- Mexican Mafia art and tattoos/az dept. of corrections
Usually the word “Mafia” is a good indication that a group is up to no good. The Mexican Mafia has been up to a lot of no good over a good period of time, authorities say.
By Angelica Martinez
San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO — More than a dozen gang members connected to the Mexican Mafia prison gang were arrested early Friday and accused of attempted murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking in San Diego County, authorities said.
Officials have charged 40 people – 17 of whom were arrested early Friday – in connection with the nearly year long investigation, dubbed “Operation Keys to the City”, that targeted the notorious prison gang, officials said at an afternoon news conference downtown.
Two criminal complaints charge 36 defendants with federal racketeering, firearm offenses and drug trafficking violations.
U.S. Attorney General Karen Hewitt described the Mexican Mafia and its connection to Latino street gangs as a rigid hierarchy comprised of “members”, “associates” and “soldiers” whose criminal enterprise spills into the community.
Some of the alleged crimes involved paying “taxes”, which officials say is the term used by gang members who use violent acts to extort payments from victims.
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