Varrio South Side 38th street [Tres Ocho] is a predominately Hispanic Street gang on the eastside of South Los Angeles. It is among one of the oldest street gangs in South Los Angeles forming between 1915 and 1925.
The gang formed on 38th Street between Santa Fe Avenue (east) and Alameda Street (west) in the rancher farm community of Vernon just west off the banks of the Los Angeles River. When the City of Vernon was founded in 1905 by ranchers James Furlong, Thomas Furlong and John B. Leonis Mexican migrants moved into the area but city officials began to convert the open farm lands into an industrial mega-center which became the home of several steel, aluminum, and glass companies. Studebaker, Farmer John and General Mills setup in Vernon during the 1920s and 1930s.
As Vernon began to transform away from a farm community into an industrial town, the gang’s central location moved just west of Alameda into South Los Angeles in an area where there is no 38th Street.
In 1942, the Los Angeles Police department investigated the murder of José Gallardo Diaz and implicated several 38th Street members. During the early morning hours of August 2, 1942 Diaz’ dead body was found on the side of a road, with injuries consistent of being hit by a car. Investigators believed that Diaz was murdered and within days, Henry Leyvas, 20, and several 38th Street members were arrested for murder in what became known as the Sleepy Lagoon case. Nine members of 38th Street were convicted on 2nd degree murder but in 1944 the Court of Appeals reversed the convictions of the defendants.
Racial paranoia and prejudice had influenced the investigation, the District Attorney’s office and Judge Charles W. Fricke creating an unfair trial. The media coverage was also biased and most of the original defendants were considered innocent of all charges.
Gang graffiti, 38th Street crossing out rival East Side Trece, 27th & Hooper, Los Angeles
The territory of 38th Street is considered larger than average at 0.523 square miles stretching from Central Avenue (west) to Alameda (east) from approximately Martin Luther King Blvd (south) to 41st Street (north). The 38th Street turf also extends north to 24th Street between Compton (west) and Long Beach Avenues (east). The Alameda Swap Meet on Alameda & Vernon Avenue has been a stronghold in their turf for years.
Gang territory of Varrio 38th Street
Henry “Hank” Leyva, an original Mexican Mafia member from the late 1950s was the first 38th Street member inducted and became an influential representative. This neighborhood influenced the early history of the Mexican Mafia. Other Mexican Mafia members from 38th Street included Raul “Dopey” Montez and Ramon “Ponchi” Amado.
The large geography of 38th Street has contributed to several subclicks being formed over the years. Their clicks are:
- Tiny Locotes (TLS)
- Morgan Bagos (MBS)
- Night Owls (NLS)
- Pee Wees (PWS)
- CDLS
- Tiny Winos (TWS)
- Pee Wees Locos (PWLS)
- CHBS
- Gatos Locos (GLS), Krazy Kats (KKS), Krazy Cats (KZCT, KZK)
- Dukes (DKS)
- South Central Locos (SCLS)
- Cut Downers (CDS)
- Las Locas (LAS) – female click
- (BPR)
- Tiny Diablas (TDS)
- (FLS)
- (WLS)
- Chicos Locos (CLS)
- Chicos Bagos (CBS)
- Midgets (MGS)
- (WLR)
- (CAD)
In 2004 the Los Angeles City Attorney’s filed a gang injunction against 38th Street and Judge Jane Johnson granted permanent status to the civil gang injunction in an effort to dismantle and reduce criminal activity of the gang.
In January of 2011, 53 suspected 38th Street members were indicted on narcotics and firearms charges. Varrio 38th Street became the subject of a 130-page grand jury indictment alleging violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act (United States v. Luis “Penguin” Orozco). Over 50 defendants were charged with acting on behalf of the gang and participating in murders, murder plots, attempted murders, narcotics trafficking, robberies, extortion and witness intimidation.
Rivals to 38th Street include Barrio Mohados (BMS), Ghetto Boyz (GBZ), Florencia 13, Pueblo Bloods and All For Crime Bloods.
Deceased 38th Street Members
- Oso – died from health complications while in a California prison
- Jorge Alberto “Sharps” Garcia ( – 2010)
- Victor “Flaco” Moreno, 19, (1990 – May 14, 2009) – was shot multiple on the 1700 block of East Vernon Avenue
- Woody – shot and killed by BMS member
- Chubs –
- Pe Pe –
- Walter Hernandez, 23, (1984 – September 10, 2007)
- Midget -
- Suspect -
- Ruben “Smurf” Urzoa, 18, (1992 – February 7, 2010) – killed by All For Crime member
- Efrain “Clown / Payaso” Olmos, 39, (August 16, 1970 – August 24, 2009) – shot and killed in his car by passenger in back seat at 9500 block of Bandera Street in Watts
- Luis “Spike” Zaragoza ( – September 23, 2001) – killed by 38th Street member
- Chele
- Shaggy ( – 1996)
- Arturo “Lil Crook” Alvarez, 34, ( – July 7, 2009) – shot in South Gate, CA
- Lucio “Bad Boy” Rodarte, 40, (1969 – July 27, 2009) – shot multiple times in the head in an alley near Alondra Boulevard between Lime Avenue and Frailey Avenue
- Mauricio ( – 2003)
- Evil -
- Rafael Martinez ( – June 27, 2000)
SS 3KZK8 ST GANG NOMAS KILLING FK BMK LPK KBSK 36k 41k PBSK HOBK E13K BOK KLSK HFK VHLSK 42K 39k 35k mcsk NSUK WK FDPKKKK AFCKK 18k MSK 8K PFK GBZK EVERY BODY KILLER TEST OR DONT BANG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK TRAMPSK HOBK BGLS MWLS HPLS 55BUNCHK CV3K CVUSVK KSTK FK BMSK KLSK 42K 36K 8K 18K MSK GBZK FUCK ALL MY ENEMIGAS LET THEM REST IN MY RABBIT PISS . SS.V.PLAYBOYS.13 C L S CLICKA RABBIT GANG OR DONT BANG !!!
your homie vago from ss38st is a ranker he used to get punk by youngsters from brown pride and south side locos in 92nd they made him say fuck 38st
PUROV.GHETTO BOYZ 27ST LIL LOKOS FUCK TRAMP8 KILLA FUCK ALL MY ENEMIGAS
fuck a gummy and a pnut putos puro SS38ST GANG NOMASSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! tiny lokes FUCK ALL YOU BIG MACKS AND FAGGS TOO
SS 38 ST ALL DAY EVERY DAY PUNK ASS NIGGAS
fuck TRAMPAS barrio evil gang u knoe wheres it att levas .. hahha rest in piss flako punck ass chavala .. EVIL TOWN ……. BE13 GANG OR DNT BANG 33RD TOKERS
FUCK U LEVAS 38ST ALL DAY RANKING ASS FOO FUCK ALL UR DEAD HOMIES CHEAP ASS VARRIO TEST GANG OR DONT BANG RIP FLACO TINY LOCOTES RIFFAMOS
FUCK SUSPECTK FROM TRAMPFAKE HE A BITCH! SC HANG OUT BOYS13 MNS BWLS 58STDEMONS
SS 38 ST
FUKK BE13KK
FUKK HANG OUT BOYSKK
SS38 ST
levas!!!!!!!7ray
FUCK TRAMPS BANG BANG LOKO PARK GANG ,WE KILL 4 THE TRHILLS!!!!!!
ima add one more to the list “sniper” rest in peace died in car accident miss you homie.
Was Sniper from 38th Street in LA? WHat year?
Sniper is on the list on one of the drawings you posted but the homie spelled it Snyper.
sniper is an og from sstest he died 2 years ago today.
Fallen:
Lil Chico cds 1986,
Troopy cds 1987,
Lil Man cds 1994,
Ricky tls 1996,
Poso tls,
Missing:
Wimpy tls,
Lil Mono cds,
Snoops cds,
Hey is Wimpy from TLS Asian? Is his real name Byron? If it is I thought they call him sparky?
If it is that foo thats my homie and he died on nov3 of last year they found his body in hollywood supposely he died from a overdose
wimpy was from cds click, and he was not asian… he awolled from ventura around 1986-1989 con’t remember exact year.
okay..well to let u know..the homie sparky from tls died back in nov 3 from a overdose and had his funeral in january of this year
you forgot the homies RIP…. lil’ loko, loko, snaps, lil’mo, baby trouble, and silent……..
fuk a fag….a peanut, hang out boyz,
Big TEST’LS All Day….
ANOTHER DOWN HOMIE..RESTIN’ IN PEACE IS THE HOMIE SHYBOY…. N E BODY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT FOO WAKO AND THIS FOO EVIL FROM NLS?
hey homie silent is he the og silent.
og silent in jail for murder
HUNTINGTON PARK THAT DOUBLE >S< 2WENTY 9INE ST GANG MLDS FROM RANDFLO TO SLAUSEN TO GAYWOOD AVE TO ALANTIC YAMEAN POSTED ON 61PL FUCK THIS INTERNET SHIT COME THRU THE BLOCK ILL LET THE NINA DO THE TALKING ………………….SS29STMLDS
Homies!…Listen up..Word just came down that 2 foos from this so called varrio “hell bound” in pico union are ratas ..”informats”Also they never was given permission the used trece.Homies you know what to do.Roll them up A.S.A.P Your varrio will be blessed Gracias.They hang out Oylmpic to pico. fedora to vermont. Mucho gusto carnales..
jaja.. what a lame!
SS Aztlan 13 —–>76xPls