L.A. Boys

From Rap Dictionary

The L.A.'s (Latino Americanos) are a Latino orientated street gang who was approximately 60 members strong as of 1994, and reported in the Christie Pits and Ossington/Bloor street west area of downtown Toronto. Initially Police did not view the L.A.'s as a sophisticated or organized force to deal with, dismissing them as a group of neighbourhood trouble makers rather than a criminal organization. However, it was not long before the core members of the L.A. Boys began to influence other disenfranchised Latino and Portuguese youths from 'broken homes' to join them in their criminal endeavors. Years later, the L.A.'s grew from a roaming neighbourhood click to an organized criminal entity. However, the L.A. Boys did not make media headlines until two top ranking members were acquitted of 1st degree murder in the shooting death of a Christie Boys enforcer in 2004. Subsequently, one of the accused was then convicted of the shooting death of a bouncer outside a downtown nightclub the following year. They are believed to be major players in the cocaine trade around the west end section of downtown Toronto, and have evolved into an organized syndicate since its humble beginnings. Members of this gang have a working relationship with the Esplanade Crew.