Gangster Disciples: Profile

History
The Gangster Disciple Nation was formed in the early 1960s under the name of the Devil’s Disciples by David Barksdale. During the late 1960s, the Devil’s Disciples became the Black Gangster Disciples when Barksdale merged his gang with the Gangster Disciples and Black Gangsters. During this time, the Black Gangster Disciples fought a series of bloody turf wars with the Blackstone Rangers. Barksdale died in 1974 as a result of his wounds from a 1969 shooting. After his death, the Gangster Disciple Nation was taken over by Larry “King Hoover” Hoover and Jerome “ Shorty” Freeman. They were Barksdale’s second in command. Shortly thereafter, Hoover and Freeman split the gang into two separate gangs. Hoover led the Gangster Disciples and Freeman led the Black Gangsters. Under the leadership of Larry Hoover, the Gangster Disciples grew into Chicago’s largest street gang, if not the largest gang in the United States.

Although he was incarcerated in 1978, Larry Hoover continued to run the gang from his jail cell. His creation of the largest street gang in the United States has led to a record company, clothing company and political action committees. After a conviction on Racketeering charges in 1998, which illustrated Larry Hoover’s control of the gang operations, Hoover was found guilty of Racketeering and sentenced to life in prison with no parole and no outside contact.

Development
The 1990s showed the increase in Gangster Disciple presence on the East Coast. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, Gangster Disciples can be found in most East Coast states. The ability of the Gangster Disciples to recruit, their drug networks and large numbers make the Gangster Disciples a force to contend with in the near future for the East Coast. When incarcerated, Gangster Disciples are called Brothers (Sisters) of the Struggle. Gangster Disciples are the largest Folk Nation gang in the country.

Activities