Mickey Cobras
Encyclopedia
The Mickey Cobras are a large street gang affiliated with the nationwide gang affiliation known as the People Nation
. Based in Chicago
and consisting largely of African-American membership, the gang is considered very mobile, wear the color red, and factions of the gang are being established throughout the Mid-western United States
. The gang's criminal expertise is in narcotics. On April 5, 2005 US Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald described the Mickey Cobras as one of several "super-gangs" that constitute a sizable portion of Chicago's overall gang population.
Nation (BPSN) from 1961 until 1977. Cogwell was a founding member of the "Main 21" and was therefore a leader within the BPSN. He was later convicted in 1972 for defrauding the federal government grant of $927,000 from the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity. After a falling out, the leader of the BPSN, Jeff Fort had Mickey Cogwell killed on February 25, 1977. At this point the gang became a separate entity that is today known as the Mickey Cobras gang.
At the time of his death, Cogwell had been working as an organizer for a southside union. In 1970, the commander of the Gang Intelligence Unit for the Chicago Police Department portrayed Cogwell as the link between gangs and organized crime
, particularly the Chicago Outfit
. The Mickey Cobras exist in areas of the southside that compete for membership with the BPSN, particularly in the area around Fuller Park. They also controlled a segment of the Robert Taylor Homes housing project called "The Hole" until the buildings were demolished and the Cobra drug lines forced out into the street. Despite similar origins and affiliations, no one could say that just because both the BPSN and the Mickey Cobras today are affiliated with the People Nation that they are in any sense cooperative or friendly towards each other. They also have a small presence in Detroit, Michigan
and Toronto, Ontario.
People Nation
People Nation is an alliance of street gangs generally associated with the Chicago area. They are rivals to the Folk Nation.The People Nation were formed much in the same way as the Folk Nation. In 1978, the El Rukns People Nation is an alliance of street gangs generally associated with the Chicago...
. Based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and consisting largely of African-American membership, the gang is considered very mobile, wear the color red, and factions of the gang are being established throughout the Mid-western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The gang's criminal expertise is in narcotics. On April 5, 2005 US Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald described the Mickey Cobras as one of several "super-gangs" that constitute a sizable portion of Chicago's overall gang population.
History
Under the leadership of Mickey Cogwell, the Mickey Cobras began as the "Cobra Stones" and were an official branch of the Black P. StonesBlack P. Stones
The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation is a Chicago-based street gang estimated to have more than 30,000 members. The gang was originally formed in the late 1950s as a civil rights organization called the Blackstone Rangers...
Nation (BPSN) from 1961 until 1977. Cogwell was a founding member of the "Main 21" and was therefore a leader within the BPSN. He was later convicted in 1972 for defrauding the federal government grant of $927,000 from the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity. After a falling out, the leader of the BPSN, Jeff Fort had Mickey Cogwell killed on February 25, 1977. At this point the gang became a separate entity that is today known as the Mickey Cobras gang.
At the time of his death, Cogwell had been working as an organizer for a southside union. In 1970, the commander of the Gang Intelligence Unit for the Chicago Police Department portrayed Cogwell as the link between gangs and 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...
, particularly the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
. The Mickey Cobras exist in areas of the southside that compete for membership with the BPSN, particularly in the area around Fuller Park. They also controlled a segment of the Robert Taylor Homes housing project called "The Hole" until the buildings were demolished and the Cobra drug lines forced out into the street. Despite similar origins and affiliations, no one could say that just because both the BPSN and the Mickey Cobras today are affiliated with the People Nation that they are in any sense cooperative or friendly towards each other. They also have a small presence in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Toronto, Ontario.
Organizational characteristics
Today the Mickey Cobras are known formally as the "Reformed Kingdom of Mickey's Cobras", In their original identity, they were known as the Egyptian King Cobras. After three generations, the group has come to have a strong Islamic influence. The Mickey Cobras now have their own unique written constitution and by-laws, which show a strong Islamic influence, just like those of the modern-day BPSN. In the Illinois prison system, they will combine with the ABPSN for protection and power.External links
- Chicago gang targeted in heroin deaths (Forbes magazine, June 21, 2006)
- Mickey Cobra Pictures
- Black P Stone Pictures