By Edith Loyola 
From the dark corridors of California’s prisons to the streets of the southern United States, the Mexican Mafia, known as La eMe, has woven a web of power that challenges the very structure of the American prison system. With over 60 years of existence, this organization has become one of the largest and most violent prison gangs in the country, with thousands of members both inside and outside of prison walls.
Origins and Evolution: A Hardened Brotherhood
In 1957, a group of Chicano inmates founded the Mexican Mafia at the Deuel Vocational Institution in Northern California, aiming to protect themselves from harassment within the prison system. According to Maya Comunicación, this organization, also known as La eMe, has evolved from a mutual defense circle into a criminal network controlling more than 50,000 gang members on the streets and thousands of inmates behind bars. “What is striking about La eMe is not just its size, but its longevity,” the outlet notes, emphasizing that, unlike many other gangs that crumble over time, La eMe has managed to survive and expand for more than six decades.
Internal Structure: Command from Prison, Arms in the Streets
Regarding its structure, documents from the United States Department of Justice outline three main levels within La eMe:
| Level | Main Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Carnales (“of the letter” members) | Direct strategy and issue orders from prisons like San Quentin. | Ronaldo Mudrano Ayala, alias El Profe. |
| Camaradas / Shot Callers | Coordinate external gangs and manage “taxes.” | Mid-level leaders who use contraband phones to coordinate attacks. |
| Sureños and Affiliates | Carry out collections, attacks, and street-level drug trafficking. | Sur-13 gangs in Southern California. |
Internal discipline is enforced through the feared “green light list,” a roster of targets authorized for attack or murder over betrayal or debt. Maya Comunicación also reports that “with this, La eMe keeps its troops in line and its enemies trembling.”
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Financial Model: The Criminal Tribute
On the financial front, La eMe imposes an extortion system known as “la renta” (the rent), a tax applied to any illicit activity — or even legal businesses — generating income within its territory of influence. The Department of Justice details that, in exchange, the organization promises “protection” both inside and outside prison. However, those who refuse to pay face retaliation ranging from beatings to arson. A recent example involves a business in San Diego that was nearly destroyed with a grenade after it refused to continue paying, according to the same agency.
Strategic Alliances: From Prisons to Cartels
Similarly, the Department of Justice has revealed that La eMe has established ties with Mexican cartels like La Familia Michoacana and the Sinaloa Cartel. This relationship was formalized through agreements like “El Proyecto,” in which La eMe received $500,000 and a share of the profits in exchange for protection and logistical support, according to Maya Comunicación reports. This collaboration demonstrates how organized crime can operate with the precision and efficiency of a multinational corporation.
Recent Crimes: Evidence of Ongoing Power
As for its more recent criminal activities, the following cases highlight La eMe’s continued influence, according to the U.S. Department of Justice:
- Superseding Indictment (January 17, 2025) – A grand jury in California indicted Ronaldo Mudrano Ayala, Ángel “Snappy” Esparza, Ronald “Temper” Sepúlveda, and three others for extortion, drug trafficking, and association with the Sinaloa Cartel.
- Operation “The Taxes” (January 21, 2025) – This six-month investigation led to 39 arrests and the seizure of two grenades, 48 assault rifles, and 59 pounds of fentanyl. Prosecutors described how La eMe planned to blow up a business that stopped paying the “rent,” reaffirming its control over organized crime in Southern California.
- Texas Arrest (April 26, 2025) – As part of the state-run Operation Lone Star, agents captured a fugitive La eMe member wanted for drug trafficking, confirming the network’s expansion toward the southern border.
- Permanent Extortion Network (January–April 2025) – Local reports describe weekly collections from underground gambling rings and auto repair shops in San Diego. Those who fall behind face threats of “burning” or armed ambushes, according to testimonies gathered by the Department of Justice.
In light of these operations, state and federal prosecutors are seeking life sentences and the confiscation of assets worth several million dollars.
Communication and Logistics: The Key to Resilience
Moreover, La eMe has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to modern times. According to Maya Comunicación, the organization uses cell phones hidden in food, corrupt lawyers, and digital payments in cryptocurrencies to move money without leaving a trace. Leaders send coded messages to shot callers, who then distribute them among the Sureño gangs. If one cell is taken down, another quickly steps in to maintain operational continuity.
However, given the recent crackdowns, analysts predict that La eMe may temporarily fragment, though without losing its capacity for violence. In response, prosecutors plan to block cell signals in California prisons and tighten visitor controls to disrupt communications, but the history of La eMe shows that this gang possesses the flexibility needed to regroup.