Vineland Boys
The Vineland Boys is a street gang comprising mainly of Hispanic Americans operating in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
| Founded | January 1988[1] |
|---|---|
| Founding location | North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States[1] |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Territory | San Fernando Valley[2] |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic American[1] |
| Membership (est.) | 300[3] |
| Activities | Drug trafficking, assault, robbery, extortion, arms trafficking, theft, murder, racketeering, illegal gambling, and fraud |
| Allies | Abergil crime family[4] Armenian Power[1] Mexican Mafia[1] Sureños[1] |
| Rivals | 18th Street gang[1] |
History
The Vineland Boys gang was founded in North Hollywood, Los Angeles in January 1988 by former members and associates of the 18th Street gang. It was named after Vineland Street in Hollywood where members would play football. In addition to 18th Street, the Vineland Boys also clashed with the Mexican Mafia until the gang's founder Teddy Lopez was murdered by Mexican Mafia members at a Monterey Park nightclub in 1998. The Vineland boys have since joined the Mexican Mafia-controlled Sureño gang coalition.[1] The gang has approximately 300 members and operates in the San Fernando Valley.[4] The Vineland Boys have formed alliances with Armenian Power and the Abergil crime family. The gang allegedly first teamed up with Abergils in 2000, offering protection and cooperation to the Israeli mafia's ecstacy trafficking ring operating in their territory.[3]
In 2003, members of the Vineland Boyz gang fatally shot Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka.[5] This prompted a massive response where 1,300 federal and local law enforcement members took part in "Operation Silent Night". It resulted in 23 arrests of Vineland Boyz gang members.[5]
On February 13, 2019 the Vineland Boyz gang was targeted again by federal agents.[6] Over three dozen associates were arrested in the raids.[6]
References
- "The Vineland Boys Gang". Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- Vineland Boys Street Gang Targeted in Federal Racketeering Indictment that Alleges Violence, Extortion and Narcotics Trafficking justice.gov (February 13, 2019)
- Manhunt Hobbles Gang Activity Richard Fausset and Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times (December 8, 2003)
- From Israel to Los Angeles Allison Hoffman, The Jerusalem Post (August 27, 2008)
- "Bad Night for the Vineland Boyz". Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- "Dozens of Reputed Gang Members, Associates Nabbed in Crackdowns Across Southern California". Retrieved 13 February 2019.