Israel Narvaez

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Israel Narvaez was the former leader of a brutal Puerto Rican New York gang called the Mau Maus which ran wild in the mid to late 1950s. The Mau Maus turf was in Ft.Greene.

Israel originally belonged to a gang called the Apaches but many of its members became addicted to heroin. The gang began to break up. Israel was more interested in fighting so he quit the Apaches and with some other disgruntled Apaches formed a gang called the Mau Maus. This was around 1954.

Israel later became best friends with Nicky Cruz, who joined the gang in April-May of 1955. Together they reigned supreme with the Chaplains, a Negro gang also from Ft. Greene.

In July of 1958, Nicky and Israel converted to Christianity with the help of David Wilkerson. Nicky went on to Bible college and became an evangelist. Israel, however, became disillusioned with Christianity and joined back up with the Mau Maus in the fall of 1958.

On February 23, Israel and four fellow Mau Maus shot and killed a Sand Street Angel across the street from the Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn. The Sand Street Angels were an Italian gang that were enemies with the Mau Maus. The boy who was killed was one of their leaders. His name was Anthony Lab(v)onchino, who had beaten up Tico, a Mau Mau, for dating his sister.

On January 12, 1960, Israel and his fellow Mau Maus Carlos Reyes, Melvin Torres and Carl Cintron were convicted of murder and sent to Elmira Prison.

Israel eventually got out of jail after a few years and struggled to get back to a normal life. He married and provided for his family. Years later Israel met with Nicky Cruz, his old running mate from the gang days and rededicated his life to the Lord.

Israel now runs his own ministry and wrote his own book with the assistance of Darla Milne, called "Second Chance: The Israel Narvaez Story."