Gangster Disciples

Gangster Disciples

Gangster Disciples logo
Founded Larry Hoover and David Barksdale
Founding location Chicago, Illinois, United States
Years active 1968–present
Territory Various
Ethnicity Mostly African-American
Membership 25,000–50,000 (2009)[1]
Criminal activities Street-level drug distribution, assault, auto theft, firearms violations, fraud, homicide, prostitution rings, money laundering[1]

The Gangster Disciples are a criminal gang which was formed on the South-side of Chicago in the late 1960s, by Larry Hoover, leader of the High Life Supreme Gangsters, and David Barksdale, leader of the Black Disciples. The two groups united to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation (BGDN). They later had disagreements, which led to the breakup of the gangs.

Gangster Disciples in the military

On July 3, 2005, gang members from Gangster Disciples killed Sergeant Juwan Johnson of the U.S. Army in the small town of Hohenecken near Ramstein, Germany. Prosecutors accused Airman Rico Williams of throwing the first punch in a six-minute beating that Sergeant Johnson had to endure to join the gang. When Sergeant Johnson asked one of his fellow gang members to take him to the hospital, Williams refused. Sergeant Johnson later died from multiple blunt-force trauma. According to the government's investigations, Williams was the leader of the gang. Williams was sentenced to 22 years in prison, while other servicemen faced sentences ranging from 2 to 12 years. Some of charges against the servicemen were: Williams, second degree murder and witness tampering; Airman Jerome Jones, conspiracy to commit assault, gang participation, and other charges; Airman Nicholas Sims and Army Sergeant Rodney Howell; involuntary manslaughter; Private Terrance Norman, voluntary manslaughter.[2][3][4]

Colors and apparel

Gangster Disciples "represent" with the colors blue and black. Gang members are known to wear Georgetown Hoyas or Duke Blue Devils clothing. Sometimes they wear Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox and other teams' clothing from their original city, though they do not always match colors. They are also represented by a black flag (bandana).

Six-pointed star

The predominant symbol of this criminal gang is the six-pointed Star of David, symbolizing the gang's principles: love, life, loyalty, knowledge, wisdom, understanding.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "National Gang Threat Assessment 2009". National Gang Intelligence Center. January 2009. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Airman convicted of murder in 2005 Gangster Disciples initiation death". stripes.com. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Former Air Force Airman Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison For Murder of Army Sergeant in Germany". justice.gov. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Rico Williams sentenced to 22 years in 2005 slaying". wjla.com. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Drugs and Crime Gang Profile" (PDF). cryptome.org. 2003. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
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