By Tiffany Williams –
The Trinitarios gang is a notorious Dominican American criminal organization that was established in 1993 by Dominican Americans in New York City. Founded by Leonides Sierra and Julio Marine, who are known on the streets as “Junito” and “Caballo,” the gang originated during their time at Rikers Island.
While in custody on murder charges, Sierra and Marine were subjected to harassment by other gangs, leading them to create the Trinitarios gang for protection. The name “Trinitarios” pays homage to three key figures in the Dominican Republic’s fight for independence, and the gang adopted the motto of their homeland: “Dios, patria, y libertad,” translating to “God, homeland, and liberty.” The gang’s colors—red, white, and blue representing the Dominican flag, alongside lime green symbolizing their home country—further establish their identity. Armed with machetes, a tool symbolizing their agrarian roots, they quickly became infamous for their brutal tactics.
On the streets, the Trinitarios initially emerged from the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn. Over the years, they expanded their influence throughout Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Long Island, becoming well-known for their adeptness in drug trafficking. Eschewing firearms in favor of machetes, they gained a ruthless reputation that even surpassed that of rival gangs such as the Bloods, Crips, and Latin Kings.
As the gang grew in numbers and influence, it developed a rigid and complex hierarchy with a strict set of rules. The formation of any new faction, or “set,” had to be sanctioned by higher authority within the organization. Members were required to adhere to a well-defined chain of command, regularly scheduled meetings were held, and bylaws were enforced rigorously. Disciplinary actions for members straying from these regulations were carried out with severe exactness, ensuring loyalty and order within the ranks.
Trinitarios members engage in a wide array of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, assault, murder, robbery, and extortion. The membership handbook prominently states Rule No. 2: any act of disrespect towards the Trinitarios warrants immediate and harsh punishment. Such retribution typically involves groups of Trinitarios armed with machetes and knives hunting down those who disrespected the gang, resulting in brutal attacks characterized by multiple stabbings and slashing.
Although the Trinitarios have gained notoriety in New York, their influence extends across New England, with established territories in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts announced that federal charges were unsealed against two dozen leaders, members, and associates of the Trinitarios gang. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Massachusetts characterized the Trinitarios as a violent transnational criminal organization.
The charges involve twenty-two individuals facing federal offenses, including racketeering conspiracy connected to six murders and eleven attempted murders. Among the accused are two individuals who were juveniles at the time of their alleged criminal activities and are being charged with murder by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
These charges stem from a multijurisdictional investigation initiated after a series of murders and attempted murders in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 2023, which are allegedly linked to the Trinitarios criminal enterprise. The investigation has indicated the presence of Trinitarios chapters in various Massachusetts cities, including Lawrence, Lynn, Boston, and Haverhill.
Trinitarios members in these communities are accused of employing intimidation tactics to suppress rival gangs and establish dominance over specific neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also highlighted the gang’s readiness to resort to violence, including murder, to achieve their objectives.
Rivalries within the gang landscape often arise from personal grievances, competition for drug territory, and past violent encounters, leading to numerous murders attributed to the Trinitarios. Notably, the investigation has revealed that the Massachusetts faction of the Trinitarios is linked to at least ten homicides in Essex County over the past decade, with sixteen members facing charges related to six of these murders. These include two homicides in Lawrence in 2017 and two double murders in Lynn in 2023. Additional cases are being prosecuted by the Essex District Attorney’s Office.
The documentation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office denotes the Trinitarios as a hierarchical organization, with defined positions at both the state and local chapter levels, and outlines a strict code of conduct that members are expected to follow. Enmanuel Paula-Cabral, also known as “Nelfew,” “Gordo,” and “Manny,” allegedly holds the position of State Supreme for the Trinitarios in Massachusetts, overseeing the gang’s criminal activities, coordinating with leaders from other states, and maintaining communications across the organization.
Paula-Cabral is also allegedly responsible for the Trinitarios Chapter operating in Manchester, N.H. as well the Trinitarios located in Maine, where the gang operates a lucrative drug-trade. Below the Supreme is a position referred to as the “Flag” or “Segundo,” which in Massachusetts is allegedly held by Ery Jordani Rosario, a/k/a “Racacha.”
Additionally, each individual Chapter allegedly has a “Cabinet” of leaders who are responsible for recruiting new members, providing discipline to members in violation of Trinitarios directives and collecting money into a communal account used to support illegal operations as well as incarcerated Trinitarios members and their families.
The Massachusetts Trinitarios allegedly recruit new members among communities of legal immigrants and illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic – specifically juveniles in local high schools in Lawrence and Lynn. To curry favor with these new recruits, the Trinitarios allegedly appeal to their shared Spanish language and culture, Dominican patriotism and use the appearance of prosperity and brotherhood.
It is further alleged that members are generally initiated into the gang after a period of observation or probation and are often inducted following the completion of a “mission” – which is generally a substantial act of violence such as shootings, beatings, or fist fights with rival gang
members that were the same age or stature. According to the court documents, upon induction, new members are formally “blessed” into the organization during a formal ceremony, are administered oaths by the State Supreme and are awarded with ceremonial beaded necklaces. Younger members are allegedly tasked with lesser roles during many violent “missions,” including standing lookout during a shooting, holding or concealing weapons on behalf of full members and transporting weapons after their use in shootings.
According to the charging documents, the Trinitarios endeavor to project power over the internet and social media. Specifically, the Trinitarios allegedly produce music and music videos featuring members in Trinitarios colors and clothing holding weapons, cash and other items, as well as lyrics that boast about violence, drugs and other criminal endeavors as warnings and threats to other rival gangs.