Origin

in 1975, Carlos Torres Irriarte, aka “La Sombra”, was incarcerated in the “El Presidio” prison in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He allegedly witnessed many crimes and abuses committed by other inmates, and in 1977 founded the prisoner’s rights group, called “The Monacillos Group.” In 1980 the group became known as Association Neta, which maintained a strong foothold many prisons in Puerto Rico. In 1981, a rival prison gang, known as the Insectos, wished to regain control of the prison. They shot and killed Irriarte. Six months later, in retaliation for the death of their founder, a Netas member murdered the Insectos gang leader. The word Neta is an expression of joy and happiness taken from an ancient Indian ritual practiced by the Taino Indians in Puerto Rico. With the birth of a newborn baby, the parents waited for the first night of the half moon. They would go to the highest mountain and lift the baby into the air in moon’s direction. The couple would shout the word Neta (which means “new birth”) three times, to celebrate their thankfulness for this new life, noble and clean, into the world.

History in NYC

While originating out of a prison gang the Netas have successfully expanded their association throughout the United States, including New York City. This gang is predominantly a drug dealing organization, and is also involved in a variety of other crimes including burglary, robbery, firearms trafficking, etc. The gang was the subject of a federal racketeering investigation in the New York City, involving murder (and attempts), assaults and other violent acts. An elaborate folk story exists on the how the Netas originated on Rikers Island, the main New York City correctional facility. The Taino Indians (the Netas ancestors) believed trees to be Mother Earth’s servants: building houses, supplying food, shade, wood, paper, filtering the air, etc. Furthermore, the Netas founding father also liked to read under the shade of a tree. Hence, the Netas philosophy incorporates the symbol of a tree; believing that if a tree is cut down, its spirit and essence is terminated. However, through the sacrifice of one tree, the gang believes many trees have grown, and the wind has carried their seeds, which ultimately settled on earth on Rikers Island! Additionally, Rikers Island symbolizes “Plant Neta,” where each detention facility is part of the Neta tree. The Neta trunk is the main men’s facility, which is the trees foundation and the Neta Roots consist of nine branches, the West Facility, the North Facility, Beacon, C-73, C-95, the Tombs, and the Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens detention centers. The Neta Water is C-76 and C-74, which provides the tree with water from rain and springs; the Neta Ground is all of New York, the soil and source of nourishment for the tree; and the Neta Fruits are all the brothers that are able to fall from the tree and plant new samplings.