Menace of Destruction (MOD), formerly known as Masters of Destruction,
is a
Hmong
Hmong may refer to:
* Hmong people, an ethnic group living mainly in Southwest China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand
* Hmong cuisine
* Hmong customs and culture
** Hmong music
** Hmong textile art
* Hmong language, a continuum of closely related ton ...
street gang created in 1988. Today, it is active in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
,
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
, and many places with large Hmong communities. It is known for murders, fights, shootings, and weapon and drug trafficking (mostly
marijuana
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...
and
methamphetamine
Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamph ...
).
[
MOD is the oldest active Asian street gang in Northern California and the largest Hmong gang in America. MOD is known as one of the most violent and notorious Asian gangs, it is the only Hmong gang that is officially recognized by the United States Government. MOD has its largest presence in California with members residing in the cities, Sacramento, Merced, Stockton, and Fresno.
]
History
By the end of the Vietnam War in the mid 1970s, new waves of immigrants started to settle in the United States. One of those were the Hmong, an indigenous people of Eastern China and Southeast Asia. They were settled in the ghettoes of America, which they faced prejudice, bullying, and racism. Hmong families were constantly robbed and mercilessly beaten. To counter such actions, Hmong youth banded together. Together, they started off as a brotherhood until one thing led to another that resulted to violence.
In 1988, a handful of Hmong youth broke off from the very first Hmong gang in California known as "Peace MOD", originally formed in 1985 in Fresno, California to fight off Latino, Black, and other Asian gangs preying upon the Hmong community. These youth formed the "Masters of Destruction" (MOD). The reason behind the breakup is unclear, although it is suggested that there was a power struggle between members, which caused "Peace MOD" to break into three gangs that included the "Masters of Destruction." The other two splinter gangs were known as the "Mongolian Boys Society" (MBS) and the "Oriental Ruthless Boys" (ORB). The breakup of "Peace MOD" created rivalries between MOD, ORB, and MBS until the latter two became defunct in the late 1990s.
In 1991, the name of MOD was changed to "Menace of Destruction" by the younger generation to better align with their youth. Its members were as young as 12 years old.
Fearing for their children's lives, Hmong parents either moved or sent their teenagers off to live with relatives in other towns or out of state. However, the relocation of gang members caused the gang to grow rapidly as members created their own cliques in their new settings to rival other local gangs. In Portland, Oregon, due to a small Hmong community, Vietnamese migrants were recruited to rival biker gangs and other street gangs. In the Midwest, Wisconsin's first Hmong gang known as the White Tigers was eventually overtaken by MOD's presence in the Twin Cities.
MOD flexed its muscle through intimidation, fights, and murders. Rival gang members would often become targets of ambush assaults in public areas or at popular Hmong cultural events such as the Hmong New Year celebrations and sports tournaments within the Hmong communities across America.
MOD is the oldest active Hmong gang in America and is the oldest active Asian street gang in Northern California. Many splinter groups have formed out of MOD that eventually became defunct or still exist as rival gangs. However, as with many gangs today, there is a dwindling membership within MOD as gang culture slowly fades out of appeal with urban Hmong youth due to growing prosperity from increased economic resources and opportunities in the Hmong communities. In addition, Hmong youth today have assimilated very well into American society by following the examples set by their parents who toiled through the migrant era for a better future for their families.
Identification
Menace of Destruction members wear the color red. [ They are also identified by gang-related tattoos such as their gang initial and the numeric code "301". The three standing for "M", zero standing for "O", and combining the 0 and “1” forms a "D".][
]
Crimes
California
During 1993 in Sacramento, California
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
, tensions between the Menace of Destruction and the Asian Family Gangsters were intense. Following the death of a young M.O.D gang member and a shooting at several Tiny Little Rascals, a junior version of M.O.D, the M.O.D retaliated by performing a drive-by shooting in North Sacramento Asian Family Gangsters turf, killing a rival gang member. Around the same period, the Menace of Destruction killed a rival Lao gang member and another one two years later in 1995.[Magagnini, Stephen]
2001: Stephen Magagnini, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee
''The Sacramento Bee
''The Sacramento Bee'' is a daily newspaper published in Sacramento, California, in the United States. Since its foundation in 1857, ''The Bee'' has become the largest newspaper in Sacramento, the fifth largest newspaper in California, and the 2 ...
'', September 10, 2000.
Two teens surrendered to Spokane
Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Ca ...
police in connection with a California drive-by shooting after a six-hour standoff. The suspects are members of Menace of Destruction and were wanted on warrants charging them with violating parole and attempted murder in a January 6, 1998 drive-by shooting near Merced, California
Merced (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Mercy") is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California, Merced County, California, United States, in the San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 86,333, up ...
. A man was shot in the eye during that attack but survived. California authorities called Spokane police to tell them the teens might be in the area. Undercover officers staked out the house to confirm the two were staying there. The house was widely known for drug trafficking. The teens were believed to be heavily armed, with several pistols and possibly rifles or shotguns. At least a dozen SWAT team members with police dogs and high-powered rifles surrounded the house. Police searched the home and found several guns.[Rivers, Robin & Lynn, Adam]
StandoffF ends with surrender of two teens
''The Spokesman-Review
''The Spokesman-Review'' is a daily broadsheet newspaper based in Spokane, Washington, the city's sole remaining daily publication. It has the third-highest readership among daily newspapers in the state, with most of its readership base in ...
'', February 26, 1998.
In 2002, the Menace of Destruction gang was the most active gang in Merced, California.
Minnesota
In February 2005, members of the Menace of Destruction were involved in a shooting attack on a group of Tibetan American
Tibetan Americans are Americans of Tibetan ancestry. As of 2020, more than 26,700 Americans are estimated to have Tibetan ancestry. The majority of Tibetan Americans reside in Queens, New York.
History
Ethnic Tibetans began to immigrate to the ...
s that left two people, a Tibetan and a Cambodian American
Cambodian Americans,; also Khmer Americans, are Americans of Cambodian or Khmer ancestry. In addition, Cambodian Americans are also Americans with ancestry of other ethnic groups of Cambodia, such as the Chams and Chinese Cambodians.
According ...
, dead and four others wounded outside a pool hall in Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Columbia Heights is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 19,496 at the 2010 census.
Minnesota State Highways 47 (University Avenue) and 65 (Central Avenue) are two of the main routes in the city.
Columbia He ...
. The Tibetans were mistakenly thought to be members of a rival gang, and the two groups engaged into a fistfight. The fistfight escalated to bottles and other objects being thrown at each parties, and then multiple M.O.D. members retrieved firearms from their cars and opened fire at the Tibetans. Two men were arrested and convicted of first-degree murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...
, and six other gang members were convicted of lesser offenses. Two M.O.D gang members was sentenced to 126 years for the shooting, and another was sentenced to 6 years.[Ashmore, Kerry]
Items of Note in the News
, ''Northeaster'', January 9, 2008.
Yatau Her, Xee Lor, and Fong Vang were M.O.D gang members also involved in the pool hall shooting. Yatau had escaped from a juvenile prison during a work release program in California. After the pool hall shooting, Yatau was involved in an armed robbery and attempted homicide at a local store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, along with other M.O.D gang members. The three gang members were spotted a few weeks later by two police authorities. At this point, Xee Lor shot and fired at the officers with a .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun. In return, the officers fired back, wounding Xee. The three of them were captured the same day after a few hours of pursuit.
''The Chippewa Herald'', March 12, 2005.
Two officers were patrolling in Saint Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
, Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, when they spotted a fugitive from Menace of Destruction in February 2007. Mitchell Moua, the gang member, was wanted for aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and federal weapons charges. During the pursuit, Mitchell fired shots at the officers while they fired back in return, resulting in Moua's car crash and death. Moua had turned the gun to himself instead of being taken alive.[
A national drug ring based in Twin Cities was busted after months of surveillance and wiretaps in March 2012. The cartel ]La Familia
''La familia'', (English: ''The Family'') is a 1969 Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa and originally transmitted by Telesistema Mexicano.
Cast
*Virginia Gutiérrez
*Jorge Lavat
*Irma Lozano
*Enrique Aguilar
Enrique Aguilar Zermeño ( ...
smuggled millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine from Mexico to Minnesota. The drugs then went through a local member of the cartel and the Menace of Destruction gang.[McEnroe, Paul]
As ATF nominee, U.S. Attorney Jones faces distrust from some agents, judges, prosecutors
''Star Tribune
The ''Star Tribune'' is the largest newspaper in Minnesota. It originated as the ''Minneapolis Tribune'' in 1867 and the competing ''Minneapolis Daily Star'' in 1920. During the 1930s and 1940s, Minneapolis's competing newspapers were consolida ...
'', March 19, 2013.
On July 10, 2013, a Menace of Destruction gang member was arrested with three felony counts of car theft and receiving stolen property in Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, eight miles (13 km) east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94. It is part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The population was 75,102 at the 2020 census, making it ...
. A detective working undercover spotted a Honda Accord in a parking lot. The car's license plate was not fastened properly to the car, and was hanging at an angle. The detective saw a man and a woman in the car. He ran the Honda's license plate and found that it was registered to a different vehicle. When he checked the car's vehicle identification number, he discovered it did not match the license plate and came up as a stolen vehicle. When the man and woman returned to the car, the detective arrested them. During a search, police found a set of keys, including a shaved key. The shaved key had been used to open the Accord's door, police said. The M.O.D gang member had a criminal record that included convictions for car theft, possession of dangerous weapons, possession of a short-barrel shotgun, burglary, fleeing police, criminal damage to property, obstructing justice and resisting arrest. In an unrelated case, the M.O.D gang member also pleaded guilty in October 2013 to a felony drug possession in Ramsey County.[Sundquist, Betsy]
Minneapolis Man Sentenced for Theft of Car Found in Woodbury
''Woodbury Patch'', January 3, 2014.
Police were called on August 3, 2014 about a man who crashed his car, pointed a gun at a man and robbed him of his bike, fired shots at a passing car, and carjacked another vehicle. The man robbed a 72-year-old bicyclist at gunpoint, but had trouble riding the bike because it required special shoes. He left the bike in the road and shot at a passing vehicle, which didn't stop, but a bullet hit the driver's door. A witness took photos of the carjacker and police saw that he was holding a black handgun. The man then was able to get in the back of a SUV, which had two men inside, and forced them to drive. About two miles away, police caught up to the vehicle and pulled it over. The man exited and fired the gun at officers who returned fire, fatally wounding him. In past contact with the St. Paul police gang unit, the man admitted he was a member of the Menace of Destruction gang.[Gottfried, Mara H]
St. Paul carjacker who died in shootout was gang member, police say
''Pioneer Press
The Pioneer Press publishes 32 local newspapers in the Chicago area. It is a division of Tribune Publishing, and is based in Chicago.
The community newspapers are the main source of local news in Illinois communities such as Winnetka, Highland ...
'', August 14, 2014.
Oklahoma
Two men were accused of shooting five people at a Hmong New Year's festival in Tulsa
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
in October 2013. Prosecutors believed one victim was the target because he mediated a dispute involving one of the suspects' family. The suspects were arrested shortly after the shooting when a police helicopter spotted a car driving away from the scene with its headlights off. They had thrown clothes and a semi-automatic handgun out of the vehicle, prior to their arrest. Prosecutors believed that one of the suspect is to be connected to the Menace of Destruction gang in California. Tulsa police also recovered guns, gang paraphernalia and ammunition after serving search warrants on two homes in connection with the shooting.[Boonmlee Lee, Meng Lee Charged In Tulsa Shooting Of 5]
''Huffington Post
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'', October 18, 2013.
Wisconsin
Four members of the gang Menace of Destruction were involved in a Wausau-area tavern stabbing in July 1994. The stabbing incident, which occurred in Schofield, Wisconsin
Schofield is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,169 at the 2010 census. The city was named for William Scholfield, who came to the area in th ...
, landed a bouncer in the hospital with knife wounds after he attempted to break up a fight between two men over a stolen cassette tape. Around the same month, the M.O.D was involved in a dispute with two other gangs the Laotian Posse and the Alliance. In Stevens Point
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. The city was incorporated in 1858.
Its 2020 population of 25,666 makes it the largest city in the county. Stevens Point forms the core of the United States Census Bur ...
, for instance, one incident involved gunfire. That hassle started with a fight in Wausau. During this time, M.O.D members were migrating to the Midwestern states while having a turf war with Hood Infiltrator Boys in Fresno
Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, maki ...
, California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
.[Not on our turf California gangs create havoc here]
"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper. It is also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely distributed. It is currently o ...
", July 28, 1994.
A female was talking to the police basically called "snitching." Menace of Destruction attacked five girls in a car in Wausau during April 1995. Bottles were thrown at the vehicle and windows were smashed. The assault left one girl with a gash in her nose.[Recent gang incidents]
"The Journal Times", June 18, 1995.
The Menace of Destruction gangs were involved in a confrontation that erupted into a shooting that wounded two teenagers in June 2002 in Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Mosinee, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, and ...
. Two carloads of young people pulled up to a home where a party and porch cookout was taking place and exchanged words before the shooting happened. A man fired at least three shots into the crowd, wounding a 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy in the leg. The boy has been connected to the gang Menace of Destruction, also known as Men of Destruction.[2 identified as gang members are charged]
"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper. It is also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely distributed. It is currently o ...
", June 13, 2002.
A rival gang member was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in a gang-related shooting in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on April 12, 2004. Several members of the Ruthless Crip Gangsters drove to the Eau Claire home of a member of the gang Menace of Destruction. Three to five shots were fired at a man after a verbal confrontation, one shot narrowly missing his head. One bullet hit a neighboring house, striking a couch inside where a woman was sitting.[Imrie, Robert]
Man's sentence in Eau Claire gang-related shooting was fair, appeals court rules
''Pioneer Press
The Pioneer Press publishes 32 local newspapers in the Chicago area. It is a division of Tribune Publishing, and is based in Chicago.
The community newspapers are the main source of local news in Illinois communities such as Winnetka, Highland ...
'', November 26, 2008.
Seventeen members of the Menace of Destruction gang were indicted in federal court in Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
of March 2010. A federal criminal complaint charging people for being involved with the gang says they were involved in violence and in methamphetamine
Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamph ...
and ecstasy sales to support the gang and the gang members. The gang also wanted to promote solidarity within the local Hmong community, as well as throughout the United States. As part of the bust, several suburban residents were arrested for their alleged roles in selling "Menace of Destruction" drugs. Suspects were also arrested in Appleton, in Eau Claire, and in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.[Trevey, Mick]
Feds Bust Milwaukee Asian Gang
'' WTMJ'', March 10, 2010.
Fifteen members of the Menace of Destruction gang were charged for various crimes during the year of 2004 through 2009 in Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County is located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 939,489, down from 947,735 in 2010. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, and the 45th most populous coun ...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
of May 2010. They were all charged with 18 counts altogether, including racketeering, aggravated battery while armed, burglary, endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to harbor a felon and perjury. During the years between 2004 and 2009, M.O.D. and other Hmong gangs were involved in a turf war with each other, which resulted in more than 120 shootings in the area.[Vielmetti, Bruce]
15 charged with being part of violent Hmong gang
''Journal Sentinel
The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper. It is also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely distributed. It is currently o ...
'', May 25, 2010.
In September 2011, an investigation led to eight people arrested for a meth trafficking ring by several agencies. Several homes were raided in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 14,778 in the 2021 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa Cou ...
. At least 1/4 pound of methamphetamine, small amount of other drugs, and two hand guns were seized. One of the guns had its serial numbers removed. At least two of the men were responsible for distributing 13-pounds of meth to people in the Chippewa Valley. Some of the people arrested had ties to the gang M.O.D. or Menace of Destruction.[Baylor, Chris]
Eight arrested, three more wanted for meth trafficking ring
''WEAU
WEAU (channel 13) is a television station licensed to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States, serving the La Crosse–Eau Claire market as an affiliate of NBC and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios on S ...
'', September 23, 2011.
References
{{Organized crime groups in America
2005 murders in the United States
Asian-American gangs
Street gangs
Gangs in California
Gangs in Wisconsin
Gangs in Minnesota
Gangs in Oklahoma
Hmong-American culture and history
Hmong-American culture in California
Mass shootings in Minnesota
Murder in Minnesota
Organized crime in Minnesota
1988 establishments in California