Arkansas's Most Powerful Nation: Almighty Vice Lords (Shabazz)

The Vice Lords (also called the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, or AVLN) are a large street gang that originated in Chicago and later spread across the United States, including parts of Arkansas. The Vice Lords formed in Chicago in the late 1950s, with roots tracing back to a youth correctional facility in Illinois. Over the decades, the organization grew into a network of different groups, often called sets or factions, rather than one centralized gang. This is a key difference from the Gangster Disciples, who are known for a more structured hierarchy. Vice Lord sets often operate independently, with their own leadership, rules, and local identity, while still claiming the larger "Nation." In the United States, Vice Lord activity has been documented in many states, including Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Their presence is usually tied to local sets rather than a single national chain of command. Like many large gangs, their influence often extends between prisons and communities, where incarcerated members may stay in contact with associates on the outside. In Arkansas specifically, law enforcement has reported Vice Lord involvement in drug distribution, firearms offenses, and violent crime, with some cases tied to state and federal investigations. Many of these cases involve local sets and individual members rather than one unified statewide organization. Their activity is generally considered more fragmented than in Chicago, where the gang originated.