Black Dragons (gang)
Encyclopedia
The Black Dragons
The Black Dragons (traditional Chinese: 黑龍） is a Chinese/American Triad
(secret society) and street gang
that was formed in 1980 by Chinese
immigrants in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California
. It was started by a group of young men who bounded together to protect themselves from other Asian and Hispanic gangs. The Black Dragons operated in Los Angeles
and the San Gabriel Valley
for over two decades. At the gang's peak, it had over 100 core members.
The gang preyed on the Asian American
communities as a source of income and is highly unique compared to other Asian crime groups as they were involved in both organized and street-level crime. The revenue from organized crime
came mainly from extorting
brothels, prostitution
, money laundering
, the distribution of narcotics and counterfeiting merchandise. At street-level
, the gang was involved in a wide range of crimes that included, murder
, robbery
and car theft.
The Black Dragons' influence was strong in the San Gabriel Valley
, during the mid 1990s until its downfall in 2002. The gang gained the attention of federal authorities because of their involvement in violent criminal activities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) opened a case against the Black Dragons in 1999. The FBI soon created the Black Dragon Task force and the three year investigation lead to the convictions of multiple gang members, stemming from murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, extortion, illegal possession of firearms and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO) charges. The gang was taken down in one of the largest gang sweeps of 2002, as federal agents simultaneously raided and arrested 30 of its core members.
It's an Asian gang with a history of violence identified as a top threat by various law enforcement agencies, according to FBI Agent Kerry Smith, who heads a unit that targets Asian criminal enterprise and violent crime. The unit is based out of the FBI's West Covina office. These guys weren't afraid to commit violence,' Smith said.
The Black Dragons (traditional Chinese: 黑龍） is a Chinese/American Triad
(secret society) and street gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
that was formed in 1980 by Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
immigrants in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California
Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California
-Geography and transportation:Lincoln Heights is bounded by the Los Angeles River on the west, the San Bernardino Freeway on the south, and Indiana Street on the east; the district's Eastern border is unclear due to the area's uneven terrain...
. It was started by a group of young men who bounded together to protect themselves from other Asian and Hispanic gangs. The Black Dragons operated in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
for over two decades. At the gang's peak, it had over 100 core members.
The gang preyed on the Asian American
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,...
communities as a source of income and is highly unique compared to other Asian crime groups as they were involved in both organized and street-level crime. The revenue from organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
came mainly from extorting
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
brothels, prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, the distribution of narcotics and counterfeiting merchandise. At street-level
Street crime
Street crime is a loose term for criminal offences taking place in public places. It has moved to occupy the place once held by mugging. According to London's Metropolitan Police Force, street crime is:...
, the gang was involved in a wide range of crimes that included, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and car theft.
The Black Dragons' influence was strong in the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
, during the mid 1990s until its downfall in 2002. The gang gained the attention of federal authorities because of their involvement in violent criminal activities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) opened a case against the Black Dragons in 1999. The FBI soon created the Black Dragon Task force and the three year investigation lead to the convictions of multiple gang members, stemming from murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, extortion, illegal possession of firearms and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO) charges. The gang was taken down in one of the largest gang sweeps of 2002, as federal agents simultaneously raided and arrested 30 of its core members.
It's an Asian gang with a history of violence identified as a top threat by various law enforcement agencies, according to FBI Agent Kerry Smith, who heads a unit that targets Asian criminal enterprise and violent crime. The unit is based out of the FBI's West Covina office. These guys weren't afraid to commit violence,' Smith said.