Menlo Crips

Info:
Name: 65 Menlo Crips
Also Known As: Menlo Neighborhood Crips, 65 Menlo Gangster Crips (former), Menlo Boys, Rollin 70s;
Founded: 1970s
Location: West Side, South Los Angeles, California
Territory: 65th Street & Menlo Avenue; spans between Hoover Street and Vermont Avenue, with expansion into the 67th–70th Streets
Affiliation: Neighborhood Crips (NHC)/Deuce(2x)
Former Affiliation: Gangster Crips (3x)
Alliance Structure: 657 Alliance (65 Menlo Crips, 67 Neighborhood Crips)
Rollin’ 70s Neighborhood Crips
Status: Active

Origins and Territorial Foundation

The group traces its roots back to the 1970s, originally forming as the Menlo Boys. Operating within the LAPD’s 77th Division, their core territory centered on 65th Street and Menlo Avenue, stretching from 62nd Street to 70th Street, between Vermont Avenue and Figueroa Street. In the late 1970s (around 1978), during this era, they were closely tight with the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips and the 59 Hoovers.

By the 1980s, as the Crip identity fractured into two distinct factions—the Deuces (2x/Neighborhood) and Trays (3x/Gangster)—the group initially aligned with the latter, rebranding as the Menlo Gangster Crips. Due to their respect for the Eight Tray Gangster Crips (ETGC), By 1984, they became Gangster Crips.

From Gangster to Neighborhood

Historically, the Menlo Gangster Crips maintained a formidable alliance with the Eight Tray Gangster Crips (ETGC). However, a violent falling out between the two groups fundamentally altered the Menlo identity. In a rare move of strategic realignment, the Menlo Crips severed their “3x” ties and sought protection and partnership within the Neighborhood Crip (NHC) card.

They formed a particularly tight-knit bond with the 67 Neighborhood Crips, known as the “657” Alliance. This transition led them to drop the “Gangster” moniker to become the 65 Menlo Neighborhood Crips, effectively moving under the Deuce (2x) umbrella.

Rollin’ 70s And Cliques

By the mid to late 1980s, they had aligned with the Rollin and Neighborhood sets (such as the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips) and adopted the Rollin 70s or Rollin 70s Neighborhood Crips moniker to signify their expansion and takeover of the 70th Street corridor. This created the modern 657 alliance, which unified the 65 Menlo, 67 Neighborhood, and 70 Neighborhood sets into a single operational identity.

The 65 Menlo Crips operate through a network of localized cliques that anchor their presence in South Central, ranging from their historic heart at 65th Street to the 67, 68, and 70 Menlo cliques, and stretching further south to their 103rd Street faction.

However, despite maintaining a presence around 70th Street, the Menlos are not formally recognized as an official Rollin’ 70s set. Their territory does not extend beyond 70th Street, and areas further south—particularly around 74th Street—are historically associated with the 74 Hoover Criminals, making the distinction largely based on established geographic boundaries.

The Crack Era and Firepower

During the 1980s, the Menlo Crips became heavily involved in the crack cocaine economy that spread across South Los Angeles. The area around 65th Street and Menlo Avenue developed a reputation as an active open-air drug market, drawing both attention and competition.

The influx of drug-related revenue significantly increased the group’s access to firearms. What were once small-caliber handguns were increasingly replaced with higher-capacity semi-automatic weapons, reflecting a broader shift in how gangs operated during that period.

This escalation also brought heightened law enforcement attention, particularly from specialized units within the Los Angeles Police Department. Enforcement efforts during this time included arrests, surveillance, and legal measures such as gang injunctions, which placed restrictions on activities like gathering in public spaces or displaying certain identifiers associated with the group

In The News: The Mt. Carmel Park Incident

One of the most tragic chapters in the gang’s history occurred in 1987, highlighting the devastating toll of their rivalry with the Hoover Criminals.

Damon Thompson, a prominent member of the Menlo Crips, opened fire at Mt. Carmel Park (70th and Hoover Street). His intended targets were members of the Hoover Crips, but the gunfire struck and killed 9-year-old DeAndre Brown while he was playing in a sandbox. Thompson eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 17 years to life.

Allies and Rivals

The set maintains its position on the West Side through established alliances within the Neighborhood Crips (NHC), also known as the “Deuce” card. These alliances play a key role in coordination, support, and overall presence in surrounding areas. Additional alliances extend to other NHC-affiliated sets, including the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips, Rollin’ 50s Neighborhood Crips, and the Rollin’ 100s Neighborhood Crips. They are also recognized to have ties with the East Coast Crips.

The set is involved in ongoing rivalries with multiple opposing gangs across Los Angeles. One of their most significant conflicts is with the Hoover Criminals, particularly the 74 Hoover Criminals and 83 Hoover Criminals, a rivalry that has persisted over time. They are also known to have conflicts with several Bloods, including the 62 Harvard Park Brims, 54 Van Ness Gangster Brims, Fruit Town Brims, Denver Lane Bloods, and the Family Swan Bloods.

In addition, due to historical shifts in affiliation, they have developed rivalries with former Gangster Crip allies. These include the 83 (Eight Tray) Gangster Crips, Playboy Gangster Crips, and the 52 Broadway Gangster Crips, highlighting internal divisions that emerged following the transition from Gangster Crips to Neighborhood Crips.

 

 

 

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