The Trinitarios, a family also known as 3NI, started in the late 1980s in the New York state prison system. It is most frequently associated with the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. El Caballon is known to be the creator of today's Trinitarios, and is currently serving 25 years to life in Sing Sing prison. He started out serving time at Rikers Island.

In early February of 1884, Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco Del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella agreed to form the secret society, Trinitaria Identity, to help make the Dominican Republic independent. During this time, the country was under a degree of foreign control by countries like Haiti, Spain, France, and England. Haiti owned Santo Domingo until it gained independence in February of 1844. Ramon M. Mella launched the trabuscazo in the Puerta Del Conde, mobilizing the struggle for independence. The United States ruled the Dominican territory with a military government from 1916 to 1924, during which time the country experienced measurable economic improvements (wikipedia).

In homage to that same spirit of independence, a group of Dominicans that now call themselves the Trinitario formed in New York City to defend the rights of Dominican prisoners in the United States, following the slogan "Dios, Patria y Libertad" or "God, Fatherland and Liberty," the words printed at the centre of the country's flag.

The organization includes members from all ethnic backgrounds, not only Dominicans. They have been known to recruit many Puerto Ricans and South Americans.

They are sometimes known as "Patria," the term used when greeting each other. They are not affiliated with any other gang, nation, or organization.

While many members describe the Trinitarios as a family, established as a means for self-defence, the Passiac Herald News calls the Trinitarios " a criminal street gang [who] are organized...[with] a hierarchy and a chain of command. Members have been involved in crimes of all sorts -- drug distribution, assaults and home invasions." (link)

Latest News...

5/12/2006
Prosecutors: Justice done in parade murder case
Hudson County prosecutors feel justice has finally been served in the case of a man stabbed to death with a screwdriver after the 2003 North Hudson Dominican Parade.

In prison, Trinitarios have been reported by users in several different countries, with factions across South America, the Caribbean, Europe and North America, with particular influence in the east coast of the United States. In prison, they have so far they been reported in:

• Attica Correctional Facility, NY- where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Clinton Correctional Facility, NY- where they operate with frequency
  with over 100 members
• Coxsackie Correctional Facility, NY
• Collins Correctional Facility, NY- where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Franklin Correctional Facility, NY- where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Greene Correctional Facility, NY- where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Hudson County Jail, NJ - where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Jamesburg Youth Correctional Center, NJ
• Lehigh County Prison, Pennsylvania
• Mercer County Jail, New Jersey
• New Jersey State Prison (Trenton)
• Passiac County Jail, NJ - where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Rikers Island, NY - where they operate with frequency with over 100 members
• Sing Sing - frequently active, over 100 members
• South Woods State Prison, NJ - where they operate with frequency with over 100 members

On the street, they have been reported in:

• Alaska
  • Anchorage
• Connecticut - Winsted
• Dominican Republic - where 1000s of members exist throughout the country
• Europe
  • Madrid, Spain
• Florida
  • Orlando
  • Fort Lauderdale
  • Palm Bay
  • West Palm beach
• Illinois
  • Springfield
  • Chicago
• Massachusetts
  • Boston
  • Lawrence
• New Jersey - Hundreds of members are now in New Jersey, especially in:
  • Bayonne
  • East Orange
  • Elizabeth
  • Hudson County
  • Irvington
  • Jersey City
  • New Brunswick
  • North Bergen
  • Passaic County
  • Patterson
  • Perth Amboy
  • Trenton
  • Union City
  • West New York, according to news reports and user sources.
• New York, NY - has chapters in all five New York City boroughs, including Staten Island in Richmond County, Baldwin Town in Nassau County, and Yonkers in Westchester County, and Southside Williamsbug in Brooklyn
• North Carolina
  • North Raleigh
• Ohio - Colombus and Hilliard
• Pennsylvania
  • Hazleton
  • Bethlehem
  • Allentown
• Rhode Island, Providence
• South America (specific locations needed)

• 60th
• Bloods
• Bonz
• Crips
• (DDP) Dominicans Dont Play - NYC street gang with roots to the Domican Republic. Prevalent in Washington Heights, the Bronx, and NJ. Rivals with Bloods and Trinitarios
• Latin Kings
• MS 13
• Netas

• red, green, white, and blue beads
• green bandanas