Northside vs Southside gangs in Oxnard, California, with a population just over 200,000, is home to seven Mexican/American gangs that have carved out their identities, territories, and rivalries across its neighborhoods. These seven gangs, from largest to smallest, are: Colonia Chiques, Southside Chiques, Lemonwood Chiques, Surtown Chiques, Northside Chiques, Loma Flats Chiques, and Squires Drive […]

This blog explores the reality of gangs and hood guns, drawing from case examples, police records, social media exchanges, and federal prosecution strategies. It also examines how local and federal law enforcement agencies struggle to combat the problem. When talking about gangs, few images are more telling than gang members sharing a single weapon among […]

The city of Santa Paula, California, has long struggled with an entrenched gang presence. Among the five major gangs that shaped the city’s criminal landscape—the Crimies, 12th Street Locos, Crazy Boyz, Bad Boyz, and Party Boyz—the 12th Street Locos stand out as one of the most notorious. Second in size only to the Crimies, the […]

Gang culture has never been static. From my 22 years as an FBI Special Agent investigating street crews in Los Angeles, Ventura County, and beyond, I saw firsthand how graffiti crews transformed into highly structured criminal organizations. What started as a spray-painted name on a wall morphed into violent enterprises dealing in narcotics, weapons, and […]

The story of Ventura County is often told through its beaches, agriculture, and suburban neighborhoods, but beneath the surface is a darker reality. Criminal street gangs have long plagued the area, especially the city of Oxnard and surrounding communities. Gang members often referred to Ventura County as the “dirty nickel” – a reference to the […]

When people talk about gang problems in Ventura County, one name inevitably comes up: the Surtown Chiques. This gang has been a persistent source of violence, drug trafficking, and law enforcement challenges in the city of Oxnard. Based on firsthand investigations and detailed analysis, the scope of the Surtown Chiques: Gang Activity demonstrates how entrenched […]

The connection between gangs and ghost guns was a growing problem. Across the U.S., criminal street gangs exploited regulatory gaps—taking advantage of untraceable, homemade weapons known as ghost guns. Beginning in the early 2000’s the Do it Yourself (DIY) business model for firearms enthusiasts gradually grew and become widely available. Around 2013–2014, companies began selling […]

In a genre flooded with sensationalized headlines and shallow storytelling, Less Tagging More Killing stands apart as a raw, unflinching look into the gritty realities of gang life, law enforcement, and the deadly intersections in between. Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast, a law enforcement professional, a criminology student, or simply someone looking for the […]

The public believes the FBI represents the pinnacle of American law enforcement. When it comes to dismantling criminal organizations, citizens expect federal agents to succeed where local police cannot. This perception creates dangerous misconceptions about FBI gangs operations and the federal government’s actual capacity to address street violence. I spent years working FBI gangs cases. […]

When most people think of gangs they don’t think of gang culture. They picture street violence, tattoos, and hand signs. But beneath the surface lies an intricate web of rituals, rules, and hierarchies that shape every facet of gang life. Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, and social behaviors of a particular group of people, […]