NCJ Number
174351
Date Published
1995
Length
24 pages
Annotation
An organized crime group called the Almighty Latin King Nation (ALKN) is described with respect to its history, activities, identifiers, organization, group names, affiliations, and other characteristics, based on information from law enforcement personnel, ALKN documents, confidential informants, and prisoner debriefings.
Abstract
The group has an estimated 100,000 members throughout the United States. Members range in age from pre-teens to senior citizens; the majority of the hardcore members are ages 16-40 years. The ALKN is extremely violent and should be considered extremely dangerous. The group was reportedly founded in Chicago by Puerto Rican immigrants in the belief that it could provide a better way of life for its members and the Hispanic community, who were experiencing prejudice. The majority of members are Hispanic. Members are involved in drug sales, robberies, extortion, auto theft, assaults, drive-by shootings, burglaries, murders, interstate crimes, assaults on police, confidence games, and firearms violations. All members must own a set of beads. Other identifiers include black and gold clothing, yellow beepers, yellow bandanas, ALKN tattoos, crown insignias, and other signs. They prefer public parks for meetings. They recruit members at schools, parks, bus stops, and prisons. Recent investigations have revealed a strong association between ALKN and some of New York's crime families. Membership is increasing rapidly, especially in the New York City area as well as in the middle Atlantic and Great Lakes region and the Northeast. Police officers should never strip any ALKN member of the beads, because that will prevent the person from becoming a confidential informant. Name, address, telephone, and fax number from which to obtain additional information