Trinitarios

The Trinitarios is a Dominican American criminal organization that started in New York City in 1993. It was begun by people from the Dominican Republic and became known for its activities in some neighborhoods.

In 2009, the US Justice Department said they were one of the smaller groups doing illegal things, but they were more organized than many other small street groups in the area. The group worked mostly in parts of New York and New Jersey, and they worked with other Dominicans.

Even though they were not as big as some other groups, the Trinitarios became well-known. They were one of many smaller gangs in the area, each doing things in their own way. The HIDTA worked to watch these groups and help keep communities safe.

History

The Trinitarios started in 1993 inside a jail in New York City called Rikers Island. Two people from the Dominican Republic created the group to help protect others from their home country. They named the group after important figures from the Dominican Republic’s fight for independence. The group’s colors are lime green, red, blue, and white, like the colors of the Dominican Republic’s flag.

Over the years, many members were arrested and sent to prison for different crimes. The group kept growing and sometimes had fights with other groups. In 2025, more people linked to the group were arrested in several cities for being part of big criminal activity.

Membership, organization, and criminal activities

The Trinitarios are a gang that operates mainly in New York and New Jersey, especially in places like Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Albany, and Long Island. They also have members along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, including states like Rhode Island, Georgia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. In Spain, most members come from the Dominican Republic, but there are also people from Bolivia, Colombia, and Spain. Many of these groups moved to Spain after being sent away from the United States.

The Trinitarios have a clear structure with leaders and rules. To join, a person needs a sponsor and promises to follow the gang’s guidelines. They are known for carrying dangerous tools and taking part in illegal activities, including selling illegal substances like heroin and cocaine. They also sometimes attack people and try to find new members in schools.

Notable crimes committed by members

Some members of the Trinitarios did bad things, like having guns and selling drugs. They hurt people and fought with other groups in different places.

In 2018, a 15-year-old boy named Lesandro Guzman-Feliz was hurt by some members who thought he was with a rival group. This made many people very upset, and the people responsible were punished by the courts.