Asian Boyz
| Founded | 1990s[1] |
|---|---|
| Founded by | Marvin Mercado |
| Founding location | Long Beach / Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Years active | 1990s-present |
| Territory | Active in 14 U.S. states (2009)[2] |
| Ethnicity | primarily of Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian descent[2] |
| Membership (est.) | 1,300 to 2,000 (2009) [2] |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, robbery, assault, burglary, theft and homicide[2] |
| Allies | Crips[3] |
| Rivals | Valerio Street Gang[4], Tiny Rascals[5] |
The Asian Boyz, or ABZ, are an Asian American street gang founded by Marvin "Shy Boy"[6] Mercado in the 1990's.[7] The ethnicity of Asian Boyz gang members mainly consist of males of Vietnamese, Cambodian, or Laotian descent.[2]
Gang Colors
On the East Coast, their gang colors are forest green, black, and yellow. Asian Boyz also bear a tattoo of a Dragon head with a Flame.[8]
On the West Coast, they represent by displaying the color blue, similar to the Crips.[9]
Locations
The Asian Boyz gang was established in Los Angeles but additional factions exist in states on the East Coast as well. In Los Angeles, some sets are formed with Crips, earning the name ABZ Crips. However, the "Apples" are spread across the United States, and mainly have chapters in Apple Farms, Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and other states on the east coast of the U.S.[10] There have also been "affiliates" found in the state of Maine.[11]
Notable crimes
Sothi Menh
In August 1997, the leader of the Asian Boyz Van Nuys set, Sothi Menh, was arrested in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and brought back to the United States after fleeing the country in January of that year. He was wanted for committing five gang-related murders in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles in 1995.[12] On September 20, 1998, seven Asian Boyz were charged with seven murders, 18 attempted murders and five instances of conspiracy to commit murder in Van Nuys, California in 1995.[13]
Death of Sang Vu
Three members of the gang were charged with beating a 15-year-old boy named Sang Vu to death in Utica, New York in January 2007.[14]
Abduction of Vutha Au
In the Northern California city of Santa Rosa, four men were convicted in June 2012, of abducting 24-year-old Vutha Au and driving him near Goat Rock Beach in coastal Sonoma County, and shooting him nine times resulting in his death, in March 2008. Quentin Russell, who was 24 years old at the time of the shooting, is believed to be the gunman who pulled the trigger ending Au's life, and brothers Sarith Prak and David Prak, and Preston Khaoone, were charged in connection with the murder and abduction of Au. All four defendants were convicted[15] and sentenced to life without parole on July 27, 2012.[16]
Pierre Mercado
In the 1990's, Pierre Mercado, brother of Marvin Mercado, was responsible for four murders in an attempt to intimidate other gangs. He fled to the Philippines and remained there for 11 years until he was brought back to the United States in 2012.[17]
References
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/pierre-mercado-convicted_n_1791574.html
- ^ a b c d e "Appendix B. Street Gangs - National Gang Threat Assessment 2009". Justice.gov. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Crips: Gang Profile". Insideprison.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=fw5N5qg5BHQC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=asian+boyz+rival&source=bl&ots=SM-V81sYdL&sig=6A6JFN3KPWcwzX4hAciHS9IeLWg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8HNSUJjKLpDm8wTXuYCIAw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=asian%20boyz%20rival&f=false
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=c7F8G_4aatkC&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=asian+boyz+rival&source=bl&ots=psQxbfk0v_&sig=mnNJRY3vL-h3Y5piyq4iS6IPaEQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8HNSUJjKLpDm8wTXuYCIAw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=asian%20boyz%20rival&f=false
- ^ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SGVB&p_theme=sgvb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=13544CFA98DB2CA8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/pierre-mercado-convicted_n_1791574.html
- ^ http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Police-eye-gang-in-killing-240488.php
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=pM_3zER88l4C&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=asian+boyz+rival+latin&source=bl&ots=wbMDA5XZ11&sig=QmWyhLIj5iYOdteMAb4N6UKZpOM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4nRSUIbIIpG88wSG34GgBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=asian%20boyz%20rival&f=false
- ^ http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Police-eye-gang-in-killing-240488.php
- ^ http://www.pressherald.com/news/24-with-gang-links-arrested-in-maine-cities-during-sweep-_2010-08-21.html
- ^ "Gang Suspect Returned; Man Sought In Asian Boys Case In Custody". Thefreelibrary.com. 1997-08-02. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
- ^ "Asian Boyz Face Group Trial in Spate of Killings". Los Angeles Times. 2002-06-27. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Crossett, Nate (2007-03-01). "Third Asian Boyz Gang Member Pleads Guilty". Wktv.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
- ^ Payne, Paul (2012-06-28). "Jury convicts 4 gang members in Jenner beach slaying". Press Democrat. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Asian Boyz Gang Members Sentenced to Life without the Possibility of Parole Plus 25 Years to Life for Blind Beach Murder". Press Democrat. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/pierre-mercado-convicted_n_1791574.html