Criminal Enterprise

Abstract

New-age gangs are primarily engaged in criminal activity which can be characterized as high risk for medium to low-gain, contingent on whether they have affiliation with an organized crime group. The criminal enterprise included in this chapter represents activities which new-age street gang leaders––both those affiliated and not affiliated with organized crime––may undertake as they require comparatively little long-range planning and a modus operandi predicated on instilling fear in victims. Discussion in this chapter focuses on those activities that remain within the purview of free lance activities undertaken by new-age gangs to either supplement income, or which are commonly resorted to when disaffiliated with organized crime. They include armed robberies, protection rackets, extortion schemes, and a discussion of intergang rivalries that erupt between gang players “following” different new-age street gang leaders.

The most powerful gang is the most violent gang.

With violence you get power, and with power you get money.

An observation shared by a police gang investigator, based on what an organized crime level informant related to him.