Gang Assessment

Texas Gang Threat Assessment
A State Intelligence Estimate
Produced by the Texas Joint Crime Information Center
Intelligence & Counterterrorism Division
Texas Department of Public Safety
In collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies
November 2018
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(U) Executive Summary
(U) The key analytic judgments of this assessment are:
• (U) Gangs are a significant threat to public safety in Texas. Texas gangs are responsible for high
levels of violence throughout the state, such as murder, sex trafficking, armed robbery, and
aggravated assault. Texas gangs are heavily involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine, heroin,
cocaine, and marijuana, and will often work with each other regardless of race or ideology in order to
profit from the trafficking of drugs. We assess there are more than 100,000 gang members in Texas
at any given time based on available information and data from multiple sources.
• (U) Gangs in Texas continue to work closely with the Mexican cartels. Gangs provide direct
support to cartel drug and human smuggling operations into and throughout Texas and the nation.
Cartels also utilize gang members to procure and move weapons and money to Mexico, and
sometimes to commit violent crimes on both sides of the border. Given the entrenched connections
between gangs and cartels for drug distribution, we are concerned about the role gangs could play in
trafficking fentanyl and contributing to the national opioid epidemic. As long as illicit cross-border
crimes are profitable, the relationship between cartels and Texas gangs will continue.
• (U) Gangs assessed with a Tier 1 ranking pose the greatest gang threat to the state. This
assessment is based on several factors, including involvement in drug and human smuggling, sex
trafficking, transnational criminal activity, level of violence, and overall statewide strength and
presence. The tier rankings represent the threat posed by various gangs on a statewide level and do
not necessarily represent the greatest gang threat in any particular city, county, or region. For
example, a Tier 3 gang could be a significant public safety threat in a particular community because
of their involvement in drug distribution, sex trafficking of children, and “takeover” robberies. The
Tier 1 gangs are:
 Tango Blast and associated Tango cliques (Estimated 22,000-25,000 members)
 Texas Mexican Mafia (Estimated 4,000-6,000 members)
 Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) (Estimated 600-1,000 members)
 Barrio Azteca (Estimated 1,000-2,500 members)
• (U) Some members within traditional gangs, such as Texas Syndicate and Texas Mexican
Mafia, operate independently of the gang. Continuous and successful law enforcement operations
targeting traditionally organized gangs have resulted in some members working outside of the gang.
In addition, some members are reluctant to take on leadership roles in order to avoid criminal
enterprise investigations and prosecutions.
• (U) Younger gang members are relinquishing traditional gang structure and rules, opting for
less organizational oversight and the freedom to serve in self-interested roles. The new
generation of gang members prefer a free enterprise, no-oversight approach to their criminal
operations, as seen in gangs such as Tango Blast. Previously, many Texas gangs operated under a
strict rule of “blood in, blood out,” which mandated members to remain in the gang for life or face
punishment. Now younger gang members are committing crimes in order to enjoy the profits for
themselves, without first receiving permission from gang leadership.
• (U) Motorcycle gangs continue to challenge the dominance of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle
Gang (OMG) in Texas. The aftermath of the deadly Waco incident involving the Bandidos on May
17, 2015, along with the arrests and convictions of the Bandidos national leadership, provides
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opportunities for OMGs, such as the Mongols, to operate and claim Texas as territory. Disgruntled
Bandidos members in Texas created a rival motorcycle gang called the Kinfolk, which led to violent
conflicts around the state.
• (U) Gangs use social media to communicate, boast, and recruit. Gang members of all ages use
social media and video-sharing websites to brag, recruit, promote, and antagonize. They also utilize
encrypted mobile messaging applications to communicate privately to thwart law enforcement’s
ability to counter their criminal activities.
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(U) Table of Contents
(U) Title Page ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
(U) Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
(U) Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
(U) Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
(U) Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
(U) State Intelligence Estimates ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12
(U) Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
(U) Prioritization and Criteria ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
(U) MS-13 Remains a Tier 1 Threat ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
(U) The Return of Barrio Azteca as a Tier 1 Threat ………………………………………………………………………….. 20
(U) Law Enforcement Strategies…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
(U) Gang Encounters During Operations North Star & Alamo …………………………………………………………… 27
(U) Regional Assessments …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28
(U) Gang Involvement in Scouting for Smuggling Operations in South Texas …………………………………….. 35
(U) Gang Organization …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 36
(U) Gang Relationships …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
(U) Offense Types for Gang Members in Texas Prisons ……………………………………………………………………. 40
(U) Gang Involvement in Sex Trafficking ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
(U) Outlook …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 42
(U) Appendix 1: Overview of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Gangs ……………………………………………………………………… 44
(U) Appendix 2: Other Contributing Agencies …………………………………………………………………………………. 54
(U) References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 60
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(U) Acknowledgments
(U) The Texas Joint Crime Information Center collaborated with law enforcement and criminal
justice agencies across Texas and the United States in the production of this State Intelligence Estimate.
Their contributions were invaluable in developing a comprehensive assessment of the threat posed by
gangs in Texas, and they underscore the commitment among law enforcement and criminal justice
agencies in Texas to share information and intelligence in order to effectively combat crime and improve
public safety. The Joint Crime Information Center thanks these agencies and centers for contributing to
the production of this assessment.
(U) It is also important to acknowledge the essential contributions of the many law enforcement agencies
throughout Texas who routinely report gang and border-related incidents, which also contributed to this
report. This includes Operation Border Star participants and agencies that contribute information to the
Texas Gang Investigative Database (TxGang). Contributing agencies are listed in Appendix 2.
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(U) Preface
(U) This threat assessment is submitted to the Governor and Legislature of Texas in response to the
requirements of Texas Government Code §421.082. In addition to meeting these requirements, this threat
assessment provides a broad overview of criminal gang activity throughout the state of Texas.
(U) Texas Penal Code §71.01(d) defines a criminal street gang as three or more persons having a
common identifying sign or symbol or an identifiable leadership who continuously or regularly associate
in the commission of criminal activities.
(U) This assessment was produced by the Texas Joint Crime Information Center in the form of a State
Intelligence Estimate. It includes the contributions of a wide range of law enforcement and criminal
justice agencies in the state.
(U) The statements, conclusions, and assessments included in this report were reached based on a review
and analysis of information from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and local reports of varying
degrees of sensitivity and reliability, and open-source reporting.
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(U) State Intelligence Estimates
(U) In order to enhance the state’s ability to detect, assess, and prioritize threats to the safety and security
of its citizens, the Texas Department of Public Safety implemented a State Intelligence Estimate process
after consultation with the National Intelligence Council, based in part on the model of the National
Intelligence Estimate.
(U) State Intelligence Estimates are multi-agency assessments on issues relating to homeland security
and public safety in Texas. They serve as the most authoritative and comprehensive analysis of these
issues, and they are designed to provide law enforcement and government officials with the most accurate
evaluation of current information on a given topic. State Intelligence Estimates are intended to provide an
assessment on the status of an issue, but they may also include estimative conclusions that make forecasts
about future developments and identify the implications for Texas.
(U) Unlike reports and assessments produced by an individual agency or center, State Intelligence
Estimates draw on the information and expertise of multiple law enforcement and homeland security
agencies across Texas. Such an approach is essential to developing a comprehensive assessment of issues
that affect the state as a whole. By incorporating the perspectives and information from multiple agencies,
the Texas Department of Public Safety is better able to produce assessments that support the development
of proactive strategies and policies needed to address current and evolving threats to the state.
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(U) Introduction
(U) This assessment updates the findings of the Texas Public Safety Threat Overview and the previous
Texas Gang Threat Assessment, and following these publications serves as the annual evaluation of the
gang threat in Texas. Most of the data and information contained within this assessment covers events
occurring between September 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017. While many of the underlying trends and
characteristics of gang activity have not changed substantially since the last assessment, this report
includes relevant updates and detailed information on several key aspects of gang activity. Analytical
methodologies for gang evaluations are often modified from previous reports, and thus some reporting is
not comparable with previous assessments.
(U) The purpose of this assessment is to identify and evaluate the threat posed by gangs and gang-related
crime in Texas by examining several key aspects of gang activity. The first section of this report explains
the criteria and factors the Joint Crime Information Center uses to assess the threat posed by an individual
gang. The subsequent sections discuss law enforcement efforts to target the gang threat, gang activity in
various regions of the state, gang organizational issues, gang relationships, and offense types for gang
members in Texas prisons. As a final point, this assessment presents an outlook of gang activity in Texas.
(U) There are many challenges in measuring and assessing the gang threat within Texas. Quantitative
information regarding gangs and gang activity is somewhat limited, and the data available is not
necessarily comprehensive. The number of gang members in Texas is dynamic, with new members
entering Texas undetected, gangs regularly seeking new recruits, and the movement of existing members.
Furthermore, the ability of law enforcement agencies to collect and report detailed gang information
electronically varies. Lastly, not all gang members are known to law enforcement, resulting in the
underreporting of gang-involved criminal activity.
(U) The Texas Department of Public Safety created an online catalog to enable the exchange of gang
intelligence information among criminal justice agencies, based on the requirements of Chapter 61 of the
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The Texas Gang Investigative Database, or TxGang, is an online
intelligence database available for all levels of law enforcement to track gang members. All local, state, or
federal law enforcement agencies engaging in the administration of criminal justice are permitted to use
TxGang. The Department continues to work with its law enforcement partners to increase the level of
participation. More information on TxGang is available at www.dps.texas.gov/txgangs.
(U) Despite the above-mentioned limitations, the available quantitative information, combined with
intelligence and information derived from investigations and multiple others sources, provides a reliable
overview of gang activity in Texas.

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This chart represents the threat posed by the various gangs on a statewide level and does not necessarily represent the greatest gang threat in any particular
region. All gangs are denoted as collective groups statewide although some may operate as completely independent cliques.
(U) 2018 Texas Gang Threat Rankings
TIER 2
TIER 1
TIER 3
(U) Prioritization and Criteria
(U) The Texas Joint Crime Information Center uses a threat assessment matrix to compare and evaluate
the threat posed by individual gangs at a statewide level. This matrix consists of 11 factors used in
determining each identified gang’s threat potential. The factors are rated using a weighted, point-based
system to achieve a composite score. This score provides a measurement of the overall threat level of
each gang. Gangs with the highest scores are deemed the most significant and are classified as Tier 1,
with other significant gangs classified as Tier 2 and Tier 3. Considering thousands of gangs are identified
in Texas, this threat assessment matrix is a necessary tool in prioritizing which gangs pose the greatest
threat on a statewide scale.
(U) The rankings in Figure 1 show the threat posed by these gangs to the state as a whole. The gangs
evaluated as the greatest threat at the statewide level do not necessarily pose the greatest threat in every
community. Similarly, the gangs that pose the greatest threat in one particular community may be local
and not active elsewhere. Some of the gangs listed in Figure 1 are composed of multiple sets and cliques
that adhere to a common culture and identity, though the individual cliques may operate autonomously.
The threat posed by any particular gang is often dynamic, and a threat assessment tool such as this is
designed to be fluid.
(U) Figure 1: Joint Crime Information Center 2018 Gang Rankings
*includes all associated sets/cliques
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(U) The factors included in the Joint Crime Information Center 2018 gang threat assessment matrix
include:
• (U) Relationship with Cartels: Examines the degree to which a gang is connected to Mexicobased drug cartels. Gangs are assessed as having no or limited relationships, relationships based
on third-party contacts, or as having direct contacts.
• (U) Transnational Criminal Activity: Considers whether a gang has transnational criminal
connections, including human smuggling, as well as whether a gang’s criminal activity has spread
into transnational territory.
• (U) Level of Criminal Activity: Rates the type and frequency of crimes perpetrated by the gang.
Crimes are rated on a scale covering a range of offenses, from misdemeanors to various levels of
felonies.
• (U) Level of Violence: Assesses the overall level of violence perpetrated by the gang in its
criminal activity. It ranges from generally non-violent offenses, such as money laundering, to
crimes involving extreme violence, such as torture and murder.
• (U) Prevalence throughout Texas: Determines the extent to which a gang is active throughout
the state. The geographic reach of some gangs is limited to specific cities or regions of Texas,
while others are widespread across the state.
• (U) Relationship with Other Gangs: Examines the nature of a gang’s alliances and influence
with other gangs. This may involve limited and temporary contacts, formal alliances, or the direct
oversight of some gangs by others.
• (U) Total Strength: Assesses the known size of the gang, measured by the number of
individuals confirmed by law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. This number is usually
an underrepresentation of the true size of the gang since many members are unknown to law
enforcement.
• (U) Statewide Organizational Effectiveness: Examines the gang’s effectiveness in organizing
members under its leadership across the state.
• (U) Juvenile Membership: Considers the extent to which the gang recruits juveniles and is
active in schools, as recruitment of minors is a unique threat.
• (U) Threat to Law Enforcement: Considers the extent to which the gang represents a threat to
law enforcement. Some gang members may only use violence to resist arrest or to flee from law
enforcement, while others may actively target officers.
• (U) Involvement in Sex Trafficking: Examines the gang’s involvement in sex trafficking
activities, including the sex trafficking of juveniles.
(U) In order to provide the most accurate assessment of the threat posed by gangs in the state, the Joint
Crime Information Center monitors gang-related information and updates the rankings on at least an
annual basis. The 2018 rankings in Figure 1 reflect changes from the previous gang rankings, shown in
Figure 2 (next page).
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(U) Figure 2: Joint Crime Information Center 2016 Gang Rankings
(U) While some gangs received similar rankings over the past year, the evaluation of gangs is ongoing
and will evolve over time as law enforcement works to reduce their effectiveness. The most noteworthy
highlights regarding the current gang rankings include:
• (U) Barrio Azteca once again ranks as a Tier 1 threat in Texas. Their transnational criminal
activities and relationships with both the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels, as well as expanded areas of
operation in Texas, increased their threat status to a Tier 1 threat.
• (U) The Latin Kings rank as a Tier 2 threat in Texas for 2018, dropping from their Tier 1 status
since 2015. Major law enforcement operations within the past few years targeting the Latin Kings
in Texas have helped dismantle their organizational effectiveness statewide.
• (U) Both the Gangster Disciples and the Texas Chicano Brotherhood rose as Tier 2 threats for
2018. New reporting indicates their expanded presence throughout the state, strong organizational
structure, rivalries with other gangs, and reported threats to law enforcement.
• (U) The Kinfolk Motorcycle Gang (MG) has been added as a Tier 3 threat. Although the gang
is relatively new, created in the summer of 2016, Kinfolk MG has already been associated with
murder, engaging in organized criminal activity, aggravated assaults, possession of illegal drugs,
manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, and numerous other offenses. The Kinfolk MG
and Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang have a violent rivalry.
(U) 2016 Texas Gang Threat Rankings
Tier 2
*includes associated cliques
This chart represents the threat posed by the various gangs on a statewide level and does not necessarily represent the greatest gang threat in any particular
region. All gangs are denoted as collective groups statewide although some may operate as completely independent cliques.
Tier 1
Tier 3
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(U) MS-13 Remains a Tier 1 Threat
(U) Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) remains a Tier 1 gang threat to Texas. The Texas Joint Crime
Information Center (JCIC) first evaluated MS-13 as a Tier 1 threat in Texas in 2015 and, through
continued evaluation, Texas continues to experience criminal activity perpetrated by MS-13 gang
members, including murder, extortion, firearms offenses, drug offenses, and assaults. Texas has
historically been a thoroughfare used by MS-13 to enter the United States. In recent years, however,
Houston has become a destination point for MS-13, and the FBI has identified Houston as a hot spot for
MS-13 presence and violence.
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• (U) In July 2018, ICE in Dallas indicted eight MS-13 gang members for six separate violent
attacks between July-September 2017. The victims included five 18th Street Gang members, who
were subjected to assaults, attempted murders, robberies, and extortion.
2

• (U) As of January 2018, ICE reported that 64 of the 214 MS-13 suspects arrested as part of
Operation Raging Bull had illegally crossed the border as Unaccompanied Alien Children. The
MS-13 gang members arrested during the operation were facing federal and/or state charges
including murder, aggravated robbery, racketeering offenses, drug trafficking and possession,
firearms offenses, domestic violence, assault, forgery, driving under the influence, illegal
entry/reentry, and administrative immigration violations.3

• (U) As of January 2018, an MS-13 member residing in northern Virginia gave directions to
members of MS-13 in Houston to shoot rival gang members who allegedly killed an MS-13
member, according to the US DOJ. In late January 2018, the Houston MS-13 members attempted
to kill suspected rival gang members while the Virginia-based MS-13 member and MS-13
members in El Salvador monitored the shooting by phone.4

• (U) As of August 2017, the Houston Police Department extradited a MS-13 gang member from
Virginia, according to open source reporting. The gang member faced charges for two capital
murders that occurred in Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Both of the MS-13 member’s victims
were also MS-13 members, including a 16-year-old male suspected of informing police of MS-13
activities.5
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(U) The Return of Barrio Azteca as a Tier 1 Threat
(U) The Texas Joint Crime Information Center (JCIC) evaluates Barrio Azteca as a Tier 1 threat in 2018
due to their expansion of operating areas, propensity for violence, continued and evolving relationships
with cartels and gangs, involvement in human, drug, and weapons smuggling, continuous exploitation of
the US and Texas border, and the increase of reporting from law enforcement investigations.
(U) Barrio Azteca maintains a significant presence on both sides of the border as members continue their
transnational criminal activities around the El Paso and Juarez corridor, including working with both the
Sinaloa Cartel and Juarez Cartel. Younger and newer Barrio Azteca members are opportunistic and will
work with other gangs and cartels, despite traditional gang rivalries or alliances. Regardless of alliances
or rivalries, Barrio Azteca’s ability to establish and maintain relationships in Mexico and in the United
States, as well as their historic presence in Mexico, has aided in their recovery of power and influence in
El Paso.
(U) Though its power and influence has fluctuated, Barrio Azteca has been able to regain a strong
influence in both Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Relationships with the cartels and gangs in Mexico and the
United States, though fluid, are integral to Barrio Azteca’s success as a criminal enterprise. The extent to
which Barrio Azteca operates, their excessive level of violence, their role in exploiting both sides of the
border, and the resurgence of those operations has led to an upgrade for 2018 as a Tier 1 threat to the
State of Texas.
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(U) Law Enforcement Strategies
(U) The multi-jurisdictional and evolving threat posed by transnational criminal organizations requires a
fully integrated approach to affect the most problematic gangs operating in Texas. It is essential to
recognize that consequences of transnational crime affect not only the border region, but have a
substantial impact on communities throughout Texas. Such organized crime throughout the state can be
reduced using proven strategies that dismantle the command and control networks of those criminal
organizations that most threaten public safety in Texas. Effectively reducing this threat requires
employing a variety of initiatives that harness the various capabilities of local, state, and federal law
enforcement, as well state and federal prosecutors.
(U) The combining of intelligence, patrol, investigative, and prosecutorial resources is essential for any
strategy to be effective. Working together from the onset of these investigations, investigators and
prosecutors must continue to utilize all available state and federal statutes that can aid in the successful
prosecution of senior and mid-level gang leadership. This unified approach is most effective when
agencies across jurisdictions integrate their efforts.
(U) One proven method for targeting gangs is the implementation of Texas Anti-Gang Centers (TAG) to
facilitate collaborative investigations between co-located multi-agency gang enforcement resources. Since
the opening of the first TAG center in Houston in 2013, five additional TAG centers have opened across
the state in Irving, El Paso, Lubbock, San Antonio and McAllen. Collectively, agencies participating in
the TAG centers have made over 9,000 arrests.
(U) The Texas Violent Gang Task Force (TVGTF) also contributes to the success of gang investigations
and intelligence sharing around the state by promoting interagency collaboration with the common goals
of prevention, intervention, suppression, and prosecution of gangs. The TVGTF’s efforts in this area are
complimented by the work of the Texas Gang Investigators Association (TGIA).
(U) Below are several examples of successful anti-gang operations and investigations that involved the
Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies.
• (U) In July 2017, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Special Agents along with personnel
from the DEA – Fort Worth, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ATF – Fort Worth, Fort
Worth Police Department, Parker County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshal’s
Service, conducted an operation resulting in the arrests of 32 individuals. The arrests were part of
an investigation that began in March 2015 into the criminal activities of the Aryan Brotherhood
of Texas, Aryan Circle, Tango Blast, Peckerwood, and Featherwood criminal gangs. Members
of these gangs were responsible for the distribution of more than 3,500 kilograms of
methamphetamine and various other crimes in Tarrant, Dallas, Parker, Johnson, Wise, Wichita,
Hood, Somerville, Brown, Smith, Denton, and Montague Counties, as well as the states of
Oklahoma, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In June 2017, 81 individuals were
indicted in the Northern District of Texas, including 39 individuals who were incarcerated in
federal, state or local custody for their role in the methamphetamine distribution organization. In
December 2017, an Aryan Brotherhood of Texas associate connected to the investigation was
found guilty of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of a Mixture
Containing Methamphetamine. The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas associate was also found to
operate an illegal gambling establishment in Fort Worth, which became a hub for Aryan
Brotherhood of Texas gang-related activity and drug trafficking, allowing Aryan Brotherhood
of Texas gang members to use the establishment to distribute drugs and discipline other gang
members. As a result of the investigation, 125 arrests were made, nine pounds of
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methamphetamine were seized, 37 weapons recovered, $26,000 in US currency seized and
approximately $16,000 in property was recovered. The defendants were sentenced to a range of
five years to life imprisonment with a total of 2,305 years received by all defendants involved in
this investigation.
• (U) In February 2017, DPS Special Agents, along with personnel from the Jacksonville Police
Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) –
Tyler, began an investigation targeting Bloods gang members trafficking drugs, primarily
methamphetamine, and weapons in the Jacksonville, Texas area. Additionally, these suspects
were involved in numerous violent criminal activities in the Jacksonville area to include
shootings, robberies and assaults. In October 2017, the defendants were named in an indictment
returned by a federal grand jury and charged with multiple offenses, including Conspiracy to
Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine and other Controlled
Substances; Use, Carrying, Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Felon in Possession of Firearms; Distribution of Methamphetamine near a Playground; and
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on Premises where Children are Present.
As a result of the investigation, 14 defendants were arrested, six of whom were documented
Bloods criminal street gang members, and approximately 708 grams of methamphetamine, 2.5
ounces of crack, seven grams of cocaine and six weapons, including one assault rifle, were
seized. In March 2018, six of the defendants pleaded guilty to charges including Possession with
Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and other controlled substances; Distribution of
Methamphetamine near a Playground; and Possession with Intent to Distribute
Methamphetamine. Under federal statutes, the defendants are facing sentences ranging from five
to 80 years in federal prison.
• (U) In June 2016, DPS Special Agents assigned to the TAG Center in Houston began a multiagency criminal enterprise investigation involving a transnational gang known as Los
Tumbadores. DPS Special Agents worked with their TAG counterparts from the Houston Police
Department and HSI to develop intelligence on the criminal activities of the group. Through
collaborative efforts, officers identified a group of criminals from Honduras who were targeting
other criminals to steal their drugs, money, or human cargo. Due to the nature of the crimes and
objects of attack, these crimes often went unreported to law enforcement. The criminal activities
of the Los Tumbadores were highly organized, and identifying the members was challenging
due to many members being in the United States illegally. The gang planned robberies of criminal
businesses, home invasions of stash houses, and kidnappings of smuggled individuals to hold for
ransom. The gang used violence to commit their crimes, including homicide, and often times
tortured their victims to gain information. The gang had an established hierarchy with the leaders
communicating directly with criminal elements in Honduras. The case culminated in October
2017 when Agents and Officers arrested gang members attempting to steal drugs from a
residence. In late 2017, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned a 16-count
federal indictment against 11 defendants of 60 individual charges for Conspiracy to Interfere with
Commerce by Robbery, Aiding and Abetting Interference with Commerce Robbery, Aiding and
Abetting Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, Illegal
Alien in Possession of Firearm/Robbery, and Illegal Re-entry. The case was adopted federally
and resulted in 21 arrests, along with the following seizures: 30.39 grams of cocaine, over
$65,000 in US currency, 15 firearms, one vehicle, and numerous rounds of ammunition and spent
casings. In addition, 14 illegal aliens were recovered and two homicides were solved.
• (U) In 2017, a multi-agency investigation concluded regarding the drug trafficking activities of
members and associates of the Bloods criminal street gang in the Bryan/College Station, Brazos
County, Texas area. The investigation resulted in the indictment and arrest of 22 individuals, with
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25 charges being filed, including charges for Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance
Penalty Group 1, Less than one gram, in a Drug Free Zone. Further, the investigation resulted in
the seizure of approximately 450 grams of cocaine, including over 200 grams of crack cocaine,
marijuana, firearms, and US currency. Defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from
six months to 25 years within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The investigation was
conducted by DPS Special Agents, Bryan Police Department, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office,
and the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Texas Highway Patrol
and the Texas Rangers.
• (U) As the result of a multi-year, multi-agency investigation into the criminal activities of
members and associates of the Texas Mexican Mafia operating in Eagle Pass, Texas, in January
2018, 16 individuals were sentenced in the Western District of Texas to a combined total of
nearly 300 years in federal prison. The investigation began in 2011 and was a combined effort of
the DPS Special Agents, FBI – Del Rio, Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Pass Police
Department, and HSI – Del Rio.
• (U) In June 2017, several members of the Texas Mexican Mafia were sentenced to significant
terms in prison for their roles in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization conspiracy. All
of the defendants were charged in a conspiracy involving underlying criminal activities such as
drug distribution, extortion and money laundering from Nov. 1, 2013, through May 30, 2014.
The members sentenced included ranking members, including the Captain, Lieutenants, and
Sergeant over the Corpus Christi area. Defendants received sentences ranging from 70 months to
222 months in federal prison. DPS Special Agents, FBI, ATF, DEA, USMS, Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, and police departments in Corpus Christi,
Port of Corpus Christi, Victoria, Portland, Aransas Pass and Ingleside all assisted in the joint
investigation.
• (U) In November 2016, DPS Special Agents and DPS Troopers, along with El Paso Police
Department’s Gang and SWAT Units, arrested seven individuals for Engaging in Organized
Criminal Activity – Aggravated Robbery. Of the seven arrested, one individual was a member of
the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG), four individuals were members of the One
Motorcycle Club and two individuals were members of the Brass Knuckle Motorcycle Club. The
warrants were issued following the aggravated robbery of a member of the Los Traviesos
Motorcycle Club in August 2016 at a restaurant in El Paso. Law enforcement personnel also
conducted a search warrant at the residence of one of the Brass Knuckle Motorcycle Club
members in Horizon City, Texas, which resulted in the seizure of short-barreled long rifles,
numerous military ordinance and items associated with the construction of explosive devices.
The following day, law enforcement conducted a secondary search at the same residence and
located more than 150 explosive devices and materials used to create them, along with several
weapons. The individual was arrested and federally charged for Unlawful Possession of a
Machine Gun.
• (U) In 2017, DPS Special Agents, along with the Midland and Odessa Police Departments, Ector
County Sheriff’s Office, US Attorney’s Office, DEA, and the Midland and Ector County District
Attorney’s Office, concluded an 18-month investigation addressing the high auto theft rates in the
Midland and Odessa area. The case was focused primarily on subjects who were members and
associates of the Aryan Circle and the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, both of which are
recognized as criminal organizations with a significant threat potential. Members of these gangs
collaborated to steal vehicles to further their criminal activities. The vehicles were altered and
either resold or used to commit other crimes including drug and weapons trafficking, robbery,
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
25
burglary, prostitution, mail theft, identity theft, forgery of bank checks and credit card fraud. The
investigation resulted in 115 total seizures to include 34 drug seizures valued at $58,644.00, 26
firearm seizures valued at $17,548.00, 55 stolen vehicle recoveries valued at $719,817.00 and six
stolen property seizures. Special Agents filed 147 charges that resulted in 21 indictments, 93
arrests and 20 convictions on individuals involved in the organization. Law enforcement efforts
into these criminal organizations led to the disruption and dismantling of the activities of these
gang members in the Midland/Odessa area.
• (U) In October 2017, the final defendant in a multi-year, multi-agency investigation into the
criminal activities of members and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas operating in
Potter County, Texas, was indicted in federal court. The nearly three-year investigation resulted in
the arrest of 22 suspects and the seizure of approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine,
marijuana, 12 firearms, and nearly $79,000 in US currency. Texas DPS, Amarillo Police
Department, FBI, and ATF were involved in the investigation.
• (U) In February 2017, DPS Special Agents concluded a multi-year investigation targeting
members and associates of the Texas Syndicate operating in the South Plains area of Texas.
Several Texas Syndicate gang members and their associates were sentenced to federal prison for
their role in a methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana distribution conspiracy in Lubbock,
Lamb, and Hockley Counties. One of the Texas Syndicate gang members was sentenced to 327
months (27 ¼ years) in federal prison. Three associates were sentenced to 33 months, 151
months, and 48 months, respectively. Additionally, one of the Texas Syndicate associates
sentenced, identified as a Bloods gang member, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison.
The sentencings were a result of a joint investigation between DPS and the DEA, where in June
2016, nine West Texas residents were arrested on federal charges. As a result of the investigation,
approximately 224 grams of methamphetamine, five weapons and $41,198 in US currency was
seized.
• (U) In March 2017, DPS Special Agents in San Antonio, along with DPS Troopers, the Texas
Rangers Special Operations, and personnel from the FBI and the DEA, conducted a warrant
round-up on four members of the Bandidos OMG. The federal arrest warrants were issued
following their indictment related to the 2006 murder of a male subject in Austin, who reportedly
was attempting to start a Texas chapter of the Hells Angels OMG. In January 2016, the highestranking leaders of the Bandidos OMG, including the National President and National VicePresident, were arrested for federal racketeering and drug distribution charges. The 23-month
investigation, known as Operation Texas Rocker, highlighted the methamphetamine trafficking
activities of the Bandidos OMG, as well as other related criminal activity. Two of the four
members arrested in March pleaded guilty in September 2017 to one count of Murder in Aid of
Racketeering and one count of Aiding and Abetting Using and Discharging a Firearm During and
in Relation to a Crime of Violence, specifically Murder. In May 2018, the remaining defendants
were found guilty on all charges they faced. Sentencing is expected to occur in the latter part of
2018.
• (U) In May 2017, federal, state and local authorities arrested 26 individuals, including a Texas
Mexican Mafia General. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a total of 37
defendants including eight who were already in custody. Charges contained in a federal grand
jury indictment unsealed in San Antonio are: conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or
violence (Count 1); conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (Count 2); possession with
intent to distribute a controlled substance (Count 3); use, carrying, or discharging a firearm in
relation to a drug trafficking crime (Count 4). The indictment alleged that the defendants are
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
26
responsible for distributing heroin and methamphetamine since January 2015 as well as collecting
the “dime,” a ten percent tax imposed by the Texas Mexican Mafia on non-members who
distribute drugs. This indictment resulted from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task
Force investigation conducted by the FBI and the DEA together with DPS, HSI, San Antonio
Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, New Braunfels Police Department, Medina
County Sheriff’s Office, Hondo Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 38th
Judicial District.
• (U) As the result of a year-long investigation into a methamphetamine distribution network
involving members and associates of the Texas Chicano Brotherhood operating in the Dallas
area, in December 2016, two Texas Chicano Brotherhood gang members were sentenced to
federal prison. One gang member was sentenced to 60 months and a second Texas Chicano
Brotherhood gang member was sentenced to 65 months for their roles in transporting kilogramquantities of methamphetamine from Dallas to Houston and San Antonio. In February 2017, a
Texas Chicano Brotherhood associate was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for their
role in the distribution network. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,000
grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana. DPS Special Agents along with
personnel from the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
27
(U) Gang Encounters During Operations North Star & Alamo
(U) In 2017, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to assist local
law enforcement agencies experiencing increases in violent crime in their jurisdictions. Operation North
Star in Harris County began in April 2017 and the San Antonio Violent Crime Task Force (Operation
Alamo) in San Antonio and Bexar County began in January 2017, with DPS joining the operation in May
2017. Both operations integrate intelligence, patrol and investigations to prevent crime in these high threat
areas, including gang-related crimes and violence. Gang encounters in the respective area of operations
vary both by type of activity, as well as gang affiliation.
(U) The most frequently encountered gangs during Operation North Star were Bloods and Tango Blast –
Houston. Other gangs repeatedly encountered were Gangster Disciples, Aryan Brotherhood of Texas,
MS-13, Peckerwoods, Sureños, Aryan Circle, and Latin Kings. Gangs encountered less frequently
were Partido Revolucionario Mexicano and Texas Mexican Mafia. Harris County was experiencing
robberies involving gang members operating in hybrid crews. Not all gang encounters reported criminal
activity, as some encounters resulted from traffic stops and warrants served. Arrests made during
Operation North Star included robbery and burglary offenses, drug offenses, weapons offenses, and
pursuit offenses.
(U) The most frequently encountered gang during Operation Alamo was Tango Orejon. Other gangs
repeatedly encountered include Bloods, Texas Mexican Mafia, Crips, Latin Kings, Texas Syndicate
and Sureños. Gangs encountered less frequently were Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, Aryan Circle,
Bandidos OMG, Gangster Disciples, Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos, MS-13 and Peckerwoods.
Not all encounters were reports of criminal activity, as some encounters were traffic stops, observations
of suspicious activity (scouting), consensual contact, and warrants served. Arrests made during Operation
Alamo include charges for drug and weapons offenses, DWIs, pursuit offenses, and robberies.
(U) Among these encounters are examples of different, and sometimes rival, gangs working together for
mutual benefit through organized criminal activity.
• (U) In April 2018, DPS Troopers assigned to Operation Alamo conducted a traffic stop and
discovered a confirmed Tango Orejon member and a self-identifying Latin Kings member
riding in the same vehicle. Officers conducted a vehicle search and found multiple credit cards in
names that did not correspond to the occupants, tools that could be associated with robbery (bolt
cutters, crowbar, rope, duct tape, and large knives), and a ledger with prostitution indicators
(pictures of females, locations, price of sexual acts, length of time, phone number and customers).
• (U) In August 2017, DPS Special Agents assigned to Operation North Star identified an
organized serial burglary crew believed to be responsible for multiple robberies and pharmacy
burglaries in the Houston area and out of state (Missouri). Confirmed Black Disciples gang
members (a Folk Nation gang), and a confirmed 59 Bounty Hunters (Bloods) gang member (a
People Nation gang) were subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including burglary and
manufacturing of a controlled substance, in Phelps County, Missouri.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
28
(U) Regional Assessments
(U) We assess gang activity likely occurs in nearly all counties in Texas, based on available information
and data from multiple sources. To aid and inform law enforcement and government officials with the
gang threat potential in their respective jurisdiction, we provide state regional assessments of gang activity
based upon Texas DPS regions (see Map 4).6

(U) Individual gang activity varies among Texas DPS regions. Gangs can range from small groups
composed of a few members within a local community to large organizations with thousands of members
active throughout multiple countries. The statewide rankings evaluate the threat posed by gangs to the
state as a whole, and therefore, some gangs identified as a threat at the statewide level may not be the
most active or violent in a particular region. For example, when evaluating the localized criminal activity
of a particular gang, a statewide Tier 3 threat may pose the greatest threat within that area. For this reason,
a gang’s prevalence throughout Texas is only one of the factors used to assess its overall threat.
Additionally, law enforcement agencies continue to investigate significant gangs, completing successful
operations resulting in the arrest and prosecution of high-level gang leaders and members. These efforts
often result in changes to the most significant gangs by region during the next assessment period.
(U) While the greatest concentrations of gang activity tend to be in the larger metropolitan areas, gang
members are also found in surrounding suburban and rural areas. Gang activity is prevalent in the
counties adjacent to Mexico, since many Texas-based gangs are involved in cross-border smuggling and
trafficking. Transnational gangs operating in Texas, such as Barrio Azteca and MS-13, engage in criminal
activity in Mexico and elsewhere.
(U) The following regional summaries provide an assessment of the most significant gangs operating in
each of the six Texas DPS regions. Available gang data was analyzed to evaluate gang presence and
activity in each region. Data sources include local and federal law enforcement agencies, as reported in the
Texas Gang Investigative Database (TxGang), Texas DPS Crime Records Service (CRS), Texas DPS
Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), and the Federal Bureau of
Prisons (FBOP). A detailed list of contributing agencies can be found in Appendix 2.
(U) Map 4: Areas of Assessed Gang Activity in Texas, by County
DPS Regional Map
1. North
2. Southeast
3. South
4. West
5. Northwest
6. Central
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
29
71%
2%
<1%
1%
22%
4%
(U) GANG ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES – NORTH REGION
ASSAULT
HOMICIDE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING
ROBBERY
SEXUAL ASSAULT
(U) DPS North Texas Region
(U) The most significant gangs in North Texas for 2018
include Bloods (multiple sets), Crips (multiple sets),
Tango Blast (Dallas and Fort Worth), Sureños (multiple
sets), Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, and Aryan Circle.
Recent reporting also indicates transnational gangs 18th
Street and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) are present and
active in Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
(U) Although law enforcement continues to significantly
disrupt the operations and leadership of the Aryan
Brotherhood of Texas and Aryan Circle around the state,
each maintains a heavy presence in the Dallas-Fort
Worth (DFW) Metroplex and surrounding rural areas.
Law enforcement agencies within the region also report
a significant presence of Gangster Disciples, Latin
Kings, and Peckerwoods. Officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth area note the presence of local gangs
including the Eastside Homeboys, Varrio Centro, and Varrio Northside.
(U) Gang members with the most arrests for violent crimes in North Texas belong to Bloods (multiple
sets), Crips (multiple sets), Sureños (multiple sets), and Tango Blast (Dallas and Fort Worth), based on
reported arrest data from FY2017 through CY2017. The majority of arrests for violent crimes committed
by these gangs include assaults (inc. aggravated) and robberies (inc. aggravated). Bloods (multiple sets),
Crips (multiple sets), and Tango Blast (Dallas and Fort Worth) had the highest number of arrests for
assaults (inc. aggravated), and Bloods (multiple sets) and Sureños (multiple sets) had the highest number
of arrests for sexual assaults (inc. aggravated). Crips (multiple sets) and Sureños (multiple sets) had the
highest number of arrests for kidnapping (inc. aggravated). Bloods (multiple sets) and Crips (multiple sets)
had the highest number of arrests for homicide.
(U) Figure 4: Arrests of TxGang identified gang members September 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, as reported to Texas DPS
(U) Map 6: DPS North Texas Region Counties of Reported
Gang Members. The North Texas Region contains the MSAs of
Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler, Longview, Texarkana, and Sherman.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
30
(U) DPS Southeast Texas Region
(U) The most significant gangs in Southeast Texas for
2018 include Bloods (multiple sets), Crips (multiple sets),
Tango Blast (Houston), Aryan Brotherhood of Texas,
and Sureños (multiple sets). Although law enforcement
continues to significantly disrupt the operations and
leadership of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas around the
state, the gang maintains an active presence in the counties
of Harris and Montgomery. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
maintains an active presence and is highly concentrated in
Harris and Montgomery counties.
(U) Other significant gangs with a large presence in
Southeast Texas include Gangster Disciples and Latin
Kings. The Latin Kings are especially active in the
counties of Brazos, Harris, and Montgomery. Law
enforcement agencies within the region also report a presence of Peckerwoods and Texas Syndicate.
Houston-area officials identify several local gangs, such as Southwest Cholos and 5th Ward Circle, as
highly active with a significant presence.
(U) According to reported arrest data from FY2017 through CY2017, the majority of gang arrests in
Southeast Texas were for drug and property crimes. Gang members with the most arrests for violent crimes
in Southeast Texas belong to Bloods (multiple sets), Crips (multiple sets), and Tango Blast (Houston).
The majority of arrests for violent crimes were for assault (inc. aggravated) and robbery (inc. aggravated).
Bloods (multiple sets) and Crips (multiple sets) had the highest number of arrests for sexual assault (inc.
aggravated) and homicide.
(U) Figure 5: Arrests of TxGang identified gang members September 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, as reported to Texas DPS
(U) Map 7: DPS Southeast Texas Region Counties of Reported
Gang Members. The Southeast Texas Region contains the
MSAs of Houston, Beaumont, and College Station.
74%
2%
1%
1%
19%
3%
(U) GANG ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES – SOUTHEAST REGION
ASSAULT
HOMICIDE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING
ROBBERY
SEXUAL ASSAULT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
31
(U) DPS South Texas Region
(U) The most significant gangs in South Texas for 2018
include the Tango Valluco and Tango Corpito, Texas
Chicano Brotherhood, Texas Mexican Mafia, and Texas
Syndicate. The Texas Mexican Mafia and Texas Syndicate
are active in the counties of Hidalgo, Nueces, Jim Wells,
and Webb.
(U) Other gangs that maintain an active presence in the
region include Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL),
Sureños (multiple sets), Tri-City Bombers,
Paisas/Mexicles, Latin Kings, and Partido
Revolucionario Mexicano (PRM). Paisas/Mexicles and
PRM are highly active in Hidalgo County, while HPL is
active in Cameron County. Officials report a number of
Raza Unida members in the counties of Jim Wells and
Nueces. Law enforcement officials in Hidalgo County also identify the presence of several local gangs,
such as the Po Boys.
(U) According to reported arrest data from FY2017 through CY2017, the majority of gang arrests in South
Texas were for drug and property crimes. However, Sureños (multiple sets) and Texas Chicano
Brotherhood were arrested for more violent crimes than property crimes. Gang members with the most
arrests for violent crimes in South Texas belong to Tango Valluco and Tango Corpito, Texas Chicano
Brotherhood, and Texas Mexican Mafia. The majority of arrests for violent crimes were assaults (inc.
aggravated). Tangos (Valluco and Corpito) and Texas Chicano Brotherhood had the highest number of
arrests for robbery (inc. aggravated), and Tangos (Valluco and Corpito) had the highest number of arrests
for sexual assault (inc. aggravated).
86%
2%
<1%
10%
2%
(U) GANG ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES – SOUTH REGION
ASSAULT
HOMICIDE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
ROBBERY
SEXUAL ASSAULT
(U) Map 8: DPS South Texas Region Counties of Reported Gang
Members. The South Texas Region contains the MSAs of Corpus
Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo.
(U) Figure 6: Arrests of TxGang identified gang members September 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, as reported to Texas DPS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
32
85%
3%
2%
8%
2%
(U) GANG ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES – WEST REGION
ASSAULT
HOMICIDE
KIDNAPPING
ROBBERY
SEXUAL ASSAULT
(U) DPS West Texas Region
(U) The most significant gangs in West Texas for 2018
include Barrio Azteca, Bloods (multiple sets), Crips
(multiple sets), Gangster Disciples, Sureños (multiple
sets), Chuco Tangos and West Texas Tangos. The
majority of reported gang activity in West Texas occurs in
El Paso and Midland Counties. Officials report Chuco
Tango and West Texas Tango have the highest presence in
El Paso and Tom Green Counties. Barrio Azteca has a
documented presence throughout the West Texas Region,
with a majority of documented members in El Paso and
Midland Counties.
(U) Other significant gangs active throughout the region
include Latin Kings, Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and
Aryan Circle. While Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and
Aryan Circle have limited to no presence in El Paso
County, there is a documented presence of members in Ector, Midland, and Tom Green Counties. The
highest number of identified Latin Kings in West Texas are located in Tom Green County.
(U) According to reported arrest data from FY2017 through CY2017, the majority of gang arrests in West
Texas were for drug and violent crimes. Gang members with the most arrests for violent crimes in West
Texas belong to Barrio Azteca, Gangster Disciples, Sureños (multiple sets), West Texas Tangos, and
Chuco Tangos. The majority of arrests for violent crimes were for assault (inc. aggravated). Sureños
(multiple sets) and Tangos (Chuco and West Texas) had the highest number of arrests for homicide.
Tangos (Chuco and West Texas) also had the highest number of arrests for kidnapping (inc. aggravated),
robbery (inc. aggravated), and sexual assaults (inc. aggravated).
(U) Figure 7: Arrests of TxGang identified gang members September 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, as reported to Texas DPS
(U) Map 9: DPS West Texas Region Counties of Reported Gang
Members. The West Texas Region contains the MSAs of El
Paso, San Angelo, Midland, and Odessa.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
33
(U) DPS Northwest Texas Region
(U) The most significant gangs in Northwest Texas for
2018 include the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, Aryan
Circle, West Texas Tangos, Crips (multiple sets), and
Bloods (multiple sets). Crips, Aryan Brotherhood of Texas,
and Aryan Circle members have the highest number of
reports in Lubbock and Wichita Counties. Officials report a
significant number of Aryan Circle and Aryan Brotherhood
of Texas members in Potter County.
(U) Other significant gangs reported by law enforcement in
Northwest Texas are Barrio Azteca, Latin Kings, Texas
Mexican Mafia, Texas Syndicate, and Peckerwoods.
Local Law Enforcement officials also report several local
street gangs, including Puro Lil Mafia, Varrio
Carnales, and Northside Locos.
(U) According to reported arrest data from FY2017 through CY2017, the majority of gang arrests in
Northwest Texas were for drug and property crimes. However, Bloods (multiple sets) and Crips (multiple
sets) were arrested for more violent crimes than property crimes. Gang members with the most arrests for
violent crimes in Northwest Texas belong to Bloods (multiple sets), Crips (multiple sets), and West Texas
Tangos. The majority of arrests for violent crimes were for assault (inc. aggravated). West Texas Tangos
were arrested for the highest number of homicides, kidnappings (inc. aggravated), sexual assaults (inc.
aggravated), and robberies (inc. aggravated).
(U) Map 10: DPS Northwest Texas Region Counties of Reported
Gang Members. The Northwest Texas Region contains the MSAs
of Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, and Wichita Falls.
(U) Figure 8: Arrests of TxGang identified gang members September 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, as reported to Texas DPS
85%
3%
1%
9%
2%
(U) GANG ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES – NORTHWEST REGION
ASSAULT
HOMICIDE
KIDNAPPING
ROBBERY
SEXUAL ASSAULT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
34
(U) DPS Central Texas Region
(U) The most significant gangs in Central Texas for 2018
include Tango Blast (Austin) and Tango Orejon, Texas
Mexican Mafia, Bloods (multiple sets), and Crips
(multiple sets). Officials report high concentrations of
Texas Mexican Mafia members in Bexar, Comal, and Hays
Counties, as well as some presence in Medina County.
Crips and Bloods are reported in most counties in Central
Texas, but have a significant presence in Travis County, as
well as Bexar, McLennan, Bell, Williamson, Victoria, and
Hays.
(U) Other significant gangs found in this region include
the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, Aryan Circle,
Gangster Disciples, Texas Syndicate, Sureños (multiple
sets), Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, Latin Kings, and Peckerwoods. Reporting also documents a
small presence of Barrio Azteca, indicative of the gang’s movement eastward, as well as small presence of
Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
(U) According to reported arrest data from FY2017 through CY2017, the majority of gang arrests in
Central Texas were for drug and property crimes. However, Bloods (multiple sets) and Crips (multiple
sets) had more arrests for violent crimes than property crimes. Gang members with the most arrests for
violent crimes in Central Texas belong to Bloods (multiple sets), Crips (multiple sets), Tango Blast
(Austin) and Tango Orejon, and Texas Mexican Mafia. The majority of arrests for violent crimes were
for assault (inc. aggravated). Bloods (multiple sets) and Tangos (Austin and Orejon) had the highest
number of arrests for homicide and sexual assault (inc. aggravated).
(U) Figure 9: Arrests of TxGang identified gang members September 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, as reported to Texas DPS
(U) Map 11: DPS Central Texas Region Counties of Reported
Gang Members. The Central Texas Region contains the MSAs of
San Antonio, Austin, Killeen, Waco, and Victoria.
78%
4%
1%
1%
14%
2%
(U) GANG ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES – CENTRAL REGION
ASSAULT
HOMICIDE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING
ROBBERY
SEXUAL ASSAULT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
35
(U) Gang Involvement in Scouting for Smuggling Operations in
South Texas
(U) Mexican cartels continue to work with gangs along the US-Mexico border to further their smuggling
operations.7
To mitigate losses during drug and alien smuggling, cartels rely on networks of scouts to
conduct surveillance on law enforcement.8
Scouting is integral to the success of smuggling operations
along the border, and scouts and smugglers not only further criminal organizations’ illicit activities, they
also contribute to a dangerous environment that poses a threat to law enforcement and undermines public
safety.9,10 Within South Texas, law enforcement has encountered gang members performing scouting
duties for smuggling organizations.
(U) Encounters with scouts in South Texas often involve gang members in vehicles acting as mobile
scouts. Reports indicate that these mobile scouts travel in tandem with other vehicles transporting drugs
or illegal aliens, likely to warn the load vehicles of possible law enforcement interdiction. Several gangs
with documented involvement in scouting activities include Tango Blast, Texas Mexican Mafia, Texas
Chicano Brotherhood, Latin Kings, Texas Syndicate, Sureños, Paisas, and Border Brothers.
Examples of gang members involved in scouting activity include:
• (U) On September 29, 2017, a Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office Deputy assisted United States
Border Patrol (USBP) Agents with a traffic stop on a Dodge Ram in Carrizo Springs, Texas.
After a brief interview, the driver admitted they were in the area to scout for illegal alien
smugglers. The passenger was identified as a Border Brothers gang member and arrested for
public intoxication.11
• (U) On December 21, 2016, a Kinney County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop on
a Jeep traveling in tandem with a Scion and a Volkswagen, northeast of Brackettville, Texas. A
pursuit ensued and the Volkswagen attempted to block the Deputy from stopping the Jeep. The
Deputy and USBP later apprehended and detained the driver of the Jeep along with four illegal
aliens. The driver of the Scion was identified as a scout for the Jeep, and identified as a Sureños
member. Another USBP Agent and an Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a stop
on the Volkswagen and identified the driver as a Texas Mexican Mafia member who was
scouting for the Jeep.12
• (U) In September 2016, a DPS Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle departing
the Rio Grande River area in Starr County. The driver told a DPS Special Agent that he and the
passenger had been fishing prior to the stop. The Agent had suspicions the two were scouting the
riverbank ahead of alien or drug smuggling operations. The driver admitted to being a Tango
Valluco member and the passenger was identified as a Texas Chicano Brotherhood member.
The passenger was previously arrested for aggravated kidnapping in Starr County.13
• (U) On August 15, 2016, a Zavala County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a
Ford east of La Pryor, Texas. The vehicle was identified as a scout vehicle for a second vehicle,
which was transporting illegal aliens. The Deputy identified the driver of the scout vehicle as a
Tango Orejon gang member and arrested the driver for a Frio County warrant.14
(U) Scouts operating on behalf of cartels in South Texas attempt to avoid law enforcement detection by
operating overtly, and are able to conduct surveillance on law enforcement personnel from vehicles,
houses, and business establishments. In rural areas, scouts may surveil law enforcement by embedding in
the remote terrain, or by operating under the pretense of outdoor activities like fishing or ranch work. In
this way, scouts can collect information that may be useful to the cartels and their smuggling activities,
such as law enforcement presence within smuggling areas.15
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
36
(U) Gang Organization
(U) Gang structure in Texas may follow a variety of organizational models. These models vary in the
extent to which the leadership of the organization is centralized or hierarchical. All tiered gangs fall into
one of the below organizational models.
• (U) Paramilitary models include a hierarchical structure with clear distinction between ranks,
and may include military titles such as general, captain, lieutenant, sergeant and soldier. Senior
leaders issue orders to subordinates with the expectation that they will be carried out as instructed.
• (U) Regional Cell models are composed of several cells that are part of the same organization,
but generally act independently of one another at an operational level. Each cell may have a strict
internal hierarchy similar to a paramilitary model, though there may be little coordinated command
and control between cells.
• (U) Cliques (or Sets) within a gang tend to adopt a common culture and identity, but have few
tangible connections to each other. Each clique may or may not have a senior member that acts as
its leader. In some cases, cliques of the same gang may work in opposition to each other.
• (U) Loose Affiliation gangs have relaxed membership requirements and little to no detectable
leadership hierarchy. This model tends to be the most dynamic, allowing for rapid growth while
simultaneously limiting the extent to which members can be effectively managed.
(U) Gang Recruitment and Identification
(U) Gangs actively seek to grow their organizations, and use various recruitment strategies to attract new
members. Gang recruitment occurs within prisons, schools, neighborhoods, families, and even online.
The prison system and county jails offer gangs unique opportunities for recruiting new members who may
join for protection during incarceration. Gangs may recruit in order to have a majority of the prison
population and defend themselves from other gangs. Some gangs require their new members to serve the
gang for life, while others allow members to leave after their release from prison.
(U) Street gangs tend to recruit juveniles within schools and neighborhoods, enticing new members with
promises of money, popularity, protection, and family. Some juveniles have family members who are in a
gang, and follow their example by also joining the gang. Large gangs in Texas often direct young
members of smaller affiliated street gangs to commit crimes on their behalf. After completing these tasks,
the young members may be given the opportunity to advance up and join the larger gang.
(U) Gang members often use identifiers such as tattoos, graffiti, hand signals, colors, patches, and other
behaviors to identify their gang affiliations and turf.16 Gang tattoos can include proper spellings of gang
names and terms as well as abstract spellings or number substitutions. For example, Barrio Azteca members
use the number “21” to represent the second and first letters of the alphabet for its initials “BA.” The
Gangster Disciples use the numbers “2-15-19” to represent the letters “B-O-S,” which represents the phrase
“Brothers of the Struggle.” Gang tattoos can also include other symbols associated with the gang (i.e.
lightning bolts, pitchforks, sports teams, etc.) or location symbols that indicate the gang’s turf or place of
origin such as city skylines, highway markers, and other iconic landmarks.17 Street gangs commonly use
graffiti to identify themselves, the territory they claim, and to disrespect their rivals. Gang members often
use hand signals to identify each other. When abstractly viewed, gang hand signals often form the shape of
the gang name, the gang name initials, or some other symbol associated with the gang. For example, the
hand signals for the Bloods and Crips gangs form the shape of the letters B and C, respectively. In addition,
UNCLASSIFIED
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gang members might display the hand signals of their rivals in an “upside down” position as a sign of
disrespect. A gang often uses specific colors to identify its affiliation, to distinguish one gang subset within
a larger gang, or to indicate a gang’s association with a multi-gang alliance. Outlaw motorcycle gang
members wear distinct patches and insignia to identify their gang membership, their associated chapters or
regions, and their ranks within the organizations. While some gang members openly display one or more of
these identifiers, other gang members might use subtle displays of their gang affiliation to avoid detection
from law enforcement and to blend into mainstream society.18
(U) Gang-related material found on the internet and social media can serve as an influential recruiting
tool. Gangs use the internet and social media to manage their public image and to project their brand and
message far beyond the neighborhoods and regions where they operate. Gang members use social media
sites to upload posts, photos, and music videos that send a distorted image of gang lifestyle that might
appeal to impressionable youth.
(U) Gangs also use the internet and social media sites to recruit and conduct gang communications while
reducing the need to meet face-to-face. Gangs might also take advantage of the enhanced encryption
features in smartphone applications to avoid law enforcement scrutiny. These social media platforms also
give gangs the ability to select the intended audience of their communications. For example, messages
and photos intended to promote the gang’s image and accomplishments could be broadcast publicly while
internal gang communications could be disseminated to a select distribution list.
(U) Gangs and Race
(U) While gangs have historically formed along racial or ethnic lines, many gangs in Texas are becoming
increasingly racially and ethnically diverse. This might be due, in part, to increasingly diverse gang
member recruiting pools in a given area, the general loosening of traditional gang rules, and the willingness
to facilitate business between gangs of different races. In Texas, most gangs will work with nearly any
group in order to further their criminal objectives when it is mutually convenient and profitable, regardless
of race or ideology.
(U) Gangs that maintain racial exclusivity may do so because of perceived racial persecution,
disenfranchisement, or perceived racial superiority. In the prison environment, inmates tend to congregate
or associate with others of their own race or ethnicity, or band together for protection when racially
outnumbered. Gangs in Texas that remain composed of predominantly one race are the Aryan Brotherhood
of Texas, the Aryan Circle, the Texas Mexican Mafia, the Texas Syndicate, and the Latin Kings.
(U) Gangs and Females
(U) The number of confirmed female gang members in Texas is considerably lower than the number of
confirmed male gang members. Although seldom documented as gang members, females who have close
ties with gangs or gang members are often considered associates of the gangs. Historically, female gang
associates have served in supporting roles, facilitating gang-related criminal activities, communications,
and information gathering. In recent years, female gang associates have served in increasingly active roles
in gang-related crimes to include sex trafficking, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, and
murder. Texas gangs that allow females full membership or active involvement include Bloods, Crips,
Gangster Disciples, MS-13, 18th Street, Sureños, Tangos, and Latin Kings, whose female members are
known as Latin Queens.
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(U) Gang Relationships
(U) Gang relationships can range from traditional alliances and rivalries to opportunistic interactions and
hybrid gangs. These dynamic relationships develop for numerous reasons, including a need for protection,
common race, personal associations or familial ties, and proximity. However, the two factors that
predominately drive gang relationships are control and money.
(U) Rivalries between gangs can often result in violent conflicts. In contrast, opportunistic relationships
between gangs generally focus on revenue-generating operations and seek to avoid violence when
possible. Therefore, these opportunistic relationships aid the gangs’ success by growing the gang
financially and through self-preservation.
(U) Traditional Relationships: Rivalries and Alliances
(U) Alliances and rivalries between gangs are traditionally well defined and remain an integral part of
gang relationships. Alliances and rivalries are often based on similar or competing ideologies, or events
creating a positive or negative relationship between gangs. In addition, conflict between gangs can occur
when another gang interferes with another’s operations. These relationships are intended to further the
gangs’ objectives based on the need to increase revenue or control over gang territories.

(U) Rivalries can exist when a gang is willing to engage in violent conflicts over race, revenge,
superiority, or control over specific areas.The dynamic of gang rivalries often differs between those gang
members incarcerated in prison and those who are in the free world. However, the factors that drive
rivalries in both settings tend to involve the desire to control of or weaken another gang.
(U) Some gangs continue to maintain traditional alliances, or create new ones with the goal of combating
rivals to further common objectives, often related to money and influence. Gangs may also form alliances
to exert control over and gain the loyalties of another organization.
(U) Prevailing Relationships: Opportunistic Interactions, Hybrid Gangs, and Cartel
Relationships
(U) Recent trends show that historically non-associative gangs and even rivals seek opportunistic
relationships in order to generate increased revenue and influence. Interactions between gangs and cartels
are driven by similar factors. These opportunistic relationships are not always well defined and may differ
between members of the same gang; however, profit and control are typically the common factors driving
these relationships.
(U) Opportunistic relationships are often formed between gangs when opportunities arise to make money
and/or increase their influence, as these are crucial to a gang’s survival and growth. Drug trafficking and
alien smuggling are the criminal activities normally associated with these opportunistic relationships, as
these activities typically generate higher revenues.
(U) Mexican cartels have the greatest impact on drug trafficking in the United States, and therefore the
primary interaction between cartels and gangs is centered on making money through drug trafficking.
Cartels will also compensate gangs, particularly in South Texas, for carrying out illicit and violent acts or
scouting on their behalf. Gang and cartel relationships are prevalent along smuggling corridors and the
Texas-Mexico border, and are strongest when personal associations or familial ties exist between
members of the gang and cartel.
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(U) Hybrid membership is characterized as an individual having multiple gang affiliations. Gang
members may align themselves within the prison system with other gangs for protection if there are few
or no members from their own gang present. As a result, smaller gangs benefit from protection during
incarceration, and larger gangs may expand their influence. The primary factors that influence a hybrid
relationship in the free world are personal associations such as familial ties to various criminal
enterprises, location, power and increased revenue.
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(U) Offense Types for Gang Members in Texas Prisons
(U) Gang members in Texas commit a variety of crimes impacting the security of Texas communities,
such as sex trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, and public corruption. In addition, with
64% of the total US southwest border within Texas, gangs have a unique ability to develop relationships
with Mexican cartels and engage in the cross-border smuggling of people, weapons, drugs, and currency
not available or as profitable in other states. To analyze crime committed by gang members in Texas, the
JCIC measures criminal activity through the evaluation of conviction data of known gang members
incarcerated within TDCJ.
(U) The TDCJ conviction data analysis is based on the offense of record for confirmed and suspected
gang members incarcerated within TDCJ, as of December 31, 2017. The offense of record is the offense
that incarcerates the offender for the longest period. This data itself carries limitations, as it is sometimes
unknown if the offender committed the offense as a gang member, or became a gang member after
incarceration. Furthermore, this data may not always provide an accurate representation of the actual
crime or crimes committed as it may reflect a lesser charge resulting from plea-bargaining. Lastly, some
convictions do not appear during the scope of analysis due to the length of time between the offense and
conviction dates; thus, not all convictions are accounted for within the research period.
(U) Conviction data analysis in this report focuses on the 19 tier-ranked gangs identified in this
assessment. All offenses are collated into four categories of crime: Violent, Drug, Property, and Other.
These offense categories are based on the definitions set forth by Texas Statutes, as of December 31, 2017.
Violent crimes are those that involve force or threat of force toward persons. Drug crimes are crimes
involving the sale, manufacturing, delivery, or possession of drugs. Property crimes are theft-type offenses
involving the taking of money or property, or the damaging of property, but with no force or threat of
force against any person. The Other crimes category contains numerous offenses, and includes crimes
such as weapons offenses, evading and resisting arrest, taking weapon from officer, engaging in organized
criminal activity, money laundering, bribery, coercion, and obstruction or retaliation.
(U) Of concern are the violent crimes
committed by gangs. Approximately 52% of
tier level gang members incarcerated within
TDCJ are serving sentences for violent
crimes. Of those violent crimes, 39% are for
robbery (inc. aggravated) convictions, 28%
for assault (inc. aggravated), 22% for
homicide, 9% for sexual assault (inc.
aggravated), and 2% for kidnapping (inc.
aggravated).
(U) Drug-related offenses account for 17%
of gang convictions in TDCJ. Property
crimes account for 15% of gang convictions,
with 67% of those convictions belonging to
burglary. Crimes identified as “Other”
account for 16%, with most convictions for
evading arrest and weapon offenses.
(U) Offense Types for Gang Members Incarcerated in Texas
Prisons, as of December 31, 2017
52%
17%
16%
15%
VIOLENT CRIMES DRUG CRIMES
OTHER CRIMES PROPERTY CRIMES
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(U) Gang Involvement in Sex Trafficking
(U) Gangs across Texas continue to engage in sex trafficking, compelling prostitution of both adults and
juveniles, and commercial sex trafficking. The perceived low risk and high profitability of sex trafficking
attracts gang members and their associates, who often operate independently of the gang itself, to engage
in sex trafficking activities. Methods gang members use to recruit their victims vary from passively
grooming victims with affection, gifts, and false promises of love, to aggressively compelling victims by
physical force, fraud, and coercion.
(U) Gang members in Texas continued to engage in sex trafficking during the 2016-2017 reporting
period, including members of Bloods (all sets), Crips (all sets), Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings,
Sureños, Tangos, and Texas Mexican Mafia. Members from regionally based gangs, like Southwest
Cholos, and small neighborhood-based gangs, such as Early Boys and Mash Mode Mob, also have
begun to engage in sex trafficking. Reporting of gang involvement in labor trafficking remains limited.
Some examples of gang members involved in sex trafficking include:
• (U) In December 2017, a Texas Mexican Mafia gang member in Corpus Christi was convicted
on charges of child sex trafficking. The gang member, acting independently of the gang, earned a
profit by taking half the proceeds the young women earned after advertising sexual services on a
commercial sex website. The gang member was also convicted of distribution of
methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.19

• (U) In December 2017, a Webb Chapel Rollin 60’s (Crips) gang member received federal
indictments after transporting a woman from Mississippi to Texas with the intent to compel
prostitution. The gang member was arrested in Waco during an undercover prostitution
operation.20
• (U) In November 2017, 22 Southwest Cholos gang members and associates in Houston were
indicted on multiple charges to include sex trafficking, selling firearms, human smuggling,
identity theft and drug trafficking, following the closing of Carriage Way.21 Carriage Way is one
of five brothels controlled by a madam and her gang-affiliated family, and was utilized as a hub
for sex trafficking, gun trafficking, and drug sales. A former top ranking Southwest Cholos gang
member acted as an enforcer and a pimp at Carriage Way. The enforcers branded their names and
nicknames on the victims’ bodies with tattoos. In one instance, a victim was forced to get a breast
augmentation and liposuction in order to make the victim more profitable, and the victim was
required to pay off the surgery debts.
• (U) In October 2017, a Mash Mode Mob gang member was indicted for trafficking a 12-yearold child in Houston. The gang member recruited the victim and used force and threat of force to
compel the victim into prostitution. The gang member took the victim to Bissonnet St., locally
known in the community as “The Track,” to engage the victim in commercial sex acts for
money.22
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(U) Outlook
(U) Based on a review of current intelligence and knowledge of gang activity, we make the following
assessments with high confidence:
• (U) The overall gang threat in Texas will almost certainly continue, given previous estimated
increases in overall gang membership in Texas. Gangs in Texas will continue to work directly
and indirectly with the Mexican cartels to help facilitate the smuggling of persons, drugs, money,
and weapons across the border and throughout Texas and the United States.
• (U) The new generation of gang members will likely continue to seek out opportunities to engage
in criminal activity outside of the direction of the traditional gang organizational structure. Gangs
like Tango Blast and their associated cliques offer the ability for members to keep more of their
illicit profits while maintaining gang protection and criminal contacts.
• (U) The impact of law enforcement action against gangs in Texas will almost certainly continue
to affect gangs’ ability to operate effectively. Although we anticipate many of the Tier 1 and Tier
2 gangs will continue to be significant threats to Texas, their threat evaluations will fluctuate as
law enforcement investigations target and eliminate key gang leadership, leaving the gangs
vulnerable to internal strife and exodus.
• (U) We are concerned about the potential for future gang and cartel-related targeting of law
enforcement officers in Texas. Notwithstanding the violent threat, gang and cartel members and
their associates pose a counterintelligence threat, collecting information on patrol routes, law
enforcement operations, and personal identifying information on officers. As this threat continues
to evolve, we will continue to monitor and warn of gang and cartel activities that may pose a
threat to officer safety.
• (U) As Mexican cartels fight to maintain or increase their share of the lucrative drug and human
smuggling markets, Texas-based gangs will very likely continue to play an essential role in
supporting cartel operations on both sides of the border. The cartels will likely seek to expand
their existing networks in Texas by leveraging their relationships with gangs. We expect the
relationships between individual gangs and cartels to remain fluid, and possibly adapt and evolve
in response to the changing cartel landscape in Mexico.
• (U) We assess gangs conducting sex trafficking operations in Texas will likely continue due to
the potential for large and sustainable profits and the perceived low risk of detection by law
enforcement. However, as public awareness of sex trafficking increases, so does the chance for
potential victims to recognize the dangers and signs of trafficking, and therefore the opportunity
to reduce the number of victims.
• (U) We assess that alliances and rivalries, which are traditionally observed by the gang as a
whole, will likely remain an integral part of gang relationships. However, the continual push
towards profit-motivated associations will very likely create more opportunistic relationships
among gangs and with cartels. These opportunistic relationships are fluid and may not occur
among all members of the gang, but may instead be based on ad hoc actions by individual
members.
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• (U) We assess hybrid relationships are likely to continue as gang members expand their criminal
network of contacts and illicit operations. The most common hybrid gang in Texas is Tango Blast
and associated Tango cliques, primarily due to a loose structure and lack of commitment to the
gang.
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(U) Appendix 1: Overview of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Gangs
(U) The following pages provide a brief overview of the most significant gangs in Texas and include
maps showing the areas of the state where each gang’s presence and activities are assessed to be most
concentrated, based on information provided from multiple sources. The absence of shading on a
particular part of the map does not necessarily indicate that the gang does not have a presence there, and
the concentration of the gang’s activity varies within the shaded area.
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(U) Tier 1: Tango Blast and Tango Cliques
(U) Tango Blast and its associated cliques are located
in most metropolitan areas and many rural counties
across Texas. Tango Blast first established as a selfprotection group against traditionally structured prison
gangs, such as the Texas Mexican Mafia and Texas
Syndicate. The Tangos continue growing at a fast rate,
and maintain the highest membership numbers among
all Texas-based gangs. With their lack of
organizational structure and no strict commitment
rules, Tango’s unique “hybrid” gang status allows for
widespread recruitment and increasingly dangerous
appeal to younger generations. In their rapid criminal
evolution, the Tangos established a robust résumé of
violence and illicit activities, while building business
relationships with various Mexican cartels.
(U) Tier 1: Texas Mexican Mafia
(U) The Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM) formed
within the Texas prison system in 1984 as a means
for inmates to protect themselves from the Texas
Syndicate. Though TMM members continue to
uphold commitment to the gang, unceasing law
enforcement targeting efforts have affected
membership growth and structure. The new
generation of TMM is causing internal strife,
dismantling the organization from within, and
increasing the level of separation between older and
younger members. Despite these struggles, the TMM
will likely continue to be organizationally effective,
changing their structure to best fit their available
resources and engage in criminal activity, and remain
a significant threat to the Texas.
UNCLASSIFIED//LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE

(U) Map 12: Areas of Suspected Tangos Presence and
Criminal Activity
(U) Map 13: Areas of Suspected Texas Mexican Mafia
Presence and Criminal Activity
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(U) Tier 1: Mara Salvatrucha
(U) Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) has attracted national
attention over the past year, highlighting the violent
nature of the gang and leading to increased scrutiny of
the gang by law enforcement. MS-13 leadership may
be attempting to capitalize on this attention and has
allegedly made efforts to extend their control of
cliques and programs in the United States. MS-13
members historically used Texas as a transitional area
or as a location to hide from criminal charges in other
states or countries. Recent intelligence, however,
suggests MS-13 now uses Houston as a hub of
criminal activity. This trend is likely the cause of
increased membership in Texas, though actual gang
presence is fluid due to the transient nature of gang
members and gang activities. MS-13 continues to
refine and change techniques in evading law
enforcement detection by changing their long-standing rules regarding clothing and tattoos. Given the
gang’s propensity for violence, relationship with cartels, increased control over numerous cliques, rising
numbers, and juvenile recruiting practices, MS-13 remains a Tier 1 threat.
(U) Tier 1: Barrio Azteca
(U) Barrio Azteca continues to be a significant threat
to Texas due to their propensity for violence, level of
criminal activity, relationships with cartels and other
gangs, control of the Valle de Juarez in Mexico and
the drug corridor in El Paso, their involvement in sex
trafficking, and a high level of transnational criminal
activity. While in recent years there have been ebbs
and flows in the amount of reporting on Barrio
Azteca and though their hub of activity remains in
Juarez and El Paso, the level at which they are
operating earns them a high threat ranking for Texas
as a whole. This is partly because their reach extends
far outside the city limits of El Paso, as they
distribute high amounts of drugs from their
operations further into Texas and throughout the
United States. It is likely that Barrio Azteca will
continue to ensure their dominance in West Texas and across the border, directly affecting the citizens of
Texas.

(U) Map 14: Areas of Suspected MS-13 Presence and
Criminal Activity
(U) Map 15: Areas of Suspected Barrio Azteca Presence
and Criminal Activity
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(U) Tier 2: Bloods
(U) The Bloods are a violent street gang that
originated in Los Angeles, California, in the early
1970s, with ties to People-Nation-affiliated gangs.
Bloods gang presence in Texas has been documented
since the 1980s. Multiple cities in Texas have
instituted gang injunctions against the Bloods and
their rivals, the Crips. The Bloods’ overall presence,
the level of their criminal activity, and the violence
perpetrated by their members qualify them as a
serious threat in Texas. The Bloods continue to be a
loosely organized, extremely violent street gang that
is involved in a wide variety of crimes ranging from
petty theft to murder. Much like their traditional rival
the Crips, the Bloods street gang presence is mainly
in the major urban areas, but it members regularly
form small groups that travel throughout the state
and beyond to conduct criminal activity, such as robberies and burglaries.
(U) Tier 2: Aryan Brotherhood of Texas
(U) The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) places
its racist ideology secondary to its everyday
criminal activities. Although law enforcement
continues to disrupt ABT operations and leadership
structure around the state, the gang remains a
significant threat due to their continued involvement
in violent crimes, drug trafficking, firearms
trafficking, frequent property crimes, and the
strength of their organizational structure inside of
correctional facilities. Multiple incidents of
involvement with Mexican cartels occurred during
2017, where ABT acted as a courier. In 2017,
threats to law enforcement from ABT increased in
multiple states and one member engaged in sex
trafficking. Recent law enforcement actions
resulting in ABT members receiving federal sentences possibly facilitated the creation of a wider (though
not necessarily larger) ABT network. Reports show ABT interactions with gangs typically not active in
Texas and an increase of communications and incidents involving ABT members and associates located
outside of Texas.
(U) Map 16: Areas of Suspected Bloods Presence and
Criminal Activity
(U) Map 17: Areas of Suspected Aryan Brotherhood of
Texas Presence and Criminal Activity
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(U) Tier 2: Texas Syndicate
(U) The Texas Syndicate prison gang formed in the
California penal system in the 1960s and eventually
moved into TDCJ prisons and onto the streets of Texas.
Recent law enforcement targeting created setbacks for
the Texas Syndicate, in particular to the gang’s
structure, as the lack of material benefit, power, and
security in the free world affected the gang’s
governance abilities. Despite the setbacks, their level of
violence and continued relationship with Mexican
cartels makes the Texas Syndicate a resilient criminal
threat to Texas.
(U) Tier 2: Latin Kings
(U) The Almighty Latin Kings Nation (ALKN) is a
violent street gang originating from Chicago, Illinois in
the early 1960s. Though initially created to overcome
racial prejudice, Latin Kings soon evolved into a criminal
force nationally and internationally. The gang migrated
into Texas shortly after its creation and opened local
chapters, while continuing to communicate with leaders
from Chicago, Illinois (aka “Motherland”). However, a
recent successful multi-agency operation severely
disrupted the gang’s illicit activities and criminal
network within the Central Texas area. As a result, it
appears the ALKN is currently in a dormant mode, as
leadership continues to reestablish an effective criminal
structure in Texas. However, Latin Kings remain a
continuous threat to Texas, in part due to its interstate
structure, varying criminal activities, and networking capabilities.
(U) Map 19: Areas of Suspected Latin Kings Presence
and Criminal Activity
(U) Map 18: Areas of Suspected Texas Syndicate Presence
and Criminal Activity
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(U) Map 21: Areas of Suspected Crips Presence and
Criminal Activity
(U) Map 20: Areas of Suspected Sureños Presence and
Criminal Activity
(U) Tier 2: Sureños
(U) The Sureños is an “umbrella” organization of
gangs paying homage to the California Mexican
Mafia. Gang members unaffiliated with California
Mexican Mafia also use “Sureños”, which means
“south” to symbolize that they are from the
Southern California. Sureños remain a threat to the
State of Texas due to their relationship with cartels,
propensity for violence, level of criminal activity,
involvement in human smuggling, and recruitment
of minors. The trend of Sureños members moving
from California to the El Paso area will likely
continue, as well as their attempt to take over the El
Paso area from Barrio Azteca.
(U) Tier 2: Crips
(U) The Crips criminal street gang remains loosely
organized, with multiple cliques throughout the
state. During this reporting period, Crips members
participated in a wide variety of crimes, to include
murders, assaults, robberies, burglaries, fraud, and
sex trafficking offenses. Members committed
violent crimes against citizens and fellow offenders
during the commission of other crimes, such as
robberies, burglaries, sex trafficking, and drug deals.
Members committed violent crimes against law
enforcement while attempting to evade arrest.
Internal conflict sometimes resulted in intra-gang
violence. The Crips pose the greatest threat to the
larger metropolitan areas of Texas, but its members
sometimes form smaller groups that travel outside
of their usual operational areas to commit crimes
throughout the state and as far away as Arizona.
UNCLASSIFIED
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(U) Tier 2: Texas Chicano Brotherhood
(U) The Texas Chicano Brotherhood is a violent
prison and street gang with the greatest concentration
of members in South Texas. While membership is
now more open to a variety of individuals, most of
the members are male Hispanics, usually US citizens
of Mexican descent. The Texas Chicano Brotherhood
engages in a wide variety of criminal activity, though
the bulk of their crimes are drug related. Their
proximity to the Texas-Mexico border and familial
ties in Mexico give them unique advantages for
working with the cartels. Their relationships with
Mexican cartels and their willingness to commit
extreme violence make the Texas Chicano
Brotherhood a significant threat to Texas.
(U) Tier 2: Gangster Disciples
(U) The Gangster Disciples is a nationally
recognized, historically black criminal street gang
that was founded in Chicago, Illinois and has spread
throughout the United States, including Texas. It is
highly organized, violent, and active in the major
metropolitan areas of Texas and in the communities
surrounding the major military installations in
Texas. Its members are involved in a wide variety
of criminal activities, to include murder; assaults;
thefts, robberies, and burglaries; sex trafficking;
fraud; and illegal drug sales. Although its numbers
in Texas are significantly fewer than those of the
Bloods and Crips in Texas, the Gangster Disciples
level of organization, level of criminal activity,
proximity to military communities, and reported
relationship with Mexican cartels raises concern.
(U) Map 22: Areas of Suspected Texas Chicano Brotherhood
Presence and Criminal Activity
(U) Map 23: Areas of Suspected Gangster Disciples Presence
and Criminal Activity
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(U) Tier 2: Aryan Circle
(U) The Aryan Circle’s white supremacy ideologies
come secondary to illicit business and profiting from
criminal activities. Although the Aryan Circle is not a
threat to the border areas of Texas, they present a
public safety threat to the State due to their
involvement in violent crimes, drug distribution, and
firearms trafficking. The Aryan Circle commits many
of their violent crimes against their own members or
rivals because of rules dictated by gang culture, their
constitution, and leadership. Aryan Circle continues to
derive its prevalence, effectiveness, and strength to
withstand law enforcement operations from its
paramilitary structure.
(U) Tier 2: Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang
(U) Members of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle
Gang (OMG) continue to partake in illegal
activities. The Bandidos OMG is currently involved
in a violent feud with the newly formed Kinfolk
Motorcycle Gang (MG).
(U) Formed in the 1960s, the Bandidos OMG
conducts its illegal activities as covertly as possible
and generally tries to avoid high-profile activities.
However, members are not covert about making
their presence known, frequently wearing their gang
colors, insignia, and riding in large groups. They
seek to turn public sentiment in their favor by
organizing frequent charity runs.
(U) Map 24: Areas of Suspected Aryan Circle Presence and
Criminal Activity
(U) Map 25: Areas of Suspected Bandidos Presence and
Criminal Activity
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(U) Appendix 2: Other Contributing Agencies
(U) DPS recognizes the following agencies for their contribution to the Texas Gang Investigative
Database (TxGang), as of July 2018:
Abilene Police Department
Addison Police Department
Alice Police Department
Alief Independent School District Police Department
Amarillo Police Department
Angelina County Sheriff’s Office
Aransas Pass Police Department
Arlington Police Department
Austin Police Department
Baytown Police Department
Beeville Police Department
Bexar County Community Supervision & Corrections
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
Bonham Police Department
Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office
Brenham Police Department
Brownsville Police Department
Bryan Police Department
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Cactus Police Department
Cameron County Constable’s Office Precinct 5
Carrollton Police Department
Cedar Park Police Department
Center Police Department
Cleveland Independent School District Police Department
College Station Police Department
Collin County Sheriff’s Office
Comal County Sheriff’s Office
Community supervision & corrections department
Conroe Police Department
Cooke County Sheriff’s Office
Corpus Christi Police Department
Criminal investigation division
Customs & Border Protection
Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District Police Department
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Dallas Police Department
Denison Police Department
Denton County Sheriff’s Office
Denton Police Department
District Attorney’s Office Del Rio
Donna Independent School District Police Department
Donna Police Department
Dumas Police Department
Edinburg Police Department
UNCLASSIFIED
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Edwards County Sheriff’s Office
El Paso co sheriff’s office
El Paso Police Department
Erath County Sheriff’s Office
Euless Police Department
Everman Police Department
Farmers Branch Police Department
Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office
Fort Worth Police Department
Frisco Police Department
Gainesville Police Department
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
Galveston Police Department
Garland Police Department
Georgetown Police Department
Gladewater Police Department
Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Police Department
Grand Prairie Police Department
Grayson County Sheriff’s Office
Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office
Haltom City Police Department
Hansford County Sheriff’s Office
Harlingen Police Department
Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 1
Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Hays County Sheriff’s Office
Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office
Houston County Sheriff’s Office
Houston Independent School District Police Department
Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department
Houston Police Department
Humble Independent School District Police Department
Irving Police Department
Jersey Village Police Department
Katy Independent School District Police Department
Katy Police Department
Kaufman Police Department
Kendall County Sheriff’s Office
Kenedy Police Department
Kerr County Sheriff’s Office
Kilgore Police Department
Killeen Police Department
Kleburg County Sheriff’s Office
Klein Independent School District Police Department
La Marque Police Department
La Salle County Sheriff’s Office
Lake Dallas Police Department
Lancaster Police Department
Laredo Police Department
Levelland Police Department
Lewisville Police Department
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
56
Liberty County District Attorney’s Office
Longview Police Department
Lorena Police Department
Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office
Lubbock Police Department
Lufkin Police Department
Lynn County Sheriff’s Office
Mansfield Police Department
Marble Falls Police Department
McAllen Police Department
McKinney Police Department
McLennan County Juvenile Probation Department
McLennan County Sheriff’s Office
Mesquite Police Department
Midland Police Department
Mission Police Department
Missouri City Police Department
Montgomery County Constable’s Office Precinct 1
Montgomery County Constable’s Office Precinct 3
Montgomery County Juvenile Probation Department
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Nacogdoches Police Department
New Braunfels Police Department
Odessa Police Department
Pasadena Police Department
Pearland Police Department
Pflugerville Independent School District Police Department
Pflugerville Police Department
Pharr Police Department
Plainview Police Department
Plano Police Department
Port Mansfield Police Department
Potter County Sheriff’s Office
Primera Police Department
Quinlan Police Department
Randall County Sheriff’s Office
Refugio County Sheriff’s Office
Richardson Police Department
Richland Hills Police Department
Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office
Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office
Rosenberg Police Department
Round Rock Police Department
Sabinal City Police Department
San Angelo Police Department
San Antonio Police Department
San Juan Police Department
San Marcos Police Department
Santa Fe Police Department
Seguin Police Department
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
57
Sherman Police Department
Spearman Police Department
Spring Branch Independent School District Police Department
Spring Independent School District Police Department
Sugar Land Police Department
Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office
Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
Temple Police Department
Texas City Police Department
Texas Department of Juvenile Justice
Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office
Tomball Police Department
Travis County Sheriff’s Office
Tyler Police Department
University of Texas at Houston Police Department
US Immigration & Customs Enforcement
Uvalde County District Attorney’s Office
Victoria Police Department
Weatherford Police Department
Wichita Falls Police Department
Williamson County Juvenile Services
Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
58
(U) Agencies participating in Operation Border Star are listed below:
El Paso JOIC Sector
Anthony PD
BNSF Railway PD
ATF
CBP/OFO
Center for Disease Control
Dona Ana CO SO (NM)
El Paso CO SO
El Paso Community College PD
El Paso County Constables
El Paso CO Juvenile Probation
El Paso Fire Department/Fire
Marshal
El Paso ISD PD
El Paso Office of Emergency
Management
El Paso PD
EPIC
FBI
Grant CO SO (NM)
Hidalgo CO SO (NM)
Horizon City PD
ICE/HSI
Luna CO SO (NM)
Otero CO SO (NM)
Texas Attorney General’s Office
Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts
Texas Tech University PD
TMD
TPWD
Union Pacific Railroad PD
University of Texas El Paso PD
US Army, Ft. Bliss CID
USBP
USMS
Veteran’s Administration Intel &
Crime Analysis
Veteran’s Administration PD
West TX HIDTA
Ysleta Del Sur Tribal PD
Marfa JOIC Sector
Alpine PD
Brewster CO SO
CBP/OFO
Culberson CO SO
Fort Stockton PD
Hudspeth CO SO
ICE/HSI
Jeff Davis CO SO
NPS
Pecos CO SO
Pecos PD
Presidio CO SO
Presidio PD
Reeves CO SO
Terrell CO SO
TMD
TPWD
USBP
West TX HIDTA
Del Rio JOIC Sector
38th Judicial District
CBP/OFO
Crockett CO SO
Crystal City PD
DEA
Del Rio PD
Dimmit CO SO
Eagle Pass PD
Edwards CO SO
FBI
ICE/HSI
IBWC
Junction PD
Kinney CO SO
Maverick CO SO
NPS
Real CO SO
Sabinal PD
Sonora PD
South TX HIDTA
TMD
TPWD
US Marshals
USBP
USCG
Uvalde CO SO
Uvalde PD
Val Verde CO Constable Pct 3
Val Verde CO SO
Zavala CO SO
Laredo JOIC Sector
CBP/OFO
Duval CO SO
Encinal PD
Freer PD
Frio CO SO
ICE/HSI
Jim Hogg CO SO
La Salle CO SO
Laredo ISD PD
Laredo PD
San Diego PD
TMD
TPWD
United ISD PD
USBP
USFPS
Webb CO Constable Pct 3
Webb CO SO
Zapata CO SO
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
59
Rio Grande Valley JOIC Sector
Alamo PD
ATF
Brooks CO SO
Brownsville PD
Cameron CO SO
CBP/OFO
Donna PD
Edcouch PD
Edinburg PD
Elsa PD
Escobares PD
Harlingen PD
Hidalgo CO Constable Pct 1
Hidalgo CO Constable Pct 2
Hidalgo CO Constable Pct 3
Hidalgo CO Constable Pct 4
Hidalgo CO SO
Hidalgo PD
ICE/HSI
Indian Lake PD
Kenedy CO SO
La Feria PD
La Grulla PD
La Joya PD
Los Fresnos PD
Lyford PD
McAllen PD
Mercedes PD
Mission PD
NCIS
NICB
Palmhurst PD
Palmview PD
Penitas PD
Pharr PD
Raymondville PD
Rio Grande City PD
Roma PD
San Benito PD
San Juan PD
South Padre Island PD
Starr CO HIDTA
Starr CO BIU
Starr CO SO
Sullivan City PD
TTIC
TMD
TPWD
USBP
US Fish & Wildlife
USCG
UTRGV PD
Weslaco PD
Willacy CO DA’s Office
Willacy CO SO
Coastal Bend JOIC Sector
Alice PD
Aransas CO SO
ATF
Bee CO SO
Beeville PD
Calhoun CO SO
CBP/OFO
Corpus Christi PD
Cuero PD
DEA
Dewitt CO SO
Driscoll PD
El Campo PD
FBI
George West PD
Goliad CO SO
Gonzales CO SO
Hallettsville PD
Houston HIDTA
ICE/HSI
Jackson CO SO
Jim Wells CO SO
Kingsville PD
Kleberg CO SO
Lavaca CO SO
Live Oak CO SO
Matagorda CO SO
McMullen CO SO
NPS – PINS
Nueces CO SO
Refugio CO SO
Refugio PD
Robstown PD
Rockport PD
San Antonio HIDTA
San Patricio CO SO
Seguin PD
Sinton PD
Texas Dept of Transportation
TMD
TPWD
US Fish and Wildlife
US Marshals
US Postal Inspector
USBP
USCG
Victoria CO SO
Victoria PD
Wharton CO SO
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
60
(U) References
Some information within this assessment was produced based on intelligence information of a sensitive
nature, and is not referenced specifically. Information from other sources is referenced below.

1 (U) U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs; Opening Statement of Chairman Ron
Johnson; “Border Insecurity: The Rise of MS-13 and Other Transnational Criminal Organizations”; 24 May 2017;
https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Opening%20Statement-Johnson-2017-05-24.pdf. 2 (U) Online Press Release; ICE; “8 MS-13 Members Indicted in Dallas on Charges Including Racketeering
Conspiracy, Attempted Murder, and Assault With a Dangerous Weapon”; 13 July 2018;
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/8-ms-13-members-indicted-dallas-charges-including-racketeering-conspiracyattempted; accessed 16 July 2018. 3 (U) Law Enforcement Website; ICE; “Operation Raging Bull”; https://www.ice.gov/features/raging-bull; Accessed
on 18 January 2018.
4 (U) Online press release; Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland; “Alleged MS13 Member Charged in Violent Racketeering Conspiracy Including Drug Trafficking and Extortion”; 15 March
2018; https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/alleged-ms-13-member-charged-violent-racketeering-conspiracy-includingdrug-trafficking-and; Accessed on 22 August 2018. 5 (U) Online newspaper article; Houston Chronicle; “MS-13 Gang Member Extradited to Houston on Two Murder
Charges”; 4 August 2017; https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/MS-13-gang-memberextradited-to-Houston-on-two-11735056.php; accessed on 1 February 2018. 6 (U) This map represents an analytic assessment of where gang activity is likely most concentrated in Texas, based
on data from multiple sources.
7 (U) DEA; Comprehensive Strategic Assessment; October 2017; (U) 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment;
UNCLASSIFIED; UNCLASSIFIED; Multiple sources.
8 (U) Online press release; DHS; “Written testimony of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Director
for Investigative Programs Matt Allen for a House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and
Maritime Security hearing titled “A Dangerous and Sophisticated Adversary: The Threat to the Homeland Posed by
Cartel Operations”; 16 February 2017; https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/02/16/written-testimony-ice-househomeland-security-subcommittee-border-and-maritime; accessed 23 May 2018; Source is the US Department of
Homeland Security. 9 (U) Online press release; CBP; “Successful Operation Leads to Arrest of Two Scouts, One Who Assaulted Agent”;
2 June 2016; https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/successful-operation-leads-arrest-two-scouts-onewho-assaulted-agent; accessed on 23 May 2018. 10 (U) Online press release; CBP; “Border Patrol agents continue to be attacked in the Rio Grande Valley”; 23
November 2016; https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/border-patrol-agents-continue-be-attackedrio-grande-valley; accessed on 23 May 2018. 11 (U) Operation Border Star Reporting; 17 May 2018; 29 September 2017; UNCLASSIFIED;
UNCLASSIFIED//LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE.
12 (U) Operation Border Star Reporting; 17 May 2018; 21 December 2016; UNCLASSIFIED;
UNCLASSIFIED//LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE. 13 (U) Texas DPS – Criminal Investigations Division. September 2016. 14 (U) Operation Border Star Reporting; 23 July 2018; 15 August 2016; UNCLASSIFIED; UNCLASSIFIED//LAW
ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE.
15 (U) Testimony; DHS; CBP; “A Dangerous and Sophisticated Adversary: The Threat to the Homeland Posed by
Cartel Operations”; 16 February 2017; UNCLASSIFIED; UNCLASSIFIED; Testimony of Paul A. Beeson, Director
Joint Task Force – West before the US House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee
on Border and Maritime Security.
16 (U) US Government Web site; National Gang Center; “Parents’ Guide to Gangs”; 7 January 2015;
https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/Parents-Guide-to-Gangs.pdf. 17 (U) US Government Web site; National Gang Center; “Parents’ Guide to Gangs”; 7 January 2015;
https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/Parents-Guide-to-Gangs.pdf.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
61
18 (U) Online news article; Businessinsider.com; “Gangs Aren’t Wearing Colors Anymore”; 16 September 2014;
https://www.businessinsider.com/gangs-arent-wearing-colors-anymore-2014-9. 19 (U) Online press release; Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; “Gang
Member Sentenced for Multiple Charges”; 17 May 2018; https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/gang-memberconvicted-sex-trafficking-child; Accessed on 17 May 2018. 20 (U) Online Newspaper Article; The Waco Tribune; “Man Indicted on Federal Charges after Human Trafficking
Arrest in Waco”; 14 December 2017; https://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_and_trials/man-indicted-on-federalcharges-after-human-trafficking-arrest-in/article_a650a84e-f760-5dc5-9fcc-bfa96ed7382b.html; Accessed on 1 May
2018.
21 (U) Online press release; Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; “22
Alleged Gang Members Indicted for Multiple Violent Crimes”; 8 November 2017; https://www.justice.gov/usaosdtx/pr/22-alleged-gang-members-indicted-multiple-violent-crimes; Accessed on 2 January 2018. 22 (U) Online press release; Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; “Local
Man Set to Appear in Court on Allegations of Trafficking a Minor for Sex”; 11 October 2017;
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/houston-gang-brothels-sex-traffickinggulfton-12511521.php; Accessed on 15 May 2018