Sons of Samoa
| Founded | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Long Beach, California |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Territory | Nationwide, but mostly California |
| Ethnicity | Predominantly Samoan, some Tongan |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, weapon trafficking, extortion, prostitution, contract killing, armed robbery |
Sons of Samoa is a Crips-affiliated street gang based in Long Beach, California, United States. The gang's membership mainly consists of Samoan Americans.
History
The gang was formed in the 1976 to protect the immigrant Samoan community from established African American and Hispanic gangs in the impoverished suburbs of Long Beach, California. It has since spread to other Southern Californian cities, as well as other states with a large Samoan community. The gang adopted the Crips culture and has since aligned themselves with the larger African American gang. Although lacking in numbers in some parts of the US the gang have made quite a name for themselves not just in the US but also numbers seem to be growing in other homelands like New Zealand and Australia etc. The gang over the years have been gaining a few numbers in their gang and have struck fear into those who know to mess with them. [1][2]
Activities
Originally a gang formed by means of protection, Sons of Samoa sets have since emerged in every impoverished neighborhood with a substantial Pacific Islander community. They are involved in violent crime, which is mostly committed by younger members, as well as organized crime, which is mostly the business of older and ambitious hardcore members of the gang. The Sons of Samoa are heavily involved in extortion, contract killing and the production and distribution of methamphetamine. They are also known for the taxing of other meth distributors, as well as ripping them off.[3] In Long Beach more organized gang members are involved in heavy cocaine-trafficking rings as well as in the trafficking of weapons.[4]
The gang being allied to the Crips is occasionally involved in turf battles with Pirus gangs of Tongan or Samoan descent.[5]
References
- ↑ http://unitedgangs.com/2013/08/20/sons-of-samoa/
- ↑ The Gang's Not Here Any More : Santiago High Player Gave Up Street Life, Los Angeles Times, November 6, 1990.
- ↑ http://www.gangpreventionservices.org/pacificislanders.asp
- ↑ The Gangs of Long Beach : Signs Are Obvious: Graffiti, Poverty, Drugs, Turf Wars, Murders, Los Angeles Times, December 1, 1985.
- ↑ http://www.frank151.com/news/chapter-35-samoa-rag-ties.html#.UqStRMTuLE8