Fruit Belt Gang
| Founded | 60s—70s |
|---|---|
| Named after | Fruit Belt |
| Territory | Areas of Fruit Belt and some surrounding areas |
| Ethnicity | Primarily African American |
| Activities | Racketeering, Murder |
| Rivals | Central Park Gang |
Fruit Belt Gang also known as the Fruit Belt Posse,[1] is a street gang based in Buffalo, New York in the Fruit Belt area and is the direct opposition to the Central Park Gang.[2]
History
[edit]The gang was originally established in the Fruit Belt area during the 1960's and 1970's during the rise of the African American community inside that neighborhood.[3] The gang instituted violence in the area and perpetuated it heavily in the coming years of the 1980's and 1990's and started gaining infamy in that time.[3] The group's establishment was centered around Jefferson Avenue and the surrounding area of Cold Springs in Buffalo.[4] After the establishment of the Central Park Gangs, violence has been rampant between the two gangs in the area of Fruit Belt and Cold Springs and many shootings in the area are due to the violence between the two gangs.[5]
Many shootings that occur in the name of the Fruit Belt gang happen on the street called Grape Street which is located near the founding territory of Jefferson Avenue and the corner of High Street, which is also the area of another rival gang further down known as the Central Park Gang.[6]
Many projects and organizations have been made to combat youth gang membership including city peacemakers known colloquially as the Buffalo Peacemakers and Back to Basics Outreach Ministries attempt to stop minors from getting involved in gang and other criminal activity.[7]
The group sells illegal narcotics and weaponry over state lines into Pennsylvania in order to finance illegal activity, this was found the Pennsylvania state troopers when they arrested five members associated with the gang travelling with illegal contraband.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Members of Buffalo "Fruit Belt Posse" Street Gang Wanted by Police Located in Jamestown". WRFA-LP. 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "BPD: Shootings up 84% since June 1". WKBW-TV. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ a b Jolly, Kevin (2018-09-01). "Summer violence tarnishes Fruitbelt neighborhood image". Spectrum News 1 Buffalo. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Vulturez, Kulture (2024-07-27). "Map of Buffalo Gangs (Full Tour of Buffalo Hoods)". Kulture Vulturez. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Young, Yasmin (2020-07-20). "FBI Says Recent Shootings in Buffalo Linked to Gangs". WBLK. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Fairbanks, Phil (2018-07-28). "'We've all got to learn to be snitches': Fruit Belt neighbors plea for an end to violence". The Buffalo News. ISSN 0745-2691. OCLC 8882862. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Doig, Will (2020-05-04). "A Grassroots Movement in Buffalo's Fruit Belt". Open Society Foundations. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "Prosecutors nab 5 in drug, gun exchanges". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.[dead link]