From prison gangs and extortion rackets to neo‑Nazi cells, the United States hosts a wide spectrum of criminal groups and organizations. Though they rarely dominate headlines, these 10 notorious gangs continue to pose a serious challenge to the nation’s security forces, boasting membership figures that rival those of sizable multinational corporations.
10 Notorious Gangs Overview
10 Jewish Defense League
The Jewish Defense League has been labeled by the FBI as a far‑right terrorist organization. Founded in 1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane, its proclaimed mission was to shield Jews worldwide from anti‑Semitic hostility. The group’s ideology blends Jewish nationalism, territorialism, and a willingness to employ force against perceived enemies. Over the decades, the JDL has been accused of numerous violent acts, ranging from bombings and assassinations to extortion schemes.
Primarily active in the United States and Israel, the JDL first entered the public eye during the 1970s with a series of high‑profile attacks targeting Arab interests both domestically and abroad. Its staunch opposition to the Soviet Union stemmed from the plight of Soviet Jews barred from emigrating to Israel. Despite a relatively modest size, the organization managed to attract a sizable following within the Israeli‑American Jewish community, thanks largely to its aggressive tactics.
9 13
Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS‑13, emerged in Los Angeles during the 1980s as a protection group for Salvadoran refugees. What began as a community safety network soon morphed into a brutal criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and a host of other illicit activities. Today, the gang operates across the United States as well as in El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.
The gang captured national attention throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, notorious for its ruthless use of machetes and other melee weapons against rivals. Although MS‑13 is relatively small in the U.S., with an estimated 6,000‑10,000 members, its Central American affiliates may swell to as many as 60,000 participants.
8 Vice Lords
Vice Lords Nation was founded in Chicago in 1958 as a community‑based effort aimed at helping African‑American residents overcome poverty and discrimination. Over time, the organization evolved into one of the nation’s largest criminal syndicates, maintaining chapters in virtually every major city and many smaller towns.
The gang’s operations span the Midwest and the South, with membership estimates ranging from 30,000 to 35,000 regular and associate members. Designated a criminal organization by the federal government, the Vice Lords have weathered numerous high‑profile arrests yet remain a powerful force, especially in Chicago.
7 Barrio Azteca
Originating as a prison gang within the El Paso correctional system in 1986, Barrio Azteca—also known as Los Aztecas—has expanded to include roughly 3,000 members across the United States and about 5,000 in the Juárez region of Mexico. Though not massive in size, the group has earned a reputation for extreme violence that frequently spills over the U.S.–Mexico border.
By the early 2000s, Barrio Azteca allied itself with the Juárez Cartel in a bloody conflict against the Sinaloa Cartel. While law‑enforcement actions, including the capture of leader Eduardo Ravelo, have weakened the organization, recent reports suggest a resurgence, particularly in Juárez, where the gang continues to engage in drug smuggling, money laundering, and extortion.
6 Mongols Motorcycle Club
The Mongols Motorcycle Club, founded in Montebello, California during the 1970s, has become a notorious outlaw biker group with a strong presence throughout the Pacific and Southwest United States. Chapters are spread across California, Nevada, Arizona, and additional states, and the club’s membership is predominantly Hispanic, though it also welcomes riders from other ethnic backgrounds.
The Mongols rose to infamy in the 1980s and 1990s, engaging in violent confrontations, most famously a 2002 shootout with rival Hells Angels members in Las Vegas. Despite multiple law‑enforcement crackdowns, the club persists, maintaining ties with Hispanic street gangs throughout Los Angeles and beyond.
5 Crips And Bloods
The Crips and Bloods are two rival street gangs that originated in Los Angeles. While the exact origins are debated, the Crips emerged around 1971 as a neighborhood protection group, prompting the formation of the Bloods in response to the Crips’ growing influence. Both groups have since evolved into expansive criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, and murder.
The rivalry between the Crips and Bloods has sparked countless violent clashes over the years, driven by territorial disputes, reputation, and personal vendettas. Both gangs are instantly recognizable by their distinctive colors, hand signs, and graffiti tags.
The criminal enterprises of the Crips and Bloods have inflicted severe harm on the communities they infiltrate, often endangering innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Despite ongoing law‑enforcement initiatives, the two gangs continue to pose a major public safety challenge in many urban areas of Los Angeles.
4 Latin Kings
Latin Kings were established in Chicago during the 1960s, initially composed mainly of Mexican and Puerto‑Rican youths. The gang has since become involved in a wide array of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, burglary, homicide, identity theft, money laundering, and high‑profile assassinations of law‑enforcement officers across the United States.
The organization first attracted media attention in the 1980s and 1990s, linked to numerous murders and other violent crimes in Chicago. With more than 160 chapters and an estimated 20,000‑35,000 members nationwide, the Latin Kings rank among the largest gangs in the country, maintaining a strong foothold in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
3 Gangster Disciples
Black Gangster Disciple Nation—later shortened to Gangster Disciples—originated in Chicago during the 1960s as a merger between two rival groups led by Larry Hoover and David Barksdale, known as the Black Disciples and Supreme Gangsters. The organization is predominantly African‑American and engages in drug trafficking, extortion, and murder.
While the Gangster Disciples maintain a significant presence in the Midwest, especially Chicago and Detroit, they have also spread to the East Coast and the Southern United States. Recent estimates place their membership between 25,000 and 50,000 individuals across the nation.
2 Aryan Brotherhood
The Aryan Brotherhood began as a white‑supremacist prison gang formed in reaction to race wars with rival black gangs. Over the years, it has grown into one of the most feared criminal entities in the United States, with members often displaying Nazi‑style tattoos and other fascist symbols.
Although the group’s primary activities occur within prison walls, Aryan Brotherhood members also operate on the streets, participating in drug trafficking, extortion, and other violent crimes. While smaller than gangs such as the Mexican Mafia, the Brotherhood remains a potent force in the underworld.
Law‑enforcement agencies have long pursued the Aryan Brotherhood, but its rigid hierarchy and fierce loyalty make infiltration difficult. High‑profile arrests and lengthy prison sentences have been secured against its leaders, yet the organization continues to exert influence across multiple regions of the country.
1 Mexican Mafia
Also known as La Eme or Los Carnales, the Mexican Mafia ranks among the largest prison gangs in the United States, with a presence in more than 13 states. Established in 1957 in Southern California by former street gang member Luis Flores, many early members were leaders of Hispanic street gangs in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Today, the organization operates both inside and outside the U.S. prison system, engaging in robbery, extortion, assault, murder, and drug trafficking. Estimates suggest that the gang has roughly 350‑400 members incarcerated in U.S. prisons, complemented by tens of thousands of foot soldiers operating on the streets throughout California and beyond.