Armenian Power

Infobox Criminal organization
name =Armenian Power


caption = Armenian Power tag
founding location =Los Angeles The intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Normandie Avenue
ethnic makeup =Armenian
allies =Mexican Mafia, Sureños, 18th Street gang
founded on =1990s
rivals =White Fence, Tooner Ville Rifa 13, MS-13, Norteños, The Avenues, Bloods, Vineland Boys gang
membership =800
territory =Hollywood, East Hollywood, North Hollywood, Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank,San Fernando Valley
criminal activities =Drug trafficking, Murder, Gang warfare, Drive-By Shooting, Theft, Identity Theft, Assault, Extortion

Armenian Power, also known as AP [Native in a Strange Land: Trials & Tremors - Page 192 by Wanda Coleman] , is an Armenian street gang located in Los Angeles County.

History

The collapse of the Soviet Union prompted a massive wave of Armenian immigration into Los Angeles County, California, primarily in the communities of East Hollywood, North Hollywood, Hollywood, Pasadena, Burbank and Glendale. Faced with pressure from Mexican and Salvadoran gang members in the area, young Armenians in East Hollywood grouped together to form Armenian Power. [http://www.streetgangs.com/topics/1997/081787armgng.html Violent Gang Is a Stain on a Proud Ethnic Community] ] Armenian-American street gangs are not large in terms of numbers but are violent and influential enough to allegedly be involved in Mexican Mafia peace talks between Hispanic gangs [http://www.streetgangs.com/topics/1997/081787armgng.html Violent Gang Is a Stain on a Proud Ethnic Community] ] . The Armenian Power gang was a quickly growing gang in Hollywood and Glendale which formed partnerships with other gangs. [In Dark Alleys - Page 17by Brian St.Claire-King] The gang's main enemies are Toonerville Rifa 13, The Avenues (gang) and MS-13. [ [http://www.glendalepolicefoundation.org/news/gangs_101_ch3.htm The Glendale Police Foundation] ] Armen Petrosyan was the founder and leader of Armenian Power, also known as Silent. The corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Normandie Avenue had become a mecca for transvestite prostitutes. “Sometimes there would be 10 drag queens there,” Salazar said. “We tried to shoo them away, but they’d come back. Armenian Power members, seeing a chance to make some money, told the transvestites they would charge them $25 a night for protection from beatings.The drag queens objected, pointing out that they weren’t having any trouble with beatings.“I told those freaks, ‘Oh, no one’s jacking you?’ Then we jacked them up,” said Bizzy, a 19-year-old gang member. Salazar confirmed that the transvestite problem disappeared.Fact|date=October 2008

During the late 1980s, a new gang developed in the Glendale area. This gang was comprised of Armenian youth who had banded together for commonality of culture and protection from others. The group developed into a street gang called Armenian Power. The Armenian Power gang formation was heavily influenced by members of the Mexican street gang, Florencia, which had a clique made up of Armenian gang members. In May 2000, a Latino gang member shot and killed a former leader of Hollywood's Armenian Power gang in a deli in East Hollywood where the Armenian gang held turf. [The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History - Page 381 by Gregory Paul Williams]

In Hollywood an Armenian immigrant group — Armenian Power (AP) — were believed to be responsible for a dozen driveby murders by mid- 1997. [ Hearts and hands: creating community in violent times - Page 38by Luis J. Rodriguez]

In 1998 Armenian Power member Vahagan "Boxer" Akopyan was involved in a verbal argument with Mara Salvatrucha and other members of Armenian Power, including well-known members Chute and Tiny. Akopyan took out his .45 caliber pistol and began shooting at the rival gang members. He injured two and killed three. He fled the U.S. and has been on LAPDs Most Wanted List since then. In May 1997, Krikor “Yogi” Telian, a 22-year-old AP member, pulled up to a stoplight in North Hollywood. The people in the car next to him shaped their hands to form the letters V and B, the sign of the Violent Boys, a 300-member Latino gang from North Hollywood. Yogi flashed his AP sign. A moment later, he was shot dead.

Armenian Power member Scrappy was recently involved in a car chase with the police on Hollywood Blvd due to suspicions that he was weapon trafficking. He came across a road block and decided to stop. One of the police officers approached his car to ask for liscense and registration. He told the officer that he left his liscense at home and that he should follow him there to see it. The officer refused. Unable to convince the officer he began arguing. After the argument he saw the police officer was not going to cave. Scrappy pulled out his 9mm and began firing at the officer. Moments later the cop was dead and Scrappy was put in jail.

References

External links

* [http://www.courttv.com/trials/peterson/gangcase_ctv.html Peterson not the only murder suspect banking on Geragos]