Mexican Mafia: Difference between revisions

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The '''Mexican Mafia '''is a highly organized and ruthless crime organization. Despite its name, the Mexican Mafia did not originate in Mexico and is entirely a U.S. criminal prison organization. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sure%C3%B1os Sureños], including [[MS- 13|MS-13]] and Florencia 13,use the number 13 to show allegiance to the Mexican Mafia. M is the 13th letter of the alphabet. Law enforcement officials report that La eMe is the most powerful gang within the California prison system. Government officials state that there are currently 155–300 official members of the Mexican Mafia with around 990 associates who assist La eMe in carrying out its illegal activities in the hopes of becoming full members.Sureño street gangs and the Mexican Mafia are almost ethnically homogenous, that is, they consist of almost entirely of Hispanic members. When Sureños enter correctional facilities, they are required to put aside their rivalries and obey the Mexican Mafia or suffer possible lethal consequences. The organization also uses members of [[38th Street Gang]] to carry out their orders.

==Culture==

~~Mexican Mafia InsigniaLaw~~ Enforcement believes that La eMe presently is not presided over by a single leader. Many Mexican Mafia members have the authority to order [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders murders] and oversee various other criminal activities. They have almost a thousand associates that help carry out those orders and have the theoretical control of all Sureno gang members. Members are expected to engage in tests of their loyalty to La eMe, which may include theft or murder. The penalty for refusing orders or failing to complete an assigned task is often death. According to the gang's constitution, members may also be punished or murdered if they commit any of four major infractions. These include becoming an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informant informant], acts of homosexuality, acts of cowardice, and showing disrespect against fellow gang members. According to gang policy, a member of the Mexican Mafia may not be murdered without prior approval by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote vote] of three members, yet the murder of non-members requires no formal approval.

Law Enforcement believes that La eMe presently is not presided over by a single leader. Many Mexican Mafia members have the authority to order [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders murders] and oversee various other criminal activities. They have almost a thousand associates that help carry out those orders and have the theoretical control of all Sureno gang members. Members are expected to engage in tests of their loyalty to La eMe, which may include theft or murder. The penalty for refusing orders or failing to complete an assigned task is often death. According to the gang's constitution, members may also be punished or murdered if they commit any of four major infractions. These include becoming an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informant informant], acts of homosexuality, acts of cowardice, and showing disrespect against fellow gang members. According to gang policy, a member of the Mexican Mafia may not be murdered without prior approval by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote vote] of three members, yet the murder of non-members requires no formal approval.

During the early 1960s at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Quentin_Prison San Quentin Prison], Luis Flores and Rudy "Cheyenne" Cadena established a blood oath for members of the Mexican Mafia. Prior to the establishment of the oath, members of the Mexican Mafia were allowed to return to their street gangs after incarceration. The new oath stipulated that the only way for a member to leave the Mexican Mafia was to be killed. Flores and Cadena also established a set of gang commandments. These included policies such as: a new member must be sponsored by an existing member, unanimous approval from all existing members to join (no longer policy), prioritizing the gang over one's family, denial of the existence of the Mexican Mafia to law enforcement or non-members, respect of other members, forgiving street conflicts which existed before incarceration. Execution of a member of the gang for policy violation must be committed by the gang member who sponsored him. La eMe has a blood in blood out credo: Murder or drawing of blood is a prerequisite for membership and anyone trying to get out will be killed.

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[[File:Mexican_Mafia.jpg|thumb|The organization's name tattoed on a member's abdomen]]

Mexican Mafia symbols include images of a black hand. The gang's primary symbol, which is often used in tattoos by members, is the national symbol of Mexico (eagle and a snake) atop a flaming circle over crossed knives. Street gangs that are aligned with the Mexican Mafia often use the number 13 as a gang identifier, as the letter "M" is the 13th letter of the modern Latin-derived alphabet. Some members like members of [[MS- 13]] are even distinguished by Mexican Mafia tattoos

==Location==

The Mexican Mafia's power base is in the California Prison system, but they are active in many other southwestern states and the pacific region of the United States; including the Federal Prison system. La eMe is active in 13 states. Most members are male from Southern California Sureno gangs.La Eme is most active in the California and Texas prison systems. However, in Texas, the Mexican Mafia is called The Mexikanemi.

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 The '''Mexican Mafia '''is a highly organized and ruthless crime organization. Despite its name, the Mexican Mafia did not originate in Mexico and is entirely a U.S. criminal prison organization. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sure%C3%B1os Sureños], including [[MS- 13|MS-13]] and Florencia 13,use the number 13 to show allegiance to the Mexican Mafia. M is the 13th letter of the alphabet. Law enforcement officials report that La eMe is the most powerful gang within the California prison system. Government officials state that there are currently 155–300 official members of the Mexican Mafia with around 990 associates who assist La eMe in carrying out its illegal activities in the hopes of becoming full members.Sureño street gangs and the Mexican Mafia are almost ethnically homogenous, that is, they consist of almost entirely of Hispanic members. When Sureños enter correctional facilities, they are required to put aside their rivalries and obey the Mexican Mafia or suffer possible lethal consequences. The organization also uses members of [[38th Street Gang]] to carry out their orders.
 ==Culture==
-Mexican Mafia InsigniaLaw Enforcement believes that La eMe presently is not presided over by a single leader. Many Mexican Mafia members have the authority to order [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders murders] and oversee various other criminal activities. They have almost a thousand associates that help carry out those orders and have the theoretical control of all Sureno gang members<sup>.</sup> Members are expected to engage in tests of their loyalty to La eMe, which may include theft or murder. The penalty for refusing orders or failing to complete an assigned task is often death. According to the gang's constitution, members may also be punished or murdered if they commit any of four major infractions. These include becoming an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informant informant], acts of homosexuality, acts of cowardice, and showing disrespect against fellow gang members. According to gang policy, a member of the Mexican Mafia may not be murdered without prior approval by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote vote] of three members, yet the murder of non-members requires no formal approval.
+Law Enforcement believes that La eMe presently is not presided over by a single leader. Many Mexican Mafia members have the authority to order [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders murders] and oversee various other criminal activities. They have almost a thousand associates that help carry out those orders and have the theoretical control of all Sureno gang members<sup>.</sup> Members are expected to engage in tests of their loyalty to La eMe, which may include theft or murder. The penalty for refusing orders or failing to complete an assigned task is often death. According to the gang's constitution, members may also be punished or murdered if they commit any of four major infractions. These include becoming an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informant informant], acts of homosexuality, acts of cowardice, and showing disrespect against fellow gang members. According to gang policy, a member of the Mexican Mafia may not be murdered without prior approval by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote vote] of three members, yet the murder of non-members requires no formal approval.
 During the early 1960s at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Quentin_Prison San Quentin Prison], Luis Flores and Rudy "Cheyenne" Cadena established a blood oath for members of the Mexican Mafia. Prior to the establishment of the oath, members of the Mexican Mafia were allowed to return to their street gangs after incarceration. The new oath stipulated that the only way for a member to leave the Mexican Mafia was to be killed. Flores and Cadena also established a set of gang commandments. These included policies such as: a new member must be sponsored by an existing member, unanimous approval from all existing members to join (no longer policy), prioritizing the gang over one's family, denial of the existence of the Mexican Mafia to law enforcement or non-members, respect of other members, forgiving street conflicts which existed before incarceration. Execution of a member of the gang for policy violation must be committed by the gang member who sponsored him. La eMe has a blood in blood out credo: Murder or drawing of blood is a prerequisite for membership and anyone trying to get out will be killed.
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 [[File:Mexican_Mafia.jpg|thumb|The organization's name tattoed on a member's abdomen]]
 Mexican Mafia symbols include images of a black hand. The gang's primary symbol, which is often used in tattoos by members, is the national symbol of Mexico (eagle and a snake) atop a flaming circle over crossed knives. Street gangs that are aligned with the Mexican Mafia often use the number 13 as a gang identifier, as the letter "M" is the 13th letter of the modern Latin-derived alphabet. Some members like members of [[MS- 13]] are even distinguished by Mexican Mafia tattoos
 ==Location==
 The Mexican Mafia's power base is in the California Prison system, but they are active in many other southwestern states and the pacific region of the United States; including the Federal Prison system. La eMe is active in 13 states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lawrence_6-6"></sup> Most members are male from Southern California Sureno gangs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lyman_15-2"></sup>La Eme is most active in the California and Texas prison systems. However, in Texas, the Mexican Mafia is called The Mexikanemi.