Sons of Samoa
Sons of Samoa is a Crips-affiliated street gang based in Long Beach, California, United States. Since it being founded it has now branched out to be both Crips and Bloods affiliated. Its membership mainly consists of Samoan Americans with other Pacific island members.
| Founded | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Long Beach, California, United States |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Territory | United States (Alaska, California, Missouri, Utah, Washington) |
| Ethnicity | Predominantly Samoan immigrants |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, robbery, burglary, extortion |
History
The Sons of Samoa gang was a faction of the Crips gang based in west Long Beach, California.[1]
In 1985, the Sons of Samoa gang had about 200 members scattered throughout Long Beach, many of whom were Samoan immigrants or first-generation Samoans.[2] One member a homicide victim in 1985.[2]
In the late 1980s, it was the focus of a Long Beach Police Department sweep after gang members had attacked two police officers.[1] Around the same time, they were in a gang war with a gang from Garden Grove.[1]
In 2015, an investigation led to new charges and the arrest of a Sons of Samoa member for a murder in 1996.[3][4]
Activities
In the 1980s, the Sons of Samoa were heavily involved with the sale and use of cocaine and PCP, as well as robbery, burglary, and extortion.[2] In the 1990s, the Suicidals subset of the Sons of Samoa sold drugs in alleyways.[3][4]
A 2011 report from the FBI listed Alaska, California, Missouri, Utah, and Washington as states where the Sons of Samoa operated.[5]
References
- Foster, Chris (November 6, 1990). "The Gang's Not Here Any More: Santiago High Player Gave Up Street Life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- Bailey, Eric (December 1, 1985). "The Gangs of Long Beach : Signs Are Obvious: Graffiti, Poverty, Drugs, Turf Wars, Murders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- Dobruck, Jeremiah; Osier, Valerie (February 10, 2020). "Trial ends with hung jury in 24-year-old murder case". Long Beach Post. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- Osier, Valerie (January 30, 2020). "Trial in 1996 murder case begins 24 years after deadly gang shooting". Long Beach Post. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- "2011 National Gang Threat Assessment". Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2020.