Gang Name: Varrio Little Town
Also Known As: VLT, VLTN, VLTCMS
Founded: Late 20th century (estimated)
Location: Costa Mesa, California (Westside)
Territory: Shalimar Drive, Placentia Avenue, 18th Street
Ethnicity: Predominantly Hispanic
Affiliation: Sureño (Mexican Mafia-aligned)
Symbols: 13, VLT, VLTN, VLTCMS, “Shalimar”
Allies: Fearless Crowd (FC)
Rivals: Greedy Boys Rifa (GBR), Forming Kaos (FK)
Criminal Activities: Street-level narcotics distribution, assaults, shootings, vandalism
Notable Period: 1990s – early 2000s
Varrio Little Town, also known as VLT, VLTN, or VLTCMS, is a long-standing Hispanic Sureño street gang based on the Westside of Costa Mesa, California. The gang is most closely associated with the Shalimar Drive neighborhood, a dense residential pocket near Placentia Avenue and 18th Street that has historically been viewed as one of VLT’s core strongholds.
As a Sureño gang, VLT uses the number 13 to signify alignment with the Mexican Mafia prison structure. Locally, the gang’s identity is tied heavily to Westside Costa Mesa, with graffiti and tagging often referencing both VLT and Shalimar as territorial markers.
Territory
VLT’s primary territory centers around Shalimar Drive and the surrounding blocks near Placentia Avenue, 18th Street, and nearby Westside apartment corridors. This area has long been a focal point for gang activity in Costa Mesa due to its compact layout, residential density, and proximity to rival neighborhoods.
Over time, increased police patrols, redevelopment pressure, and city-led enforcement efforts have challenged VLT’s visibility in the area, but the gang remains historically tied to the Shalimar neighborhood.
Allies and Rivals
Varrio Little Town has been linked to Fearless Crowd, another Costa Mesa-based gang. Legal records have described members of the two groups associating, committing crimes together, and maintaining a working alliance within the local gang landscape.
VLT’s most recognized rival is Greedy Boys Rifa, also known as GBR, a nearby Westside Costa Mesa gang. The rivalry between VLT and GBR has been one of the defining conflicts in Costa Mesa’s gang history, shaping much of the violence and territorial tension on the city’s Westside.
Another rival is Forming Kaos, a gang that emerged during the 1990s and became part of the same Westside competitive environment. Like many Southern California gang conflicts, these rivalries are rooted in neighborhood identity, proximity, and long-standing street politics.
Historical Context
Varrio Little Town was especially active during the 1990s and early 2000s, a period when Costa Mesa’s Westside experienced several high-profile gang-related incidents. One frequently cited example is a 1994 shooting on Placentia Street involving VLT members, which has been referenced in court records as part of the gang’s violent history.
Because of VLT’s concentration in the Shalimar area, Costa Mesa police and city officials have historically focused enforcement and redevelopment efforts on the neighborhood. These efforts were aimed at reducing gang visibility, limiting street-level congregation, and disrupting the conditions that allowed the gang to maintain influence.