The Most Powerful Gang Dynasties in America

Gangs have been around for centuries. The first documented street gangs appeared in the 1600s in England and were thought to have emerged shortly after the American Revolution in the United States. People often joined these groups for a sense of community, to feel safe and protected amongst a group of like-minded individuals, and even to gain respect and acceptance.

Organized crime groups in America, while illegal and often brutal, often operate like businesses. There is the head of the crime syndicate, known as the boss, who has people that operate beneath him to help sustain the "company". Much like corporations, the most enduring syndicates have adapted to America's changing landscape. Some criminal enterprises that emerged in the late 1800s still maintain influence today. (It's not only gangs committing crimes. Check out the most infamous white collar scandals in history.)

It is often said that crime doesn't pay, and it's usually the case like the recent crime committed by Justin Timberlake when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DUI). But for some, a life of crime is worth the risks they must take to gain riches and a reputation of fear, and at times, respect. The regular person may not revere these ruthless criminals but within their gangs, members hold a ranking that often leads to a certain reverence or admiration.

According to sources like the FBI, many major crime groups originated in Atlantic coast cities among late 19th-century immigrant populations. These newcomers provided targets for extortion, gambling, and other rackets. As unionization grew, mobsters infiltrated labor, and over decades, trash collection, trucking, narcotics, and gambling offered lucrative avenues for organized crime.

24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the most powerful gang dynasties in America. This list was created by using sources such as the Crime Museum, American Mafia History, Mafia History, and government sources like FBI.gov, as well as online encyclopedias like Britannica, and media sources including American Magazine.

Just like multigenerational corporations, mob dynasties have shown staying power by diversifying and seizing new opportunities. Though their methods are illegal, major crime syndicates demonstrate the durability of any enterprise that provides the desired services.

• Founded: 1931
• Members: 200 made members, up to 2,000 associates
• Origin: New York City
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: the Genovese Family

One of the five crime families that joined the so-called "Commission" was created to regulate organized crime activity among the crime families and one of the largest. Headed by Carlo Gambino, its illegal activities include labor and construction racketeering, gambling, loansharking, extortion, money laundering, prostitution, and hijacking.

• Founded: 1890s
• Members: Up to 300 made members and 1,000+ associates
• Origin: New York City
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: the Gambino Family

Another of the crime families that joined "The Commission," New York-based gangsters controlled labor rackets on New York docks, were loan sharks, and bookmakers, and were one of the families to plant its flag in the burgeoning gambling capital of Las Vegas. The first official boss was Lucky Luciano, who is credited as the father of modern organized crime. The FBI considers the Genovese family to be the most powerful of the five major crime families, referring to them as the "Ivy League of the Underworld".

• Founded: 1910
• Members: 28 made members and more than 100 associates
• Origin: Chicago
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: North Side Gang

The organized crime group in Chicago numbered some of the most notorious crime figures in U.S. history, among them Sam Giancana, Tony Accardo, and Al Capone. They controlled gambling, prostitution, and labor.

• Founded: 1911
• Members: 50 made members and 100 associates
• Origin: Philadelphia
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang:

Philadelphia mobsters were among the most violent in the United States, killing crime kingpins Angelo Bruno and Philip Testa in a struggle for control. Besides traditional areas of revenue such as labor racketeering, extortion, bookmaking, and loan sharking, the mob sunk its teeth into the gambling industry in Atlantic City when gambling was legalized in New Jersey in 1977.

• Founded: late 1910s
• Members: 60 made members, 100 associates
• Origin: New England
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: Winter Hill Gang

The New England-based crime family headed by Raymond Patriarca focused on racketeering, gambling, murder, narcotics, waste management, robbery, fencing, loan sharking, extortion, bookmaking, money laundering, smuggling, and fraud.

• Founded: 1920s
• Members: 130 members, up to 1,000 associates
• Origin: New York City
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: Bonanno Family

One of the original five families and considered one of the smallest, the Lucchese family has infiltrated many of New York City's biggest industries, such as construction and the garment district. It holds sway over Teamsters Locals, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), and the Laborers Union of North America. It also exerts control over the air freight industry at John F. Kennedy Airport and building construction.

• Founded: late 19th-century/early 20th century
• Members: 110 made members, 500 associates
• Origin: New York City
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: Gambino Family

The Bonanno Family emerged from the Castellammarese War in the early 1930s to become one of the five families involved in the "Commission," created to regulate organized crime activity among the crime families. Joseph Bonanno took charge of the family after his boss, Salvatore Maranzano, was killed. Bonanno was boss for 30 years, shifting the family into rackets such as loan sharking, narcotics, prostitution, and gambling.

• Founded: 1928
• Members: About 110 made members, about 500 associates
• Origin: New York City
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Italian
• Main rival gang: Various New York gangs, including allies

The Colombo family is the youngest of the five crime families from New York. Founded by Joe Profaci, among the family's more infamous members were John "Sonny' Franzese, Carmine Persico, and Joey Gallo. The family experienced internecine struggles for decades. Among its litany of criminal activities are arms trafficking, arson, cigarette smuggling, contract killing, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, truck hijacking, and protection rackets.

• Founded: 1930s/1940s
• Members: 10,000
• Origin: South Los Angeles
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Mexican
• Main rival gang: 18th Street Gang

Named after Los Angeles' Florence Boulevard, and believed to be the largest Hispanic gang in Los Angeles, Florencia 13 is involved in burglaries, car theft, drug distribution, forged immigration documents, passports, and green cards.

• Founded: 1954
• Members: 18,000
• Origin: Chicago
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Hispanic
• Main rival gang: Folk Nation Gang Alliance

Formed in Chicago in the 1950s to combat prejudice, formally known as The Almighty Latin King and Queen nation, or most notably the Latin Kings' primary source of revenue is the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. They also commit homicide, identity theft, and money laundering and are considered one of the largest Latino street, Caribbean, and prison gangs in the world.

• Founded: 1955
• Members: More than 100 members
• Origin: Somerville, Mass.
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Irish
• Main rival gang: McLaughlin Gang

A loosely organized group of mostly Irish gangsters who operated out of Somerville, Mass., Boston, and Miami. Its most famous member was Whitey Bulger, who took over the mob in 1979. Besides the traditional gang pursuits of racketeering, illegal gambling, narcotics, and prostitution, the gang was involved with the Irish Republican Army in the 1970s and 1980s.

• Founded: 1964
• Members: 20,000
• Origin: California prison system
• Still active: Yes
• Background: White
• Main rival gang: Nuestra Familia

Founded by white nationalists in federal prison, the Aryan Brotherhood is the country's oldest and deadliest white supremacist prison gang. They participate in drug trafficking, male prostitution rings, gambling, extortion, murder-for-hire, armed robbery, gun running, methamphetamine manufacturing, heroin sales, counterfeiting, and identity theft.

• Founded: 1968
• Members: 250 members and 1,000 Norteños (tribute payers)
• Origin: California prison system
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Mexican
• Main rival gang: Aryan Brotherhood

The Nuestra Familia prison gang formed in Soledad prison when Hispanic inmates from northern California created their own gang in response to mistreatment by other Hispanic gangs and were considered the enemy of the Mexican Mafia. Gang members partake in illegal drug sales and robberies.

• Founded: 1960s
• Members: 15,000
• Origin: Los Angeles
• Still active: Yes
• Background: Mostly Hispanic
• Main rival gang: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Florencia-13 (F-13)

Originating in Los Angeles' Pico-Union neighborhood, with connections to El Salvador and other Central American countries, several chapters are located in many additional states and gang membership is not limited by ethnicity. It is also known as Barrio 18, Calle 18, Mara 18, and M-18. Gang members are involved with extortion, protection rackets, and kickbacks from illegal goods sold on their turf. They also steal cars, sell drugs and weapons, and can be killers for hire.

• Founded: 1968
• Members: Up to 50,000
• Origin: Chicago
• Still active: Yes
• Background: African American
• Main rival gang: Vice Lords, Bloods, Latin Kings

Founded by David Barksdale and Larry Hoover, this gang grew from 60 members at its creation to as many as 50,000 members. It now operates in 35 states and derives revenue of as much as $100 million from drug sales and street tax.

• Founded: 1969
• Members: Up to 35,000
• Origin: California
• Still active:Yes
• Background: African American
• Main rival gang: The Bloods

Originally believed to be called the Cribs, with possible meanings because of the youth of its members or because crib referred to home, it was eventually changed to Crips, thought to stand for "crippling their enemies" or "Community Revolution in Progress". They originated in Los Angeles and are also associated with New York. The Crips engage in drug trafficking, murder, assault, auto theft, burglary, extortion, fraud, and robbery.

• Founded: 1980
• Members: Up to 10,000
• Origin: Los Angeles
• Still active:Yes
• Main rival gang: Eighteenth Street Gang

Also known as MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha is famous for its distinctive tattoos, drug trafficking, and violence. Mostly composed of Salvadorans, the gang was created to protect immigrants from El Salvador against other Hispanic gangs. They are considered among the most vicious gangs in the United States.

• Founded: 1970s
• Members: 25,000
• Origin: Los Angeles
• Still active: Yes
• Main rival gang: The Crips

The original Bloods started as a Los Angeles African American gang famed for their red apparel and trademark hand signs. The Bloods spread all across the country and are involved in drug trafficking, auto theft, burglary, carjacking, drive-by shootings, extortion, homicide, and identity fraud.