Name: Delhi Gang
Aliases: Delhi 13, DX3, Delhi Los Aces, Delhi Rifa
Founded: 1960s–1970s
Founding Location: Santa Ana, California
Years Active: 1960s–present
Territory: South Santa Ana (Delhi neighborhood)
Ethnicity: Predominantly Mexican-American
Affiliation: Sureño / Mexican Mafia
Symbols: D, DX3, XIII, Delhi Aces
Rivals: Alley Boys, Hardtimes, F-Troop, Lopers
Activities: Narcotics trafficking, extortion, illegal gambling, firearms offenses, assault, murder
The Delhi Gang, also known as Delhi 13, DX3, and the Delhi Aces, is a long-standing Hispanic Sureño street gang based in South Santa Ana, California. Recognized as one of the city’s oldest gangs, Delhi has maintained a continuous presence for decades, evolving from a neighborhood-based identity into a structured criminal organization operating under the influence of the Mexican Mafia.
The gang takes its name from the historic Delhi neighborhood, one of the oldest Mexican-American communities in Santa Ana. Over time, that identity transformed into something more permanent—where territory, reputation, and survival became tied to the name itself. What began as a localized sense of belonging gradually developed into a system defined by control, enforcement, and continuity across generations.
Early Neighborhood Foundations (1920s–1950s)
The Delhi neighborhood predates the gang itself and is essential to understanding its formation. During the early 20th century, Mexican-American families in Orange County faced housing restrictions that limited where they could live. Delhi became one of the few areas where they were able to establish permanent residence, purchase property, and build community institutions.
By the 1920s and 1930s, the neighborhood had developed into a stable enclave with growing population density and a strong sense of cultural identity. Schools, churches, and small businesses served as anchors for community life. The construction of institutions such as Edison Elementary School and local Catholic parishes reinforced the neighborhood’s cohesion.
During this period, “Delhi” represented stability and identity. However, the same factors that created a tight-knit community—geographic concentration and limited mobility—would later contribute to the formation of a territorial street presence.
Emergence of the Gang Identity (1960s–1980s)
The Delhi gang emerged gradually during the 1960s and 1970s as younger residents began forming neighborhood-based groups. These early groups were shaped by changing social conditions, including economic pressure, population growth, and increasing interaction with surrounding neighborhoods.
At the same time, the influence of the Mexican Mafia expanded across Southern California. Local gangs began aligning under the Sureño identity, adopting the number 13 to signify affiliation. Delhi followed this pattern, transitioning from a loose neighborhood group into a structured gang with defined identity markers.
By the 1980s, the gang had adopted names such as Delhi Aces and identifiers like DX3. Territorial boundaries became more clearly defined, and conflicts with nearby gangs intensified. Violence became a tool not only for defense but for establishing reputation and maintaining control.
Institutional Growth and Violence (1990s–2000s)
The 1990s marked a period of consolidation and expansion for the Delhi gang. The organization shifted from a localized street presence into a more structured entity tied to narcotics distribution and economic activity.
Drug markets became central to the gang’s operations. Control of territory was directly linked to the ability to regulate and profit from narcotics sales. This economic dimension increased the stakes of territorial disputes, leading to more frequent and more severe acts of violence.
Delhi also became more integrated into the Mexican Mafia’s taxation system. This relationship formalized its role within a larger criminal network, where profits generated at the street level were partially funneled upward. In return, the gang operated within a recognized structure that provided status and coordination.
At this stage, Delhi was no longer simply reacting to external threats—it was actively maintaining a system built on territory, revenue, and enforcement.
Modern Era and Federal Scrutiny (2010s–Present)
In the modern era, Delhi has been repeatedly identified in federal investigations involving organized crime, narcotics trafficking, and racketeering.
Operations such as Operation Smokin’ Aces and later federal indictments revealed that Delhi members were participating in coordinated networks extending beyond Santa Ana. These investigations highlighted the role of incarcerated leadership in directing activity through communication channels such as contraband cellphones.
At the same time, the gang adapted to changes in enforcement and urban development. Increased surveillance, redevelopment projects, and law enforcement pressure altered how operations were conducted, pushing activity into more discreet and controlled environments.
Despite these pressures, Delhi has remained active, sustained by its multi-generational structure and its integration into broader systems of organization and control.
Territory
Delhi’s territory is centered in South Santa Ana, generally bounded by Edinger Avenue, Warner Avenue, South Main Street, and South Grand Avenue.
Within this area, the gang maintains influence over residential blocks, apartment complexes, and public spaces. Delhi Park functions as a central symbolic location tied to identity and presence, while surrounding streets serve as operational zones for daily activity.
Specific locations, including the 1800 block of South Cedar Street, have been repeatedly referenced in court records as areas associated with narcotics distribution and enforcement activity. These locations serve as points of continuity across different cases and investigations.
Territorial control is fluid. It expands and contracts based on law enforcement activity and pressure from rival gangs. However, the Delhi neighborhood remains the core of the gang’s identity, and control over this area is treated as essential to maintaining status and influence.
Structure and Identity
Delhi operates within a decentralized but hierarchical structure typical of Sureño gangs. Older members, often referred to as veteranos, provide guidance and maintain connections to broader networks, including the Mexican Mafia.
Younger members are responsible for street-level activity, including tagging, narcotics sales, and enforcement. This division of roles allows the gang to maintain continuity over time, as leadership can persist even when individual members are incarcerated.
Internal groupings, such as the Delhi Aces, reflect generational and localized divisions within the organization. These subgroups operate under the broader Delhi identity while maintaining their own internal dynamics.
This layered structure reinforces both stability and adaptability, allowing the gang to function as a continuous entity despite external pressure.
Symbols and Identification
Delhi members commonly use the number 13, the letter D, and markings such as DX3 and Delhi Rifa to signal affiliation.
Detroit Tigers apparel has historically been associated with the gang due to the Old English “D,” allowing members to display identity in a way that blends into everyday clothing while remaining recognizable to others.
Tattoos, hand signs, and language further reinforce identity. Phrases such as “Delhi Love” reflect a sense of loyalty tied not only to the gang but to the neighborhood itself.
Criminal Activity
Delhi operates as a diversified criminal enterprise with multiple interconnected revenue streams. Drug trafficking remains a primary activity. The gang has been linked to the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Its territory functions as a localized marketplace where transactions are conducted through established networks.
Operations often involve stash locations, coordinated communication, and the use of intermediaries to reduce exposure. The scale of these activities has placed Delhi within broader regional distribution systems tied to the Mexican Mafia.
Illegal Gambling and “Slap Houses”
Delhi has also been associated with illegal gambling operations known as slap houses. These establishments often operate under the appearance of legitimate businesses while hosting electronic gambling machines.
Gang members provide protection for these locations and collect payments from operators. These payments contribute to the gang’s revenue and are integrated into the broader taxation structure.
Extortion and Taxation
Extortion is a central component of Delhi’s economic model. Individuals conducting criminal activity within Delhi territory may be required to pay a portion of their earnings.
This system reinforces territorial control while generating revenue that flows upward within the Mexican Mafia hierarchy. Noncompliance can result in threats, assault, or targeted violence.
Violence and Enforcement
Violence is used to enforce rules, maintain reputation, and respond to challenges. This includes shootings, assaults, and retaliatory attacks against rivals.
Firearms possession is common, and weapons are used both defensively and offensively. Violence also serves an internal function, reinforcing discipline and deterring actions that could expose or weaken the organization.
The Murder Spree of Irvin Tellez and Jaime Rocha (2013)
In August 2013, a sequence of violent incidents involving Delhi members Irvin Tellez and Jaime Rocha illustrated both the territorial nature and unpredictability of gang violence.
On August 11, Tellez shot Vernon Redd, a member of the rival Hardtimes gang, in the leg while Redd stood in a residential carport—an act tied to ongoing territorial conflict.
Less than two weeks later, the violence escalated beyond rival targeting.
While driving through Santa Ana with Rocha and two passengers, Tellez encountered Elizabeth Gray. After she referenced ties to the Alley Boys neighborhood, Tellez shot her in the face.
Moments later, when passenger Nancy Hammour began screaming, Tellez turned the weapon on her and shot her twice, killing her. Her body was later dumped under a bridge in Newport Beach.
Tellez was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and active gang participation, receiving multiple life sentences.
This case stands as one of the clearest examples of how gang violence can extend beyond structured rivalries, reflecting a willingness to use lethal force not only against rivals, but against anyone perceived as a threat in the moment.
Operation Smokin’ Aces (2013)
Operation Smokin’ Aces was a federal investigation targeting Delhi’s role in organized narcotics trafficking and its connection to the Mexican Mafia.
Authorities identified a structured distribution network involving methamphetamine, heroin, and firearms. Leadership figures directed street-level activity while maintaining ties to prison-based leadership.
The operation resulted in multiple arrests and seizures, disrupting key distribution points.
More importantly, it demonstrated that Delhi was operating as part of a coordinated system rather than as an isolated neighborhood gang.
Operation Gangsta’s Paradise (2026)
In April 2026, federal authorities conducted Operation Gangsta’s Paradise, targeting Mexican Mafia-controlled activity across Southern California.
The investigation revealed that incarcerated leaders were using contraband cellphones to direct criminal activity, including violence, extortion, and narcotics trafficking.
Cases tied to the operation included homicide, kidnapping, and illegal gambling operations involving “slap houses.”
Dozens of indictments followed, disrupting multiple layers of the network. However, the operation also highlighted the continued ability of prison-based leadership to influence street-level gangs such as Delhi.
Allies And Rivals
Delhi’s primary rival is the Alley Boys, a neighboring Santa Ana gang with a long history of conflict rooted in territorial proximity. The rivalry has resulted in repeated violent incidents and remains one of the defining conflicts in the area.
The gang also maintains rivalries with Hardtimes, F-Troop, and the Lopers. These conflicts are shaped by overlapping territory, competition for narcotics markets, and long-standing cycles of retaliation.
While all are part of the broader Sureño structure, these rivalries often persist at the street level, demonstrating the tension between local identity and larger organizational alignment.