gang investigators' perceptions of military-trained gang members in the southeastern u.s

Gang Investigators' Perceptionsof Military-Trained GangMembers in the Southeastern U.S.Southern Criminal Justice Association 2011

Carter F. Smith(615) 656-3505

smithcf@apsu.edu

The Problem•1 Million gang members in U.S.•80% of all crimes committed by gang members. •Progressive increase in adult gang members since 1996 (then 50-50).

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It’s important because

• All gang members in the military return to civilian communities . . . eventually.• Crimes by MTGMs up yearly since 2002.•MTGMs teach tactics to local gang members. •MTGMs commit murder, racketeering,

drug distribution.

Military Weapons

•Gang members with military weapons escalate threat. •Even soldiers with no clear ties to gangs make military weapons available to street gang members.

Military Weapons

December 2005, National Guard soldier sold several foreign-made machine guns to gun dealer in Georgia.

Unconventional Weapons

December 2008, former soldier in Oklahoma City, OK tried to sell IEDs to gang members for $100.00

Military Equipment

January 2007: SSG and CPT from Illinois National Guard tried to sell body armor, night-vision equipment, and Tasers thinking Chicago street gangs would use the equipment.

Suspected Gang-Related Investigations/Incidents

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

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40

60

80

100

120

ROI

Other

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Ft. Meade, MD (CID, 2009): Armed robbery at Burger King on post. Suspect family member linked to a local Bloods affiliate.

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Ft. Stewart, GA (CID, 2009): Soldier robbed at gunpoint in barracks room by 3 males wearing ski masks. •Numerous Folk tattoos and gang paraphernalia in room.

Ft. Wainwright, AK (CID, 2009): Soldier (Bloods) stabbed another off-post after victim stated no real gangs in Fairbanks.

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•Perceptions of gang investigators regarding presence of MTGMs.•Military Gang Perception Questionnaire•Active members of GIAs. •Level of perception of MTGMs.

Survey

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Research Questions

1. Size of jurisdiction

2. Participation in anti-gang activities

3. Proximity of gang investigators’ jurisdiction to a military installation

4. Anti-gang experience

5. Age

6. Race

7. Military experience

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Literature

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Literature Review1) traditional street gangs

2) differences between juvenile and adult

3) advanced organized crime groups

4) MTGMs

5) conflicting loyalties

6) methods used to restrict non-criminal activity

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Literature Review• Most MTGM investigations involve drug

trafficking.• Gang members in all military ranks.• Murder, racketeering, and drug distribution.• Conflicting loyalties explained by differential

identification (Glaser, 1956) and organizational commitment (Mowday et al., 1982). • Restrict with formal anti-gang teams, sections, and

task forces (NAGIA, 2005), injunctions (Grogger, 2005) and restrictive ordinances (Strosnider, 2002).

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Research & Findings

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Respondents•Majority local police •Majority no working relationship with military investigators •Most Caucasian•Minority served in military

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Relevant responses (MTGM presence)Strongly Disagree Disagree No opinion Agree StronglyAgree

4. Gang members in my jurisdiction use military or military-type

weapons. A/SA 50.5 38.2%

5. Gang members in my jurisdiction use military equipment.

D/SD 34.6 56.9%

6. Gang members in my jurisdiction use military-type tactics.

D/SD 38.6 46.5%

9. Gang leaders in my community demonstrate military training.

D/SD 32.7 36.8%

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Relevant responses (MTGM presence)

9. Gang leaders in my community demonstrate military training.

D/SD 32.7 36.8%

10. Some gang members in my jurisdiction have no ties to local

gangs. A/SA 43.6 72.6%

12. There are gang members in my jurisdiction currently in the

military. A/SA 36.6 D/SD 36.8%

13. There are gang members in my jurisdiction that served in the

military. A/SA 52.5 48.7%

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1. There are gangs in my jurisdiction. A/SA 97.1 92.4

2. A majority of the gang members in my jurisdiction are adults.

A/SA 33.7 40.2

3. Adult gang members are more dangerous than juveniles.

D/SD 75.3 53.4%

7. Gang members in my jurisdiction commit home invasions.

A/SA 87.1 77.6%

8. Gang members in my jurisdiction commit armed robberies.

A/SA 91.1 80.2%

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Strongly Disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly Agree

11. Some of the gangs in my jurisdiction have ties to distant gangs.

A/SA 77.3 72.6%

14. Military-trained gang members pose more danger to police.

A/SA 86.2 83.1%

15. Active gang members should NOT be allowed to join the military.

A/SA 92.1 93.1

16. Anti-gang prohibitions are being used in my jurisdiction. A/SA 53.4 41.9%

17. Anti-gang prohibitions limit most gang activity in my jurisdiction.

A/SA 38.6 43.6%

18. Anti-gang prohibitions limit military-trained gang members. A/SA 39.6

47.6%

19. Military representatives advise when gang members discharged.

D/SD 61.4 82.2%

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Relationship between gang investigators’ perceptions of the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and

1. Size of jurisdictions? Yes

2. Anti-gang activities? No

3. Proximity to military installation? Yes

4. Anti-gang experience? No

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•No relationship with age•No difference by race•No difference with military experience

How Big a deal is it?

Kaiserslautern, GE GDs 2005

• Death of Juwan L. Johnson in 2005 • Eight service members are

suspects.

• Investigators conclude that Johnson was beaten to death during a “jumping in” gang initiation ceremony.

linked to suspected Gangster Disciples

“I just don’t picture my son joining a gang” . . . “Does it make any sense that he would join a gang in Germany just weeks before he’s going to leave?”

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How Big a deal is it?

• The History of Gangs in the Military . . .• Jan 2008

How Big a deal is it?

• Infantry• Telecommunications • Paralegal • Military Police • Intelligence Analyst • Transportation • Logistics• Communications

• Medical• Intelligence and

Electronic Warfare • Psychological

Operations • Finance • Chemical Munitions • Explosive Ordnance• Recruiter

Gang members trained for these roles

How Big a deal is it?

• Weapons• Ammunition• Grenades• Night Vision Goggles• Ballistic Vests

Police: Same Man Robs 2 So. Fla. Burger Kings With AK-47

M4A1 Carbine

Gang members trained to use

In Mosul, a Battle 'Beyond Ruthless'

• Three cars stopped on the other side of the road. A man carrying a machine gun got out.

• "Take him down," Ruiz told a sniper . . . the man's head exploded.

• Ruiz said it reminds him of his youth as a member of the Coney Island Cobras, a Brooklyn street gang.

• He applies many of the principles he learned in the neighborhoods where he grew up.

• Acting swiftly, "sends a message to the enemy that we're not playing games. If you engage us, you are going to die.

Onetime Gang Member Applies Rules of Street

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How big a deal?Let’s look elsewhere, in a land (not so) far, far away . . .

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April 2011: U.S. State Department issued warnings advising

Americans to defer non-essential travel to large swaths of Mexico

due to the threat of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and

murder by the Zetas.

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AND IF THAT’S NOT BAD ENOUGH . . .

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Recommendations

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Recommendations• Recommendations for government leaders • Compliance with Congressional instruction, uniform

definition, identify as STG

• Recommendations for military commanders• Acknowledge and address increase, tracking and analysis, all-

hands approach, evaluate for retention and security classification

• Recommendations for law enforcement• Use law enforcement to coordinate with recruiting, distinguish

between youth and adult gang activity, share successes

• Recommendations for future research• Conduct extended longitudinal examination, broaden

population while narrowing focus

Gangs and the Military

Carter F. Smith, JD, PhD

U.S. Army CID (Retired)

carterfsmith@gmail.com

615-656-3505http://www.gangsinthemilitary.com