Playboys gang

Playboys gang

Gang's name tattooed on gang member's back.
Founded 1955
Years active 1955 – present
Territory Mostly in Los Angeles County California, the western and southern areas of the United States, Mexico, and Central America
Ethnicity Predominately Hispanic
Membership Unknown but thought to be around 5-6,000 on the West Coast
Criminal activities Drug trafficking, assault, robbery, extortion, arms trafficking, theft, murder, racketeering, illegal immigration, illegal gambling, and fraud
Allies Mexican Mafia
Rivals 18th Street, MS-13, Fresno Bulldogs, Nortenos, Florenica 13[1], Barrios Mojados[2], Hang Out Boys, Maravilla Gang

Playboys Gang, also known by the acronym PBS,[3] is a predominately Hispanic gang[4] in West and East Los Angeles, California. They sometimes use the name Conejo[5] or Rabbit gang. They align themselves with the Mexican Mafia, also known as La eme (which is Spanish for the letter M)[6], while in prison and set aside their rivalry with other Sureno gangs.[7]

Contents

History

They began on the corner of Pico BLVD and Fedora Street in West Los Angeles, California in the mid 1950's. They were originally a car club called, "Southern Califas Latin Playboys Car Club." Eastside Playboys started in 1975 on 39th street in Los Angeles, California and the Southside Playboys started in 1982 in Bell Gardens and South Gate, California.

Location

The original Westside Playboys gang is still active in West Los Angeles, California despite a gang injunction against them.[8] Their main territory is the area around the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Fedora Street in L.A.'s Rampart district.[9]. Various other subgroups have been established due to migration of members from Southern California. Yakima, Washington has a large South Side Playboy's Barrio.[10] Recent reports place the Playboys Gang as far east as Memphis, Tennessee.[11]

Culture

Although the Playboys are a Sureno gang and use the number 13[12] they are rivals with a variety of other Sureno gangs. The general thinking among Playboy gang members is that all other gangs are their enemy.[13] The most identifiable tattoo all Playboys gang members and subgroups use is the playboy bunny.[14][15] The colors that are primarily used by the different subgroups of this gang are are blue, but some of the gang's subgroups have taken other colors to identify themselves and give them their own unique individualism.[16] The female subgroup known as the pink bunny clicka used the color pink and blue to represent themselves. However, many subgroups, like the pink bunny clicka, became inactive in the late 1990's. Like many other Hispanic gangs, the Playboys have a very strong sense of territory.[17]

Criminal activity

The Playboys main revenue source is selling marijuana on Fedora and Normandie and at New Hampshire and Pico, Fedora and Pico. [18] They also engage in murder, drive-by shootings, assaults and arms trafficking[19][20], but most of their criminal activity is around the sale of marijuana. With no direct leadership, each of the gang's subgroups operate totally autonomous of each other.

See also

References

  1. ^ "B214515 - THE PEOPLE v. ESTEBAN RUIZ - CA Court of Appeal". caselaw.findlaw.com. 2011 [last update]. http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1545885.html. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  2. ^ "Effects of gang life on Main Street". mainstla.ascjweb.org. 2011 [last update]. http://mainstla.ascjweb.org/culture/lcueva.html. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  3. ^ Hess, K. M., & Orthmann, C. H. (2012). Introduction to law enforcement and criminal justice. (10th ed., p. 234). Clinton Park, NY: Delmar, Cengage learning.
  4. ^ Larson, J. (2009, July 2). Options for combating gang activity examined. Tacoma Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/options_for_combating_gang_activity_examined/
  5. ^ "Conejo English Spanish Translation | Traductor ingles español". spanishdict.com. 2011 [last update]. http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/conejo. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  6. ^ Mexican Mafia. (2011). The History Channel website. Retrieved 11:37, December 29, 2011, from http://www.history.com/shows/gangland/articles/mexican-mafia.
  7. ^ Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the 21st century. (11 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NY: Pearson Education Inc. Print
  8. ^ Delgadillio, R. City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Attorney. (2006). Judgement granting permanate injunction. Retrieved from website: http://atty.lacity.org/stellent/groups/electedofficials/@atty_contributor/documents/contributor_web_content/lacityp_006686.pdf
  9. ^ McCarthy, T. (2005, June 13). L.a. gangs are back. TIME Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1000677,00.html
  10. ^ "Barrio - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". merriam-webster.com. 2011 [last update]. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrio. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  11. ^ McKenzie, K. (2011, August 16). Gang member arrested for fatal saturday shooting. The Commericial Appeal. Retrieved from http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/16/gang-member-arrested-fatal-saturday-shooting/
  12. ^ Eways, A. (2008, July 21). The rise of sur 13 . Retrieved from http://www.corrections.com/news/article/19066
  13. ^ Laura Cueva (2011). Main Street LA. http://mainstla.ascjweb.org/culture/lcueva.html. 
  14. ^ Kontos, L., & Brotherton, D. (2008). Encyclopedia of gangs. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
  15. ^ Del Barco, M. "Ex-L.A. Gang Member Trades Streets For Family Life." National Public Radio. 6 09 2011: 1-8. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. <http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140111199/ex-l-a-gang-member-trades-streets-for-family-life
  16. ^ Morales, G. (2007). Surenos. Retrieved from http://www.gangpreventionservices.org/sureno.asp
  17. ^ Siegel, L. J., & Welsch, B. C. (2009). Juvenile Delinquency: theory practice and the law. (10 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadesworth. Print
  18. ^ Braidhill, K.. "Where the boyz are. (Gang activity in Los Angeles metropolitan area)." StreetGangs.Com. LA Magazine, 1998. Web. 26 Nov 2011.
  19. ^ Altman, L. (2008, April 15). Female gang member charged with killing young lax worker. South Bay Crimes and Courts. Retrieved from http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/2008/04/female-gang-member-charged-wit.html
  20. ^ Clarridge, C. (2011, September 15). 4 arrested in connection with kent car show shooting. The News Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/09/15/1825361/4-arrested-in-connection-with.html

External links

These sources are not cited in the main page, but are merely for personal reference only.

Playboys Facebook Page: [1]

Eastside Playboys Blogspot: [2]

Individual Playboys Youtube: [3]