciples street gang was formed in Chicago, Illinois, in the mid-1960s. It is structured like a corporation and is led by a chairman of the board. Gang membership is estimated at 25,000 to 50,000; most members are African American males from the Chicago metropolitan area. The gang is active in 110 cities in 31 states. Its main source of income is the street-level distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. The gang also is involved in other criminal activity, including assault, auto theft, firearms violations, fraud, homicide, the operation of prostitution rings, and money laundering.