Barrio Los Padrinos (Ganton, Los Santos)
Sureño Set in East South Central
By: Alex Tovar | StreetGangs.com Los Santos
LOS SANTOS – Nestled in the eastside streets of Ganton, just a few blocks south of the Jefferson Towers and north of the Grove Street cul-de-sacs, a relatively unknown but steadily growing Sureño street gang has started gaining traction — Barrio Los Padrinos.
Long standing hit up that depicts the gang (BLP) and its members, both active and deceased
Taking its name from the infamous Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall facility in Downey, California, the name carries weight among those familiar with the youth detention system. While the original Los Padrinos Varrio formed in the streets of Norwalk in Los Angeles County, this newly rooted clique in Ganton claims homage to that same institutional upbringing, now reflected in their street identity.
The Los Santos-based Barrio Los Padrinos (BLP) is composed mainly of second-generation Mexican-American youth with family ties to South Central and East Los Santos. Many of its members are believed to have cycled through local detention centers like Twin Towers Youth Facility or done time in the SA-YA system, where the “Los Padrinos” name took on more than just street meaning — it became a badge of survival.
GANTON ROOTS
BLP established its presence in the early 2020s, taking advantage of the shifting gang landscape in Ganton. Once a stronghold for Black gangs — including several Blood and Crip sets — the neighborhood has seen an uptick in Latino migration, both in housing and school districts. Members of BLP were originally affiliated with different local Sureño cliques, but began representing under the Los Padrinos banner as a way to separate themselves and pay homage to their shared institutional past.
The gang’s core turf lies between Ganton Boulevard and Alendale Avenue, claiming territory around Hyatt Park, and several apartment complexes known for gang activity. Their graffiti — marked by B.L.P., halos, prison bars, or shackles — is now visible along alley walls and electrical boxes throughout the area.
Criminal Activity and Affiliations
Like most Sureño gangs, BLP aligns with the Mexican Mafia and flies the standard Sureño flag — six-pointed stars, the number 13, and blue bandanas are all part of the visual identity. The set is reportedly involved in low-level drug sales, gun distribution, and street extortion. Local reports also connect the group to identity fraud schemes, possibly influenced by older veteranos with access to stolen data and banking scams.
While still considered a smaller set compared to cliques like 38th Street or Rancho Trece, BLP’s presence is increasing. Members have been observed carrying out jump-ins near the Ganton flood tunnels, and local law enforcement has started tracking several individuals tied to narcotics and weapons trafficking.
The gang’s rivals include Black sets still active in the area, as well as other Sureño cliques who view BLP as outsiders or disrespectful to neighborhood politics. Despite this, they’ve managed to avoid major RICO cases or high-profile investigations, likely due to the low profile their leadership maintains.
Cultural Identity
BLP blends prison-influenced discipline with street-level adaptability. Members often wear black and white Cortez sneakers, Dickies, and Pendletons. Tattoos referencing cages, clocks without hands, and “Padrino” script are common. The gang uses prison slang and incorporates Catholic imagery in their lifestyle — rosaries, crucifixes, and saint candles can be seen at makeshift shrines for fallen members.
Unlike some LA sets that boast size, BLP leans into tight-knit, loyalty-based structure. Most members grew up together, went through juvenile hall together, and now walk the same blocks daily. The gang also recruits younger members, often targeting vulnerable kids fresh out of alternative schools or group homes.
Outlook
Barrio Los Padrinos in Ganton remains a developing set, but it represents a deeper trend in Los Santos gang culture — the rise of hybrid cliques pulling from both traditional Sureño roots and institutional subculture. Whether BLP will solidify its spot or fold under pressure from older, more established sets remains to be seen. But in a city where a name on the wall can mean life or death, Los Padrinos is starting to echo a little louder each week.
