Founded 1950 Membership Over 3,000 | Years active 1950 - Present | |
Founding location El Monte, California, US Territory all of El Monte, California and South El Monte, California and San Gabriel Valley Ethnicity Chicanos (Mexican Americans) | ||
El Monte Flores, also known as EMF, is a Hispanic criminal street gang in the cities of South El Monte, California, El Monte, California, North El Monte, California, larger parts of The San Gabriel Valley, & across 6 additional states in The United States. EMF is the largest and oldest Hispanic gang in the San Gabriel Valley.
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Location
Police reports have suggested that their reach has even been seen in Victorville, California, Arizona, Washington (state), New Mexico, Chicago, Florida. The original cliques are in El Monte, California, as well as South El Monte, but like many gangs, members are beginning to migrate to various other cities and states across the country. A chapter has even been established in Seattle, Washington. El Monte Flores still maintains a strong hold in their original territory despite repeated attempts from law enforcement to break the gang. El Monte Flores claims all of El Monte, California, South El Monte, California, North El Monte, California, & Mayflower Village, California but is most active east of the Rio Hondo River, mainly in the southern portion of the city. Major hangouts include the San Gabriel Valley Boys & Girls Club, Dead-End ValeWood, Little 5 Points liquor, Dead-End Dotson, Wild Flower St, Legg Lake Park, Alpaca St, Valley Mall, Arceo Park, Zamora Park, Mountain View Park, Dead-End CogsWell, Fletcher Park, Maxson St, Dead-End MoreHouse, Continental St, Central St, Dead-End Sastre, Potrero St, New Temple Park, Lambert Park, Mansion Trailers, and the KlingerMan-BonWood Apartments.
Culture
Even though El Monte Flores are a Sureño gang and use the number 13 (to denote the 13th letter, M, in the alphabet.) they are rivals with a variety of other Sureño gangs. Members usually tattoo the words, "Monte Flores", "El Monte F", "Flores", "EMF", "EMFxTMS" on them. XIII, X3, 13 and 3 dots are also seen with Sureño gang members and their colors are blue and gray. Like all Sureños once they are in the prison system they are set aside their rivalry and unite under the Sureño Banner and controlled by La eMe.
Criminal Activity
The El Monte Flores gang is involved in various criminal activity. Being one of the most notorious and biggest gang in Southern California. Their main source of income is from the illegal sale of heroin, crystal meth, cocaine, marijuana, prostitution, ecstasy, & PCP. EMF gang-members are well known for trafficking in illegal narcotics, along with other crimes like battery to murder, as well as robbery, burglary, carjacking, witness intimidation, kidnapping, weapons trafficking, credit card fraud and identity theft, racketeering, drug and weapons-related charges, money laundering & hate crimes against blacks.
History
Also known as EMF, the gang has had an estimated 3,000 members since it was formed in the 1940s. The gang claims South El Monte, El Monte, North El Monte, and Mayflower Village as its turf.
The gang's name comes from the Barrio Las Flores, named for the flower field & nurseries in the area, that were located in El Monte, California
El Monte Flores is now part of a larger organization and pays "taxes" or "tribute" to the Mexican Mafia or "La eMe," a powerful prison-based gang who controls the majority of Latino gangs in Southern California