Avenues (gang)
Mexican-American street gang / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Avenues, also known as Avenidas or AVE's, is a Mexican/Mexican American criminal street gang mostly in Los Angeles County, California. They originally started as a social club for local Latino youths to protect themselves from other violent youths. The Avenues, like most Mexican gangs in Los Angeles, are under the direct control of the Mexican Mafia when sent to State, County, or Federal prisons.
Quick Facts Founded, Founding location ...
![]() Avenues (AVES) depicted in blue among other North-East Los Angeles gangs. Toonerville is green, Thee Rascals is black, Frogtown is red and Cypress Park in yellow. | |
Founded | 1920s |
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Founding location | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Years active | 1920s–present |
Territory | Mainly in Los Angeles (Highland Park, Cypress Park, Glassell Park, and Eagle Rock)[1] |
Ethnicity | Mexican American/Native American |
Membership (est.) | 800[2] |
Activities | Murder,[3] assault, arms trafficking, drug trafficking,[4] extortion, hate crimes, kidnapping, racketeering, motor vehicle theft, robbery, burglary, vandalism, witness intimidation and human trafficking |
Allies | Mexican Mafia[5] Sureños[6] |
Rivals | 18th Street gang[7] Satanas[8] |
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