• Formed in the 1950s inside a Tracy, California, state prison, the Mexican Mafia, or "La EME," is a Mexican-American crime organization that is active across the United States.

• Fast Facts

  1. Names: La EME, Black Hand, Los Carnales, Brothers
  2. Formed: 1957Police Magazine: History of the Mexican Mafia Gang (July 25, 2007)
  3. Where: Deuel Vocational Institution, Tracy, California
  4. Most active in Texas, Arizona and California
  5. Lower soldiers known as carnales
  6. Extension group: Sureños
  7. Gang colors: Green, red and white
  8. Symbols: Black hand; "MM", "13", "X13"
  9. Allies: Aryan BrotherhoodFederal Bureau of Investigation: Mexican Mafia
  10. Enemies: Black Guerilla Family
  11. 1992 film American Me starring Edward James Olmos based on the Mexican Mafia

• Background

  The Mexican Mafia were one of the first prison gangs established in the country. While their initial goal was to control the prisons, they used highly structured organization to move beyond prison walls and into the streets. Rules for membership include no informing, no homosexuality and respect for other members, especially female members, of the community. The only way to leave the organization is by dying.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Organized Crime | Mafia | Yakuza | Triads | Russian Mafia | Mara Salvatrucha | Varrio Hawaiian Gardens

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