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68 Dep't of Just. J. Fed. L. & Prac. 207 (2020)
Cryptic Communications Used by MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs

handle is hein.journals/usab68 and id is 967 raw text is: Cryptic Communications Used by MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs Jessica Affeldt Forensic Examiner Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit Federal Bureau of Investigation The Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit (CRRU) is part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory Division. Established in the 1940s, the CRRU examines cryptic communications and provides decryptions and analysis for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and international partners. The CRRU has observed that MS-13 and 18th Street gang members routinely utilize clandestine communications in furtherance of their criminal activity. These communications may come in the form of written messages, emails, and spoken conversations. Additionally, it has been observed that the gangs routinely establish new encryption systems to try to avoid law enforcement detection. These observations are based on the examination of numerous gang communications, consultation with other law enforcement agencies and gang experts in the United States and El Salvador, and from debriefing cooperating inmates and other confidential sources. MS-13 and 18th Street members routinely use ciphers, transpositions, code words, and veiled speech in their clandestine communications. Ciphers substitute letters or numbers with other letters, numbers, or symbols to hide their meaning. For example, substituting 13-1-18-1 for MARA. In this instance, the letters of the alphabet were replaced with their corresponding number in alphabetical order: A=1, 13=M, and 18=R. Transpositions rearrange letters or numbers. Commonly transposed words include gang terms, such as Mara (Rama), Dope (Pedo), and Trucha (Chatru), as well as monikers, including Pelon (Lonpe), Casper (Percas), and Killer (Llerki). Code words are used to replace words or phrases with other words or phrases. These code systems often involve themes, such as religion, work, or health. Examples are references to a gang DOJ Journal of Federal Law and Practice November 2020 207

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