Interesting. That fits well with the etymology of

Interesting. That fits well with the etymology of the word "gang" which simply means the act of going in old English, from an old German word. As in that famous line from Scotsman Robert Burns' poem.

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley."

The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray (or awry)."

A gangster, then, is one who goes along with others.