Gangster Disciples

The organized crime group I chose to research is the Gangster Disciples. The category that the

Gangster Disciples falls under is an African American crime group. It is Chicago’s best known

African American crime group. The Gangster Disciples was formed on the Southside of Chicago

when the Supreme Gangsters and Black Disciples merged together. The Leaders of the Gangster

Disciples were Larry Hoover and David Barksdale. The colors of the organization were black and

blue. The symbol for this crime group is a six-pointed star of David with two upward crossed

Pitchforks. The gang was most active in the Midwest and in the Southeast United States. They

also had a strong presence in the U.S. prison system. The gang had between 50,000 to 90,000

at one point. In 1973, Larry Hoover was tried and convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. He

was sentenced to 150 years in prison. David Barksdale died of kidney failure in 1974, which left

Larry Hoover to reign as the leader of the Gangster Disciples from prison where he is still

currently serving out his sentence. The Gangster Disciples was run like a corporate business.

Some types of crimes that Gangster Disciples were murder, drug trafficking, prostitution,

money laundering, burglary, fraud, extortion, kidnapping, arms trafficking, robbery, kidnapping,

and theft.