Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips

Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips
"60's Crips" graffiti
Founded1976
Founding locationLos Angeles, California
Years active1976–present
EthnicityPredominantly African-American
Membership (est.)1,600[1]
Criminal activitiesRacketeering, murder, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, auto theft, armed robbery, burglary, extortion, fraud[2]
AlliesRollin 40's and Rollin 90's NHCs[1]
RivalsBloods, "Hoover factions", "Eight Trey Gangster Crip (83GC)"[1]

The Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips is a "set" of the Crips street gang alliance based in Los Angeles, California, originally formed around Hyde Park, Los Angeles, in 1976 from the Westside Crips and having since spread to other cities in the United States.[1][3] Membership is estimated to be around 1,600 people, making it one of the largest gangs in the Los Angeles area.[4]

Members identify themselves by wearing the Seattle Mariners[4] or Chicago White Sox logos and mark areas they are in with graffiti.[1]

History

The Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips were among the first Crip sets to emerge in Los Angeles, and are named after the West 60th Street, which runs through its territory between Slauson and Florence Avenues.[5][6] The Crips, as well as the Rollin' 60s, spread to other cities across the country in the 1980s as part of the crack epidemic.[6]

In 1992, Crips' kingpin Keith "Stone" Thomas was killed. Around 400 people, including law enforcement, attended his funeral which prompted many to reflect on the bloodshed and actions of Rollin' 60s. Youth worker and activist Chilton Alphonse reflected on the change marked by Stone's death[7]:

Once upon a time, the Rollin' 60s were a family. Now, I think a lot of these youngsters are beginning to question, is it really worth it.

According to a news outlet in 2004, the Rollin' 60s were "the largest black criminal street gang in the City of Los Angeles"[1] and in 2007 were considered a top gang in Los Angeles by the LAPD.[8]

Investigations and prosecutions

Two men identified as members of the Rollin' 60s were arrested for the 1984 murders of four members of professional football player Kermit Alexander's family. Police say the gang members got the address wrong and killed the wrong family.[9]

In 1988, a member of the Rollin' 60s was responsible for the death of Karen Toshima, who was caught in the crossfire between two gang members in Westwood Village.[10] Her death led to a large crackdown on gangs initiated by then-LAPD chief Daryl Gates in which hundreds of people were arrested.[6]

In 2013, an East Orange, New Jersey drug network overseen by the Rollin' 60s and other Crips sets was dismantled, leading to 23 arrests, and seizure of $300,000 worth of drugs.[11]

In 2018, the Roosevelt, Long Island set of the Rollin' 60s was dismantled after dozens of members were arrested in 2014 and 2018, and multiple members cooperated with law enforcement. This set had been established in 2003 and was responsible for dozens of shootings over the years as part of a feud with the Roosevelt Bloods gang.[12][13]

In 2016, a dozen members of the Detroit branch of the Rollin' 60s were arrested and indicted on assault, robbery, carjacking, and drug and firearms trafficking charges. The Detroit set was started around 2006 and in 2016 had 150 members.[14]

In 2023, 19 members of the Savannah, Georgia branch of the Rollin' 60s, including rapper Quando Rondo, were arrested on 49 counts of drug charges and gang affiliation.[15]

In 2025, 19 members of the Los Angeles Rollin' 60s were arrested and charged with racketeering, extortion, human trafficking, fraud, and murder.[16] Those arrested include music executive Eugene "Big U" Henley Jr., who authorities said acted as the gang's leader while posing as a community activist.[17][18] Henley is accused of kidnapping and killing a rival rapper and leaving his body in the Las Vegas desert, among other crimes.[5]

Notable members

  • Tiequon "Lil Fee" Cox was a known member of the gang who murdered multiple members of football player Kermit Alexander's family, and was sentenced to death in 1984.
  • Rapper, businessman, and community activist Nipsey Hussle was a member of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips,[19] and was killed by a fellow member of the gang.[5]
  • Rapper Kurupt is considered an affiliate.[20]
  • Dallas rapper Lil Loaded stated in an interview that he was an affiliate.[21]
  • Georgia rapper Quando Rondo is also a member of the Savannah branch of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips and in June 2023 was arrested for having an alleged leadership role in the gang.[22]
  • Music executive Eugene "Big U" Henley Jr. and father of Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley was arrested in December 1991.[23] He was a member before he was caught in a drug sting and sentenced to 23 years in prison.[24] He founded the non-profit Developing Options Inc. after being released in 2004.[24] Some gang experts described him as the leader and "top man" of the Rollin' 60s, and he has been interviewed about the history of the set.[23] The Los Angeles Times describes Henley as an O.G. or "original gangster" of the Rollin' 60s. He has discussed being a founding member of the set in interviews,[6] and additionally is on wiretap calls describing himself as being a bigger member than any other Rollin' 60s member.[5] Henley was arrested in March 2025 amid accusations that he ran a "mafia-like" organization as a leader of the Rollin' 60s.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barrett, Beth (September 30, 2004). "Rollin 60s give unique window into gang culture". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2004.
  2. ↑ "Crips Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder in-Aid-of Racketeering and Other Crimes". Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Rollin 60s NeighborHood Crips in Los Angeles, California – Hyde Park area". streetgangs.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Covey, Herbert C. (2015). Crips and Bloods: A Guide to an American Subculture: A Guide to an American Subculture. ABC-CLIO. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-313-39930-5.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Rappers, murder and City Hall fraud: Inside the 'Big U' charges rocking L.A." Los Angeles Times. March 21, 2025. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Meija, Brittny; Jany, Libor (April 22, 2025). "L.A.'s Rollin' 60s Crips: The rise of a notorious gang and its reputed boss 'Big U'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ Katz, Jesse (April 14, 1992). "COLUMN ONE : An Ethic Dies With Gang Chief : The stakes these days are drug money, not turf. The transformation has eroded the code of unity, and violence is out of control as member turns against member". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  8. ↑ Barco, Mandalit del (February 9, 2007). "L.A. Police Lists the City's Top Gangs". NPR. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Two Gang Members Arrested In Alexander Family Killings". The New York Times. November 5, 1984.
  10. ↑ Mitchell, John; Kendall, John (December 2, 1989). "Toshima's Slayer Gets 27 Years to Life in Prison : Gangs: Woman was innocent victim of Westwood Village shooting in 1988. Incident shocked L.A. into the realization that street violence could occur anywhere". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ Queally, James (August 21, 2013). "East Orange police dismantle gang network, seize $300K in drugs". nj. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  12. ↑ "A Road to Safer Streets". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  13. ↑ Bolger, Timothy (April 18, 2013). "Roosevelt Crips Bust Biggest in Nassau History, DA Says". www.longislandpress.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  14. ↑ "12 gang members of the Rollin 60s Crips in Detroit arrested". FOX 2 Detroit. February 11, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ Elibert, Mark (June 20, 2023). "Quando Rondo Arrested on Gang and Drug Charges". Complex. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Longtime Rollin' 60s Crips Leader and Show Business Entrepreneur Charged in Federal Complaint Alleging Racketeering Crimes". www.justice.gov. March 19, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Reputed L.A. gang leader posed as activist and music mogul while running deadly 'mafia-like' racket, feds say". NBC News. March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Eugene 'Big U' Henley Jr. pleads not guilty". NBC Los Angeles. April 8, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  19. ↑ Arango, Tim (April 19, 2019). "Nipsey Hussle Was Hailed as a Hero. But to California Officials, He Was Still a Gangster". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  20. ↑ Robinson, Collin (December 6, 2016). "The Year In LA Gangster Blues (And Reds)". stereogum.com. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  21. ↑ djvlad (April 1, 2020). Lil Loaded on Claiming Rollin 60's Crip in Dallas (Part 4). Retrieved May 13, 2026 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ "Rapper Quando Rondo detained after being indicted for drug, gang charges". USA Today. June 22, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  23. 1 2 Archives, L. A. Times (July 21, 1992). "SOUTHWEST LOS ANGELES : Reputed Crips Chief Gets 23 Years in Robbery Try". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  24. 1 2 "Eugene 'Big U' Henley Speaks On Uniting Gangs, Community Service And Nipsey Hussle's Legacy". Essence. October 23, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.


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