Florencia 13

The Florencia 13, South Side Florencia 13 or Florence Gang is an American criminal street gang based in Los Angeles, California, composed mainly of Hispanic-Americans. The gang is named after the Florence area of Los Angeles County, controlled by the Mexican Mafia.[7] They are involved in drug smuggling, murder, assault and robbery.

Florencia 13
Founded1950s
Founding locationFlorence, California, United States
Years active1950s–present
TerritorySouth Los Angeles
EthnicityMexican American
Membership (est.)2,000[1]
ActivitiesDrug trafficking, assault, robbery, extortion, arms trafficking, theft, murder, racketeering, illegal gambling, and fraud
AlliesMexican Mafia[2]
Sureños[3]
Rivals18th Street gang[4]
38th Street gang[5]
Bloods[6]
Crips[5]
Grape Street Watts[2]

History

The FBI began targeting Florencia 13 gang members for their roles in racially motivated attacks on African-Americans.[8] Court testimony and the judges ruling found that F13 members had targeted African-Americans based purely on race.[8]

At certain times, Florencia 13 leaders ordered killings of the East Coast Crip gang, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.[9]

On January 13, 2019, two people were shot and wounded outside the Fashion Place Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah, after an argument erupted between Florencia 13 and Norteños members. Two male Florencia members, aged 19 and 20, were arrested for involvement in the incident. The two suspects were also charged for a shooting at a group of people at a Taylorsville, Utah cemetery on January 6, which did not harm anyone.[10]

On October 6, 2019, four men, ages 20s to 50s, were killed and five injured at KC Tequila, a Hispanic-themed bar and restaurant in Kansas City, Kansas. It was among the most deadliest acts of violence in modern Kansas history. The suspects were alleged members of Florencia 13, and are facing murder and attempted murder charges.[11]

Operation Joker’s Wild

Operation Joker's Wild investigate the gang's drug trafficking, extortion of street criminals, and racially based murders of African Americans in the area. The operation involved the Los Angeles High- Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Los Angeles Police Department, the IRS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

In 2007, 102 members of Florencia 13 were listed in indictments, under the operation, leading to the biggest gang raid in American history at the time, with 96 of the 102 members taken into custody.[12] The indictments included charges of drug trafficking, attempted murder, murder and extortion.[12] As of 2009, 94 of the 102 had been convicted or plead guilty, 3 had pending trials, 2 had died and 5 were fugitives from justice. The trial further found that the gang was controlled by the Mexican Mafia prison gang.[8]

References
  1. The Queen of Florencia Sam Quinones, Los Angeles (September 25, 2017)
  2. History of the Florence 13 Gang Richard Valdemar, policemag.com (September 12, 2007)
  3. As those killed at Tequila KC are laid to rest, the suspects possible gang connections KCTV (October 10, 2019)
  4. 12 Gangs That Are Keeping The FBI Awake At Night Robert Johnson, Business Insider (March 18, 2014)
  5. Gang rivalry grows into race war Sam Quinones, Los Angeles Times (October 18, 2007)
  6. Nipsey Hussle's killing inspired rival gangs to march in peace. A year later, did it last? Alicia Victoria Lozano and Erik Ortiz, NBC News (March 29, 2020)
  7. K. Peach, Stephen. Friendly Fire?: The Good, the Bad and the Corrupt. p. 187.
  8. "Fifth Gang Member Sentenced to Life Without Parole After Convictions in Massive Federal Racketeering Case".
  9. Watkins, Thomas. "Some of Gang's Killings Race-Based".
  10. "Gang members charged in Utah mall shooting now charged with cemetery shooting". Deseret News.
  11. "As those killed at Tequila KC are laid to rest, the suspects' possible gang connections emerge".
  12. FBI. "Ten Defendants in Largest-Ever Federal Gang Case Found Guilty of Racketeering, Narcotics Charges".
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