I hope you friend stayed out of "the thug life".
I'm sure he did, he didn't like it at all , he just got mixed up in some schit he had no idea how to get out of.
blood in, blood out as they say.
I've heard rumors some of the gangs have tentacles in the Military. Can't say for sure it's true, but I'd find it easier to believe than them having reach into the Peace Corps.
Still, at that height and build, you friend is going to stick out about anywhere!