Maniac Latin Disciples
The Maniac Latin Disciples are believed to be the second largest Latino street gang in Chicago after the Latin Kings, and the largest Latino street gang in the Folk Nation. Originally known as the Latin Scorpions, the gang was founded by Albert "Hitler" Hernandez in the Humboldt Park community in approximately 1966. They are one of the original gangs in the Folks Nation. In the late 1990's, the Maniac Latin Disciples began to spread their influence into the South side of Chicago along with several Chicagoland suburbs.
In 1998, federal authorities arrested several top-ranking members of the Maniac Latin Disciples on drug charges now starting to spread to certain places low key places like New York and New Jersey.
History of Maniac Latin Disciples
The Maniac Latin Disciples are the largest Latino gang in the Folks alliance and second largest Latino gang in Chicago with the first being Latin Kings.
The gang, which originated in about 1966 in the Humboldt Park community, was founded by Albert "Hitler" Hernandez. They were initially known as the Latin Scorpions in 1966. From the beginning, the Latin Scorpions engaged in battle with the Latin Kings.
In 1970, 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 Black Gangster Disciples ( now split into the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples), eventually changing his gang's name to Latin Disciples (later, Maniac 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.
By 1983, Fernando "Ferny" Zayas assumed leadership of the gang and the gang began to incorporate the surname "Maniac".
The now Maniac Latin Disciple's 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 the city, 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.
They only align themselves in prison under the Folks alliance and even this is a fragile alliance.
The gang's primary criminal involvement has consisted of graffiti, drug trafficking, assault, armed robbery, auto theft, "ramming", kidnapping, extortion, shootings, and murder.
New York Alliance
It's a fact that the MLD's in the New York area are not fighting with the Spanish Cobras & Imperial Gangsters which is a very big feud between these 3 gangs in Chicago. MLD's even share close proximity to the Spanish Cobras in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. They have an alliance of Folks in New York due to the high numbers of Latin Kings members and Bloods. The alliance in New York is a proven fact that certain gangs can drop certain old rivalries and at least stop some of the violence.
Identifiers
- Black and Baby Blue
- Raised pitchforks
- Initials M.L.D.
- Heart with horns And Tail
- Swastika
- Maniac Monks
- Old English "D"