The History of Gangs in Cleveland
Gang activity has a long history in Cleveland, Ohio. The presence of gangs in Cleveland extends back to the Prohibition era of the 1920s, when the city became a major center of mob activity. The mob does not have the hold on Cleveland it once had, but youth street gangs continue to operate in various parts of the city, controlling much of Cleveland's drug traffic. In recent years, Cleveland police and federal authorities have begun cracking down on gang activity.
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History
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Prohibition, which extended from 1920 to 1933, fueled the rise of organized crime across the United States. In Cleveland, the Mayfield Road gang was one of the city's most powerful crime organizations and dominated much of the traffic in illegal liquor.
Time Frame
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From the 1920s to the late 1970s, Cleveland was a prominent center of mafia activity, where the mob was active in gambling, drug traffic, labor racketeering, and other crimes. During the 1970s, dozens of car bombs went off in Cleveland as part of a war between rival mobsters. Over time, federal prosecution and old age took their toll on the mob's leadership.
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Decline
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In the late 1990s, the federal government took down much of what was left of the Cleveland mob. Prosecutors indicted dozens of mobsters in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Mob factions in the two cities had battled for control of the rackets in Youngstown, Ohio, as far back as the mid-1970s.
Identification
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According to Cleveland police, the city's most dangerous street gangs include the Dirty 30, Waste 5 and the Hough Heights gangs. Each of these gangs, as well as others, are active in different parts of Cleveland.
Crackdown
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In 2007, Cleveland police and federal authorities began a massive crackdown on gang activity and arrested more than 150 suspected gang members, including members of the Waste 5 and Hough Heights gangs.
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