Ambrose - Chicago Gang History

Founded	Founded in 1958 in or near Near West Side
Founding story	Founded in Near West Side in Little Italy at Taylor and Halsted.
Affiliations	Folk Nation — c. 1979 – 2000 or later;
Colors	Black and Light blue
Primary ethnicities	Latino (Mexican)
Symbols	Spear, A, and Knight's Helmet
Symbol usage	Spear with a letter “A” in it, knights helmet (right-facing)
Status	Active

This history has been updated 1/20/26

Taylor & Halsted

Legends say that Almighty Ambrose started in 1954 at the intersection of Taylor Street and Halsted Street in the Near West Side community in the former Little Italy area. What is for sure and confirmed is that Taylor and Halsted was the founding place but the founding year is not confirmed. I have heard from others Ambrose started in 1956 but there is no confirmation or evidence Ambrose started any time in the years of 1950-1957. I have also found physical evidence “Ambrose” existed as far back as March of 1959 because they were documented by social services in a report listing all the active gangs. “Ambrose” reported to Hull House located at 800 S. Halsted which is between Taylor and Halsted and Harrison and Halsted. Before the University of Illinois at Chicago campus was built in 1964, Ambrose was on these streets. The only reason there is no evidence going further back in time than March 1959 is because this was the first exhaustive gang list Chicago officials made since the early 20^th century. I got this piece of history from the Chicago History Museum and I asked for something older and they said there is no older lists besides maybe the book “The gang: A study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago” which was published in 1927, I never read that book.

A more solid legend I heard is that Ambrose formed in 1958 which is more believable; however, the original group did congregate prior to 1958 as friends but there was no gang or club, or if there was a club, they were not titled “Ambrose” because there are no news articles mentioning them or any documents or even any solid street stories in detail at all. There is no color to this story until 1958 which was the year the first documents about the Taylor Street Dukes came out in the Chicago Tribune in October of 1958. The Taylor Dukes are another group said to have formed in 1954 but there is no evidence or solid stories of them from back then; again Dukes were likely hanging out as a group but the name and gang likely did not come along yet. Some legends have tried to say “Latin Kings” started in 1954 in the same neighborhood but through research I learned they were known as “Imperials” at best, the “Latin Kings” name came in the 60s. My point I am trying to make is the Near West Side is a mistaken hood where many people thought all these gangs started simultaneously in 1954. For years I tried to prove it to be true by interviewing people that lived in the neighborhood, sifting through newspapers and documents and trying to ask gang members that heard the legends for details but there are none; therefore, I am giving Ambrose the founding year of 1958 until I can be told otherwise with some details.

The original Ambrose were a mix of Mexicans and Italians which was the demographic of Little Italy in the 50s. One of Ambrose main reasons for coming together was because the Taylor Street Dukes were harassing them as was the many Italian allies of the Dukes. Dukes hung out with Taylor & Oakley, Taylor Bishops and multiple others and they would team up on any groups they deemed as “undesirables.” The group called themselves “Ambrose” which is a Greek term that derives from “Ambrosios” which means immortal or divine. During the Medieval Crusades, King Arthur’s Knights pursued the Holy Grail which was said to contain the elixir of Ambrosia that would bring immortal life, this might be why Ambrose chose the knight’s helmet as their main symbol in later years.

18^th & Throop

In the year 1963, Chicago officials approved the construction of the new University of Chicago at Illinois campus after Mayor Richard J. Daley pushed for it for years. The Near West Side was the ideal location Daley wanted because it was full of poverty and “slum buildings” by classification. Much of this neighborhood was expendable because of the poverty and blight. The Italian and Mexican community in Little Italy tried hard to protest but by 1963 it was a losing battle and the buildings started to come down. By 1964 the evictions were complete and the school was built and open for business.

Once UIC construction was approved in 1963 mass migration from Little Italy took place before the first wrecking balls could even show up, several Mexican families Relocated to Pilsen along 18^th Street. In 1964, the wrecking balls were raging in the Taylor and Halsted area and everyone had to leave including the whole Ambrose gang. Almost all Ambrose members left Taylor Street and started new lives elsewhere accept for Jesse Perez.

In 1964, Pilsen had several gangs and now Hispanic gangs had become the biggest thing in place of white European gangs. Arcons, Spartans, Morgan Deuces, Rampants, Villa Lobos now walked these streets in abundance and gangs like the Rampants and Spartans were growing very large; at the time Rampants were the biggest gang in Pilsen. Spartans and Rampants were not enemies, they were allies. Latin Counts and Spartans were also strong allies because the President of each group was related by blood. Both Spartans and Rampants claimed 18^th and Throop in the late 50s and early 60s, the Spartans were “Little Spartans.” Back in the early 60s lots of Spartans and Ambrose could be seen hanging out at this corner and in Throop Park located at 18^th Place and Throop. Throop Park area was for the younger gang members and not the original seniors. Rampants at 18^th and Throop were once “Midget Rampants” in their earliest years then they became Little Rampants as they got a little older. This was the scene at 18^th and Throop before Ambrose had any presence in Pilsen.

I don’t have all the details on this story but I will tell the parts I know that come from people that lived in Pilsen in the 60s and were part of various gangs. According to legends Jesse Perez was the only Taylor Street Ambrose to move to Pilsen while the other original Ambrose from Taylor Street called it quits when their neighborhood was annihilated by the city. Jesse Perez wanted to start Ambrose at 18^th and Throop and recruit the Little Rampants. The Little Rampants were down to join Ambrose; however, they didn’t want Jesse Perez to lead them or even be in the club for a reason I do not know. A vote was cast in 1964 and Jesse Perez was not only voted to not be President he was voted out of the club entirely which is something I do not understand how can it could happen but that is how it went, Jesse Perez then joined the Spartans and became a known member of the Spartans by many.

From my understanding, the Taylor Street Ambrose may not have had symbols or sweaters. The original colors were black and ash blue. In later years Ambrose adopted the knight helmet and the colors black and Columbia blue. When Little Rampants at 18^th and Throop turned Ambrose in 1964, 18^th and Throop became their territory. Little Rampants became Senior Ambrose in 1964 while younger Ambrose became Junior Ambrose, Little Ambrose and Midget Ambrose. Ambrose had no war with Rampants or Spartans and were close allies, I am not even sure if Ambrose was at war with Latin Counts in the mid-60s but I don’t think so, I am not sure exactly when that war started.

Little Ambrose

The founder of Little Ambrose was Vince Hernandez who put it together in the early 60s on 18^th Street in 1964, Hernandez grew old enough to be with the Seniors and passed the torch to Junior Arajo. Little Ambrose were younger teenage Ambrose.

Midget Ambrose

In the year 1964, an 11 year old youth wanted membership in Ambrose but he also wanted leadership. This 11 year old was Louie Limas and he wanted to take command of all the pee wee age Ambrose that were 13 years old and younger. Louie was the founder of Midget Ambrose and was their first President.

Ambrose baseball

Since Ambrose first arrived in Pilsen they always had a baseball team that was called “Ambrose” and their uniforms were the black and Columbia blue colors. Ambrose baseball team played against the Latin Counts baseball team as a healthy outlet for their rivalry. The Ambrose baseball team went on through the 80s. The Ambrose baseball team was originally sponsored by St. Ambrose Church from 47^th Street in the 60s. In later years Elvia “Momma Ambrose” Guzman sponsored the team in the 70s and 80s.

The Wild Side

In either 1969 or 1970 an 18^th Place & Throop Ambrose member named Jorge “Ace” Anaya moved west of Ashland Avenue into an area often known as “West Pilsen” which is technically in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood but Chicagoans just call the area Pilsen. Ace started Ambrose at 21^st Street and Wood. Ambrose would clash heavily with Latin Kings from West Pilsen then eventually Ambrose of 21^st was at war with Bishops that moved into the area. The Wild Side Ambrose was a strong section in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ace was the boss of this section until he died in 1989. 21^st Street Ambrose would grow within the area of 19^th to 23^rd and from Damen to Ashland. In 1986 Ambrose was at war with Satan Disciples and since then the war has been violent but Ambrose has survived gang wars with Latin Kings, Bishops and Satan Disciples. This section was the first area Ambrose branched out to outside of East Pilsen and this was done to take over most of the Pilsen area. Ambrose remains active in this neighborhood in recent years.

Pilsen Domination

By the early 1970s Ambrose now had a strong hold on Pilsen in both east and west Pilsen. By the early 70s Ambrose had from Throop to Carpenter and from 18^th Street to Cermak Road. Ambrose took over Dovark Park and was the heads of Dovark Park for decades and they were in charge of what other gangs hung out in the park. Ambrose also took over Rose Park when it opened in the early 70s and the neighborhood around it from 18^th to Cullerton and from Halsted to Sangamon. There was also Ambrose east of Halsted under the Interstate 90 bridge by 18^th and Jefferson to Canal Street. Eventually Ambrose ended up at war with Bishops from Jefferson Park. Besides 18^th and Throop many Ambrose were gathered at Trebols Liqour Store (1135 W 18th St) located at 18th and May and at Lacos Bar at 18^th Place and Carpenter. Ambrose had a heavy stranglehold on all of Pilsen in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ambrose had wars with Latin Counts, Morgan Deuces, Latin Kings, Racine Boys (in the 70s only), Party People, Laflin Lovers, Bishops, Latin Brothers, Villa Lobos and others. Ambrose even ended up at war with Spartans but I am not sure when or why that began. Ambrose did not have many allies in the 70s through the 90s in Pilsen besides the Morgan Boys and Racine Boys by the early 80s. These neighborhoods Ambrose owned were defended fiercely as they would often shoot at outsiders or hit them with objects if anyone looked suspicious but Ambrose was also able to operate a heavy PCP operation during these years.

Little Village

In the year 1970, Vince Hernandez stepped down from being President of Ambrose and moved to Little Village at 26^th & Christiana. Youths living near Hernandez became inspired to become Ambrose and a section of Ambrose was started at 24^th and Sawyer and these Ambrose hung out at McCormick School. Ambrose in this section befriended the original Two Six that had just formed at 26^th and Sawyer in 1970. I am not sure if Vince Hernandez started 24^th and Sawyer but he at least was influential in Ambrose starting in Little Village.

At some point in the 70s Ambrose opened at 30^th & Trumbull and 30^th & St. Louis, this section lasted until 1986. While this section was active these Ambrose heavily battled 31^st & Drake Latin Kings and the Villa Lobos from 30^th & Drake.

In the year 1977, Two Six withdrew from 26^th and Sawyer and Ambrose took over 26^th and Sawyer and made it their main territory in Little Village. Ambrose remained on Sawyer until 1986 when they moved to K-Town at 26^th and Kolin in Darkside Two Six and K-Town Two Six hood. Ambrose had a rough stay in this hood with on and off conflicts with Two Six until the mid-90s when Ambrose left the area.

The Spanish Skulls

The Spanish Skulls was a group that formed in 1964 at 18^th and Allport which is just one block away from Ambrose. Ambrose and the Skulls were good friends until the Vietnam War destroyed the Skulls and caused them to go extinct in 1971, the rest of the Skulls flipped to Ambrose and this is what helped Ambrose grow even more in Pilsen.

The Rampants break up, Ambrose grows stronger

In 1973, Pilsen suffered the loss of David “Boogie” Gonzalez who was a retiring Rampant that began working with the youths in the neighborhood and helping his community. Boogie was shot to death in 1973 by Latin Kings and the Rampants mostly broke up after that as remaining members flipped to Ambrose, this made Ambrose even stronger in Pilsen and this is when Ambrose started to become a Pilsen powerhouse.

Origins of Ambrose, Gangster Disciple, Simon City Royal relationship

In the year 1973, the Gangster Disciples (known as Black Gangster Disciples at the time) were looking to establish business with gangs that were not of the African American race. Black Gangster Disciples connected with the Ashland Vikings, a mostly Puerto Rican group, the Simon City Royals, a mostly white group and Ambrose, a mostly Mexican group. Black Gangster Disciples would pay Ambrose members to go out and kill one of their enemies and the police would have a hard time establishing a motive when a Mexican gang member killed a black gang member. Black Gangster Disciple hitmen would then kill an Ambrose enemy. The gangs also trafficked weapons and drugs together and this built a deep connection between Ambrose, Gangster Disciples and Simon City Royals.

Relations with Satan Disciples

Since the 1970s relations between Ambrose and Satan Disciples has been rough with on and off wars. In the 60s both gangs were allies and even had family ties. When Ambrose moved to 21^st Street around 1970 the two gangs got along well. In the year 1974, the first incident of violence erupted between the two groups that ended up involving the President of Ambrose at the time. According to court documents in the case of the People vs. Rodriguez, Joyce Rodriguez was convicted of driving a car used in a shooting at 16^th and Fairfield in the North Lawndale neighborhood against the Satan Disciples. It was said in the court documents that Louie Limas, who was the President of Ambrose at the time fired a pistol at Satan Disciples in the car driven by Rodriquez. Limas was never convicted of the crime and Rodriguez did some time until she was acquitted in 1980. Witnesses to the shooting were Satan Disciples. Even though these Ambrose were not shooting at the Disciples, it is still clear evidence a war was going on between the two groups and the war would not resolve until the later 1970s.

Both Ambrose and Satan Disciples would become part of the Folks alliance in the late 70s/early 80s and would even form the “ATSD” which stood for “Ambrose Two Six and Satan Disciples. Ambrose and Disciples remained tight until the mid-90s when war erupted again and ever since then the war has been on and off.

Relations with Two Six

Ambrose and Two Six became great allies when Two Six formed in 1970 and this alliance would continue into the 80s when both gangs joined Folks and the ATSD was effective. War broke out in 1986 when Two Six gunned down Two Two Boys and Satan Disciples at a Ambrose party even though Ambrose was the target. The war was intense in the late 80s but no one ever was killed on either side and in the 90s the war was squashed. Ever since the 90s Ambrose and Two Six still have skirmishes but those conflicts are usually not deadly.

The details of the first major war that was bad in the late 80s and early 90s was: On November 7, 1986 Two Sixs from K-Town had claimed members of Ambrose shot at them and now Two Six was looking for revenge. Word was that there was an Ambrose party going on at 6318 South Washtenaw in the Marquette Park neighborhood. At about 8:30 P.M. the Two Sixs sent two female gang members to the party to scope it out, the girls were dressed in black and beige and were unfriendly so they were thrown out, but they gathered enough info to take back to fellow gang members. Later that night Two Six gang members Stoney, Jason Gray (later exonnerated of this crime), Little Hulk, No-Neck Rabbit and Inky crashed the party that was being held in the basement according to court documents. They knocked on the door and when it was answered and the door opened, according to court documents, Jason Gray opened fire on the party then Manuel Bobe also known as Little Hulk opened fire as well. By the time the shooting stopped three people were killed and one was wounded (Illinois People Vs. Manuel Bobe, March 27, 1992). No Ambrose was shot or killed during this shooting and the only reason why war was started over it is because it was an act of disrespect and both gangs showed intent to kill each other in November of 1986. Since the early to mid-90s Ambrose and Two Six relations are usually mostly better with some nasty wars here and there with little bloodshed.

Relations with Two Two Boys

In the year 1976, the Two Two Boys formed in the Marshall Square (basically Little Village) neighborhood at the intersection of Cermak Road (22^nd Street) and California Avenue. “Malo” of Ambrose was related to Two Two Boy co-founder and the first Two Two Girl Anna Esquivel; therefore, Malo was hanging out by 22^nd and California to make sure his family members were doing alright since they were now boldly going up against the notorious Boulevard Latin Kings, Kents and Cullerton Deuces. The Two Two Boys were surrounded by enemies so this was a cause for concern. Malo brought more Ambrose to hang with the Two Two Boys at 22^nd and Cal. By 1978, Two Two Boys were hanging out with Satan Disciples from 24^th and Washtenaw due to more family ties and even though Ambrose and Satan Disciples were enemies they were all hanging out with the Two Two Boys. Two Two Boys had family members that were Two Six too and before you knew it all these Folks were hanging out before “Folks” was on the streets. All four of these groups would end up joining Folks but for now the wars were cooling down. Ambrose and Satan Disciples did not have much interest in being real tight in the late 70s but Two Two Boys and Ambrose became very close in the midst of all this which turned them into “cousins” on the streets. Two Two Boys and Ambrose didn’t have any official relations like “Insane” or “Gangster” because Ambrose did not want to be bound to anything besides Folks, Two Two Boys were the only group that respected that; therefore, they had a very tight relationship for many years. I remember hanging out with Two Two Boys as a kid and they talked highly of Ambrose and this was the mid-late 90s. They remained tight through the 2000s. Two Twos and Ambrose might have beef in recent years but that would not have started until the 2010s at earliest and I have no details on that because it’s current issues.

Louie Limas

After Vincent Perez stepped down as President and moved to Little Village in 1970, the Little Ambrose founder Louis Limas became the new President of Ambrose with “Blue” as his Vice President. Back in the 2000s internet sites kept saying Louis Limas was the founder of Ambrose and I was guilty of that too in my days with Chicagogangs.org. I was not completely off on that, Limas was around from the start but he was just a kid and not even a teen yet when he joined the first generations of 18^th Street Ambrose. Louie joined Ambrose as soon as they formed on 18^th Street in 1964 but Louie did not come from Ambrose on Taylor Street and Louie was not an original Senior Ambrose of 18^th Street either, he was an original Little Ambrose and the founder of the young guys, so that kinda makes Louie a certain type of Ambrose founder.

Louie Limas was regarded as “The” President of Ambrose because he has never been forgotten and is often considered the best President. Limas helped people in the neighborhood and worked to stop crimes committed by drug addicts that stole and robbed from people. Limas would hunt these bad guys down and work them over until they gave back all the stolen items taken. Limas and Ambrose watched the neighborhood closely and it wasn’t just all about gangbanging, it was strongly about neighborhood protection.

Louie Limas owned a nightclub in Little Village at 21^st and Marshall Called the Marabou Club that he opened in the mid-70s, Limas may have owned other businesses too. Louie Limas had much vested interest in all the Ambrose hoods, he owned a business in Little Village, was from 18^th and Throop and he resided at 1732 W. 18^th between 18^th and Wood and 18^th and Paulina near the Wild Side.

According to the Chicago Tribune, August 25, 1979 On Tuesday August 21, 1979, Reno “Maniac Mouse” (Nickname not mentioned in the Tribune) Enriquez of the Latin Counts from address 1619 S. Loomis (17^th and Loomis) shot Louie Limas to death when Enriquez was only 17 years old. The death of Louie Limas was devastating and caused a lot of anger from Ambrose toward Latin Counts, the war intensified since Limas’ death. Louie Limas has not been forgotten.

Jose “Pepe” Alba

After Louie Limas was killed in 1979, Jose “Pepe” Alba took over leadership of Ambrose for some time until Peter Guzman took over but I don’t know when Peter Guzman took over and when Alba stepped out.

Marquette Park

Starting in the mid-late 70s Hispanic people began to move to the mostly white Marquette Park in scattered pockets in the neighborhood. Marquette Park had several white gangs in the 70s and some of them were connected to the Ku Klux Klan that used to have a Chicago headquarters from the mid-60s to the late 80s. Neighboring West Lawn, Ashburn and Gage Park were full of hostile white gangs, some of whom were connected to KKK and neo-Nazi groups. while neighboring West Englewood was full of African American gangs. The Hispanic community of Marquette Park was completely surrounded by gangs of other races.

In either the year 1980 or 1981, a Ambrose from 18^th & Carpenter nicknamed “Krazy Shy” moved to Marquette Park and put Ambrose together at 67^th & Artesian in Marquette Park which is on the east side of Marquette Park. This group of Ambrose instantly became a solid group and they held down 67^th and Artesian strong in the 80s. In about the same year 67^th formed, a separate Ambrose group started on 70^th and Talman which is also in east Marquette Park. 70^th closed in1992 when the area became more African American and Black Disciples moved in. 70^Th & Talman was known as “7-T Town.”

In the year 1982, Krazy Shy helped start up Ambrose at 63^rd & Francisco in more western Marquette Park which was closer to Two Six from 63^rd & Homan. There was once a party crew at 63^rd & Francisco called the “Francisco Boys” in the early 80s that hung out with 67^th Street Ambrose and this is how the Francisco Boys were recruited to form this section. 63^Rd & Francisco would become a legendary section. Eventually 63^rd & Francisco became known as “Fran-Pyscho” then renamed “NoNo Gang” in honor of a gang Chief killed in either the 2010s or 2020s. Ambrose spread all down 63^rd Street in 1982 and 1983 until they dominated 63^rd from California Avenue to Kedzie Avenue. 63^Rd & Mozart opened during this time and became a legendary section called “No Heart.” 63^rd & Sacramento opened in this era and became known as “DK City” in later years due to wars with Satan Disciples, I don’t know what this section was called in the 80s and early 90s. 63^Rd & Whipple is another well known section and at 63^rd & California Ambrose were hanging there since the 80s.

In the year 1987, the first African American families began to move to Marquette Park from Bell Avenue to California Avenue and the Gangster Disciples moved into this area and became neighbors to the 67^th & Artesian Ambrose. At this time Ambrose was at war with Two Six and the 67^th Street Ambrose were heavily fighting with 38^th Street Two Six while 63^rd Street Ambrose was battling 63^rd Street Two Six. Ambrose now befriended the Gangster Disciples and the GDs hooked Ambrose into a deeper drug game by the early 90s. GDs and Ambrose took up arms together against the “Crown Town” Latin Kings of Gage Park to keep the Kings out of Marquette Park. This began a long standing drug trafficking relationship between GDs and Ambrose and in the mid-90s Ambrose brought the Latin Souls into this connection until the Latin Souls left the area in the early 2000s.

In the year 1992, 67^th Street and 70^th closed down and 67^th Street Ambrose moved to 63^rd Street. 67^th and 70^th branches closed because that part of Marquette Park became majority African American as Gangster Disciples and Black Disciples moved in.

63^rd Street became more powerful starting in 1992 when 67^th moved onto their block and it was just in time because the Party Players advanced onto 64^th Street and took some territory after a prominent Ambrose flipped to Party Players and brought them into the hood which resulted in a bloody war. In 1993, Satan Disciples moved into Gage Park on 59^th and even expanded into Marquette Park so more Ambrose was needed at 63^rd. Latin Kings formed in Gage Park in 1990 so there was that war as well. Ambrose welcomed the Krazy Get Down Boys onto 61^st Street and welcomed the Imperial Gangsters onto 64^th as allies. Besides Two Six, Party People and Satan Disciples, Ambrose was getting along with all other Folks like GDs, KGBs and Imperial Gangsters, but Imperial Gangsters would not last long and the KGBs were gone by the 2000s. Ambrose and KGBs did not get along with Black Disciples because they kept encroaching on KGB and Ambrose sections. BDs were infringing on KGBs on 71^st Street at 69^th Street. BDs were infringing on Ambrose at 62^nd and Sacramento but Ambrose pushed BDs out of this area by using violence.

In the 90s and 2000s Ambrose often did not allow anyone into their territory without clearing it from Ambrose unless they were recognized residents of the area. Ambrose know their neighbors and new when someone from another area was in their area and if they looked anywhere near like the outsiders could be gang members Ambrose would go after them no matter what. 63^rd Street became guarded heavily night and day and by the 2000s Ambrose territory grew as north as 61^st Street especially once 62^nd & Troy which started in 2002 and became known as “Second City.” Starting in 2002 Ambrose would move in strong on 62^nd and 61^st between Kedzie and California and this pushed out the Akrohs, a Asian gang in the area of 61^st to 62^nd and from California to Mozart. Ambrose would go to war with the “Rec City” Gangster Disciples in the 2000s because Rec City at 63^rd & Albany is in Ambrose hood, this brought a violent gang war. Rec City never advance deeper than 63^rd & Albany because of Ambrose. Ambrose and KGBs went to war in the 2000s and the war was too costly for KGBs so they withdrew and Ambrose would advance to 64^th Street in 2012 at 64^th & Whipple, 64^th & Richmond after Ambrose moved from 61^st & Troy to 64^th & Whipple. In 2012, Ambrose opened in Two Six hood a 64^th & Spaulding in an area known as “Lil Chino.”

Since the 2000s, Marquette Park has become the biggest Ambrose hood in the city and is where the heavy majority of current Ambrose activity is. Ambrose has grown to take most of the area of 61^st to 64^th, California to Kedzie. Ambrose has fought several bloody wars with Rec City Gangster Disciples, Black Disciples, Satan Disciples, Krazy Getdown Boys, Party Players, Party People, Akrohs, TAP Boyz, Two Six, Insane Popes, City Knights and Latin Kings and have only grown stronger in the midst of all this violence. Ambrose is currently one of the bigger gangs in Marquette Park.

War with Party People

As soon as the Party People formed in 1980, Party People were immediately at odds with Ambrose. No war would start until 1981 when Ambrose stabbed the Party People founder to death. Ambrose was one of the reasons the Party People started because of beef with Ambrose and Latin Counts. The Party People would join Folks but not under the wing of Ambrose, they would join under Two Six. Despite both gangs being Folks Ambrose and Party People just could not get along and in 1988 the war worsened when Ambrose beat and slashed the throat of “Lil A-K” of the Party People which turned Lil AK into a vegetable for a year. Ambrose attacked Lil AK because “Coca” of Ambrose flipped to Party People and started lots of trouble with Ambrose because Party People gave him rank. Latin Kings eventually killed Coca in the mid-90s when he was killed and stuffed into a garbage can on 31^st Street. Lil AK and family moved to Gage Park right after the attack but this was the same year Ambrose moved to Gage Park and Ambrose was looking to finish off Lil AK and his brother. By 1990, the Party People fully formed in Gage Park and a violent war with Ambrose continued. Ambrose and Party People have remained arch enemies since the early 80s and there was nothing La Raza or Two Six could do to mediate this war.

Relations with La Raza

When La Raza first formed in 1980, La Raza’s biggest ally was the Party People. In 1981, Ambrose murdered the founder and leader of the Party People which started a war but Ambrose and La Raza did not go to war despite how close La Raza and Party People were. By 1987, La Raza and Ambrose could no longer be allies because of issues between Two Six and Ambrose and ongoing issues with the Party People. In the year 1995 a war erupted between La Raza and Party People when La Raza came to 18^th Street and the agitator was shot in chest to death by the Party People. When this war began Ambrose and La Raza called a truce because of their mutual hate for Party People and both gangs have been on good terms since 1995.

59^th & Homan

In the year 1988, Ambrose branched off 63^rd Street onto the border of Marquette Park and Gage Park at 59^th & Homan. These Ambrose congregated more on the north side of 59^th Street more so than south of 59^th Street which made them more of a Gage Park gang. Ambrose formed here to especially look out for Hispanic youths being bullied by white gangs like the South side Heads or the Insane Popes at Enrico Tonti School at 59^th and Homan. Ambrose clashed heavily with the Two Sixs that had been on 59^th Street for many more years earlier. Ambrose of 59^th was also hunting down Lil AK and his brother of the Party People. Ambrose got into it with a party crew called the “Devious Ones” in the late 80s until this crew became the notorious “Crown Town” Latin Kings and now the war was against Latin Kings. Ambrose at 59^th Street lasted until 1993 then they closed down for reasons I do not know. At one time this Ambrose hood stretched as north as 57^th Street.

San Antonio

I am not very knowledgeable about the gang life in San Antonio Texas but I have been enlightened on the Ambrose presence in this city recently. I had heard about Ambrose being in Texas since I was a kid in the 90s especially in the late 90s during high school years. It turns out Ambrose was a large and influential gang in San Antonio in the 90s.

In either 1985 or 1986 some 18^th Street Ambrose members moved to San Antonio and moved into one of the notorious public housing projects, the Cassiano projects on the city’s west side. This Ambrose group never became large or notorious. Instead of becoming independent, these Ambrose assimilated with random members of several Chicago gangs like Two Six, Imperial Gangsters, Two Ones, Cullerton Deuces, Bishops and Latin Counts. Even though Deuces, Bishops and Counts were People allied gangs this became a Chicago connection because they were surrounded by San Antonio gangs and the Bloods gang was the biggest gang in the city and there were Cartel connected gangs like MS-13.

In the late 80s, two brothers from 63^rd & Francisco named Fabian “Fabe Dog” Cano and Danny “Curly” Cano moved into the projects and got together with the 18^th Street Ambrose members and the other Chicago gang members. More Two Six were moving into the projects too and the Cano Brothers had arrived with these Two Six members and they came together. The Cano brothers officially organized all the Chicago gang members and created an organization called the “Chicago Gangsters.” The Cano brothers organized the “Chicago Gangsters” in the late 80s when they were just teenagers and they became highly influential leaders. The Chicago Gangsters introduced San Antonio to Chicago style gangbanging that gained popularity.

While the Chicago Gangsters were active in the late 80s and early 90s the Cano brothers continued to encourage incoming members to be more about Ambrose while Two Sixs were doing the same thing. Ambrose and Two Six broke away from the Chicago Gangsters and because the Cano brothers were the founders and leaders the organization went defunct in 1992 and Ambrose became independent in this city for the first time in 1992. The Cano brothers then took Ambrose to the east side and southeast side of the city alongside their allies the Two Sixs. Ambrose had lots of guns in their arsenal and they used them very often doing walk up shootings and drive by shootings. Ambrose revolutionized gang banging in San Antonio between 1992-1997. Ambrose took over other gangs and had them flip to Ambrose which grew the gang heavily. Ambrose took on bigger gangs doing several shootings against them and they flipped many members of the southeast side gang called Vega Klik. Ambrose was highly influential in a shift in the gang culture of San Antonio in the 90s under the leadership of the Cano brothers.

In the year 1997, Curly got locked up for being part of a shooting against the Vega Klik and he would remain in prison for a long time until he was released and retired from gang life. Once Curly was put in prison Ambrose became heavily targeted by law enforcement and several prominent members were put in prison in 1998. Raids on Ambrose would continue through 1999 putting several members in prison. Since 1999 Ambrose still exists and is active in San Antonio but not to the capacity they once were in the 90s.

79^th Street

Around the year 1990, Ambrose branched out to 79^th Street in the Ashburn neighborhood and in the suburb of Burbank. 79^th Street was settled by Ambrose like Creep, Dizzy, Cheech, and Myrtle. In Ashburn, Ambrose formed at 79^th & Kilbourn. In Burbank Ambrose settled at 79^th & Nagle and 79^th & Sayre. These Ambrose groups connected along 79^th Street and they soon ruled 79^th from Pulaski in Chicago to Harlem at the Burbank and Bridgeview border. These Ambrose on 79^th Street were hard core members and had a good run in the 90s. 79^Th & Nagle became the heaviest concentration of Ambrose along this 79^th Street strip. In 2001 79^th Street was weakened by law enforcement efforts but remains active in recent years especially at 79^th & Nagle (Ill Town) and 79^th & Lavergne (Pimp City). The Ashburn/Chicago side of 79^th Street closed in 2001. Burbank is the strongest and oldest suburban outpost in Ambrose history.

Aurora

According to the June 16, 1995 Chicago Tribune article written by Hal Dardick, 23 year old Israel DeLaTorre was the “Identified leader” of Ambrose at the time. The article was about “Operation Ambrose” which was a sting operation that took down many heavy hitting Ambrose. Ambrose came to Aurora in 1994 and hit the ground running. If DeLaTorre was the leader he was certainly the Aurora Ambrose founder too. Ambrose formed on the east side of Aurora at New York Street and Anderson Street. Ambrose went at it hard with Latin Kings and ran a cocaine and marijuana operation and had a large supply of guns. Operation Ambrose did not shut down Ambrose but it hurt them at the time. As soon as Ambrose formed in 1994 they became one of the bigger gangs in Aurora right away. Ambrose eventually had to move to 7^th Avenue and Talma.

Cicero

I recall as a teen hearing about Ambrose from 35^th Street in Cicero; however, I never got big details though. All I new is when I first heard of them in 1997 they were well established at 35^th & Laramie and they were tight with Two Two Boys from 31^st & Laramie. Ambrose arrived in the early to mid-90s but I don’t know the exact year. Ambrose had a hell of a section with Hawthorn Race Track at the corner and Cicero Community Park at the same corner. Ambrose was big in Cicero in the 90s but by 2001 this chapter closed but they made lots of noise in the 90s. Ambrose called this hood “DK Zone” because of their beef with Satan Disciples.

Berwyn

When 35^th & Laramie in Cicero was shut down in the early 2000s, Ambrose moved to the further west side of Cicero to 29^th & Austin which was right at a viaduct. This hood grew to extend into the suburb of Berwyn when it extended into Ridgeland between 26^th Street to 29^th Street and back over to Austin. Ambrose also opened at the Berwyn/Lyons border at 38^th & Harlem. At one time Ambrose was deep and highly active in the 2000s in Berwyn and Lyons. This section may not be as big as it once was but it is still active in present years.

Rockford

At some point in the 1990s Ambrose settled in the city of Rockford in the notorious southeast side in a rough area at 11^th Street & Hamilton Avenue. 11^th Street has a notorious reputation and Ambrose held it down on this block battling Satan Disciples and Insane Unknowns heavily. I am not sure how long Ambrose lasted in Rockford, hopefully I will learn more later.

86^th & Baltimore

Back in the year 1979, some Ambrose moved to South Chicago from 18^th Street. Instead of starting a chapter of Ambrose in the neighborhood these Ambrose started their own crew called the “Very Mellow People.” The VMPs lasted through the 80s and earlier 90s but in 1995 more Ambrose came to South Chicago and moved into the same area the VMPs held down which was from Baltimore Avenue/Houston Houston Avenue and 86^th Street to 87^th Street. This a triangular shaped little neighborhood with an open grassy area at the tip where Baltimore and Houston meet. These Ambrose were interested in bringing Ambrose to South Chicago and they wanted to do it right in VMP hood because VMPs and Ambrose were always strongly related by blood. VMPs began to flip to Ambrose right away until VMPs went extinct in 1997. Ambrose set up a serious section that viciously battled Latin King, Latin Counts, Spanish Vice Lords, Vice Lords, Latin Dragons and Spanish Gangster Disciples at times. Ambrose survived all this violent gangbanging and still hold this triangular hood into present years. This hood is called “Bukktown.” At one time this section grew to expand to 90^th Street.

Almighty Ambrose

Back in the year 1973, the Black Gangster Disciples (Gangster Disciples) came up with an idea that they got from organized crime. This idea was to befriend gangs from other parts of the city that were of another race. The BGDs picked out the Simon City Royals from the north side because they were white. BGDs picked the Ashland Vikings from the north side because they were Puerto Rican. BGDs picked Ambrose because they were a south side gang that was Mexican. These groups then worked together moving guns between each other and carrying out murders for each other and the police would not be able to solve the crimes because unlikely suspects were carrying out the hits. This went on a few years until the BGDs faded away until the Folk alliance was created in the later 70s and early 80s with all of these mobs joining Folks.

In the late 80s Ambrose and Simon City Royals became even tighter and were hanging out and partying together. This relationship grew until the Simon City Royals offered Ambrose to join the north side Folks alliance in 1994, this is when Ambrose became “Almighty Ambrose.” There were times in the 70s and 80s where Ambrose said they were “Allmighty” on cards but that was not “Almighty.” Ambrose did not join Almighty to get help from surrounding rivals because they never needed that help, they joined for comradery and for business reasons which was a connection with Simon City Royals, Imperial Gangsters, and Latin Eagles.

Kimball & Belle Plaine

In the year 1997, relations with Simon City Royals would move to a new level when the Royals invited Ambrose to take a part of the Irving Park neighborhood in an area between Kimball Avenue to Spaulding Avenue and from Belle Plaine Avenue to Berteau Avenue. Ambrose battled Two Six and Satan Disciples heavily which ended being a costly war. By 2001 Ambrose lost this section due to too much police interference. This hood reopened in 2012 and has remained active into present years.

Miscellaneous suburban expansion

I am adding this part to show how wide spread Ambrose became in the 90s; however, I don’t know hardly anything about Ambrose presence in these suburbs but hopefully I will learn evantually. In the 90s Ambrose popped up in Carpentersville, Dixmoor, Oak Lawn, Brookfield and Elgin. These suburbs all closed in the year 2001. The fact Ambrose grew this deep in the suburbs shows how big Ambrose was in the 90s. The 1990s was the peak of Ambrose power in Chicagoland.

Mama Ambrose and Operation Blue Water

Elvia “Mama Ambrose” Guzman was born December 25, 1941. I am not sure where Momma Ambrose comes from in her childhood and younger years but eventually Elvia Guzman was living at 18^th Place and Throop in the heart of Ambrose neighborhood. It is possible Elvia Guzman may have been a Taylor Street Ambrose but if not, she was possibly not a member of Ambrose because it is unlikely she would have joined alongside teenagers when she was already 22 or 23 years old in 1964 when 18^th Street Ambrose started. If Guzman was a Taylor Street Ambrose she is the last living member of the originals and she would likely be credited with getting Ambrose started in Pilsen, but for now I can’t even say she was a member, I hope I can find out eventually. Elvia Guzman outages the original 18^th Street Ambrose members by at least a half a decade. Elvia Guzman is old enough and the right age to be an original Ambrose from Taylor Street; however, I have not ever heard direct claims that Elvia Guzman was a member of Ambrose, she is referred as “Momma Ambrose” because she lived in Ambrose hood and dealt PCP with Ambrose and her son Peter Guzman rose through the ranks of Ambrose to eventually running the nation on the streets and behind bars.

Elvia Guzman raised multiple children and became close with Ambrose at least since the 70s and likely back to the 60s. Elvia Guzman used to sponsor the Ambrose baseball team in the 70s in Harrison Park and she was often regarded as a neighborhood hero. Elvia was a heavy drug dealer as she specialized in PCP and Ambrose, in turn, became one of the biggest PCP distributors in the city and suburbs by the 1990s. The PCP was manufactured in a lab in Gary, Indiana and was brought to Chicago and sold in very heavy quantities that the people of Pilsen became very familiar with. Ambrose moved a large bulk of PCP at “Ambrose Alley” which was in the alley at 18^th & Ada in the back of the 1317 W 18th St building. If you wanted wicky sticks, vials, and even Horchata drinks laced with PCP, you went to see Ambrose. The PCP business peaked by the late 80s and this is when the drug flowed at its heaviest.

The PCP operation began in the early to mid-1970s and it went on uninterrupted until people in the neighborhood began to complain about it in 1992 which began a police operation that became known as “Operation Happy Birthday.” In 1993, police raided Ambrose and made many arrests that included Elvia Guzman, her son Peter Guzman, her son Tino, her brother and her daughter. This bust was carried out by state police and the charges didn’t stick well because Elvia Guzman and Peter Guzman were back on the streets and the PCP operation resumed. The police were much tighter on Ambrose and continued to make smaller PCP arrests and even took down members, including Peter Guzman, for murder between the years 1993-1995, federal authorities then took over investigations by 1999. Peter Guzman got 25 years behind bars and has since been released and living quietly, Elvia Guzman is still alive as of 2026.

The PCP operation expanded to allies like the Two Two Boys and both gangs were using it and selling it heavily, many Cicero Two Two Boys were using it too much and this partially led to the collapse of the 31^st & Laramie Two Two Boys.

In the year 2001, federal authorities found the new PCP lab in Gary Indiana which was run by Dan Wright Senior out of his trucking business alongside his two sons Dan Wright Junior and Deron Wright. The new investigation was “Operation Blue Water” which was named after the Ambrose color of blue and the slang term of PCP as “water.” According to newspapers (I lost track of which one), a break in the case came when Naperville police stopped a vehicle with no plate in the front that led to big information that would lead to the raids because someone that was busted in the vehicle snitched and gave up everything. In 2001, the feds kicked in many doors and shut down the PCP lab which kicked Ambrose out of the PCP game forever. According to court documents, at least 3 Ambrose crews were pulling in $31,500 worth of PCP a week.

Operation Blue Water was so devastating it took out Ambrose strength in the following territories: 18^th & Throop, 79^th Street, Belle Plaine & Kimball, Oak Lawn, Cicero, Elgin, Dixmoor, Aurora and Carpentersville. Many 18^th & Throop Ambrose moved to 18^th & Morgan and joined that group that had been there for decades. Many other Ambrose went to 54^th Place and Claremont (The Wall) in Gage Park and others moved to Joliet. Joliet did not last long and 54^th closed by 2005. 18^th & Morgan was strong in the 2000s as what was left of the Morgan Boys flipped to Ambrose in 2001 but gentrification took down this section in the 2010s for the most part, this hood was the “Maniac Side.” Ambrose then became a more mid to small sized gang in Chicago after Operation Blue Water, but mainly because top leadership voluntarily called it quits because of the raid.

June 30, 2001

Operation Blue Water was a devastating blow to Ambrose operations but it did not mark the true end of most Ambrose operations, the real end began after Blue Water on the night of June 30, 2001. Ambrose was laying low after Blue Water around 18^th & Throop. The open air drug market was closed and Ambrose members were not gathering in large masses and Ambrose Alley was empty. Several, mostly younger Ambrose, were still in heavy numbers around the storied corner but they were playing their cards right and staying out of sight until police attention was to blow over.

Before Blue Water Ambrose was engaging in a violent war with La Raza, a gang that resided on another side of Pilsen to the south. The war was still hot and Ambrose had concerns rival gangs would come into their turf and start problems taking advantage of their misfortune. Ambrose gang members worked in shifts watching their territory day and night armed with pistols, revolvers or whatever guns they could get. Chicago police were determined to finish off what was left of Ambrose now that they saw a possible weakness in Ambrose now that many big time members were in prison because of Blue Water. Chicago Police decided to send in undercover police officers to investigate the area and to even blend in with the gang life.

Patrolman Brian Timothy Strouse was one such officer assigned to the 18^th & Throop area to investigate the removal of Ambrose. Patrolman can work light undercover operations that involve spontaneous actions and interactions. Strouse was born June 1, 1968 and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and even served in the Gulf War until he joined the Chicago Police in January of 1995. On the night of June 30, 2001 Strouse and his partners walked through the alley that connected 18^th Place to 19^th Street just east of Loomis. La Raza was situated just a few blocks south at Cullerton and Loomis and the police squad knew this. On that night, 16-year-old Hector Sanchez Delgado was on security duty watching for rivals. Delgado suddenly heard gang slogans being shouted out from the alley near 18^th Place and Throop that Delgado knew was La Raza gang slogans, Delgado then saw Strouse and the other undercover officers throwing up La Raza gang signs. This was an attempt to get Ambrose to come out of cover so police could grab them and take any drugs or guns they had on them but Delgado acted fast and fired his .40 Caliber semi-automatic Smith & Wesson pistol at the officers striking Strouse in his bullet proof vest and his face which killed officer Strouse. According to the police there was no gang signs flashed and instead Delgado shot Strouse when Strouse flashed his badge and shouting out that he was police but people in the neighborhood knew the officers antagonized Ambrose. In either case it was a tragedy of officer Strouse’s death that could be seen as a man that got killed because of an overly aggressive police operation that should not have happened.

After the shooting, Chicago police clamped down on Ambrose even harder not allowing them to hardly take a step near 18^th Place and Throop; however, the police turned a blind eye to La Raza that was gathering on 18^th & Throop which is suspicious to say the least. It makes you wonder what Strouse died for, he died keeping gangs out of the neighborhood just for later police to allow a different gang into that same neighborhood, seems strange to me.

Most of the Ambrose legacy has been removed from Chicago and the suburbs but lots of it still exists in Marquette Park where Ambrose is strong. Regardless of what happened in later years, Ambrose has a hell of a legacy.

Known sections of Ambrose past and present

Ashburn neighborhood Early 90s-2001

Sections of Ashburn

79^th to 82^nd, Knox to Kilbourn

79^th & Kostner 90s

Gage Park neighborhood Established 1988-1993

Sections of Gage Park

54^th Pl & Claremont (The Wall) 2001-2005

59^th & Homan (Homan Homicide) Established 1988-1993

Irving Park neighborhood Established 1997–2001, 2012-present years

Sections of Irving Park

Bertau to Belle Plaine, Spaulding to Sawyer