Hazleton

I hope this helps you out with Neta.. It's just some information I pulled up............. Asociacion Ñeta or Ñeta Association was created by Carlos Torres-Irriarte, also known as "La Sombra" La Sombra means "The Shadow". Carlos Torres Irriarte was a revolutionary involved in the liberty of Puerto Rico. At the age 28 he was incarcerated within the El Oso Blanco Prison in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. In 1979, Carlos Torres-Irriarte, formed an association. This association was called Asociacion Ñeta. Carlos Torres-Irriarte vocally advocated against the injustices experienced by fellow inmates at the hands of prison officials and other prison gangs. One such prison gang was known as Grupo (Group) 27. Then leader of Grupo 27 was a violent inmate called "El Manoto." As Carlos Torres-Irriarte grew in popularity and many inmates began joining Asociacion Ñeta, the leader of Group 27 became enraged and ordered the murder of Torres-Irriarte. On March 30, 1981, Carlos Torres-Irriarte was beaten, stabbed and shot by members of G27. The Asociacion Ñeta continued to develop and grow into Puerto Rico's largest prison gang. On September 31st, 1981, members of Asocaicion Ñeta forced their way into El Manoto's cell and killed him. During the late 1980's, members of Asociacion Ñeta or Ñetas migrated to the United States. Most of these Ñetas settled in the Tri-State New York area (NY, NJ, and CT). They brought with them the rhetoric of their gang. These Ñetas taught young Puerto Rican inner city youth about the injustice of the system in the prisons of Puerto Rico, the United States and the cities in which they lived. One of the first major leaders of the Asociacion Ñeta was a woman who was called La Madrina (The Godmother). This woman was a middle aged woman and thus gave the Ñetas a gentler image. She formed several chapters in Brooklyn and Bronx, New York. She showed Asocaicion Ñeta as an inmate's rights group (Pro derecho del confinado). By 1992, several street Chapters were forming throughout New York City. Within a short period of time, Ñeta members were being arrested for drug dealing, shootings, robberies and assaults. By 1993, the Ñetas joined the Latin Kings as a dominant force in the prison systems in the New York area. By 1994, the New Jersey Department of Corrections identifies several members of the Netas within their prison system and begins monitoring their criminal activities with the system. In 1995, Ñetas commence a massive image polishing campaign by becoming involved in community projects and youth outreach programs. Such programs became a recruitment ground for the Ñetas whose main business remained drug dealing. By 1996, Ñetas are found throughout the East Coast in inner city neighborhoods and prison systems. By the year 2000, several successful investigations were conducted against the Ñetas and their presence in the streets of the East Coast greatly diminished while their presence in the local, state and federal prisons increased. Within the Ñetas, males and females have equal roles. This is maintained to present a softer image. The Ñetas membership is culturally diverse but the majority of their members are of Puerto Rican descent.