I guess I have been here so long that my daily interactions with members of organized crime groups has become a bit boring. When members of polite society think of gangs we think of young kids and drugs, or at least I did.
These guys deal drugs, steal anything not tied down and defraud corporate interests. (Wal-mart is their favorite target. Remember that no receipt return policy? These guy ended that.) They steal cars and own chop shops. They might sell a stolen bulldozer, get a $30k share, and lose it all gambling while high. That really happened. Allegedly. They love "the life". They are willing to spend years in the jail as a tax for the life they choose.
With small exceptions, the gangs are divided according to ethnic background. (Of course, "white", and "black" are not ethnic backgrounds, but stop being difficult.)
The white gangs start with the Aryan Brotherhood. They love swastikas and SS logos and "white power" tattoos. They are the largest and most powerful group. They are important here and outside.
The second group is the Aryan Circle. They too like swastikas and SS symbols and it would seem these two Nazi enthusiasts would request some sort of merger with the A.B. Their SS symbol is very slightly different shape and maybe they can't reach an agreement for consolidation, so they stay separate.
The third group of white gang members are the "white knights". Of course, you can't be a white gang without swastikas, people would laugh at you. So they have those. And again, a SS symbol that is slightly different. They compliment all of that with large (like the entire chest or back) tattoos of Scandinavian gods like Odin and Thor on horseback, looking intimidating. It's all very impressive.
These guys are the least of the white gangs and every one that I have met has been 1.) as crazy as a shithouse rat, and 2.) as dumb as a bag of old shoes. That is not a good combination.
As for the black guys, lets start with the Bloods. They are covered in tattoos. They supposedly tell a story, but I don't know what it is and never asked. The primary blood I have known here was unstable so you never knew what you would get when you talked to him. He is a five star general, which I assume is high. He told everyone he was a 5 star general which, unless you're a blood, means nothing. I would think he wouldn't have to tell anyone that was already a blood, since he had 5 red stars tattooed on his face. It kind of gives it away.
The Crips are the same. They just don't like Bloods. Bloods greet each other with terms like "bro" or "b" or anything that starts with a "B". Crips use "cuz" or anything that starts with a "c".
The hispanics are now dominated by the Tango Blast. This stands for Texans Against National Gang Organizations. It started out as a bunch of hispanics from Houston resisting the mexican gangs from the Valley (Rio GrandeValley, for those that don't know, borders U.S. and Mexico). They tattooed Houston Astros logos on their necks. Then Oilers. Some Rockets. Now Texans. Then they expanded and became prevalaent among hispanics from Dallas too. So the Cowboys logo arrived.
I get along with these guys not at all. I don't speak to them and they don't speak to me.
There is a final group that is not a gang but is an association. The "Peckerwoods." They don't belong to a gang but when racial problems start, they band together and stand with the A.B., the A.C., and the W.K. They all have a woodpecker tattooed on them. Usually looks a bit like Woody Woodpecker.
While in here, these groups work loosely together to steal, bring in drugs and contraband and make their lives better. I know that the guys in this pod right now are involved in various conspiracies that I ignore and bury my head to avoid knowledge of. They irony is that these guys are so frequently locked up that they have relationships with the guards. So, when jobs become available the guards pick people they know...the gang members.
So, they very people who ought not be put in a position of trust, are instead given a license to steal. Commissary is a good example: There is a guy on commissary who is A.C. He steals so much stuff he never has to buy anything. Everyday he takes his haul down to booking and hides it. Then, after he's searched, he picks it up and carries it out. I think. Allegedly. I don't really know. I haven't spoken to him about it, nor would I.
There are some rules, on etiquette that must be followed. For example, if you are in a gang, everything you have, (in here), belongs to the gang. They share all their food and commissary. They sit down to communal meals every day, and they will not eat with other people outside their group, at least the white groups won't. I didn't realize it until I heard criticism of a guy sharing food with black guys. maybe this rule isn't so hard and fast, but some adhere to it.
There are other, smaller groups, but these are the ones most often seen here in the corner of Texas.
It is important not to let them think you are vulnerable to them or they will take advantage. If you get into a personal disagreement with one of them, you have a problem with all of them. Do not gamble with more than one member, they will work together and even cheat. And do not ever join. It isn't easy. The rites for entry are all different, but you can rest assured, you're going to get your ass kicked good and well. And there isn't really a time where you can walk away.
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