Gangland

In 2003, the body of a pregnant, teenaged informant was found along the banks of the bucolic Shenandoah River. Shed been repeatedly stabbed - her head nearly severed. Brenda Paz had been supplying the authorities with first-hand accounts of MS-13s operations. Paz had been one of 3,000 MS-13 members in the Washington, DC area. The increasingly violent and fast-growing gang operates from the sleepy, middle-class suburbs ringing the city.

The Hells Angels are the most powerful and well-known biker club on the planet, boasting over 2500 members worldwide. In April 2002, a riot in a Nevada casino between the Hells Angels and their rivals, the Mongols, kills three gang members and creates headlines around the country. Federal authorities seize the opportunity and send a team of undercover agents to infiltrate the outlaw biker group. Along the way, they uncover a world of sex, rampant drug use, and vicious violence - employed to ensure the Hells Angels place at the top of the biker world.

King Lil Man," was found decapitated, dismembered, and burned in a bathtub. His Latin Kings tattoo had been cut from his skin, his head and hands were never found. According to former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Zabel, his murderers, fellow Latin King gang members, were "...actually driving around town in a cab with his head because "King Blood," their leader, needed proof of the murder." By the mid-1990s, the New York chapter of the Latin Kings had grown into the most violent and largest street gang every seen in the city. Lead by the murderous "King Blood," they left a path of mayhem that was only brought to an end by "Bloods" 18 guilty verdicts - eight of them for murder. His conviction was largely based on the 20,000 plus letters he wrote detailing the crimes the New York Latin Kings were perpetuating.

Called the "shock troops" of the revolution, Skinheads form a particularly brutal element of the white supremacist movement. Violent hate-crimes are their method of intimidation and a preview of the race war they see as inevitable. Its a culture driven by the violent lyrics of racist rock, and fueled by hate.

Nuestra Familia. As the predominant Hispanic gang in Northern California, Nuestra Familia, or NF is primarily a prison gang. Compared to other prison gangs, NFs numbers on the inside are relatively small, yet they distinguish themselves through discipline and fear. They have adopted the battle cry "blood in, blood out," and made their rules official, scribing a 50-page constitution laying out their bylaws. Among them, "an automatic death sentence will be put on family member that turns traitor, coward or deserter. " NF also have tens of thousands of loyal followers on the streets known as Nortenos or Northerners. The main rival of NF has always been the Mexican Mafia, with their followers being the Surenos or Southerners.

During the late 1990s, the New York Metropolitan area was plagued by the random violence of a new breed of street gang: The United Blood Nation. Created in 1993 by Rikers Island inmate, Omar Portee, the UBN emulated the Bloods street gang on the West Coast, but was more randomly violent. Portee formed the UBN in an effort to unite the African-American prisoners against Hispanic gangs like the Latin Kings. Better known as "OG Mack," Portee led the UBN from behind prison walls, and eventually on the streets of New York. By the mid 1990s, like an epidemic, the Bloods had taken over the tri-state area, which had historically belonged to the Latin Kings. By the year 2000, the Bloods were the most violent gang on the East Coast- and OG-Mack became known as the Godfather of the East Coast Bloods.

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Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow is a survivor in the gangland of San Franciscos Chinatown. In 1976, the 16-year-old moved to San Francisco with his family and quickly joined the Hop Sing Boys gang. On September 4, 1977, he was at the Golden Dragon restaurant when 3 Joe Boys gang members killed 5 innocent patrons after storming the popular restaurant looking for revenge against their rivals, the Wah Ching. The attack made international news and forever changed the landscape of Chinatowns underworld. In the ensuing years, and after two stays in Californias prisons, Chows power and influence was on the rise. In 1989, he partnered with Peter Chong, a leader of the Wo Hop To triad, to first consolidate all the gangs in San Franciscos Chinatown and then expand their criminal empire nationally. Although federal and local law enforcement would bring the group down, Chow would eventually end up back on the streets of San Francisco after testifying against his former friend and partner. Raymond Chow says he is now a changed man, but only time will tell if hes given up the life of a gangster.

The Texas Syndicate. They are the most feared Tejano gang in the Lone Star State, yet few have heard of them. The Syndicate is managed like an elite business, with a reach that extends from behind prison walls to the far corners of Texas. They will break any law to generate revenue but the gangs bread and butter is drug trafficking for the Mexican cartels. Now Gangland unearths how the Texas Syndicate rose to power, and the destruction the left behind to get there.

Many gangs are organized, and some even incorporated, but not many can claim to have had federal funding, like the Vice Lords. This is just one of the many unique chapters in the 50 year history of this Chicago street gang. The Vice Lords are divided into many separate factions throughout the city of Chicago and the Unites States - although two men tried to unite the factions into one nation, one through legitimate means and community activism and another through intimidation, drugs and violence. Both failed - one ended up a legend and one in a wheel chair.

Mongols MC was created in 1970 by a group of disaffected, Hispanic Vietnam veterans. Almost 40 years later, the Mongols have gone from being party-hearty outlaws to hell-bent gangsters: many that came directly from some of Southern Californias most violent street gangs - creating a conflict of allegiance with the powerful Mexican Mafia.

"LA Bloods" gives the viewer an inside look at one of the most notorious and volatile black street gangs in the country. Through original interviews with law enforcement, interventionists, victims family members and active and former gang members, the program examines the life, history and the vicious crimes perpetrated by the Bloods.

They are some of the most overlooked criminals in our country and among the most dangerous: Theyre girls in gangs. Their reasons for a life of crime may be different but like their male counterparts, these women crave respect and money. In Compton, California these women rule the streets and their crimes range from transporting drugs to murder. Of the approximately 800-thousand gang bangers in the United States, an estimated seventy thousand are female. In Los Angeles alone, there are some five thousand. There are many reasons why these women turn to gang life. Many come from broken homes and are looking for support. Gangland takes you inside the twisted world of female gang members.

The Tiny Rascal Gangsters, also known as the Tiny Rascal Gang or Tiny Rascals, was created in California during the middle 1980s. It was formed by Cambodian youth gang members and is presently considered the largest Asian Street gang in the United States.

Los Solidos are Hartford, Connecticut’s most ruthless gang. We hear about the gang’s rise and the vicious war with their powerful rivals, the Latin Kings.

Former members of the Bandidos take us inside the most feared motorcycle gang in Texas. Insiders discuss the gang’s crimes and what is required to earn the famous “No Mercy” patch.

The domain of FSU – which can mean either Friends Stand United or F**k S**t Up – is the hardcore music scene. We interview founding members as well as law enforcement officials to uncover the gang’s bloody history.

The good times roll in New Orleans’ French Quarter, but a vicious gang known as the Gotti Boys rule the streets around it – and there is no mercy for those caught in the crossfire.

Zoe Pound is Miami’s most notorious Haitian gang, with a history of brutal tactics – from violent home invasions to attacking Haitian freighters and beating and torturing their crews.

The Pagans started in Maryland in the 1950s before eventually growing to a membership of over 900 men in 44 chapters spread along the east coast. The Pagans symbol is the staff wielding Norse fire-God Surtr, who is the inspiration for the gangs own deadly weapon of choice: the axe-handle.

The Best Friends," a ruthless gang of contract killers, have stalked the east side of Detroit since 1985. The Feds say the gang was responsible for more than 80 murders. This episode of Gangland chronicles the gangs reign of terror as they went from hit men to the east sides biggest dealers of product, taking down Detroits old-school kingpins in the process.

Known as the Gateway to the West, St. Louis, Missouri is home to an estimated 10,000 gang members. The Boys of Destruction - BOD - are one of the citys most notorious gangs. Martin Luther King Drive is the dividing line between the BODs turf and that of their fiercest rivals, The Horseshoe Posse.

Colorado Springs has been overrun by anarchy and violence ... the culprit...Colorados largest motorcycle gang- The Sons of Silence. Many members join for a world of gun-running, drug-dealing, partying, and mayhem. Since its inception in the late 1960s, the Sons of Silence have spread and now have 36 chapters throughout the world.

The Hoover Criminals are Portlands nightmare. They call themselves "Everybody Killers," because as far as the gang is concerned, its the Hoovers against the world. The Hoover Criminals relocated to Portland from LA in the 80s to capitalize on the citys untapped drug market. Their reputation has spread as theyve made enemies of everyone.

Two of the worlds most feared outlaw motorcycle gangs, the Hells Angels and the Mongols, are entrenched in a brutal turf war for the state of California. The fight began in 1977 when the Mongols began claiming California as their territory.

An examination of Klu Klux Klan Gangs. The Imperial Klans of America are the new sons of the KKK. Their feet are planted firmly in the hate-filled history of the Klan, and their eyes are fixed on the 21st century.

The U.S.- Mexican border is fast becoming a war zone, and Barrio Azteca wants to rule all action along the Rio Grande. Born in the notorious Texas prison system, Barrio Azteca has evolved into one of the largest and most violent gangs in the state.

Their rap music is encrypted with messages of murder. They are Top 6, South Floridas most bloodthirsty gang, who began as a rap group and transformed into a savage crew.

The Aryan Circle is a violent white separatist gang terrorizing the state of Texas. Its members are spilling blood, drugs and mayhem onto the streets. The A.C. was originally formed to survive in hostile state prisons, but the gang quickly rose to power as one of the most ruthless cliques in the system.

Evil Breed chronicles the rise of the outlaw motorcycle gang The Breed, who earned their violent reputation through beatings and threats of murder. Under the leadership of John "Junior" Napoli, The Breed set their sights on the Philadelphia drug trade, taking over and using violence and intimidation to build a multi-million-dollar methamphetamine empire.

Houston, Texas is a cultural melting pot, home to many immigrants in search of the American dream. But the citys streets are cloaked in bloodshed by a violent, hardcore gang: Tango Blast. The gangs motto, "If you aint blasting, you aint lasting" explains their view on life.

With a street army of over 1,000 strong, the Tri-City Bombers rule south Texas with an iron fist. The Bombers are known to smuggle drugs and weapons along the Texas/Mexico border to fund their illicit operations. The Hispanic gang defends this lucrative drug territory to the death.

Volksfront is one of the fastest-growing Neo Nazi skinhead gangs in the country. Originally formed in the Oregon prisons in 1994, the gang has spread across the country, and now claims territory in seven countries on four continents. The gang uses the internet to recruit mainly racist skinheads. Volksfront has one goal - to create a white homeland and punish those who stand in their way.

Gangster Killer Bloods of South Carolina The Gangsta Killer Bloods are terrorizing Columbia, South Carolina. Known as the GKBs, they dominate the crack cocaine trade here. The Gangsta Killer Bloods have spread like a cancer through the streets of the city. They battle rivals like the Folk Nation in an all-out war where public shootouts are commonplace. Thanks to the GKBs, South Carolina remains the bloody South.

Logan Heights is the most notorious Hispanic street gang in San Diego. With over 400 soldiers, the gang outnumbers all of their enemies combined. Logan Heights makes its money selling marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines on the streets of the city. The gang has a storied history as the hit squad for one of the most feared drug organizations in the world, The Tijuana Cartel.

For decades the Galloping Goose motorcycle gang has operated with impunity in Kansas City, Missouri. These outlaw bikers have been involved in crimes ranging from motorcycle theft to drug dealing, to assaults and intimidation. The Goose remained small and insulated, allowing members to fly under police radar.

A look at the white supremacist street gang based in Southern California, USA known as Public Enemy #1. The California Department of Justice in 2004 described it as “one of the most powerful and fastest-growing gangs inside and outside prison”.

The 75th episode of Gangland brings us something unique. Legendary rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice-T guide us through the Most Notorious characters in the history of the series. From street soldiers, to killers, bikers, and convicts, these are the men who stand out from the rest. Now theyve been assembled in one provocative episode. In the end well learn who is Ganglands Most Notorious.

With an estimated 2500 members and powerful criminal connections, Florencia-13 or F-13 is L.A.s largest and deadliest Hispanic gang. The gang is one of the oldest in L.A.s notorious South-Central neighborhood. When rivals threaten to move in on their lucrative drug trade, they use any means necessary to protect their empire.

Born and bred in Puerto Ricos roughest prisons, the Association Netas have spread to the mean streets of Trenton, New Jersey with one goal in mind: complete domination. The Netas recruit warriors from both inside the prisons and on the streets of Jersey, making them a double threat.

The East Coast Crips are on a mission to prove theyre tougher than their West Coast counterparts by terrorizing the streets of NYC. Crips on the East Coast employ brutal, in-your-face violence, decimating anyone who stands in their way. Their unique brand of violence includes slashing the faces of their victims, leaving them permanently disfigured.

Gang: Hells Angels MC of Seattle In the state of Washington, one outlaw biker gang reigns supreme - the Hells Angels. Despite being one of the smaller clubs in the area, the Angels are backed by their brutal reputation.

Gang: Traveling Vice Lords (People Nation) Memphis, Tennessee is a battle ground and the Traveling Vice Lords are at the forefront of the chaos. Known on the streets as the TVLs, the gang is 500 strong and rules the "River City" with an iron fist. Now, with their notorious leader Charles "Country" Thompson behind bars, the TVLs are spiraling out of control - and the city of Memphis is paying the price.

Gang: Black Mafia Family of Atlanta, GA In Atlanta, the Black Mafia Family, or BMF, controls the street flow of cocaine. The gang throws its cash around the hottest nightclubs in the city. The gangs charismatic leader, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory, plays the dual role of a tough, street-minded gangster as well as a music promoter. The Feds have been after BMF for years, but the gang has always managed to stay one step ahead.