Background

The Mexican Mafia is a large prison gang in the United States. It was formed in the 1950s by Hispanic street gang members incarcerated at the Deuel Vocational Institution , located in Tracy, California. The founding members formed the organization to protect Hispanics from other prison gangs. By using violence, the Mexican Mafia eventually gained significant power and control over illegal activities in the California prison system. As members were released from state custody, they extended their influence outside the prison system to control drug distribution — principally by "taxing" drug dealers — in parts of Southern California.

Membership

In 2000 the Mexican Mafia had 550 to 600 members. In addition, the gang has numerous associates who aspire to become members and are willing to commit crimes on the Mexican Mafia's behalf in hopes of attaining membership.

The Mexican Mafia requires a vote of three members to make a new member or murder an existing member, but does not require a vote for a member to kill a nonmember.

Mexican Mafia members have to follow four rules: they cannot (1) be an informant; (2) be a homosexual; (3) be a coward; or (4) disrespect or politick against another member. Death is the automatic consequence for violation of any of the first three rules, and only a member can carry out the murder of another. While in prison, the Mexican Mafia expects its members to engage in drug trafficking, extortion, and any other activity to acquire money and exert power and control over other inmates. Outside prison, Mexican Mafia members meet regularly to discuss and vote on actions in furtherance of the members' illegal activities.

The Mexican Mafia is affiliated with the Sureños. Leadership of the Mexican Mafia is split between two rivals, one of whom comes from one of East L.A.'s Maravilla gangs while the other comes from the Inland Empire's South Ontario Black Angels gang.

Communication in prison

In prison, Mexican Mafia members communicate by having meetings in the exercise yard, sending messages through visitors or inmates who were transferred between prisons, and passing small notes known as "kites" or "wilas". Further, Mexican Mafia members operate under a "code of silence", which obligates them to deny any membership in or knowledge of the organization.

References

• United States v. Shryock, 342 F.3d 948 (9th Cir., 2003)
• Mexican Mafia Timeline
• Mexican Mafia Chart