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• Los Trinitarios (3NI) was formed in the late 1989 in New York by either Julio Marines (AKA: “Caballo”, born 1957) or Pedro Nunez (AKA: “El Caballon”) in the NYC Riker’s Island Correctional Facility. The majority of sources refer to Julio Marines as the gang’s founder, but the History Channel’s “Machete Slaughter” refers to Pedro Nunez instead. The gang was initially comprised of various Dominican gang members looking for protection while incarcerated in the New York State Department of Corrections.
  

• When released, the gang went into organized criminal activity, based in New York’s Washington Heights. 
• Based on the “Trinitaria” (Trinity) a secret society in Dominican Republic in the late 1800’s. Trinitarios also means “Trinity or the Special One.”
• New York Law Enforcement considers 3NI to be one of the fastest growing gangs in the Northeast.
• Moto: "Dios, Patria y Libertad" (DPL) which means God, Country, and Liberty.
• The gang has spread throughout the Eastern United States and the Dominican Republic.
• The current leadership is unknown: both the founder and the head of the Dominican Republic chapter were killed in January, 2010. 
• Julio Marines was the founder and leader of the gang until killed by prison guards on 

           January 4, 2010 at Najayo Prison, Dominican Republic.  His replacement is unknown.

• Jose Alberto Tejeda (AKA: “Bebe”) was the “Suprema” in the Dominican Republic until he was shot to death on January 18, 2010 in Santiago. His replacement is unknown.
  

• The “Primera” of the Rhode Island chapter was arrested in August 2010. 
• Leadership structure: Founder, Suprema, Primeras, Cabezas, with highly structured local cells.
• 7, Green, 3NI, Trini 
• DPL (Dios Patria Libertad)
• Dominican Republic Flag

Trinitarios

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.

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."

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.

Rivalries have been reported with:
* 60th
* Bloods
* Bonz
* Crips
* Dominicans Don’t Play - NYC street gang with roots to the Domican Republic. 

Prevalent in Washington Heights, the Bronx, and NJ. 

Rivals with:

* Bloods

* Other Trinitarios
* Latin Kings
* MS 13
* Netas


Identification
DPL:  Dios Patria Libertad - Numbers may be used to represent DPL.  These numbers are usually disguised as 41-6-12 but actually are the fourth, sixth and twelfth letters of the alphabet representing 4-16-12 (DPL). They are known for their call of "Patria."  The Trinitarios primarily use green bandanas along with beaded necklaces with the colors blue, white, red, and green as identifiers. However, due to law enforcement's increasing awareness of the gang, they may not be wearing either as an identifier. Other clothing commonly used by Trinitarios include green shoe laces and/or green Nike shoes, and any article of clothing containing green. They are known for their extreme violence, as well as the use of guns, machetes and knives. Trini, DPL: Dios, Patria, Libertad OT (Original Trinitario)

Trinitarios started in New York City as a prison gang within the NY City Dept of Corrections and then the NY State DOC. They were formed as a protection gang for Dominican inmates who were drug dealers, gang members from Dominicans Don’t Play, Los Papi Chulos, Dominican Power and Dominican Posse, because the Latin Kings and Ñetas were the dominant force in the jail/prison system at the time.  Most of the members of the Trinitarios, also called Trinitarians, were jailed on drug charges and weapons charges. As the members were released, some remained in the gang and called themselves the Trinitarians/Trinitarios because they wanted their own identity, especially separate from the largest Dominican gang in New York which was the Dominicans Don’t Play. 

Trinitarians currently do not affiliate with other gangs and are rivals with Bloods (Ruff Ryders, Dip Set), Crips (FOLK), Latin Kings, Ñetas, D.D.P (Dominicans Don't Play), Bones (Mexican), and a dozen others. They have been seen on several video recording beatings of rival gang members and street robberies on YouTube (Oct 2007).