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10 Notorious Gangsters and Gangs That Operated in Los Angeles

The issue of gangs and gangsters in Los Angeles is a complex and multifaceted problem that has plagued the city for decades. Gangs are organized groups of individuals who engage in criminal activity, often centered around a common geographic location or cultural identity. In Los Angeles, the prevalence of gangs can be traced back to the 1940s and 1950s, when groups like the Crips and Bloods began to form in response to social and economic inequality in low-income neighborhoods.

Gangsters, or members of gangs, often engage in violent crime, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities to maintain their power and control over their territory. They may also engage in acts of intimidation, extortion, and murder to assert their dominance over rival gangs or to intimidate witnesses and law enforcement officials.

Factors such as poverty, lack of educational and employment opportunities, and social dislocation contribute to the persistence of gang culture in the city. As a result, gang violence and criminal activity remain significant problems in many Los Angeles neighborhoods, with far-reaching social and economic consequences.

1. Momo Adamo

Girolomo “Momo” Adamo, a prominent Italian American mobster in the American Mafia, lived in various cities before settling in Los Angeles where he became underboss to Jack Dragna. He and his brother Joseph were well-connected criminals in San Diego and were arrested in 1950 along with other members of the Dragna family for their alleged involvement in bombing Mickey Cohen’s home.

Momo had hoped to become the next boss of the Los Angeles crime family after Dragna’s death in 1956 but was demoted by Frank DeSimone, who was believed to have rigged the election. Momo later attempted a murder-suicide by shooting his wife Marie in the head, but she survived.

The reason for his actions remains uncertain, with some sources speculating that it may have been due to shame from DeSimone’s alleged rape of his wife, while others suggest that it was related to Marie’s affair during their marriage.

2. Joseph Ardizzone

Joseph “Joe Iron Man” Ardizzone, an Italian-born Los Angeles mobster, was the first boss of the Los Angeles crime family. He had a long-standing feud with the Matranga family, distant cousins from his hometown in Sicily, and claimed to have killed 30 men. Ardizzone was involved in Prohibition-era bootlegging and may have supported Salvatore Maranzano during the Castellammarese War.

However, a faction developed that opposed Ardizzone, and after surviving two assassination attempts, he agreed to retire. Ardizzone disappeared on October 15, 1931, while on his way to a cousin’s house and was declared legally dead by his wife seven years later.

3. Frank Bompensiero

Frank “Bomp” Bompensiero was a feared enforcer and a caporegime in the Los Angeles mob. With the passing of don Jack Dragna in 1956, Bompensiero was knocked down to the rank of foot soldier by the incoming boss, Frank DeSimone. He was the senior kin of associate Salvatore “Sam” Bompensiero.

Bompensiero built up his reputation by carrying out numerous hits at the behest of his higher-ups. Jimmy Fratianno, a trusted confederate, once remarked that Bompensiero “had put more bones in the ground than could be discovered in the brontosaurus room of the Museum of Natural History.”

4. Abergil Crime Family

The Abergil Crime Family is an Israeli organized crime syndicate based in Tel Aviv. The group has been involved in a variety of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and murder.

The Abergil Crime Family was founded in the 1970s by brothers Meir and Itzhak Abergil. The organization grew in size and influence over the years and became one of the most powerful crime families in Israel.

In 2008, Meir and Itzhak Abergil were extradited to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. They were eventually convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Despite the imprisonment of its leaders, the Abergil Crime Family continues to operate in Israel and elsewhere. The group has been linked to numerous high-profile criminal activities in recent years, including the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in diamonds from an Antwerp airport in 2013.

5. Bahala Na Gang

The Bahala Na Gang is a notorious organized crime group in the Philippines that subsequently spread to the United States, especially Los Angeles. Despite their criminal activities and disregard for the law, the gang members exhibit a sense of bravado and nonchalance, as if they have no fear of the consequences of their actions.

Their behavior can be described as brazen, audacious, and reckless. They are known for their insouciance and cavalier attitude towards authority, often engaging in acts of defiance and provocation.

The Bahala Na Gang has been linked to a wide range of criminal activities, including extortion, drug trafficking, and smuggling. Their modus operandi is often characterized by cunning and guile, as they use sophisticated techniques to evade law enforcement and maintain their illicit operations.

Despite their notoriety, the Bahala Na Gang continues to thrive in the criminal underworld, perpetrating acts of violence and intimidation with impunity. Their disregard for the law and the well-being of others is a testament to their callousness and lack of empathy.

6. Black Guerrilla Family

The Black Guerrilla Family is a notorious prison gang that originated in the United States. The group is known for its militant ideology and aggressive tactics, which are often employed to further its criminal objectives.

The Black Guerrilla Family espouses a revolutionary philosophy that seeks to challenge the existing power structures in society. Their ideology is characterized by a strong sense of solidarity and a commitment to the principles of social justice.

The group has been involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. Their tactics are often brutal, and they have been known to use violence to maintain their power and influence.

Despite being primarily a prison-based gang, the Black Guerrilla Family has a significant presence on the streets, particularly in urban areas. Their ability to operate across different contexts is a testament to their organizational skills and strategic planning.

The Black Guerrilla Family represents a significant threat to public safety and the rule of law. Their violent and militant ideology is a cause for concern, and their criminal activities continue to undermine the social fabric of communities across the United States.

7. The Bloods

The Bloods are a predominantly African-American street gang that originated in Los Angeles, California. The group is notorious for its long-standing feud with the Crips, another prominent gang in the area. The gang’s members are recognizable by the crimson hue of their attire, which serves as a badge of membership, in addition to the use of distinct gang signs.

The Bloods encompass a wide array of sub-factions, commonly referred to as “sets,” each distinguished by unique traits such as colors, dress code, operational strategies, and ideological differences, which can sometimes give rise to intense inter-set conflicts. Since the gang’s inception, it has expanded across the United States, with new sets and members emerging in various cities and regions.

8. Crips

The Crips are a confederation of street gangs that primarily operates in the coastal regions of Southern California. The gang was established in Los Angeles, California, in 1969, by two individuals: Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams. Initially, the Crips were a single alliance comprising two independent gangs; today, they constitute a network of loosely affiliated “sets” that frequently engage in violent turf wars with one another. Traditionally, members of the Crips have identified themselves by wearing blue clothing.

The Crips are widely regarded as one of the largest and most dangerous associations of street gangs in the United States. As of 2008, it was estimated that the gang had between 30,000 and 35,000 members, who have been implicated in various crimes such as murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities. The Crips have a long-standing and acrimonious feud with their arch-rivals, the Bloods.

Several individuals who identify as members of the Crips have been convicted of federal racketeering charges, indicating the extent of the gang’s involvement in organized criminal enterprises.

9. Los Angeles crime family

The Los Angeles crime family, also referred to as the L.A. Mafia or the Southern California crime family, is an Italian-American criminal organization that operates as part of the larger Italian-American Mafia. This syndicate has its origins dating back to the early 20th century and has since extended its reach across the Southern California region. As with many other Mafia families across the United States, the Los Angeles crime family rose to prominence during the Prohibition era, leveraging the illicit bootlegging of alcohol to amass power and influence.

Under the leadership of Jack Dragna, the L.A. family experienced its heyday during the 1940s and early 1950s. Despite this, the organization’s size never surpassed that of the New York or Chicago Mafia families. In the years following Dragna’s death in 1956, the Los Angeles crime family experienced a gradual decline. This has been compounded by their lack of representation on The Commission, which is now filled by the Chicago Outfit.

10. MS-13

Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, is a transnational criminal organization that originated in the 1970s and 1980s to protect Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles from rival gangs. However, it has since evolved into a more traditional criminal group characterized by extreme violence and a bitter rivalry with the 18th Street gang.

The deportation of many MS-13 members to El Salvador after the Salvadoran Civil War and subsequent arrests facilitated the gang’s spread to Central America, Canada, and Mexico. While the gang’s US membership accounts for less than 1% of the country’s overall gang population, it is often used by the Republican Party to promote stricter immigration policies due to its international scope and history linked to US-El Salvador relations.