The USA has seen the emergence of several criminal groups, with many having the structure of organized crime institutions. Although some of these groups' roots are entirely in the US, some of the organized crime groups can trace their origins in other countries such as Italy, Mexico, and El Salvador. Also, some have their origin purely in the American prison system. One such organized crime group is the Mexican Mafia, also called La eMe. The Mexican Mafia criminal group purely originated in the US regardless of the name Mexican Mafia. La eMe traces has its origin in the Deuel Vocational Institute of the California Prison System (Tracy) (Charlie, n.d.). The group has several interests, such as the sale of narcotics, extortion, and weapon smuggling.
Business Interests
As mentioned above, Mexican Mafia has several interests, including drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, contract assassinations, extortion, and targeted murder. According to the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Mexican Mafia group is notoriously known for its well-connected drug syndicate (USA Drug Enforcement Administration, 2018). For example, on May 23rd, 2018, a law enforcement officer arrested 32 defendants affiliated with the Mexican Mafia. Members of this group control drug trafficking and narcotic sales both in the US and other countries. The DEA also noted that the La eMe is deeply involved in extortion whereby its members force owners of legal businesses, other gangs, and other law-abiding citizens to pay money for security purposes. La eMe’s business interests are not limited to extortion and drug trafficking, but also it engages in several other activities. For instance, members engage in contract killing and targeted murders, especially of its rival gangs. Last, the group is involved in weapon smuggling and sale, which are used to commit crimes within the US. However, it is important to note that the group's activities have no political inclinations.
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Group Structure and Operating Methods
The Mexican Mafia is significantly believed to have an elaborate structure, with most of the leaders believed to be reporting to one overall leader. Authorities believe that Jose Landa-Rodriguez and two other deceased members have been the criminal outfit's recent key leaders. According to prison reports, Jose, who was incarcerated in LACJ, together with other junior leaders, exercised authority with the help of trusted facilitators and associates. However, one should note that the exact leadership structure of La eMe is not well known because of the need to keep the group's affairs discrete. One key operating method used by the Mexican Mafia group pertains to trafficking drugs into the prisons where its members are located (USA Drug Enforcement Administration, 2018). The group also has members on the outside who coordinate other activities such as contract assassinations, weapon syndicates, and murders. It is believed that the group has a connection with government officials, especially law enforcement officers.
Conclusion
La eMe is one notorious organized crime group originated from the Deuel Vocational Institute of the California Prison System. The group’s business interest includes extortion, drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, assassinations, and contract murders. Little is known of its leadership structure, but it is believed that Jose Landa-Rodriguez has been its central leader in the recent past. However, due to its activities' illegality, the group has managed to procure protection and help from key people in local, state, and federal governments.
Historical Timeline of the Mexican Mafia
Historical Timeline
2006: Members of the Mexican Mafia faced a 36-count federal indictment.
2012: one of the group's leaders (Rudy Escudo) was indicted
1984: The Mexican Mafia restructured to have the current outlook
1992 : The La eme group was featured in the film American Me
1968 : La eMe members participate in a deadly prison riot whereby 19 inmates were stabbed, and one member of the Mexican Mafia was killed. The riot was labeled Shoe War.
1967 : Members of Nuestra Familia and the Texas Syndicate joined forces to defend themselves from Mexican Mafia
1960-1967 : California Prison System becomes aware of the Mexican Mafia. The group was broken, and members transferred to different facilities
1957-1960: About 20 Mexican Americans formed the original Mexican Mafia in the Deuel Vocational Institute.
Founder: Luis Flores
An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Mexican Mafia Past and Current Role in Prohibition, Drug Syndicates, Political Corruption, and Other Illicit Activities
The primary motivation behind the formation of the Mexican Mafia criminal group between 1957 and 1960 was to protect prisoners of Mexican American descent from other criminal gangs in the Deuel Vocational Institute of the California Prison System. However, after inception and due to its ruthless nature, the scope of its activities changed to include extortion, trafficking of narcotics, and contract assassinations. After its operations were noted, the group was outlawed, but it continued to engage in illegal activities. Between the 1960s and 1990s, the group mainly operated within the prisons' precincts, especially in California ( El-Amamy, 2017; Mize, 2016 ). The authorities, including those in charge of the prison facilities, undertook to counter and eradicate the Mexican Mafia's operations within the incarceration facilities. The group has escalated its operations in the last 21st century, with authorities stating that la eMe has expanded its operations to control Latino street gangs around the USA and particularly in California prison facilities ( Bunker, 2010 ). Important to note is that most of its leadership operates within prison walls. Although there have been changes in how the group is run, especially with the need to prevent drawing the attention of the authorities, the Mexican Mafia still carries out its usual activities.
References
Bunker, R. (2010). Strategic Threat: Narcos and Narcotics Overview. Small Wars & Insurgencies , 21 (1), 8-29. doi: 10.1080/09592311003589229
Charlie, M. (n.d.). Into the Abyss: A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs . Retrieved from https://people.missouristate.edu/michaelcarlie/Storage/mexican_mafia.htm
El-Amamy, R. M. (2017). Operation Sudden Impact: The Effective Use of Federal and State Resources to Combat Gang Violence. US Att'ys Bull. , 65 , 63.
Mize, A. (2016). 14. Culture & Connection: A Case Study of Prison Gangs & Mexican Drug Cartels. Incarcerated Interactions: A Theory-Driven Analysis of Applied Prison Communication , 3 .
USA Drug Enforcement Administration. (2018). Federal Racketeering Indictment Targets Mexican Mafia Control of Inmates and Drug Trafficking Inside Los Angeles County Jail System. Retrieved https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2018/05/23/federal-racketeering-indictment-targets-mexican-mafia-control-inmates-and
