Maniac Latin Disciples


Maniac Latin Disciples, originated in Chicago in the late 1960s. The gang is composed of at least 10 structured and unstructured factions with an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 members and associate members. Most members are Puerto Rican males. Maniac Latin Disciples is the largest Hispanic gang in the Folk Nation Alliance. The gang is most active in the Great Lakes and southwestern regions of the United States. The street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and PCP is a primary source of income for the gang. Members also are involved in other criminal activity including assault, auto theft, carjacking, drive-by shooting, home invasion, homicide, money laundering, and weapons trafficking.

Maniac Latin Disciples originated in 1966 in the Humboldt Park community of Chicago, and was founded by Albert "Hitler" Hernandez. They were initially known as the Latin Scorpions in 1966.

In 1970, Hitler Hernandez was killed by the Latin Kings. Several other leaders filled the void including "Diablo" and Prince "Chi-Chi." The group established a relationship with the Gangster Disciples, eventually changing the gang's name to Latin Disciples.

In the mid-1970's, the Latin Disciples formed an alliance with the Latin Eagles, Spanish Cobras, and Imperial Gangsters street gangs; this alliance was called the United Latino Organization.

The Latin Disciples joined the "Folk Alliance" in 1978.

Fernando "Ferny" Zayas

By 1983, Fernando "Ferny" Zayas assumed leadership of the gang and the gang began to incorporate the surname "Maniac".

The Maniac Latin Disciples grew at a tremendously rapid pace, recruiting many members from the Illinois correctional facilities. They established bases of operations throughout the North and West Sides of Chicago, using brute and violent force to eliminate rival gangs. In 1983, Zayas was incarcerated on murder charges. However he has been able to control his gang's day-to-day activity since being incarcerated, though some factions have broken away from his leadership. Zayas is currently in Tamms maximum security prison.

In the early 1990's, the MLD's initiated the "Maniac Family", allying several smaller Latin street gangs into a structured alliance. The Latin Lovers, Milwaukee Kings, and Maniac Campbell Boys, initial members of the Maniac Family, then later the Latin Jivers, which would later break away from the structured alliance which would result in bloodshed.

In 1996, the MLD's second-in-command, or "Don", Johnny "Loco" Almodovar, was arrested on murder charges. He and his cohorts declared an "all out war" against the Spanish Cobras after a high-ranking MLD was shot in Humboldt Park. Shortly thereafter, the street leader, or "Prince", Enrique "Rick Dog" Garcia, was gunned down by fellow MLD member Jamie "Tuffy" Ruiz.

In 1998-99, authorities arrested several top ranking MLD's on drug charges. Thomas "Outlaw" Ross was said to be the leader of the drug ring which spanned the Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods.

After the gang was able to rebuild it's leadership structure, the F.B.I. conducted an investigation and arrested another slew of top MLD's in 2004 on drug conspiracy charges. Among the top MLD’s arrested were Fidel "Fiddle" Hernandez and Antonio "Bird" Perez. The two were acting as street leaders for the gang at the time of their arrest.

There is currently turmoil within the Maniac Latin Disciples organization because many of their branches (i.e. areas of operation, turf, etc.) have broken away from Ferny's control and several members have began to feud against another.

The MLD’s have virtually no allies on the streets as the gang has tested the patience of it's "subserviant" gangs within the Maniac Family (Milwaukee Kings, Latin Jivers and Latin Lovers). The gang also initiated wars with the former allies such as the Spanish Cobras, Latin Eagles, Imperial Gangsters and Simon City Royals.

The gang's primary criminal involvement has consisted of graffiti, drug trafficking, assault, armed robbery, auto theft, "ramming", kidnapping, extortion, shootings, and murder.

Name: Maniac Latin Disciples
Established: Chicago, IL
Symbols: Heart with horns and/or tail; Swastika; Pitchforks; 6-point star; Grim Reaper; letters LD, MLD
Color(s): Black & Light Blue
Territory: Chicago, Midwest
Membership: 1,500 to 2,000
Ethnicity: Predominantly Hispanic
Allies: Folk Nation (Disciples)
Rivals: People Nation (Latin Kings, Vice Lords, etc.)


Tag Cloud
[keywords: mexican gangs, hispanic gangs, chicano gangs, latin gangs, latino gangs, puerto rican gangs, raza unida prison gang, raza unida gang, hermanos de pistoleros latinos, skull dug up in stateville prison, hermanos pistoleros latinos, tango blast tattoos, latin counts, hermanos pistoleros, tri city bombers, los angeles hispanic gangs, hispanic gangs in california, hispanic gangs in la, compton hispanic gangs, street gangs hispanic gangs, hispanic gangs in san diego, history of hispanic gangs, hispanic gangs in texas, hispanic gangs in chicago, hispanic gangs in los angeles, mexican mafia tattos, mexican mafia tattoos, border brothers, sureno names, barrio azteca, texas chicano brotherhood, los solidos gang, mexican mafia tattoo, maniac latin disciples gang, mexikanemi, la eme tattoo, prison gangs, gangs in prison, prison gang tattoos, latino prison gangs, los angeles latino gangs, latino gangs in chicago, latino gangs in california, latino gangs in la, latino gangs in los angeles, history of latino gangs, compton latino gangs, latino gangs in america, latino gangs in texas, latino gangs neighborhood, nortenos prison, almighty latin counts, nuestra familia nortenos, mexican mafia tatoos, norteno prison, raza unida, latin brothers gang, ms-13, solidos mc, maniac latin diciples, maniac latin disciples, los solidos, manic latin disciples, manic latin disciple, spaulding latin kings, barrio aztecas, latin gangs, maniac latin disciple, latino gangs, rasa unida, sureno territory, latin gang, Texas Syndicate, Syndicato Tejano, Austin Tangos, Capirucha, Corpus Christi Tangos, Corpitos, Charco, Dallas Tangos, D-Town, El Paso Tangos, Fort Worth Tangos, Foritos, Foros, Houston Tangos, Houstone, H-Town, Rio Grande Valley Tangos, Valluco, San Antonio Tangos, San Anto, Orejones, West Texas Tangos, azteca tattoos, sureno mickey, latin deciples, latin disciples, puro west, white surenos, los solidos nation, luis huero buff flores, solidos gang, tattoos aztecas, latino gang, 18th street gang, eme tattoos, tattoos astecas, tattos aztecas, black border brothers, james tibbs morado, maniac disciples, mexican mafia structure, the 18th street gang, puro tango blast, la florencia 13, nortenos tattoos, latin counts nation, latin count nation, 18 street gangsters, los sur 13, sureno nation, federal prison gangs, albert hitler, ms 13 national gang task force, almighty insane latin counts, mexican sureno, white nortenos, mara salvatrucha 13, mexican mafia 13, nortenos bird, mexican mafia surenos, gerald cuete rubalcaba, beach and spaulding chicago, prison gang tattoo, gang tattoo identification, gang tattoo meanings, gang tattoo designs, gang tattoo symbols, gang tattoo database, gang tattoo art]