Full Name: Moonlight Cats 13
Abbreviation(s): MLC, MLC13, MLC XIII
Founded: 1980s (estimated)
Founding Location: South Los Angeles, California
Ethnicity: Primarily Mexican-American
Affiliation: Sureños (Sur 13)
Allies: Other Sureño gangs (varies by area and time)
Rivals: East Coast Crips, Street Villains 13 (STV13), Carnales 13, Florencia 13 (F-13), surrounding local sets
Activities: street-level narcotics distribution, assaults, robberies, vandalism (graffiti), territorial enforcement
Identifiers: Half-moon imagery/Stylized cat symbols
The Moonlight Cats, also known as Moonlight Cats 13 (MLC13), are a long-standing but geographically concentrated Mexican-American Sureño street gang based in South Los Angeles. Their presence is defined by a tightly controlled territory within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Street Division.
The “13” in their name represents allegiance to the Mexican Mafia (La Eme), aligning MLC with the broader Sureño identity. This affiliation provides access to a larger network of allied gangs while also placing the set under the influence, rules, and taxation system imposed by the prison-based organization.
Territory and Sub-Cliques
The Moonlight Cats territory is centered around 67th–69th near Main Street, an area historically associated with East Coast Crips. Their core cliques are 69th Street Locotes (69LS) and 67th Street Peewee Locos (PWLS). These sub-cliques function as localized crews responsible for maintaining control over specific blocks, enforcing presence, and recruiting within their immediate surroundings.
Visual Identification
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Moonlight Cats members were commonly identified through a range of visual markers, including half-moon imagery, stylized cat designs, “MLC XIII” graffiti, and clique-specific identifiers such as “69LS.” These symbols served as both territorial claims and internal identifiers, reinforcing presence within their immediate area. In recent years, however, like many street gangs, MLC has moved away from overt and easily recognizable symbols. Increased law enforcement scrutiny has pushed members toward more subtle forms of identification, relying on hand signs, coded markings, and localized tagging rather than distinct clothing or obvious visual cues.
Allies and Rivalries
The Moonlight Cats 13 and East Coast Crips shifted from neighborhood allies to bitter rivals, particularly in areas surrounding 69th Street. Unlike larger, well-documented gang wars, this feud was defined by immediate proximity rather than clearly separated territories. Due to their smaller size and already limited territory, pressure from the East Coast Crips—combined with multiple surrounding rivalries—contributed to their decline and long-term growth in the area.
Their conflict with Street Villains 13 (STV13), Carnales 13, and F-13 serves as a clear example of the volatile “Sureño-on-Sureño” dynamics present in South Los Angeles, where localized territorial control often takes priority over shared prison-based affiliations tied to the Mexican Mafia.