When Gangs Go Bad

The El Rukns represent the worst of what gangs can become. Originally known as the Blackstone Rangers, the gang emerged in the late 1950s on Chicago’s South Side. Their leader, Jeff Fort, eventually consolidated the Blackstone Rangers with 21 smaller gangs, creating a powerful organization. In 1968, Fort was convicted in federal court of embezzling $1.4 million dollars in anti-poverty grants from churches and community organizations. Rather than create jobs, as the grants were intended, Fort used the funds to purchase guns, cars, and drugs. Released from Leavenworth prison in 1976, Fort joined the Moorish Science Temple of America and converted to Islam. The Blackstone Rangers then assumed the new identity of the El Rukns (Arabic for "the foundation of knowledge").

Three high-ranking members of the El Rukns traveled to Libya in March 1986 to broker a deal with military officials in which the gang would commit "terrorist acts on U.S. soil" in exchange for $2.5 million. Again, the gang was apparently motivated by a desire for cash and notoriety. In May, a second meeting between the El Rukns and Libyan officials occurred in Panama. But upon their return, customs officials searched the luggage of two of the gang members and turned up documents that contained the vague outlines to several terrorist plots. Their plans, concocted in Chicago, included destroying federal buildings, blowing up an airplane, assassinating a Milwaukee alderman, and simply committing a "killing here or there."

Two months later, the El Rukns purchased a light anti-tank weapon for $1,800 — from an undercover FBI agent. The purchase, as well as the testimony of informants and conversations recorded on wiretaps, convinced a federal judge to issue search warrants. Authorities ultimately uncovered the anti-tank weapon, as well as 32 firearms, including a MAC-10 machine gun, a fully automatic .45-caliber pistol, and several rounds of armor-piercing bullets. Five senior members of the gang, including Jeff Fort, were convicted of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and remain in prison today. Still, their story shows how a small, seemingly ordinary street gang can turn into something far more dangerous.