Asian Boyz (gang)
Encyclopedia
The Asian Boyz, or ABZ, are an Asian American
street gang. Some sets are formed with Crips
, earning the name ABZ Crips. The gang was formed in 1985 by Cambodian youths. They represent by displaying the color
blue, similar to the Crips. The Asian Boyz gang consist mainly of Vietnamese or Cambodian males.
In August 1997, the leader of the Asian Boyz Van Nuys set, Sothi Menh, was arrested in Phnom Penh
, Cambodia, and brought back to the United States after fleeing the country in January of that year. He was wanted for committing five gang-related murders in the San Fernando Valley
in 1995. On September 20, 1998, seven Asian Boyz were charged with seven murders, 18 attempted murders and five instances of conspiracy to commit murder in Van Nuys, California, in 1995. Three members of the gang were charged with beating a 15-year-old boy to death in Utica, New York
, in January 2007.
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
street gang. Some sets are formed with Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
, earning the name ABZ Crips. The gang was formed in 1985 by Cambodian youths. They represent by displaying the color
Gang colors
Gang colors are the types or color of clothing, or insignia that are worn by gang members to identify each other. Tattoos may also come under the category of gang colors....
blue, similar to the Crips. The Asian Boyz gang consist mainly of Vietnamese or Cambodian males.
In August 1997, the leader of the Asian Boyz Van Nuys set, Sothi Menh, was arrested in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
, Cambodia, and brought back to the United States after fleeing the country in January of that year. He was wanted for committing five gang-related murders in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
in 1995. On September 20, 1998, seven Asian Boyz were charged with seven murders, 18 attempted murders and five instances of conspiracy to commit murder in Van Nuys, California, in 1995. Three members of the gang were charged with beating a 15-year-old boy to death in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, in January 2007.