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Mexican Mafia

The Mexican Mafia is a Mexican American crime organization. It began in the United States, not Mexico. [1]

This page is about the U.S. criminal organization. For criminal organizations in Mexico, see Category:Organized crime groups in Mexico and Drug cartels#Mexico.
Mexican Mafia
Mano negra, Mafia Mexicana.jpg
The primary symbol used by La eMe
Founded1957; 69 years ago (1957)[1][2][3][4]
InDeuel Vocational Institution, California, United States[1][3][4]
Years active1957–present[1]
TerritoryWest Coast and Southwestern United States,[5] and throughout the federal prison system[6] and California prison system[6]
EthnicityMexican American[5]
Membership250–300 "made" members[6][7]
Criminal activitiesDrug trafficking, extortion, illegal gambling, prostitution, assault and murder[5]
Allies
Rivals

The Mexican Mafia (Spanish: Mafia Mexicana), also known as La eMe (Spanish for "the M"), is a mostly Mexican American prison gang and criminal organization in the United States.[1][3] The gang formed in the United States, not Mexico, despite its name.

The Mexican Mafia is one of the most powerful and violent prison gangs in the United States.[28] The U.S. Government considers it to be "among the most powerful, dangerous and feared criminal organizations in the world".[7]

Estimates say there are around 350 to 400 Mexican Mafia members in U.S. prisons today.[29] Additionally, the gang has tens of thousands of "foot soldiers" in street gangs throughout the state of California.[29]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mexican Mafia. (2012). The History Channel website. Retrieved 10:45, February 2, 2012, from http://www.history.com/shows/gangland/articles/mexican-mafia.
  2. ↑ Rafael, T. (2007). The Mexican Mafia. p. 171–185, 237–267. New York: Encounter Books.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mallory, Stephen L.. Understanding organized crime (2012). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 218–220. ISBN 9781449622572.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ortega, F. (February 8, 2008). Mexican mafia's roots run deep in san gabriel valley. The Whittier Daily News. Retrieved from Mexican Mafia's roots run deep in San Gabriel Valley - Whittier Daily News. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Prison Gangs justice.gov (May 11, 2015)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lawrence, E. F. U.S. Government Accountability Office, (2010). Combating gangs: Federal agencies have implemented a central american [sic] gang strategy, but could strengthen oversight and measurement of efforts (GAO-10-395). Retrieved from website: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-395
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 U.S. v. Shryock casetext.com (June 2, 2003)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Roots of the Armenian Power Gang Richard Valdemar, policemag.com (March 1, 2011) Archived March 27, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ California Prison Gangs - The Price of Control (December 1982). Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ La Cosa Nostra: Alive and Kicking Richard Valdemar, PoliceMag.com (March 14, 2011) Archived April 27, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Christie 2016, p. 130.
  12. ↑ Former Prison Gang Leader Killed on Street Julian Guthrie, San Francisco Chronicle (March 25, 2001) Archived January 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Morales, Gabriel C.. The history of the Mexican Mafia : (la eMe) (2013). Scotts Valley, California: Create Space Independent Publishers. ISBN 978-1492711674.
  14. ↑ Langton, Jerry. Gangland : the rise of the Mexican drug cartels from El Paso to Vancouver (2011). Mississauga, Ont.: J. Wiley & Sons Canada. p. 118–146. ISBN 978-1118014271.
  15. ↑ Chrystal, Chris. Aladena 'Jimmy the Weasel' Fratianno boasted in a taped... (October 22, 1980). Los Angeles: UPI. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Florida Department of Corrections. Prison Gangs (continued) – Gangs and Security Threat Group AwarenessFlorida Department of Corrections. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  17. ↑ The Infamous 'One Percenters': A Review of the Criminality, Subculture, and Structure of Modern Biker Gangs Danielle Shields (2012) Archived November 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ Bryjak, G. J.. Fundamentals of criminal justice : a sociological view (2011). Sudbury, Massacheusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 115. ISBN 9780763754242.
  19. ↑ Blankstein, A., & Linthicum, K. (February 17, 2011). Raids targeting armenian gang net 74 fraud suspects. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-feb-17-la-me-0217-armenian-gang-20110217-story.html
  20. ↑ Barkan, Steven. Fundamentals of Criminal Justice: A Sociological View (28 January 2011)Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7637-5424-2.
  21. ↑ Mexican Mafia: The Most Dangerous Gang (12 April 2010). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  22. ↑ Organized Crime in California Annual Report 2007-08 Attorney General of California (2008)
  23. ↑ The Mongol Motorcycle Gang and the Mexican Mafia (in en-us). Police Magazine (21 January 2008). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  24. ↑ America's 11 Most Powerful Prison Gangs. Business Insider.
  25. ↑ Maras: Gang Violence and Security in Central America (December 2011). Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. p. 3, 23-34, 27-30, 32, 259. ISBN 978-0292742437. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  26. ↑ Nuestra Familia. (2012). The History Channel website. Retrieved 10:59, February 2, 2012, from Archived copy. Retrieved 2012-02-02..
  27. ↑ Blatchford, Chris. The black hand : the bloody rise and redemption of "Boxer" Enriquez, a Mexican mob killer (2008). New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780061257292. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  28. ↑ Prison Gangs: Inmates Battle for Control | Office of Justice Programs. www.ojp.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Mexican Mafia | Gang, Prison, Description, & Facts | Britannica (in en). www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
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