Trinitarios

The Trinitarios is a Dominican American criminal organization that began in New York City in 1993. It was started by people from the Dominican Republic and grew to become known for its activities in certain neighborhoods.

In 2009, the US Justice Department described them as one of the smaller groups involved in illegal activities, but they were still more organized than many other small street groups in the area. The group operated mainly in parts of New York and New Jersey, working with other Dominicans in their activities.

While not as large as some other groups, the Trinitarios became well-known for their role in lower-level illegal trade. They were part of a bigger picture of many smaller gangs in the region, each with their own way of operating. The HIDTA worked to monitor and address these groups to keep communities safe.

History

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

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

Membership, organization, and criminal activities

In 2011, police in New York City estimated there were about 3,181 members of the Trinitarios gang, which was about 5% of all gang members in the city. Their numbers grew quickly around 2007–2008 but then stayed about the same. This group mainly works 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 are very organized, with clear leadership and rules. To join, a person needs a sponsor, receives a book of rules, and promises to follow the gang’s guidelines. They are known for using strong and dangerous methods, often carrying tools like machetes, bats, guns, and knives. Their illegal activities include selling illegal substances like heroin and cocaine, as well as attacking people and breaking into homes. They also try to find new members in schools.

Notable crimes committed by members

Some members of the Trinitarios were caught doing bad things, like having guns and selling drugs. In different places, they hurt people and got into fights with other groups.

One sad event happened in 2018 when a 15-year-old boy named Lesandro Guzman-Feliz was hurt very badly 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.