Trinitario
Encyclopedia
The Trinitarios/3ni are a violent New York-based multinational organization composed of Hispanics. Trinitario was established in 1989 within the New York state prison system and since spilled into the streets, with chapters in all five boroughs of New York City. Reports of Trinitario activity have also been made in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Spain, and the Dominican Republic
. This even includes Long Island in places like Freeport
, Brentwood
, and Port Jefferson Station. It is considered the fastest-growing gang in New York, recruiting members from high schools local to the gang's area of activity, with the highest numbers of reports coming from Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Harlem, the Morris Heights section of The Bronx and Washington Heights
. Their slogan is "Dios, Patria, y Libertad", which means "God, Fatherland, and Liberty".
Trinitario is a Hispanic
organization formed in prison, providing protection and unity for Hispanic
inmates within the New York City Department of Corrections. The name "Trinitario", means the Trinity Brotherhood in Spanish. The public wrongly associates their name with the La Trinitaria
secret society that served as the keystone in the quest for independence in the Dominican Republic
. Members view themselves as being, like the founding fathers, freedom fighters and protectors for Hispanic people, though in this case within the New York City Department of Corrections. It was originally composed of members of smaller, now-defunct Hispanic gangs such as Los Papi Chulos, Dominican Power, and Dominican Posse, as well as unaffiliated drug dealers. Many members remained affiliated with the gang after serving their sentences, and began recruiting in their neighborhoods, the path many prison gangs take as they become street gangs.
They are known (as featured on an episode of Gangland
) for the use of the machete
as their weapon of choice.
and beyond, these machete-welding Latino gangsters are now battling older, more established gangs, like the Latin Kings and Bloods, for control of the streets and the lucrative east coast drug market. What started as a prison gang has now become a dominant presence in the boroughs and the suburbs; as they prey on communities in the Tri-State area, Trinitarios are quickly rising on the radar of law enforcement agencies.
According to New York Law Enforcement, the Trinitarios are the fastest growing gang in New York. According to the DEA and law enforcement they may be considered the toughest gang in the world. According to the FBI National Gang Assessment for 2010, the Trinitarios have become a threat on their appearance on the East Coast. In addition, they have become an emerging gang in the New England
area.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. This even includes Long Island in places like Freeport
Freeport
-Place names:Bahamas*Freeport, BahamasCanada*Freeport, Nova ScotiaHaiti*Freeport TortugaUnited States*Freeport, California*Freeport, Florida*Freeport, Illinois*Freeport, Kansas*Freeport, Maine*Freeport, Michigan*Freeport, Minnesota*Freeport, New York...
, Brentwood
Brentwood, New York
Brentwood is a hamlet of the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Brentwood is 53,917.The colony was established on March 21, 1851, on 750 acres of land on Long Island, New York, by Josiah Warren and Stephen Pearl Andrews...
, and Port Jefferson Station. It is considered the fastest-growing gang in New York, recruiting members from high schools local to the gang's area of activity, with the highest numbers of reports coming from Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Harlem, the Morris Heights section of The Bronx and Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
. Their slogan is "Dios, Patria, y Libertad", which means "God, Fatherland, and Liberty".
Trinitario is a Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
organization formed in prison, providing protection and unity for Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
inmates within the New York City Department of Corrections. The name "Trinitario", means the Trinity Brotherhood in Spanish. The public wrongly associates their name with the La Trinitaria
La Trinitaria
La Trinitaria is a town and one of the 119 Municipalities of Chiapas, in southern Mexico.As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 59,686. It covers an area of 1840.7 km²....
secret society that served as the keystone in the quest for independence in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. Members view themselves as being, like the founding fathers, freedom fighters and protectors for Hispanic people, though in this case within the New York City Department of Corrections. It was originally composed of members of smaller, now-defunct Hispanic gangs such as Los Papi Chulos, Dominican Power, and Dominican Posse, as well as unaffiliated drug dealers. Many members remained affiliated with the gang after serving their sentences, and began recruiting in their neighborhoods, the path many prison gangs take as they become street gangs.
They are known (as featured on an episode of Gangland
Gangland (TV series)
Gangland is a documentary television series that airs on The History Channel. It usually airs on Thursday evenings although it has been known to arbitrarily change days every so often. Gangland explores the history of some of America's more notorious gangs. It premiered on November 1, 2007 with a...
) for the use of the machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
as their weapon of choice.
Locations and Membership
About 30,000 members worldwide. One of the biggest street gangs in NYC with over 10,000 members, and 10,000 more in other states like Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Alaska, Pennsylvania, France, Spain, Switzerland and the Dominican Republic.Extension
Trinitarios is one of New York City's most violent and fastest rising street gangs. With their reach spreading into neighboring New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and beyond, these machete-welding Latino gangsters are now battling older, more established gangs, like the Latin Kings and Bloods, for control of the streets and the lucrative east coast drug market. What started as a prison gang has now become a dominant presence in the boroughs and the suburbs; as they prey on communities in the Tri-State area, Trinitarios are quickly rising on the radar of law enforcement agencies.
According to New York Law Enforcement, the Trinitarios are the fastest growing gang in New York. According to the DEA and law enforcement they may be considered the toughest gang in the world. According to the FBI National Gang Assessment for 2010, the Trinitarios have become a threat on their appearance on the East Coast. In addition, they have become an emerging gang in the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
area.
External links
- http://www.swisschalet.eu/trinitario_en.html
- http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2010/03/09/news/doc4b968fad7b481991649846.txt
- http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142008/news/regionalnews/schools_gang_scourge_128917.htm
- http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/nyc/090310_Gang_Busts
- http://www.wpix.com/landing/?blockID=235797&feedID=1404
- http://www.nypost.com/seven/02092008/news/nypdblotter/nypdblotter.htm
- http://gothamist.com/2008/07/13/teen_gang_responsible_for_williamsb.php
- Department of JusticeUnited States Department of JusticeThe United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs27/27506/dtos.htm