TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL NATIONAL GANG CONFERENCE
PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER 1 (PENI)
WHITE STREET GANG & PRISON GANG
Los Santos, San Andreas - July 4th, 2014
Background
Public Enemy No. 1 (also known as PENI) is a hybrid between a white supremacist street gang and prison gang. It was first formed as a punk gang in Long Beach, California during the 1980s. It later spread beyond, to locations such as Orange County and San Andreas. Since then the group has progressively evolved and turned into a threat to both law enforcement and communities, with its skinhead ideology, subculture of violence and criminal nature. The organization has spread to local neighborhoods and state facilities, recruiting common minded white criminals.
The motives of most PENI members are based around monetary profit, gang retaliation, gang intimidation, or are narcotics related. The typical crimes most commonly involve burglaries, robbery, assault, identity theft, credit card fraud and methamphetamine sales. All of the documented PENI members have been arrested by law enforcement authorities more than once, while almost 75 percent of them have been incarcerated in one of the state correctional facilities. This makes it easier for the group to operate, recruit and expand both on the street and in state prisons.
Members are sometimes referred to as "Needle Nazis," because of the racist ideology and heavy drug use supported by the organization. The methamphetamine use combined with the willingnes to commit violent crimes, makes them a hard target for law enforcement to deal with. In 2007, the police forces in Orange County arrested 67 alleged PEN1 members after learning of an extensive "hit list" that included five police officers and a gang prosecutor. Those arrested in the raid were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of illegal weapons and identity theft.
The music scene plays a big part in the gang's history and appearance. The name of the group comes from a British punk band called Rudimentary Peni. Members frequently attend and get together at music shows. The first generation of members were an active part of the punk movement with other youth gangs such as Fight For Freedom, LA Death Squad, La Mirada Punks and others. They also associate with other white supremacy groups and often hang around biker bars or skinhead gatherings. Despite their background and white belief system, money comes first and business is done with people of other races.
The main key figure and leader of the organization is Donald "Popeye" Mazza. Since 1999, PENI have been the acting soldiers for the more superior Aryan Brotherhood gang. Unlike the Nazi Lowriders, Public Enemy No. 1 has a more distinguishable leadership, but is more loosely structured. The gang draws a lot of its setup from a past anarchist background and its street gang roots. Senior members can carry more "juice" (power) and take decisions in prison or in the street. In 2005, Mazza made the ultimate power play by joining the Aryan Brotherhood while in the Pelican Bay SHU.
White Groups Structure
White prison gangs, like the Aryan Brotherhood (also known as the Brand) control the white prison population, and the prison inmates will segregate themselves by race in the institutions. Founded in the 1960s, the AB endeavors to be the major influence of all white gangs inside and outside the prison. When the CDCR categorized the AB as a prison gang, all of its members were moved from the general population yards and put in special housing units on a 23 hour lockdown. The organization was forced to utilize middleman gangs, who would conduct business on their behalf, do the dirty work and be the strong-arm for the rules on the street and in prison.
During periods of incarceration in the prison system, white gangs follow implicit AB instructions. Certain groups like the NLR were used for the enforcement of prison politics. The Nazi Lowriders carried out tasks and built a reputation for violence towards other inmates and staff. They were grandfathered by AB member John Stinson and eventually in later years, started acting as a stepping stone to join in the Brand. In 1999, the CDCR categorized the NLR as a prison gang. This meant its members were moved and segregated from the general population, a problem which the AB faced before.
When this happened, the NLR became uneffective in their role as soldiers on the mainline and were replaced. Public Enemy No. 1 were seen as the successors and were given the "keys to the yard" (control). PENI members conduct illegal activities while incarcerated for financial benefits. They are involved in drug distribution, extortion, assaults and murder. Leaders like Donald "Popeye" Mazza were recruited into the Aryan Brotherhood when this power shift happened. At this point PENI began to emulate the behavior and appearance of other regional criminally oriented white gangs.
PENI are actively recruiting out of smaller skinhead gangs, white gangs and prison. A dual membership like this adds strength to the organization's influence and makes it more difficult for law enforcement to keep track of and estimate membership. PENI blends in with the rest of the white supremacy gangs and its position of power makes it attractive for associates to join. Potential members can be drafted from groups like the Santa Maria Skinheads, Swan Lake Skinheads, East Beach Hardcore, Insane White Boys and others. PENI prefers to be mobile and not claim territory on the street.
Many of today's white criminal organizations or gangs can be categorized into prison gangs, white supremacist/hate groups, or criminal street organizations. These white street groups may align themselves with the white prison groups while incarcerated, but they will associate with other races outside of the prison system. Although organization and hierarchy is more apparent in the institutions during incarceration, the AB still has a high influence of authority over the white gang population on the streets. Certain groups can be used for criminal enterprise operations outside prison walls.
Other common names, signs and symbols associated with Public Enemy Number 1 are PENI, PEN1, PDS, Hate Incorporated, Death Church and PENI Death Squad. PENI also uses the numbers 7-3-7, which correspond to PDS. PENI gang members display white supremacist tattoos, or skinhead tattoos, with symbols of Celtic crosses, swastikas and lightning bolts. Members use P as a handsign for PENI or PDS.