Opinion ID: 223527
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: About the Gang

Text: The Insane Deuce Nation (Insane Deuces, Deuces, or the Nation) is an organized street gang affiliated with the Folks, a national network of various local gangs. Recently, the gang has been predominantly composed of Latino/Hispanic males and has operated primarily within northern Illinois, though factions exist throughout Illinois and various state and federal prisons. Cities in northeastern Illinois had individual chapters under the umbrella of the Nation and its centralized leadership. This case involves the Aurora Deuces, a chapter with a significant presence in Aurora, Illinois. A loose association between the Insane Deuces and the Latin Kings, a gang affiliated with the Peoples network, had evaporated before the events in this case occurred. By 2002, the Deuces and Kings were bitter rivals fighting for control of Aurora's streets. The rivalry resulted in frequent and escalating violence, often leading to attacks against victims mistaken for rival gang members. This inter-gang violence precipitated the investigation leading to this case. The Deuces comprised at least three tiers of membership: Seniors, Juniors, and Shorties. Shorties were the gang's youngest full members. They bore responsibility for executing most of the gang's activities, including carrying out violent acts and selling narcotics to fund the gang. They were often juveniles, recruited in their youth to build the gang's ranks while minimizing criminal liability. By participating in gang activities, young members could become Juniors. Juniors were responsible for daily Deuce operations. They directed the Shorties' activities and planned narrow-scale operations, determining which Shorties would participate, assigning responsibilities and distributing firearms to them, and supervising their activities. The Seniors were longstanding members of the gang whose age and accomplishments made them the leaders, broad-scope planners, and advisors for the gang. They directed the Juniors but were often removed from the Deuces' daily activities. The local chapter in Aurora was organized at the Junior level, likely due to the ongoing incarceration of the local Seniors. Each tier in the Deuces had its own leadership structure where three members in each tier bore a title and increased responsibilities. The highest rank in each tier was the First Seat or Governor who was responsible for the overall activities of that group. The Second Seat or Lieutenant Governor assisted in directing activities within the tier, often assigning missions. The third-ranking member, or Enforcer, was responsible for ensuring compliance with the gang's disciplinary codes and for administering violations (punishments) to members who broke the gang's leyas (laws) or failed to participate in its activities. The Deuces' daily activities included dealing narcotics to benefit the gang, going on missions (planned attacks on rival gang members), protecting and supporting fellow gang members and their families, punishing gang members who violated the gang's codes, and meeting to coordinate these efforts. To facilitate their activities, the Deuces maintained a caja system, a loose form of community property and money acquired for the benefit of gang members. For example, if a Deuce was arrested and held pending trial, other members would take money from the caja to post bail for him. The caja also included a quantity of narcotics from which a member could borrow to make sales or trades for the benefit of the Nation. Although the Deuces were allowed to buy and sell drugs in a free enterprise system  sales could be conducted from sources outside of the Nation  all sales needed to benefit the Nation in some way, typically by paying a portion of the proceeds into the caja. Alternatively, profits from sales could be used to purchase firearms to donate to the gang. These Nation guns would then be used in carrying out missions or protecting members; the guns would be returned to the caja after the mission for later use (unless disposed of to avoid ballistics evidence in the event of a murder). Participation was compulsory for Juniors and Shorties, including those members who were rolled back from Senior to Junior status in an effort to better train, lead, and supervise the Deuces' swelling Shorty ranks. Every Junior and Shorty had to pay periodic dues into the caja to support the gang's activities. Missions were specifically assigned to gang members and usually consisted of planned attacks directed against specific rival gang members in retaliation for violence or territorial encroachment. Nation guns would be distributed for the mission along with orders to empty the magazine or bear violations for every bullet not fired. In addition to missions, all members were expected to comply with a standing order to attack Latin Kings whenever the opportunity arose. Participation in missions, other acts of violence, and donations of money, contraband, or firearms to the caja through drug sales or theft led to advancement within the organization. In exchange for these efforts, Deuces and their families received financial support and physical protection; these benefits extended to both Deuces on the streets and those who were incarcerated in various facilities throughout Illinois.