Yoshitomi Group
| Founded | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Founded by | Yoshitomi Hideaki and Yoshinori Watanabe associated with the Yamaguchi-gumi |
| Founding location | Tokyo, Japan |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Territory | Primarily based in Japan but also has territory in the United States, most common is in Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Paul and New York City. |
| Ethnicity | Japanese and some Hmong |
| Membership (est.) | 84,000+ (including associates and faction groups) |
| Criminal activities | arms trafficking, assassinations, bank fraud, bid rigging, blackmail, bookmaking, contract killing, extortion, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, Internet pornography, loansharking, mail fraud, match fixing, money laundering, mortgage fraud, murder, prostitution, securities fraud, sōkaiya, wire fraud, and infiltration of legitimate businesses |
| Allies | Yamaguchi-gumi, Beltrán-Leyva Cartel, Los Zetas, Menace of Destruction (MOD), Bloods and Latin Kings Crips |
| Rivals | Other Yakuza groups, Folk Nation, Aryan Brotherhood and some Italian gangs in Chicago |
The Yoshitomi Group (吉富組 Yoshitomi-gumi) is a Japanese Yakuza (organized crime) organization that was formed during the Kobe earthquake by Yoshitomi Hideaki and Yoshinori Watanabe, in associated with the Yamaguchi-gumi's large-scale relief for the victims, however the official formation of the organization was established in Tokyo, Japan. Today, they operate overseas with operations in the United States, Canada and Europe but have strong roots in Japan as well as Asia. It is one of the most powerful Japanese-based criminal groups in the United States, having many associates affiliated with hundreds of street gangs and multiple other organizations.
Leadership structure
The current leadership structure is unknown, however evidence of their existence is known through crime investigations conducted by law enforcement. According to the Yamaguchi-gumi, after forming the Yoshitomi-gumi, Yoshitomi Hideaki had then left Japan for the United States in 1997, he is a close friend of Yoshinori Watanabe, the former crime boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi. While in America, Yoshitomi Hideaki met many Hmong affiliates that he used as his interest for his drug and crime waves, they were a St. Paul street gang known as the Menace of Destruction, and soon they began trafficking crystal methamphetamine for the organization. Since then, the structure has moved into different cities and most notable are Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
Activity with Latin America cartels
The Yoshitomi Group is known working together with the Los Zetas and the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel, in illegal drug trafficking, kidnapping and contract killing in the United States, as the cartel operates in Mexico, the Yoshitomi-gumi are evidently not involved with the human trafficking ring although they are involved in political corruption, that support this cause.
References
- Bruno, A. (2007). "The Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia" CrimeLibrary: Time Warner
- Kaplan, David, Dubro Alec. (1986). Yakuza Addison-Wesley ( ISBN 0-201-11151-9)
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- Johnson, David T. (2001). The Japanese Way of Justice: Prosecuting Crime in Japan Oxford University Press ( ISBN 0-19-511986-X)
- Miyazaki, Manabu. (2005) Toppamono: Outlaw. Radical. Suspect. My Life in Japan's Underworld Kotan Publishing ( ISBN 0-9701716-2-5)
- Seymour, Christopher. (1996). Yakuza Diary Atlantic Monthly Press ( ISBN 0-87113-604-X)
- Saga, Junichi., Bester, John. (1991) Confessions of a Yakuza: A Life in Japan's Underworld Kodansha America
- Schilling, Mark. (2003). The Yakuza Movie Book Stone Bridge Press ( ISBN 1-880656-76-0)
- Sterling, Claire. (1994). Thieves' World Simon & Schuster ( ISBN 0-671-74997-8)
- Sho Fumimura (Writer), Ryoichi Ikegami (Artist). (Series 1993-1997) "Sanctuary" Viz Communications Inc (Vol 1: ISBN 0-929279-97-2; Vol 2: ISBN 0-929279-99-9; Vol 3: ISBN 1-56931-042-4; Vol 4: ISBN 1-56931-039-4; Vol 5: ISBN 1-56931-112-9; Vol 6: ISBN 1-56931-199-4; Vol 7: ISBN 1-56931-184-6; Vol 8: ISBN 1-56931-207-9; Vol 9: ISBN 1-56931-235-4)
- Tendo, Shoko (2007). Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter Kodansha International ( ISBN 978-4-7700-3042-9)
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- Japanese Mayor Shot Dead; CBS News, 17 April 2007
- "The "Underworld" Goes Underground: Yakuza in Japanese Politics"