Mexican Mafia

"Gang members who end up serving time in jail as adults often graduate to the toughest gang of all--the Mexican Mafia, or "La Eme," a prison-based gang that controls drug sales in San Antonio. Joining the Mexican Mafia is equivalent to playing in the major leagues. Drive-bys become planned executions, and drug sales and racketeering replace auto theft and vandalism. Members are recruited in prison. Young street-gang members taking their first trip to the penitentiary often choose the hard-core gang lifestyle of the Mafia for the protection it offers in jail." (Texas Monthly, Audrey Duff 10/94)

I found this amongst many other stories about the Mexian Mafia. They are real and not an urban legend. There are many stories of murders and trials especially in California.

LOS ANGELES, Posted 7:45 p.m. May 16, 1997 -- A Los Angeles jury has begun deliberating the fate of 13 alleged members of the Mexican Mafia. The defendants are accused of murdering or trying to murder 25 people in a quest for control of Southern California drug gangs. The charges include murder, racketeering, attempted murder, drug sales, conspiracy and extortion, reported The Associated Press.

Here is a snippet of information from someone who was in the Mexican Mafia...
I joined the Mafia Art Blajos' true story of the Mexican Mafia & his way out

I joined the Mafia. "EVERY MEMBER of our Mexican Mafia has killed someone," they told me. So at 16 years of age, to join the Mafia, I killed someone. I then received the Mafia blackhand mark on my body. I also knew the Mafia rule, "If a Mafia member tries to leave the Mafia he will be killed. At once I saw they were members of the Mafia in this car.

I believe I've read enough now to believe that there is such a cartel in this country and they thrive just as the Italian Mafia of the past... I think the one BIG difference is that they deal in the worst drug in the world... METH!!! and we know that METH EQUALS DEATH!

Check out a book I recently read from a man who came off of meth and his experiences. It is called "Meth Equals Sorcery" by Steve Box of Missouri. You can find his book at: http://www.methequalssorcery.com


MEXICAN MAFIA
Name of Group: Mexican Mafia
Other Names: EME, Emily, Emeros
Origin: The EME was formed in the late 1950's in the California Department of Corrections. It originally was a street gang in urban Los Angles.
Ideology/Philosophy: Primarily ethnic solidarity and control of drug trafficking.
Membership Characteristics: The EME is primarily comprised of Mexican-Americans.
Leadership/Organizational Structure: The structure of the EME consists of a chain of command whereby instructions from generals are carried out by captains, lieutenants, and soldier. Ordinarily, each prison has separate leadership. To a certain extent, EME members imitate the traditional Italian Mafia and have a structural framework which identifies them as a well organized, disciplined organization.
Geographic Locus: The EME has California origins, but also is active in the Federal prison system.
Associated Organizations: Arizona's Old Mexican Mafia; Aryan Brotherhood; Mexikanemi; New Mexico Syndicate; urban Latino street gangs.
Antagonistic Organizations: La Nuestra Familia; Northern Structure; Arizona's New Mexican Mafia; Black Guerilla Family; black street gangs.
Typical Identifiers: Many confuse the EME with the Mexikanemi from Texas; they are two distinct groups. Some believe that Mexikanemi share identical tattoos with the EME, but there are subtle differences which should be taken into account when attempting to associate membership with either EME or Mexikanemi through the use of tattoos.
Source: Federal Bureau of Prisons
Robert WalkerTelephone/Fax - 803-407-3080

Commentary by Kim

I have received a few emails regarding this blog and I am encouraged to keep sharing stories, poems, news and commentary.

I received word yesterday that "ALLEDGEDLY" the Mexican Mafia is recruiting up in Northern Minnesota. They are driving around with their lights off and if someone flashes their lights at them, the person being initiated is ordered to kill that person as their initiation into this "elite club".

I do not know if this is true. As it came to me, I am believing it to be rumor.

I also heard from the same party that their was a BIG meth bust made in Duluth. Please see the story below in it's entirety. Please note the Spanish names from California. Is it me or is this "Mexican Mafia" connection real? I have heard of this connection throughout the United States ever since I heard of my son's kidnapping... Something to ponder.

Officials make Northland's largest meth seizure, arresting 9 suspects
BY JOHN MYERS AND CHRIS HAMILTON
DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
Tuesday, November 8, 2005

By using a man who was picked up last week for alleged drug dealing, Duluth police were able to arrange Friday's delivery of a 3-pound shipment of methamphetamine by two Mexican nationals to a motel parking lot near Interstate 35.
The dealer-turned-informant's source for meth was a California man whom he knew as Sergio Ochoa. Ochoa had seen to it that at least 50 pounds of meth found its way into Duluth since July, according to charges filed Monday afternoon in St. Louis County District Court.
When police recovered the shipment -- believed to be the largest ever seized in the region -- it was wrapped in motor oil-soaked rags, electrical tape and Ziploc bags and hidden in a secret compartment in a car-door panel to thwart drug-sniffing dogs.
Nine people eventually were arrested Friday by local, state and federal law officers. On two days' notice, authorities had designed several elaborate stings in which Twin Ports police tailed cars and employed surveillance cameras and wireless recording devices, according to court documents.
The bust, dubbed "Operation Taconite," is credited with derailing a meth import operation that pumped about $1 million of the drug into the Northland every month. Officials from the Lake Superior Drug Task Force announced the arrests Monday at Duluth City Hall.
"They don't get any bigger for us," said Duluth Police Chief Roger Waller, adding that the arrests "made a huge dent" in the local availability of meth.
The arrests of additional suspects are possible, including that of "Sergio."
"It isn't done yet, but we've netted at least nine of the major players," Waller said.
Police believe the meth was cooked in large-scale labs in Mexico and California, brought to the Northland by gang members and distributed by local dealers, some with extensive criminal records, he said.
Aside from the motel bust, the task force on Friday nabbed a 24-year-old Duluth man, Andrew Harlan Salus, with 8 ounces of meth, which is believed to have come from the same California source, said Lt. Patricia Behning of the Duluth Police Department. The meth's price was $10,000.
"They are very businesslike and very organized," Behning said of the cross-country distribution system. "It confirmed many of our suspicions, and we gained a lot of knowledge through this."
Police also executed four search warrants and took possession of more than $40,000 in cash and eight vehicles. Authorities were reluctant to share other details in order to protect witnesses and informants, Behning said.
Duluth's tactical response team provided added protection during the arrests, but none of the suspects resisted, Waller said.
All nine defendants appeared Monday afternoon before Sixth Judicial District Judicial Officer Gerald Maher in Duluth on charges of first-degree possession with intent to sell meth:
• Jeffery Donald Doig, 26, Virginia.
• Noel Cipriano Felix, 19, North Shore, Calif.
• Saloman Felix, 26, Shafer, Calif.
• Lee Ronald Nesgoda, 24, Duluth.
• Francis Taylor O'Brien, 26, Duluth.
• Andrew Harland Salus, 24, Duluth.
• Zachary Robert Scufsa, 20, Ely.
• Steven Wesley Slama, 27, Duluth.
• Joseph Alan Rogers, 25, Duluth.
The suspects, all arrested Friday, may also be charged in U.S. District Court with federal drug trafficking crimes, police said. Maher set bail for each man between $100,000 and $500,000.
Prosecutor Mark Rubin called the men major local drug dealers and serious threats to public safety. "We don't see these amounts too much in the Duluth area," he said.
Rubin also said despite the money involved in the operation, most of the suspects have few assets and probably were fronted the drugs or cash by other people.
Nearly all of men qualified for public defenders. However, Nesgoda indicated to Maher that he would have no problem coming up with the 10 percent needed to make his $150,000 bail through a bondsman.
"So what's that, 15 G's ($15,000)," Nesgoda said. "That's it, huh? Cool."
None of the suspects entered pleas at Monday's hearings. Slama and Rogers each said he was either buying for personal use or an unsuspecting driver.
"Mr. Slama's not a criminal, your honor," said defense attorney Richard Holmstrom.
Elements of the Lake Superior Drug Task Force involved in the operation include Duluth, Superior, Proctor, Cloquet and Hermantown police forces; the Minnesota Gang Strike Force; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; St. Louis County Sheriff's Department; and the Minnesota State Patrol.
"The (officers) who did this should be commended. They took a risk to help get this drug off the streets," said Dan Perich, Hermantown police chief.
Drug arrests for methamphetamine or meth, which is a highly addictive and dangerous form of speed, have grown exponentially over the past few years in St. Louis County -- and across Minnesota. It's known for being relatively cheap, and several people can get high for hours on just a gram of meth.
Meth also is made in small batches using over-the-counter medications along with corrosive household and farm products.
"The idea of the backyard cook shop is more the exception these days," Waller said about meth.

Frozen

I received access to an inmate newsletter. Here is an interesting poem about meth.

FROZEN
Satan is cold
Satan is vein
Satan annd meth
are one in the same
For some reason
I let them in.
Together,
They made me sin.
This is a battle I may
never win.
I hope my kids
do not follow
down this path
of empty and hollow.
This is the life
of which I have chosen.
Now my heart is cold...
no, it's Frozen.
Inmate Barnett 2F3

Man burned to death over meth

PORTAGE (NEWS 3) – A Portage man has pleaded guilty to six felony counts in the gruesome burning death of another man. Prosecutors in Cass County say they struck a deal for charges of manslaughter and methamphetamine manufacturing with 31-year-old Robert Richards. He was wanted in connection with the death of 25-year-old Joshua McCreary in September of 2004. Details can be found at: http://www.wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=20795&template=breakout_local.html


Please, lets all start watching for signs of meth users, dealers and manufacturers! Are their lights on ALL night? Is there alot of traffic by their house all hours? Do they smell of ammonia, cat pee or the like? Do you REALLY know all of your neighbors? What kind of people are they? Kim

Travis Holappa Update

Frank Miller: Life in prison w/o a chance of parole.
Jason Anderson: 12 1/2 years out in 8 on good behavior
Jesse Ridlon: Will be sentenced on December 5th to 12 1/2 years in prison

Next and last trial will be for Richard McNeil aka "Dex". His trial date begins February 7th, 2006

Meth Hotline in NM - 764-METH

Police say there is an unwritten code among Meth users not to talk to police. Many of them are so paranoid, they fear other users will kill them if they talk.
Police encourage people to report suspected Meth labs or dealers. Albuquerque has a special hotline at 764-METH.

Check out this story at: http://www.krqe.com/expanded.asp?ID=12700

Where does this trend and drug start turning around? We have to come up with answers to help our communities, neighbors and individuals who have been mislead by this devious drug? Kim