Some cities have zip codes where even locals know which blocks to avoid.
While organized crime isn’t new, the reach and ruthlessness of America’s most dangerous gangs have grown more calculated—and territorial. These aren’t just street-level crews tagging walls and picking fights. Many operate like mini-empires, controlling drug routes, extortion rings, and entire neighborhoods. In certain cities, a wrong turn can put you face-to-face with groups that don’t tolerate outsiders or questions.
Some gangs are decades-old with deep histories of violence, while others are newer but just as lethal. They use fear as currency and loyalty as law. Law enforcement is always playing catch-up, and regular people often just hope to stay invisible. If you’re traveling, relocating, or even just curious about the darker corners of U.S. cities, knowing who runs what is more than trivia—it’s about staying safe. These 10 gangs aren’t just infamous—they’ve carved out control over cities in ways that are hard to ignore.
1. The MS-13 gang dominates parts of Los Angeles and Long Island.
Known for brutal violence and machete attacks, MS-13—short for Mara Salvatrucha—originated in Los Angeles before spreading to El Salvador and then back into American suburbs. Today, they’re especially active in parts of Los Angeles County and Long Island, New York, where they’ve built strongholds in working-class neighborhoods.
They recruit young, often undocumented immigrants and instill loyalty through fear, violence, and initiation rituals. Their control is most visible in areas where local residents fear retaliation for even reporting crimes. MS-13 is deeply involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and human smuggling, making them a priority for both local and federal law enforcement, as reported by the authors at Congress.gov.
2. The Latin Kings hold serious influence in Chicago and parts of New Jersey.
What began as a community protection group in Chicago has evolved into one of the largest and most structured gangs in the U.S, according to the authors at U.S. Department Of Justice. The Latin Kings are especially entrenched in the West Side of Chicago, but also have a strong presence in Trenton and Newark, New Jersey.
They’re highly organized, operating under a formal hierarchy with written rules and codes of conduct. Their operations include drug distribution, robbery, and violent retaliation against rival gangs. The group’s long-standing feud with the Gangster Disciples contributes to ongoing gun violence in several neighborhoods across Chicago.
3. The Gangster Disciples maintain power across the Midwest, especially in Chicago.
One of the most notorious Chicago-born gangs, the Gangster Disciples have extended their reach beyond Illinois into states like Indiana, Georgia, and Minnesota. But their power center remains in South Side Chicago, where turf wars with rival gangs regularly turn deadly.
Founded by Larry Hoover, the gang once had political ambitions but now thrives in the drug trade and weapons trafficking, as per Ann Scott Tyson of The Christian Science Monitor. Their structure is disciplined, and members often wear specific colors and symbols to signify rank and affiliation. The group’s violent clashes with both police and rivals make them one of the most feared organizations in the region.
4. The Bloods have active chapters across Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Newark.
Formed in Los Angeles during the early 1970s, the Bloods are now a nationwide presence, especially in major cities with struggling inner-city neighborhoods. They’re known for their red attire, hand signs, and a deep rivalry with the Crips.
In L.A., their presence is strongest in South Central. In Atlanta and Newark, chapters have emerged that mimic their West Coast predecessors while adapting to local criminal markets. The Bloods engage in drug dealing, robbery, and violent confrontations—not just with rival gangs but also within their own ranks due to faction splits and leadership disputes.
5. The Crips have a massive network rooted in Los Angeles and beyond.
As rivals to the Bloods, the Crips are equally dangerous and widespread. Their loose structure allows for many different sets, or subgroups, which makes enforcement against them challenging. They dominate parts of South L.A., but are also active in Dallas, St. Louis, and parts of the Carolinas.
Crips are involved in narcotics, arms trafficking, and assault. While not all subsets are violent, many operate like neighborhood militias, protecting territory and retaliating aggressively against perceived slights. Their presence in prison systems also helps reinforce control on the streets, keeping members connected and loyal even behind bars.
6. The Mexican Mafia controls inside prisons and influences outside gangs in California.
Though primarily a prison-based organization, the Mexican Mafia wields major control over Hispanic gangs on the streets of California—especially Southern California. Known as “La Eme,” they don’t need visible turf because their power stretches through intimidation and manipulation of smaller gangs.
They run extortion rings inside correctional facilities and influence drug distribution networks throughout the state. Local gangs often pay tribute or face deadly consequences. The Mexican Mafia’s ability to dictate street behavior from behind bars makes them one of the most insidiously powerful gangs in the country.
7. 18th Street Gang has a growing foothold in Los Angeles and Central America.
Sometimes called the “Children’s Army” because of their aggressive recruitment of minors, 18th Street Gang is one of the largest transnational gangs operating in the U.S. and Central America. In L.A., their roots go deep—especially in areas like MacArthur Park and Westlake.
They’re known for violent robberies, drug trafficking, and extortion. Unlike many other gangs, 18th Street is multi-ethnic and rapidly growing, with links to MS-13 and other criminal networks. Law enforcement considers them one of the most dangerous street gangs due to their sheer numbers and unpredictability.
8. Aryan Brotherhood exerts deadly control inside prisons and white supremacist networks.
While smaller in number than street gangs, the Aryan Brotherhood is one of the most violent prison-based gangs in the U.S. They operate primarily inside high-security prisons but maintain links to criminal operations outside, especially in the Southwest.
They’ve been connected to contract killings, drug trafficking, and racial violence. Their strict membership requirements and brutal code of loyalty keep them disciplined and deadly. Outside prison walls, their influence trickles into white supremacist movements, often providing the muscle for organized hate groups.
9. The Vice Lords maintain territory across Chicago and parts of the South.
The Vice Lords started on the West Side of Chicago and have since spread into Memphis, Jackson, and parts of Alabama. They present themselves publicly as community activists but are heavily involved in illegal activity behind the scenes.
Their operations include extortion, drug sales, and violent clashes with other gangs like the Gangster Disciples and Latin Kings. With an organized leadership system and ties to prison networks, they continue to expand in areas with economic hardship, using both fear and financial incentives to recruit.
10. Nuestra Familia runs Northern California’s prison drug trade.
Rivals to the Mexican Mafia, Nuestra Familia exerts control primarily in Northern California’s prisons, but their reach extends into cities like San Jose, Fresno, and Salinas. They’re highly structured, militaristic, and often more secretive than other prison gangs.
Street-level associates, known as Norteños, carry out orders that benefit the organization’s drug trade and financial interests. Internal discipline is brutal, and betrayal is often met with execution. Nuestra Familia may not be as well known outside California, but their organized, quiet violence makes them one of the most efficient criminal syndicates in the U.S.