SB13
 Monogram tattooed onto members | |
| Founded | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Mike "Killa" Stevens |
| Named after | Swedish Boys |
| Founding location | Duluth, Arrowhead |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Territory |
Arrowhead Some Superior Prisons |
| Membership | c. 2,000 |
| Leader(s) | DaShawn "Set" Clay |
| Activities | Assault, prositution, extortion, murder, fencing, hooliganism, bribery, smuggling, hijacking and robbery |
| Allies |
West Side Kingz Trillizos K896 |
| Rivals |
Swedish Boys East Side Niggaz |
Swedish Boys 13K Dead Mothafuckaz, often shortened to SB13 and colloquially known as The 13th Street Gang is a urban street and prison gang based in Arrowhead, Superior. It formed from splinter groups in the Swedish Boys gang, comprised of several of the most violent internal groups. The name is a threat of homicide of the 13 elite groups of the Swedish Boys (SB) gang. The gang formed in Superior prisons and rose to prominence following its violent spree of murders in 1996, resulting in over 100 deaths of Swedish Boys members.
Following a bitter rivalry with the Swedish Boys, it has consequently been labeled the primary enemy of the group. The group has been able to recruit many members from the Swedish Boys, in part due to its decentralized structure, as opposed to the highly hierarchical system of SB. Many ex-members of SB reportedly joined SB13 in order to enact revenge killings of former bosses.
In 2022, a spree of murders triggered a curfew in parts of Duluth and resulted in the first major gang conflict in the city since the 1990s. After the killing of several higher-up members of the Swedish Boys, the group was briefly labeled as the dominant crime syndicate in Duluth. DaShawn Clay, nicknamed "Set", took over leadership following Mike "Killa" Steven's subsequent incarceration in late 2022. The gang has also been featured in local rap music.
History
Activities
As a considerably smaller gang than the Swedish Boys, its foremost rival, its activity has been centered around covert activities and drive-by shootings. Together with arson and burglary homicide, most attacks of SB13 have occurred during night time. Contrary to its rival, its victims are often displayed in the open, with messages written on their backs or stomachs, similar to Mexican cartels.
Membership
Membership in SB13 reportedly lasts for life, with the only way to leave the gang being through the killing of at least 13 under-bosses of a rivaling gang. Deserters are most often killed, especially if they are suspected of having become informants for the police. Members are tattooed with the SB13 monogram on their backs and sometimes on their chest. Ex-members' monograms who have been killed are often found defaced. Members with the monogram or the gang name tattooed onto their forehead are often promoted, due to their perceived bravery of always displaying their sign of loyalty to the gang.
Prostitution
According to insider reports, prostitution is a significant source of income for the gang. It operates both protection rackets for prostitutes without pimps, and regularly extorts pimps themselves. Contrary to many gangs, there is no known instance of tattoo branding of SB13 on prostitutes. Prostitutes are according to ex-members only considered affiliates of the gang, not actual members. According to an interview conducted in 2018, several prostitutes claimed that stating their affiliation with the gang reduced the risk of being robbed or harmed.
Smuggling
Various investigations have revealed an extensive smuggling network of alcohol and drugs funneled into Superior from Sierra and other neighboring countries. SB13 competes with the Swedish Boys and other rivaling gangs for control over the smuggling market. Reports from Superior Prisons also show that SB13 members frequently smuggle phones and other contraband into prisons. Though this is not a major income stream, it is nonetheless significant in order to recruit new members.
Fencing
SB13 ran several fence operations that were later discovered and shut down by the Superior Police. It is believed that many of these operations are still yet to be uncovered. Fencing, the process of procuring and selling stolen goods, is a major income for the gang. Most of the items sold under such operations are not taken from petty crime, but often consist of stolen cars. These stolen cars are often stolen from the wealthier neighborhoods and suburbs of Duluth. In 2014 a Duluth Police investigation revealed that several major car dealerships sold stolen cars procured by SB13.