Alley Tiny Criminals (ATC)

Name: Alley Tiny Criminals
Acronym: ATC
Also Known As: Addicted to Crime; The First Letter Gang
Founded: Early 1990s
Place of Origin: South Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Predominantly Latino
Estimated Membership: Approximately 60–75 members
Affiliation: Subset of the West Side Harpys Gang
Cliques: Tokers; KPLS; 39th Street; SPLN;
Colors/Symbols: Atlanta Braves apparel

Alley Tiny Criminals (ATC), formerly known as Addicted To Crime, and also referred to as the First Letter Gang, is a Mexican-American street gang located on the West Side of South Los Angeles, California. The gang operates primarily near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum area, with a historic gathering point at Martin Luther King Park (commonly known as King Park).

History

The Alley Tiny Criminals originated as a tagging crew before evolving into a criminal street gang in the early 1990s. Over time, the group transitioned from graffiti activity into organized street crime and became aligned with the larger West Side Harpys Gang structure.

As the gang developed, the Alley Tiny Criminals (ATC) adopted the number 13 as part of their name, becoming known as Alley Tiny Criminals 13 (ATC13). The use of the number 13 is widely recognized among Southern California street gangs as an indicator of allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, a prison-based criminal organization that exerts influence over many Mexican gangs in the region.

Territory & Stronghold

Alley Tiny Criminals claim territory roughly bordered by Vermont Avenue (east), Arlington Avenue (west), Exposition Boulevard (north), and Vernon Avenue (south). Their stronghold has traditionally been 39th Street, where members are often observed congregating and where some criminal incidents attributed to the set have taken place.

Organization and Cliques

The Alley Tiny Criminals are estimated to have approximately 60 to 75 active members. Members are known to wear Atlanta Braves baseball caps, with the letter “A” symbolizing ATC.

Cliques

  • Tokers (TKS) – One of the original and more recognizable ATC cliques, historically associated with graffiti activity and later street-level criminal involvement within the gang’s core territory.

  • King Park Locos (KPLS) – A clique named after Martin Luther King Jr. Park (King Park), a longtime gathering area for ATC members. KPLS represents members active in and around the park and nearby residential blocks.

  • 39th Street – The primary stronghold of the Alley Tiny Criminals. This clique is considered the central base of operations for ATC and plays a key role in maintaining the gang’s territorial presence.

  • Spooky Lanes (SPLN) – A smaller or more localized ATC clique, often referenced in connection with internal gang identity and neighborhood-based affiliation within the broader ATC structure.

Allies and Rivals

Allies

  • 38th Street – One of the oldest Mexican-American street gangs in Los Angeles, with historical influence in South LA and long-standing territorial roots.

  • Rollin’ 30s Harlem Crips – A well-known Crip set based in South Los Angeles; the alliance reflects local, neighborhood-based relationships rather than traditional Blood–Crip alignments.

Rivals

  • 46th Street Tokers (46th Street) – A nearby street gang with overlapping territory and a long-standing rivalry rooted in local disputes.

  • Street Villains (43rd Street) – A Los Angeles–based street gang that has clashed with ATC over territorial control and neighborhood influence.

  • West Side Harpys – A larger and more established gang in the West Adams area; despite ATC’s historical ties to the Harpys, conflicts have occurred over territory and internal disputes.

  • 18th Street Gang – One of the largest and most widespread gangs in Los Angeles, frequently involved in territorial conflicts with smaller neighborhood gangs across South LA.

  • Rollin’ 20s Neighborhood Bloods – A prominent Blood-affiliated gang based in South Los Angeles, with rivalry stemming from geographic proximity and neighborhood tensions.

Criminal Activities

According to law enforcement and gang documentation, criminal activities associated with the Alley Tiny Criminals have included:

  • Murder and attempted murder

  • Shootings

  • Burglaries

  • Armed carjackings

  • Armed and unarmed robberies

  • Vandalism