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This character story details the life of Huero Happy from Hillside 13 and his ascension into the criminal underworld.

This thread will follow the life and development of Javier Martinez young Hispanic male born into the gang culture around him. Ultimately raising to the top of the food chain, becoming a second generation Mexican Mafia member.

All screenshots will be of Dominic Ruelas in permanent segregation.

24y/o cristian ayala a/k/a rival

Rafael was born and raised in South Los, more specifically the Rancho neighborhood. From a young age Rafael was exposed to violence and drug use from his various family members, many of whom were initiated gang members of VR13. Rafael was very close specifically with his uncle, Carlos "Lefty" Méndez, a validated member of the Mexican Mafia. Rafael was groomed to join his family members in the Varrio Rancho Trece gang and when the time came, he did. After a string of RICO charges swept up the Rancho shotcaller Big Smiley Espinoza and rendered VR13 nearly defunct, Bestia, Silent, Lenta resumed the operations of the gang dodging charges themselves. Unfortunately Bestia and Lenta would not be able to escape the claws of law enforcement for long, both were sent to prison on unrelated charges. Bestia spent 15 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. More specifically at the high security facility at USP Victorville and then medium security USP Lompoc. He was released to a city and gang he barely recognized. The only familiar faces being Lenta, Snappy who had grown from the small 12 year old Rafael last knew and Demon, who was the de facto leader of S/S Varrio Rancho 13. Méndez began slowly consolidating his power and generally staying out of the internal Rancho politics, some of which spilled over to violence. Most of Rafael's attention at the time was focused on restoring his funds, which he has done. From the time of his release from the BOP until the present day, he's watched his varrio feel the full might of the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department and seen the negative consequences of such police scrutiny. This is what led to the restructuring of S/S VR13, with Bestia at the head of the table. Under his leadership the gang's operations had become much more clandestine. Due to his connections in other cities such as San Diego, Las Vegas and even across the border in Tijuana, VR13 has been able to endure and thrive despite their conflicts with various rival gangs simultaneously. Under his leadership the gang has become much more organized, unified and militant. The petty childish infighting was put swiftly to an end and the gang has been focused heavily on narcotics sales. Rafael had taken a large step back from day to day operations of the gang and continues to exert influence through his lieutenants, the chief lieutenant being "Boxer" Pérez. Unfortunately the S/S VR13 street gang would be hit with another RICO indictment and subsequent federal investigation that cut the head from the snake of the organization and rendered the gang basically defunct. This was a major blow to Bestia's revenue stream and he was narrowly escaped a life sentence himself. However Rafael had his sights set on higher ambitions than leading the most hated gang in the city. Throughout his criminal career Rafael had the privilege of making the acquaintance of five Carnales (Made Mexican Mafia members) before being brought into the fold himself. It's common for a Sureno to go their entire gang career without even making the acquaintance of even one of the illusive Emeros. Because of this Bestia was tasked to take on certain responsibilities by the Carnales, in service of the Eme. Like his introduction to the gang life, he was shown the ropes of ''the life'' by his mentors Damian "Devil" Reyes and Eric "Scrappy" Suarez. He had made the key connections and interactions with other infamous Carnales such as Victor "Midget" Arroyo and James "Shady Dos" Gallegos during the time he spent locked up. When the time came, his name was put up for membership. In the Mexican Mafia a prospective member is brought in by 1 other carnal who is then called his Padrino. Due to Bestia's reputation, income earned and acts done in service to the Eme his vote was quickly accepted and supported by all of the Carnales who were running the show at the time. After a federal RICO indictment whisked off Devil, Scrappy and finally Big Midget to the ADX Florence Federal Super Max prison (the same facility that El Chapo, Larry Hoover and The Uni Bomber are housed at), Bestia stepped up to his seat at the mesa with other notorious Carnales such as Dominic "Devious" Ruelas and the late Santos "Cuatro" Ortega.

Continuation of the development of Fabian "Money" Cortes. A teenager who grew up on Melanoma Street in Vespucci to a fully devoted Sureno the Mexican Mafia cause.

Aight dawg, so my story, my criminal life takes off even before I was born, dawg. You see my parents, my parents were some foos from Rancho as far as I know, North Rancho, y'allredy know. My Jefe my dad, don't know the pendejo's name, was some low life crackhead, enjoying smoking the pipe more than claiming his kid, me nigga. Then my jefa, my mom, well she was a hoe ass bitch dawg, she loved the bottle and getting her back blown more then anything in this world. Shit, as I know, she died killed by some bitch ass nigga in Davis. So, Alejandro, who raised you, foo'? Y'all might ask, my abuela dawg, and the street, el barrio y los calles, the rabbits dawg. You see I was born on 30th of March 1998, at the hospital across the park where we is right now. So here is lil homie Alejandron Reyes, a dirty half black half mexican nigga, he aint even know how to tie his shoes yet and this nigga was in the streets already. Hanging out with the big homies, doing all kinda shits for them, at first he was the vato to run to the store, and built his way up. When the luh homie was only 12, Big Wicked, some OG in the barrio, gave the lil nigga a mission. My mission? Was to cut some Mierda Seka, so me and aome homies caught that fool, gave him a dope ass whooping and then I was handed a blade, they tols me to carve a 43 on his face, done deal homie, not finna lie tho, I puked my guts out after that. That's when Spooky Conejo was born, why? Cause the Milkshake got scared for life dawg. Long story short homie, that was my initiation, a few years pass by, that's when I meet my hyna dawg, hottest bitch in Rancho High, Bianca Velasquez, Bibi, the niece of some Veterano in my barrio, we click dawg, love at first sight. We date and do kid shit togheter, while pulling missions for my clicka, y'feel? Dawg, when I was 17, me and some homies see a Mierda Seka at the LSPD Impound, near the park, that one over there, so I take out my blade, and chase that nigga, stab him in the back, stupid me didn't scan the area, and end up taken down by some jura, some pig, handcuffed and arrested, all my other homies diped, no hard fillings dawg. The cops take me into a room, and start pressing me, to tell them who the other homies were, bet I kept my mouth shut, so I end up gettinf charged with attempted murder and sentenced to 7 years in the Twins. The time inside was tough dawg, al i could think off was my hyna and my clicka. This the time my abuela dies, you know, the woman that raised me, I do blame myself for that. But now? Now dawg, I am free, I am back on the streets that gave me love when I didnt have any, gave me food when I was hungry, gave me a bed when I didnt have where to sleep.

Hi guys. Welcome to our gallery which will be reserved for eMe roleplay. We mainly plan to venture inside the jail (TTCF) and bring our inmate characters to life. Have a good read.

NEWS • Crime Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • June 14th, 2022 — 8:40PM Sureno gangster stabbed Mexican Mafia member over 10 times, prosecutors say An indictment regarding the murder of a Mexican Mafia gangster named Gilbert Montiel was brought against Paul Rubio, aged 18 and a San Andreas Gang Database, often shortened to SANGANG, verified Sureno gangster. Prosecutors say he stabbed Montiel over 10 times. Twin Towers Correctional Facility - Stephen Yun, Getty Images. April 15th 2021 On June the 13th, at 57 minutes past midnight, the District Attorney of Los Santos County’s office announced the prosecution for Paul Rubio, an 18-year-old who has been accused of murdering a Mexican Mafia figurehead, Gilbert Montiel, within the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. Paul Rubio, was initially convicted of drug trafficking of category B drugs earlier this year. The SANGANG validated member of Traviesos 13, a local Sureno or “Southsider” gang based in Rancho, was found to have possessed almost 200g of methamphetamine after a search warrant on their property. The SANGANG database is a database of known gang members as well as information of their gangs ran by the Los Santos Police Department and maintained by participating gang-related taskforces within Los Santos County's law enforcement agencies. Established as a part of the Street Terrorism and Enforcement Protection Act (STEP act), it serves as a database for law enforcement agencies across Los Santos County to access to help tackle street gangs. If someone enters the SANGANG database and commits a felony benefiting their gang, they may be subject to harsher sentencing guidelines. He also faced charges of two counts of murder after an altercation against two men wielding hammers. However, the judge ruled “not guilty” due to a lack of evidence of criminal intent and testimonies supporting the defence that it was in self-defence. The sentence he was given, charged with trafficking, carrying an unlicensed firearm, and resisting arrest, would have saw his release from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility later this month. However, the District Attorney’s office of Los Santos County recently filed charges against him for the murder of an alleged high-ranking Mexican Mafia member, Gilbert Montiel, during his sentence. He is facing life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. From the report given by the District Attorney’s Office within their press release, they claim that Rubio used a make-shift shank that was approximately 6 to 8 inches long. The account of the situation read that Rubio entered a cell that Montiel was in and proceeded to stab him repeatedly. After Montiel attempted to fight back, the fight spilling out of the cell and onto a catwalk, he collapsed due to his injuries. Rubio then continued to stab him whilst he was down. Montiel died from his numerous stab wounds. The total number of times he was stabbed in total was more than ten, according to the DA’s press release. "Once again, we have a violent jailhouse killing on our hands and we will seek maximum punishment for the culprit.”, wrote District Attorney Terentiy Shwetz. “Our correctional facilities are not places of violence; they are places of reform. Mister Rubio made a terrible mistake and we will prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law." This is the second instance of a supposed high ranking member of the Mexican Mafia being killed by fellow gang members. Earlier this year, after the results of a taskforce named Operation Maria, conducted by LSSD’s Operation Safe Streets Bureau, George “Flippem” Palamino, 27, and Dominic “Devious” Ruelas, 52, were prosecuted and sentenced for the murder of Santos “Cuatro” Ortega. In the Deputy District Attorney Diana Molina’s opening statement in the court, she claimed that Ortega’s murder was due to a power struggle between Ortega and Palamino. “It has been now confirmed that what Palamino did, hand to hand with Ruelas was a premeditated, pre-planned, pre-orchestrated power move - it became evidently clear that Palamino was to take Ortega's spot, as a made man in the Mexican Mafia.” In an interview with the lead detective spearheading Operation Maria along with a sergeant a part of the task force, they described the politics of the Mexican Mafia as “real cutthroat.” “There is no leadership when it comes to the structure of The Mexican Mafia. There is no one leader.” said the Sergeant from Maria’s taskforce. “Instead of looking out for each other, these other guys were probably taking a look about how they could spin this for themselves, you know?” George Palamino entered a plea deal with the DA’s office, pleading guilty to all charges, on May the 10th. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 16 years. Dominic Ruelas was found guilty on all accounts and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Details as to the possible motives as to why Rubio may have murdered Montiel have yet to be revealed. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment:

NEWS • Crime Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • May 24th, 2022 = 10:58PM Mexican Mafia Murders; Operation Maria sweep six soldiers in major arrests. Following Operation Maria, led by the Los Santos Sheriff's Department, a crushing blow was dealt to the Mexican Mafia prison gang. Six arrests were carried out in relation to this investigation over the course of May. Two leaders of the Mexican Mafia, Dominic "Devious" Ruelas (left) and George "Flippem" Palamino (right), indicted on charges of murder, racketeering and extortion. - Courtesy of the Los Santos Sheriff's Department A string of six arrests have been carried out over the month of May against the Los Santos County’s Mexican Mafia, a notorious prison gang that has influence across the entire western United States. The arrests include indictments of two leaders for the murder of a fellow gang member, and the arrests include four lower-level associates for the murder of a Law Enforcement Officer. These string of arrests follow a two-month long operation dubbed Operation Maria; an initiative undertaken by detectives and deputies working with Operation Safe Streets in the Los Santos Sheriff’s Department to cripple the Los Santos County’s chapter of the Mexican Mafia. The Mexican Mafia, also referred to as La eMe, is a large scale prison gang operating out of the Western United States. It has infiltrated many prison systems throughout the states of San Andreas, Arizona, Nevada and even federal penitentiary systems, according the office of the District Attorney of San Andreas, and has been in large-scale operation since the 70s. A sergeant who worked on Operation Maria’s task-force shared the gang’s hierarchical structure. “The Mexican Mafia's rather a council of leadership. You have multiple factions of it in different areas. These factions are known as mesas. … There are multiple made members, whom are either inside of our state prison systems or jail. “In our case, we have the Los Santos faction.” The operation started only two and a half months ago, according to the lead detective spearheading Maria’s task-force. “I hit the ground running, that's a good way of saying this. I had this case fall right into my lap, it was half luck, really.” The lead detective shared. “Amount of hours in overtime, surveillance, report writing, that was all done together…”, the lead detective shared. “Once it started going, it didn't really ever stop, you know? We'd built a web of E-S-Ws that [led to] our web of information snowball[ing].” The detectives of Operation Maria’s primary methods of investigation were through the use of ESW’s (Electronic Surveillance Warrants), which contains methods such as cell-phone tracing, wire-tapping, and recording and analyzing calls and texts through and from numbers of known affiliates. A sergeant who worked within Operation Maria added “This investigation and following indictment was a snowball of evidence and compilation. We took a faithful amount of time to build evidence and finally struck once we were ready. “[The lead detective], among our other investigators, worked tirelessly in order to achieve the indictment.” Operation Maria, a sergeant who works with the task force (left) and the lead detective behind the indictments (right). - Yunisa Delgado-Flores, May 22nd 2022 The lead detective shared one of the first steps leading up to the indictments, which kick started the investigation. “After liaising with Operation Safe Jails some, I'd gotten the phone of a high ranking member's - who we ended up charging later on, phone. Contraband cellphone.” The high ranking member in question is Dominic ‘Devious’ Ruelas, a longtime member of the Mexican Mafia and described “leader”, who is currently indicted alongside George “Flippem” Palomino, who also is a ‘leader’ according to the District Attorney’s office. They are both facing charges for first degree murder, racketeering and extortion. A press release was issued by the LS County District Attorney’s Office on May the 1st, where District Attorney Terenity Shwetz issued the following statement. The count of murder that Ruelas and Palomino was indicted for was for the death of Santos Ortega who, according to the lead detective of the Operation Maria taskforce, was “equal to to Palamino and Ruelas”, and a “long time member of The Mexican Mafia.” As of right now, neither the DA’s office nor law enforcement are at liberty to say the exact motives of the murder of Ortega. The arrests also include four of their “gunmen” – “gunmen” being the term used by Operation Maria’s lead detective to describe associates of the Mexican Mafia carrying out their orders on the streets. The gunmen were supposedly involved in the murder of a Los Santos police officer. “Through a placed wiretap on a vehicle, we were able to catch various Mexican Mafia associates committing the murder of a City Police Officer”, the detective spearheading Operation Maria shared. “The detective I'd had listening to that audio? Had the volume up too much, almost blew out his ear drums, they were shooting long arms” Long arms referencing large firearms, ranging from assault rifles to shot-guns. When questioned for a possible motive for the murder, the task-force was unable to give a comment due to the investigation being ongoing. However, the sergeant present stated that “We don't wanna question the policies or motives of the Officers present. We aren't sure of their policies. “Like I explained, we were aware that members of La eMe were violent. This just went to give us real, hardcore evidence of it.” The associated gunmen that have been arrested have not been identified to the Daily as of yet, nor the identity of the victim. Twin Towers Correctional Facility - Stephen Yun, Getty Images. April 15th 2021 “Most leaders are in solitary confinement, but they issue orders to members, who in turn issue orders to street gangs.”, the DA explained to the Daily in a written statement when asked how the gang holds presence on the streets of Los Santos. According from accounts both from law enforcement and the DA’s office, these two men and their gang have caused countless death to associates and subordinates of the Mexican Mafia and their rivals. Both the DA’s office and law enforcement personnel claim that the Mexican Mafia’s induction involves intimidation and murder, where an inmate who is groomed to join their ranks will have to commit and act of murder. The DA notes how freshly inducted inmates to the prison system will have to act in accordance to the Mexican Mafia’s rules. “If you do not play ball with the Mexican Mafia, they threaten to use their powerful influence on prison and jail yards to kill, and they do kill. To be made a member of the Mexican Mafia, you must murder.” The lead detective and a sergeant serving on behalf of Operation Maria notes how the recruitment process works for Mexican Mafia inductees. “A lot of these kids'll do something stupid and end up in our county jail system.”, the sergeant shared. “There, they'll be inducted by members of the Mexican Mafia into doing their bidding and extending their time in our county jail system. That's how a lot of people's lives get ruined. “They'll head into this because they're forced to and end up getting a life sentence.” The Los Santos Sheriff's Department at a scene. - Courtesy of Ashton Love of Paradise, October 15th 2021 “A key part of recruitment for the Mexican Mafia relies in training some of the younger Sureños that do serve time.”, the lead detective added. “They train 'em into cold, calculated, loyal killers.” The Sureños, translated to ‘Southerners’ from Spanish, are one of many gangs that work on behalf of the Mexican Mafia. From figures issued from the Los Santos Police Department in 2006, there were approximately 21,000 Sureño gang members in 400 different subsets across Los Santos County alone. There are many other gangs across Los Santos County that are subordinate to the Mexican Mafia. One of which is Mara Salvatrucha 13. David Skarbek, an associate professor of political science at Brown University who specializes in the research of criminal street gangs globally, wrote about how prison gangs govern in a 2011 journal titled Governance and Prison Gangs. In the journal, he referenced the Mexican Mafia’s operation extensively, as well as how gangs subservient to this gang marks themselves as affiliates through the number 13. The Mexican Mafia profiteers primarily off of extortion, both to gangs out in the streets as well as, according to the DA’s office, to legitimate businesses owned by law-abiding citizens of Los Santos county. “The Mexican Mafia extorts local businesses, other criminals, and generally collects most of their money from street gangs paying taxes. Local businesses are one target, and individuals adjacent to the gang life with large amounts of money are another.”, wrote the DA’s office. “They force gangs to pay them tax or face death.” Derek Skarbek detailed the tax process in more detail, saying how the Mexican Mafia has been known to use incarcerated members of local street gangs as hostages to coerce the gangs to pay taxes. “Incarcerated gang members become vulnerable hostages, and therefore can motivate Sureño gang members who might not anticipate future incarceration to pay taxes.” Skarberk wrote. “Phone calls to incarcerated Mexican Mafia associates that identify the entire gang—rather than particular gang members who have not paid taxes suggest that this plays an important role.“ The indictments against George “Flippem” Palomino and Dominic "Devious" Ruelas sees them both facing a total of 130 years in prison. The exact details as to how long their gunmen will be facing remains unknown, as the DA continues to construct a case against them. The lead detective noted the cut-throat nature of the syndicates politics, saying how “Instead of looking out for each other, these other guys were probably taking a look about how they could spin this for themselves, you know?” Because of this comment, as well as the nature of recruitment that this gang uses with how arrested gang members will often find themselves further entrenched in their service to a gang like the Mexican Mafia, the Daily questioned whether or not the members of the task force believe there will be an end to these types of gangs in our prisons. “Whilst what we did no doubt had an impact, the work doesn't stop here, and trust me- we know this.” The lead detective said in response. “We haven't stopped just 'cause we made a few high profile arrests, you know? Got our headlines. “All I can say is that we're committed to safer streets.” Comments are enabled: Username: Comment: Edited Friday at 08:39 AM by Los Santos Daily News

"CHENTE" GAVALDÓN CIRCA. 2019 This thread will document the life of Vicente Gavaldón while he's incarcerated in Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

Development of the A Character Name: Angel Varela Origin: Mexican-American Occupation: Davis High Family: N/A Story: Angel Varela is a 15-year-old male from Davis Avenue South Los Santos, San Andreas. Like every other Mexican American man who was born and raised in inner-city Los Santos, he had a rough upcoming as a kid. With a mother with two jobs, and an absent father who left him once he was conceived, Angel had no father figure in his life, and quite frankly he had to be his own father figure. Growing up off of Davis Avenue there was no doubt that Angel would fall victim to the streets. Though Angel was tied up in the streets, he still attended school and eventually graduated from South LS High at the age of 15. Not interested in any post-secondary education, Angel continues his dedication and dependency on the streets to make money for himself. As time passed, Angel is moved out of the spotlight of being the only child, not knowing how to handle this change, he becomes a growing reckless hazard, which causes him to eventually be put out of his mother's home. Today, Angel crashes on a couch every night that sits in government housing in the area of Brogue Avenue quiet, content, and to himself. Current Faction

Dustin Vasquez a/k/a El Mito, 2016, somewhere in Tijuana Thread follows Dustin Vasquez, an MS-13 national leader. For any information or inquiries you may send me a direct message on the forums!

Eric ‘Scrappy’ Suarez (born 17th of September, 1980) is a 40 year old criminal figure from South Central Los Santos. Eric has spent his entire life primarily living in the neighborhood of Chamberlain Hills, an area known to be dominated by the Sureno gang ‘Chamberlain Varrio Tortilla Flats XIII’. Eric has demonstrated his commitment to the gang since his teenage years however due to connections made in prison, Eric became acquainted with Gonzalo ‘Joker’ Garcia and Alfred ‘Esco’ Grajeda - two EMEROS representing the Mexican Mafia. Early Life Eric Suarez was born on the 17th of September, 1985 to ‘Isaac Suarez’ and ‘Maria Espinoza’. The oldest of two siblings, Eric from an early age showed promise in academia and excelled at school however subsequently dropped out of High School at a young age after the unfortunate death of his father, Isaac Suarez. Eric grew up in a gang-dominated society and his early exposures were dominated by figures involved within the Sureno gang lifestyle, his father Isaac ‘Smiley’ Suarez was a respected member of a neighborhood Sureno gang and was heavily involved with the drugs and violence that came with it. This extensive involvement subsequently led to the fatal drive-by shooting which claimed the life of a young Isaac Suarez. Raised by a now lone mother taking care of two sons, things became more difficult for the boys who subsequently began idolizing senior neighborhood figures who were heavily involved within the gang-lifestyle. Fascinated by fictional glamour and the allure of the various amenities such as cars, money, women - the duo began working their way up the ladder and subsequently got jumped into the ‘Flats Gunners XIII’. It was during his early years in the gang that Eric earned the moniker ‘Scrappy’ attributed to his outspoken demeanor and willingness to fight. Twins In his early teens, Eric was arrested after committing a string of armed robberies and was sentenced to a long prison term. It was during his time in prison that Eric became acquainted with the Mexican Mafia or La Eme for whom he did various tasks such as passing messages and assisting in hits, however most notably stabbing a fellow inmate fatally several times. Due to this event, Eric was sent to the Security Housing Unit (SHU) of the prison. In the SHU, the environment and atmosphere was different to the other levels - there was an atmosphere of respect. Immediately, Eric realized the position he was in surrounded by heavy-hitters from all groups. His initial aggressive personality faded swiftly out of fear and respect for the inmates within the SHU as well as the natural need to survive. In the SHU, Eric met a senior La Eme EMERO by the name of Oscar ‘Cuate’ Cabral for whom he did various tasks. Under the guidance of Oscar ‘Cuate’ Cabral, Eric slowly learned the trade and what came along with it. His personality, way of talking and thinking were all adapted to the mould created by Oscar, his initial outspoken and aggressive demeanor influenced by his gang lifestyle slowly subsided into a calm, calculated young man who didn’t burn many words and spoke only for a reason. Under the guidance of Oscar, Eric became a ‘Camarada’ within La Eme . Present-Day Upon his release from the Twins, Eric resumed his role within the Mexican Mafia and works with Gonzalo ‘Joker’ Garcia & Alfred ‘Esco’ Gradeja. His personality now altered due to his tenure in prison, Eric attempts to reintegrate himself within society whilst also utilising the skills learned from Oscar. Eric operates primarily within South Central Los Santos and has been spotted with various Surenos. After his release and immediately falling into the service of both Joker and Esco, Eric was able to distinguish himself amongst his peers at a rapid pace due to his dilligence and efforts to consildate South Central Los Santos under Esco. Eric 'Scrappy' Suarez was voted into to the rank of EMERO, and over time Eric has developed into a prominent, 'heavy-hitter' of the Mexican Mafia.

I. History 1957-1969 The Mexican Mafia (EME) began its formative period between 1957-1969. The initial steps were taken by then 17 year-old Luis ‘Huero Buff’ Flores from Hawaiian Gardens who alongside fellow imprisoned gang members created the ‘gang of gangs’. The initial vision that served as the motivation behind the Mexican Mafia was to control the black market within the prison system. By the 1960s, the inmates identified as being irreformable were graduated from DVI (Deuel Vocational Institution) to San Quentin Prison, the aim behind this move was to incorporate YA (Youth Authority) prisoners alongside hardened, Adult prisoners to serve as a deterrent for these youth offenders to change their ways. This however did not work and soon after touching down at San Quentin, Jesus ‘Liro’ Pedroza and Eddie ‘Potato Nose’ Loera made their introductions by stabbing to death two convicts. These would become the first two recorded homicides of the Mexican Mafia. CDC intelligence refers to the December of 1961 as ‘Black December’ as it is during this time where the Mexican Mafia began taking significant strides to consolidate themselves as a newly formed Hispanic prison gang within San Quentin prison. During this time, 4 inmates and 1 prison guard are murdered by members of the Mexican Mafia. With various killings of Whites, Blacks and Hispanics to follow over the next decade. 1970-1984 By the 1970-1984, the Mexican Mafia began extending their sphere of influence outside prison walls. The cause behind this was attributed to the Senate Bill (SB-42) which resulted in mass releases of hundreds, including several members of the Mexican Mafia who were released directly from the SHU (Secure Housing Units). This now meant that influential members were now able to ‘Spread the EME gospel’ which with time proved that the strategies deployed by the Mexican Mafia to exert control and influence on the inside could be just as effectively translated on the outside. Over this time, EME essentially would become a household name within Southern California neighborhoods. The mention of EME or the Mexican Mafia would generate real fear as news accounts and stories circulated of the violence the prison gang demonstrated. It was also during this time when the initial EME heroin pipelines began to appear which was pioneered by Joe ‘Peg Leg’ Morgan. It was also during the 1970s-1984 when the Mexican Mafia became well known within the criminal underground beyond their original confines of prison, which again was attributed primarily to their hands-on approach to violence. This aggressive expansion to the exteriors of the prison structure led to creating a significant impression on the consciousness of Southern California gang members who then became known as ‘Sureños’ (Southerners). It’s important to also note that due to the efforts undertaken by the EME members during this era, a key framework/foundation was created for the next generation of members to capitalise on and take charge, the steps undertaken during this time laid the ground works for the Mexican Mafia to directly exploit the manpower of Sureño gangs which is in the tens of thousands as a resource to further their own development and influence. II. Drive-Bys Violence in Los Angeles during the early 1990s was incredibly high, and primarily drive-by shootings served as a key cause of concern for many and served as a direct source of inflicting damage to many innocent women, children and elderly that were caught in the crossfire between Sureño gang wars. The primary concern however behind this was the unwanted media attention it generated for EME. Due to this, it was decided that drive-bys will no longer be tolerated. On September 18, 1992 - a large-scale meeting was held at Elysian park in LA sponsored by EME where over 2,000 Sureño gang members came in attendance. The rules of the meeting were simple, all attendees were to come unarmed, and no attendee would engage in any gang violence before, during or after the meeting. The rules laid out however were not followed by one member of the Opal Street gang who came armed with a pistol. A carnal by the name of Ernest ‘Chuco’ Castro approached the offender in front of all the attendees and proceeded to slap him and take away his firearm. On the back of this action, the Opal Street gang remains greenlit. This direction served multiple motives, it took away the unwanted attention placed on EME and it demonstrated the control and power EME had over the street gangs under it. After this meeting, murder rates in LA dropped significantly. III. Taxation Taxation in the way it’s done now was initially instigated by Peter ‘Sana’ Ojeda, in 1992, Sana who is considered an influential carnal held meetings with gang leaders and members across Orange County where he enforced a truce between Sureños within his territory. After aligning the truce between long-time rivals, Sana moved onto the collecting of taxes from the gangs within his turf. Further to this, the structure of this arrangement was established through ‘reps’ who served as a go-between for the Sureño gangs and EME. The reps would serve multiple functions, the key being; - Collect drug sales/territorial taxes - Act as enforcers for EME. - Serve as a communication line between Sureño gangs and EME. - Establish a vertical leadership structure. It is however important to note that the taxation structure varied, some Carnales demanded tax and tribute from gangs itself that operated within their designated turfs, the regularity of payments also varied from weekly to monthly. There was nor is any specific format that is deployed to govern how a Carnal would conduct their business inside their turf. The initial exercise of halting drive-bys segwayed directly into the taxation which fundamentally became a ‘cash cow’ for EME and demonstrated the willingness thousands of Sureños had to comply with EME’s authority and demands. It's also important to note that some Carnals choose to not tax their varrios but rather may yield financial value from them in other ways. This can mean drugs or other valuable assets. An example of this is with Florencia 13 that isn't necessarily taxed by the Carnal due to the fact the Carnal chooses to not tax them. IV. Greenlights A greenlight/lista are individuals and gangs that are placed on a list targeting them for death. It is expected that anyone greenlighted is targeted by all sureño gangs who are then ordered to attack and kill them on sight in both jail and on the streets. The typical way a greenlight is approached is dependent upon the reasoning behind the greenlight was issued, however if a gang violates an edict issued by EME, then the process is typically to kill the direct offenders of the edict and maintain the greenlight on the gang until the gang approaches its EME rep or a carnal to make amendments for their violation. More often than not, these sanctions are resolved through additional EME taxes which allow offenders to get a pass by the carnal. V. Rules of the Mexican Mafia The Mexican Mafia has several rules in place to safeguard the integrity of the organisation and its members, however more often than not these rules are broken and serve merely as guidelines in the current day. EME reglas (rules) are never written on paper. 1. A member must not be a rat. 2. A member may not be a homosexual. 3. A member may not be a coward. 4. A member may not have sex with the wife or girlfriend of another member. 5. A member may not raise his hand against another member without sanction from the organisation. 6. A member may not politick against another member or cause dissent within the organisation. 7. A member may not steal from or encroach upon the turf of another member. 8. Membership is for life. 9. EME comes first, even before one’s family. VI. Cultural Influence A key propeller behind the Mexican Mafia and La Causa (The EME Cause) is attributed to the importance placed on Hispanic and Aztec cultures. The foundations of many early street gangs such as; White Fence, Temple Street, Clanton Street, Canta Ranas, 38th Street and Hawaiian Gardens all identified strongly with ancient Toltec and Aztec indians as well as the Yaquis and Apaches. The inspiration from these cultures became a source of ethnic pride for these individuals who perceived themselves as ‘street warriors’. These closely knit, proud cultures further reinforced the community themed gangs who served as a form of ‘extended family’ for its members. Furthermore, around this time the aforementioned warrior mentality was appealing to Mexican-American communities during WW2, especially in the case of those Men who served in the war, however for those who held criminal mindsets - this warrior mentality further reinforced and developed their ‘code of conduct’ which fundamentally governed the original street gang culture adopted by Hispanics in Los Angeles. Due to this significance placed in Aztecs and other ancient cultures, EME deploys an array of imagery and vocabulary to demonstrate their affiliation with this warrior culture. Mexican Mafia members have been known to study Nahuatl, which is an ancient language of the Aztec people as well as use the Mayan numeral system. This is not only done to show allegiance to the Mexican Mafia but also to communicate in a covert manner. It is common to hear inmates at Pelican Bay SHU and other maximum security housing facilities teaching each other these languages. The primary reason behind it’s widespread deployment is that very rarely would correctional/judiciary officers be able to understand what is being said. VII. Criminal Activities Aside from the revenue streams generated through the taxation of sureño gangs, EME is involved heavily within drug trafficking, extortion, gambling, prostitution and murder. Due to the structural nature of the organisation, many of these activities are conducted by camaradas who in turn pay their own taxes to a carnal for conducting any criminal activity in their turf. A key area as mentioned earlier for EME is drug trafficking, by establishing heroin pipelines in the late 70s, the foundations established by the earlier generations continue to be a source of revenue for EME with various operations darted across East Los Angeles primarily to process heroin and meth. VIII. Leadership Structure From the early beginnings of EME, the recruitment policy was to recruit the ‘cream of the crop’ At the beginning stages of the Mexican Mafia, the new recruits brought in were veteran gang leaders who were unaccustomed to taking direct orders, realising this, Huero Buff understood that appointing himself as the direct leader would subject EME to infighting, politicking and power-plays which would only serve to weaken the organisation especially during its early stages. Therefore, the leadership structure of EME was crafted to where all members/carnales were equals and awarded a vote on matters that concerned EME as a whole. The leadership structure is horizontal with no direct leader overseeing the organisation as a whole, with all carnales being ‘equal’ and awarded the same vote as one another. This however is further covered in the power dynamics section which explains the informal hierarchy that exists. IX. Power Dynamics Although the leadership structure of EME is horizontal with no leader on the top to oversee the organisation as a whole, informal hierarchies do exist within the organisation. The term used for this is ‘juice/jugo’ which essentially refers to the level of influence and power a carnal holds within the organisation. The level of ‘juice’ a carnal has is subjective to their political acumen, intelligence and diplomatic maneuvering which determines how they’re positioned within the organisation. If a carnal with a lot of power and influence proposes someone for membership, then more than likely that individual will get welcomed in despite any concerns other members without as much power/influence may have. An example of this is seen in the case of Pelon Maciel who was sponsored for membership by Huero Shy in 1995, despite all present for the vote not knowing who he was, Pelon was voted in and made a carnal. Another example of ‘juice’ is seen in the case of Huero Buff who engaged in consensual sex with the wife of another member within EME. For any normal member, they would’ve been executed for such an infraction however due to the influence and power held by Huero Buff, he suffered no sanction for this. X. Carnales/EMERO’s An EMERO or a carnal is a made member of the Mexican Mafia. Typically, these individuals have proven their loyalty to the organisation and have been sponsored for membership by another, existing member of the organisation who is in good standing. The individual who nominated the new member serves as the ‘padrino’ for the newly made carnal and is expected to explain all the rules, and the newly made member is expected to memorise them. Once the individual has become a Carnal, they’re free to operate and conduct their business anywhere where a Carnal is not already operating. Personality/Demeanor The demeanor and personality of these individuals vary drastically, more often than not there is drug and substance abuse involved - however as any individual their characteristics, personalities, demeanours is all contingent upon their own beliefs, morals and life experiences. However, despite this - it’s important to note that becoming a Carnal is a major event and is a source of pride for most of these individuals, as such their personalities and demeanors may adapt based on this newfound status. No shoe fits all, and as such - you will find the Carnales having drastically different personalities, some may be more strict and aggressive with a more imposing personality whereas others may be more laid back and polite. Drug abuse is also a common area under-represented in roleplay which is something that everyone needs to consider when roleplaying characters like this, in specific heroin abuse. The level of intelligence, political acumen (as discussed in power dynamics) and other variables are all contingent upon the development of your character, as stated across various interviews pertaining to the Mexican Mafia, the Carnales significantly varied in their approach to conflicts, issues as well as how they presented themselves. Their level of knowledge, vocabulary and other aspects of life also varied based on this information. Induction Process Currently, a three-member rule is used by the Mexican Mafia when inducting new members. The three-member rule requires a minimum of three (including the sponsor) made Carnales to vote an individual into EME. If other members are present at the location (I.E Pelican Bay SHU), then they must all participate in the voting process. The reason behind this is to minimise corruption within the induction system and limit politicking/power plays amongst Carnales. If any single member was to vote against the potential member, then the vote would be thrown out and the individual would not become a Carnal. Tattoos Symbolism is incredibly important in EME, and to the trained eye - the tattoos of an individual can tell you exactly who someone is and where they are from. As such, being a Carnal is a source of pride and the tattoos would serve as a source through which the individuals are openly tied to the organisation. Carnales may choose to represent their affiliation in simplistic manners through small tattoos saying M, EME, LA M or alternatively use the black hand and other forms of symbolism. Despite the fact that there is a rule in the organisation to never admit its existence, the tattoo culture within the organisation acts as a direct contradiction to those rules. XI. Camaradas/Soldados Camaradas are Sureños who have put in work for the Mexican Mafia/Carnales and are elevated to become a Camarada/Soldado. You do not have to be a Sureño to become a Camarada, in fact Norteños can also become Camaradas, and there are many Carnales who are also Norteños, however the distinction needs to be made between a Norteño and a member of the Nuestra Familia (NF). A Camarada is an individual who is willing to kill and die for EME without any question or hesitation. At times referred to as ‘expendables’, they are expected to openly accept the possibility of facing life sentences, death rows and even going on ‘kamikaze hits’ or ‘suicide missions’ for EME. They are tested, tried and trusted soldiers and friends of EME. For Sureños wanting to make an impression with EME, they would need to establish themselves in the criminal underworld to become Camaradas which then would serve as the first step in them being potentially inducted into EME. It is important to note that very few Camaradas actually complete the circle of being inducted into EME, with many perishing in political clashes amongst Carnales and ‘house cleanings’ in which internal purges take place. A Camarada would carry out several activities on the streets and in jail for Carnales and also conduct their own business from which typically they would pay taxes to the Carnale within who’s turf they’re operating. The type of work these Camaradas can do varies, from robberies, extortion, murder to various rackets such as illegal gambling and prostitution - the criminal activities that Camaradas take part in are vast. Crews The hierarchy of an atypical EME crew would be as follows for a Carnal who is incarcerated. The figurehead of the crew would be the Carnal, beneath him there would be a ‘facilitator’ who usually would be the wife, girlfriend or relative of the Carnal as they would have easier means of communicating with them as well as natural trust. Beneath the facilitator is the Camarada who communicates solely with the Carnal and the facilitator. Beneath the Camarada, there is a crew leader who are individuals selected by Camaradas to enforce, collect payments and distribute narcotics. Beneath the crew chiefs are the crew members who are workers, dealing drugs and conducting other criminal activities in their respective gang territories. The ultimate authority lies with the Carnal, however if the Carnal is incarcerated then the authority by proxy is with the Camarada. As the lower echelon of these crews will never interact with the higher levels such as the facilitator or the Carnal, and the higher levels wouldn’t want to interact with the lower ones due to fear of information being divulged to law enforcement - the Camaradas act as a sort of firewall and intermediary between the two and are of significant importance. These crews are not isolated to one, a carnal can have multiple crews. The range of the crews is also vast, for example Rene ‘Boxer’ Enriquez from Artesia California was not solely operating in Artesia, he was allowed to operate anywhere that a Carnal is not already operating/is not already claimed by a Carnal. This means that any area without the presence of a Carnal is free-game, a Carnal can establish a crew anywhere they deem necessary. In the case of Boxer, he operated in; Riverside, Lennox, Victorville, Norwalk, Haiwaiian gardens, Artesia, and North-East LA, with different crews. These crews can also extend to prisons. It is also important to note that typically, a Carnal who is incarcerated would not always be the highest paying member of these crews. The reasoning behind this is if a Carnal wishes to achieve a successful crew without micromanagement, then he would need to ensure that everyone is earning money and has the autonomy to function without the need of micromanagement. For a Carnal who is not incarcerated, logic will deduce that the income they receive would be higher in comparison to the Carnales who are. XII. Señoras Women play a critical role in the structure of EME, and have successfully done so for the larger part of the organisation's history. The role Women have played has successfully served as a form of insulation from law enforcement, and has halted many law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of Carnales. Within an atypical EME crew, the role of the Señora is second only to the Carnal. The nature of these relationships varied, with some Señoras being openly aware of their involvement within EME activity, others being somewhat aware and some being completely kept in the dark and expected to be loyal. Señoras are the wives and girlfriends of Carnales within the Mexican Mafia. The typical activities they would be involved in would be facilitating, communicating as well as being the end-point for most of the funds extracted by the crews of the Carnal. There are many examples of these activities taking place, however a more recent example is seen through Danny ‘Popeye’ Roman who was an incarcerated Carnal and a leader of the Harpys 13 gang. Popeye’s daughter, Vianna managed her father’s business in the streets and acted as a facilitator between him and his crew, relaying orders to underlings to extort, assault and kill. Vianna pleaded guilty in 2014 to racketeering, drug trafficking and firearms offenses and is currently serving a 15 year prison sentence. Sources;

Although the Mexican Mafia Roleplay Guide goes into some detail in relation to the function of a Camarada and their role within the Mexican Mafia as a whole, the aim of this guide is to provide a more comprehensive overview into Camaradas, the functions they serve and the activities they conduct in more detail. Overview Camaradas are the backbone of the organisation and serve as the direct soldiers of EME in the streets and in jail. They're at the highest level they can be without becoming a Carnal and are normally distinguished individuals who have put in the necessary work during their tenure as a Sureno to elevate themselves to such a standing. Despite this however, Camaradas are still soldiers - meaning their importance is subjective to the value placed in them by the Carnal for whom they're operating. The relationship dynamics significantly vary across Camarada/Carnals, as such there's no standard that can be applied in these relationships. Some are closer to one another than others, with a deeper bond - others keep it to a strict business sense. Examples of this are seen in literature through the relationship dynamics Boxer had with his own Camaradas and crews, in contrast to the seeming bond demonstrated between Huero Shy and Pelon Maciel. Recruitment A Camarada is an experienced and oftentimes veteran Sureño who has gone through the various trials and tribulations set before them and has demonstrated their willingness to both kill and die for EME. In most cases, a Sureños initial steps with the organisation are taken within the correctional system. Over time, individuals of the Sureño car who are incarcerated will be expected to put in work on behalf of the organisation and car while at the same time conduct themselves in accordance to the rules of the house. It is during this time that individuals are noticed by members of the organisation and assigned tasks or asked for ‘favors’ which more often than not involves murder on behalf of the organisation. Once this individual has distinguished themselves as a solid and reliable soldier, they would then be put to further tasks for a Carnal which would typically extend beyond their sentence length and translate into the streets. Demeanor/Personality It’s important to highlight immediately that an individual's personality and demeanor is always subjective to their life experiences and their own individual personality. One shoe does not and will not fit all, however we can draw some rudimentary information from known sources to help understand the basics of how these individuals are expected to act. First and foremost, typically the length of time they spend inside the correctional system is reflected through their personality and demeanor, various yard politics and policies would govern how these individuals develop, for example an individual who has primarily been on the mainline will naturally have a very different experience than that who is has been held in a secure housing unit. As such, experienced inmates such as Camaradas would mostly adapt to the surroundings within which they are; - Individuals would be more coercive and manipulative in the way they act and move. - They would be cautious about what they say and reserve their words. - They would carry themselves with a certain sense of confidence and pride especially around those who are ‘beneath’ them in the social hierarchy. - Their vocabulary in many cases would be more advanced with time. Although this isn’t concrete, it is a good foundation to go off of depending on the development for your character. For example, if your character has been on a Level 4 Yard, then these characteristics would be applicable in contrast to if your character has just been on the mainline. It’s important to always remember also that these are the end of the day human beings, they all have emotions, opinions, moral compasses, families etc which shape the type of person they are. These individuals aren’t all fearless and you are expected to demonstrate this realistic variety in the personality of your characters. They are simply given hard choices, as mentioned earlier in the Mexican Mafia Guide; "A Camarada is an individual who is willing to kill and die for EME without any question or hesitation. At times referred to as ‘expendables’, they are expected to openly accept the possibility of facing life sentences, death rows and even going on ‘kamikaze hits’ or ‘suicide missions’ for EME." They are expected to accept these tasks as not doing so will certainly lead to death, as such their choices are limited, all these things have a significant and severe strain on the mental health of most humans. Drug Use As mentioned earlier, a common theme across this area as a whole is drug abuse. In a roleplay sense this is rarely portrayed correctly, however I would encourage you all to reconsider this and reflect this in your character development. These actions aforementioned previously are not inherently normal to human beings, as such due to the strain they present - oftentimes individuals resort to drug abuse as a coping mechanism. Heroin in particular plays a major role within Sureño communities and plays a major role. There are many sources indicating extensive heroin abuse from an early age within Sureño communities. As a whole, drug-use is under-represented on this server and I would again strongly encourage everyone to consider this for the development of their character. Crews A Camarada working for a Carnal would have their own crew. They would collaborate with the facilitator (Senora) of the crew to communicate with the Carnal, or directly communicate with the Carnal if possible to exercise their demands wherever relevant. Aside from this however, Camaradas would continue their own criminal activities within Sureño territories from which they would pay a tax to the Carnal. These crews operate to extend the sphere of influence and activities of a Carnal into areas that do not already have a Carnal operating in/are not already claimed by a Carnal. They are the ‘operational arm’ of a Carnal. A Camarada is typically the highest paid member within a crew, even more so than the Carnal due to the fact that they’re the ones collecting and distributing directly. These crews can be vast, and in multiples. However as a Camarada, you will mostly be typically overseeing a singular crew - although you can be asked to go handle business in different locations. For your characters, the crews within which you operate will help you conduct your own criminal activities, distribute drugs for you, help you tax the existing sale of drugs and overall serve as a part of your own manpower. As a Camarada, you will most likely be the direct authority these crews would interact with, as you will serve as the firewall/insulation between the Carnal and the crew. Criminal Activities Your characters can and should be involved in various criminal activities. The purpose of a Camarada is not to simply serve as a tool for collection, your characters are unique individuals with vast development behind them which lead them to where they are today. They have a significant financial opportunity available to them that they can exploit through either drug sales, extortion, robberies, illegal gambling, facilitating prostituion and murder. There are several noted cases of EME affiliates and Camaradas robbing drug dealers and extorting them is incredibly common. Your characters should be performing various functions through the extension of their crews and directly as they are afforded an opportunity to do so. There are several avenues you can take with this development and it’s solely a matter of initiative rather than opportunity. I would encourage every Camarada or individuals aspiring to become one to consider these elements and incorporate them into their own character development and into their IC sources of revenue.

First, I would like to mention that this is not my guide, this guide was originally made by Liam (@Large Hazard) and with his permission, it is being converted and used for GTA: W, small changes have been made and might occur down the line. The Sureño Car In jail/prison, a 'car’ is any selection of inmates who group together for the purposes of socialization, protection, and often a criminal enterprise. The prison system on GTA: W is heavily based on the California system, which is perhaps the most segregated system in the United States. Inmates in this system self-segregate by race and almost never cross racial lines except in matters of business or prison politics. The cars in this system are thus racial cars. The main cars are as follows: Black car: All African-American inmates regardless of affiliation. Subdivides based on those affiliations/cards (Crip, Blood etc.). Organization provided by gangs such as KUMI and the Black Guerrilla Family in some institutions, not usually in county jail. In LS county, Black inmates will subdivide based on neighborhood/neighborhood card (Blood, Hustler Crip, Mafia Crip etc.). White car: All White inmates. Subdivides based on geographical origin (city in prison, area in LS county) and sometimes affiliation (e.g. skinheads often have their own car). Organization provided by gangs such as Public Enemy No. 1, Nazi Lowriders, Family Affiliated Irish Mafia, Aryan Brotherhood etc. Asian/Pacific Islander car: All Asian and Asiatic inmates (includes Arabs etc.) plus Pacific Islanders. It can function as an 'Other’ car. Organization varies heavily from facility to facility. Norteño car: All Hispanic inmates from Northern San Andreas, more specifically often just Norteño gangs as Sureño gangs push north. Subdivides based on geography if numbers permit, acts as one car if not. Organization provided by the Northern Structure (Nuestra Raza) and Nuestra Familia gangs. NOT PRESENT in LS County. Sureño car: The Sureño car is obviously the primary focus here, others were explained for context. The Sureño car includes all Hispanic inmates from Southern San Andreas plus Sureño gang members from the frontier gangs in the north. Also affiliated are Armenian inmates who identify with the AP13 gang. Inmates of other races (White, Asian, and even Black) are accepted if they are Sureño gang members. In LS County, the Sureño car is really just the Mexican car as there is no Northern car. All American-Hispanic inmates belong to the one car. The Sureño car subdivides based on geographic origin in most institutions, as the car almost always has significant numbers owing to the huge Sureño gang population (estimated at well over 100,000 statewide). Major geographical subdivisions include parts of Los Santos: West Los: Vespucci, Del Perro, La Puerta, Little Seoul, Pillbox Hill, West Vinewood. North Side: East Vinewood, Hawick, Mirror Park. South Side: Rancho, Davis, Strawberry, Chamberlain Heights. East Los: El Burro Heights, Murietta Heights. Rural/suburban parts of the county (‘the valley’) would also have their own car though we’re unlikely to see many characters from there. In Los Santos, the larger varrios (‘super gangs’ like Florencia) may even have enough members in jail to support their own car independently. We are unlikely to be able to RP this, however. Cars within the Sureño car are not official subdivisions as in other racial cars. Each area does not have a rep, though there may be senior members. Instead, they are simply more like social cliques. Sureños will socialize and work out with others from similar areas, as they have more in common. Internal car politics may also be present. In terms of official car structuring, the Sureño car uses the Mesa system. The entire Sureño world is dominated by the Mexican Mafia (aka the Eme), a prison gang formed in the 1950s which now controls organized crime in huge portions of the state and controls the Sureño car in every prison and county jail. The Eme itself comprises only a couple hundred members and has a completely horizontal structure with no formal ranks. When Emeros began to be locked down in permanent segregated housing, the Mesa system was constructed to allow control of Sureño activities to continue through intermediaries. Each yard is run by a collection of senior inmates who make up the Mesa ('table’). The Mesa makes collective decisions on politics and some business. The Mesa answers to the Mexican Mafia directly in some way. If Emeros are present in the same facility, the Mesa answers to every member present. Unofficially however, each Emero has varying degrees of influence over a given Mesa and it may be possible for a single carnal (member, literally 'brother’) to dominate the entire Mesas. If Emeros are not present in the same facility, the Mesa still answers to somebody, possibly a carnal in another facility. Much internal Mexican Mafia politics and feuding result from the struggle to control Mesas. Members of each Mesa are often appointed directly from a carnal's associates or homeboys. A hostile takeover, similar to how most other cars determine leadership, is possible however all authority still flows from the Mexican Mafia. If a Sureño attempts to murder his way into the Mesa without backing or approval, he may be killed or forced off the yard in turn on orders from the Eme. The Mesa system comprises a complex structure, far more organized than the Eme’s horizontal layout. Essentially every possible custodial subdivision has an associated representative ('rep’), placed in a structured hierarchy. A full structure includes: Several representatives overseeing the whole yard (the Mesa itself) A rep for each building on the yard A rep for each unit in a building A rep for each tier in a unit A rep for each cell on a tier For us, roleplaying in this specific county jail, our modified structure will likely be set out as follows: Eme (carnal or carnales in the facility, probably laying low and running things subtly) ‘Pod boss’ in each unit: if each pod is active and has a rep each, these two pod bosses plus the carnales in the jail will more or less make up the Mesa Tier rep on each tier, reporting to their pod boss Cell rep in each cell, reporting to their tier rep. - A cell is considered an individual unit of the car, thus cell reps are utilized to maintain maximum organization. A tier rep will always communicate with a cell’s representative if there are orders to be given for both occupants of the cell, or if the cell has a problem. Non-cell reps will communicate with the rep for their tier through their cell rep. This may seem like an extra layer of added bureaucracy but it’s done in real life to maximize organization and militancy. We should do the same. Each rep answers to their respective superior in the chain and is delegated tasks as such, allowing for a compartmentalized car structure which facilitates effective organization of large numbers of Sureños and delegation of important administrative tasks. Such tasks include assembling roll call lists ('gallos’), organizing hits, monitoring Sureños for battle-readiness, collecting intelligence, and overseeing the following of reglas (rules) and workout programs. The above full structure is designed to handle numbers of around 100-150, an average maximum number of Sureños on a state yard. The numbers on GTA:W are obviously much lower and we are roleplaying with a modified county jail structure, so fewer positions are utilized. The tasks and duties of each position remain the same, however, and each position may take up more duties to compensate for the ranks which have been omitted. A separate ‘para-Mesa’ structure also often exists in facilities with Mexican Mafia members directly present. The Mesa runs the day-to-day politics of the yard while an Emero's personal crew handles his business directly. This includes running his own personal business enterprises and protecting his interests (e.g. organizing and overseeing 'personals’, i.e hits ordered directly by him). The crew may exist parallel and separate to the Mesa, or it may include members of the Mesa structure. Usually, it's a combination of both. Stacking a yard’s Mesa with one’s own crew members is a common tactic employed to ensure total domination over a yard. If the Mesa and the crew are not the same, the Mesa will usually have authority over common political matters which the crew will not, but the Mesa will not be permitted to interfere with the crew’s business. This is considered ‘fucking with (a member’s) money’ and is usually a death sentence. The Sureño car is officially allied with the White car in every facility statewide, owing to a longstanding alliance between the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican Mafia which is over 50 years old. In some yards, this alliance may only be nominal, as business and political issues can result in hostility and even open war between the two. The allied relationship is still the default however, and any yard with hostile White and Sureño cars is considered exceptional, even if there are multiple at any given time. Hostilities between the two are often forced to an end eventually by the Mexican Mafia and Aryan Brotherhood, as joint business ventures (which are somewhat common) are jeopardized by war. The White/Sureño relationship results in some contact across racial lines, but still only in matters of business or politics. Whites and Sureños will often share gym equipment, phones, and televisions (but use them separately), though keep separate tables. The two groups will also often work out together behind closed doors (in locked-down units or segregation units) but will not usually work out together on open units or yards. The only instance in which the two groups will regularly work out as one, in the same space, is on group SHU and death row yards. The AB/Eme alliance prompted a mirror alliance between the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) and Nuestra Familia, allying the Black and Norteño cars in the same way and in opposition to the Whites and Sureños. This alliance is somewhat less stable due to the declining influence of the BGF. Ultimately, relations between cars are fluid and change from facility to facility and over time. The Sureño car is typically highly regimental regarding battle-readiness and internal rules (reglas). The Sureño car is among those who ‘hit chomos on sight’, meaning paperwork of all newly transferred inmate is checked to verify they have no sex crimes on their jacket. Rapists are to be stabbed once proof of their status has been obtained, and could be produced when questioned about the motive behind the stabbing. The Mexican Mafia The Mexican Mafia operates on the basis of a horizontal structure. The only rank is that of a full member (“brother”/”carnal”). In other words, you are simply in the Mexican Mafia or you are not. There is no formal differentiation or seniority between members. Every member is of equal status with every other member, and every member is entitled to a vote of equal value on important matters or the candidacy of a prospective member. One negative vote from one member is considered sufficient to reject a new member. In reality the idea of equal status is, in many cases, simply theoretical. Older or more senior members accumulate massive amounts of influence over their decades’ long careers and often end up leading a faction inside the organization. Members of these factions only consider other members of the same faction allies. All other Carnales are potential enemies. In-fighting between factions and individual members can result in extensive gang wars. Conflict rarely occurs between a Mexican Mafia member and an external force (a non-Mexican Mafia group or individual). Most varrios in southern California pay tax and few independent drug dealers refuse to do so. The majority of conflict occurs internally, usually over territorial disputes. Secure Housing Unit (SHU) Roleplay Roleplay in the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) is an incredibly important part of the big picture. Sureño cars are traditionally "run from the back", meaning the leadership structures on general population yards (usually Mesas) defer authority to "big homies" in the SHU, either actively or passively. This means the Sureños who run the SHU program also have the authority to run the mainline yards. "Actively" meaning the yards take direct orders, "passively" meaning those in the SHU do not actively interfere in mainline affairs or give many direct orders but their authority is technically recognized and their orders will likely be followed if they give them. If there are Mexican Mafia members in the facility (usually in the SHU), they will definitely run the mainline yards actively. Non-Mexican Mafia residents of the SHU may also run things actively if they are still considered quite senior. If they are not especially senior, they probably run yards passively. Most racial cars use this system, as whoever is running the SHU program is probably an experienced and respected inmate even if they do not have the backing of a gang (e.g. the Mexican Mafia). It is also simply convenient to have the entire facility run from the SHU, as the SHU can easily act as a conduit of communication between all yards. Every facility only has one SHU building and inmates from all yards are sent there, so whoever is running the SHU is capable of sending and receiving messages to and from all yards. What is the relevance of all this? Roleplaying in the SHU means roleplaying with (probably) the most senior inmates in the facility. On GTA:W, this means roleplaying with the Mexican Mafia directly. SHU roleplay is also important to learn about as you will inevitably be sent to the SHU in the natural course of your prison roleplay. Possession charges, assault charges and riot charges - all quite common - usually result in SHU time. Another point worth mentioning is that a lot of prison roleplayers find SHU roleplay quite fun, as it is a change of pace from regular prison roleplay, and so nailing the basics down will ensure you do enjoy the experience. First days in the SHU are similar to the first days in general population. Your character will be contacted by whomever is running the program, asked for their "papers" (lockdown chrono which lists their charge(s)) and for their "plug". A plug is a kite written by whomever runs the mainline program explaining the circumstances and why your character is now in the SHU. If the incident was unplanned, the veracity of your character's claims will be established in another way. This background information is assessed in order to determine whether or not the new arrival is there on 'legitimate' charges. Things like taking off on enemies without authorization or carrying out a murder (or attempted murder) without authorization are not legitimate charges and will see the inmate punished by those in the SHU for breaking reglas. The new arrival may also be asked if they need anything (food, coffee, books etc.) and will be filled in on SHU program rules if necessary. The method by which inmates communicate in the SHU (and in lockdowns) will be covered in the next section. SHU program specifics will not be covered here, as they should be learned IC. There are a few points worth mentioning, however. Roleplaying in the SHU requires quite a different mindset. If your character is not an experienced convict or is new to the SHU, you should roleplay as you did during your first days in prison. The SHU is a step up - everything is more serious and intense. The most hardcore individuals from every race are represented in the SHU and it is their territory in which your character now finds himself. Minor mistakes or breaches of protocol will mandate punishment - usually by the victim's cellmate as there is nobody else with access to him. Antagonizing members of other races or even simply being loud will also mandate punishment. Repeated offences may get an inmate killed. The older, more serious inmates in the SHU appreciate a quiet and respectful environment. An inmate making a fool of himself may find a kite is sent to his cellmate with a knife attached. The bottom line here is that you should roleplay carefully and that it is important to take into account the nervousness your character is sure to be experiencing. For the sake of realism, long term SHU roleplayers are unlikely to be forgiving of mistakes. In order to roleplay those characters properly, a measure of ruthlessness is required. Keeping this in mind will help you avoid getting your character into trouble, allowing you to adapt to the SHU environment and enjoy the roleplay on offer there. Communication Between Cells (Kites and Similar) Convict ingenuity means even being locked behind a steel door has proven inadequate for putting a stop to communication. During lockdowns, non-program hours and in the SHU, the most common method of communication is by "kite" ('huila'). A kite is a letter written on a small piece of paper, usually in microscript ('micro-writing') in order to fit as much text as possible on a small form. The contents of a kite may be about any given subject. Many are innocent conversations between inmates about mundane topics, such as trading commissary or lending books. This is because the Sureño car is one of the racial cars which regulates the way its members communicate. Shouting in the unit is forbidden unless necessary, so the use of kites is the only way inmates can have any kind of conversation between cells. Some inmates play games such as tic-tac-toe with kites. On the other hand, kites are frequently used for serious matters such as giving orders and discussing prison politics. Disputes between cars may be solved by kite and orders to kill or riot may also be transmitted by kite. Exhibition of respect is of paramount importance in prison and this is reflected in kites. There are certain customs every inmate follows when writing kites, and each car has its own exclusive customs as well. A kite will commonly be opened with allusions to "love and respect" for the recipient. The closing lines of kites follow the same principles. Between Sureños the standard opening is "saludos y respetos" ("salutations and respects"), shortened to "SYR" or "S/Y/R". The standard closing is a variation of "con respeto" ("with respect") - such as "con todo respeto" ("with all/total respect") or "con sentido respeto" ("with heartfelt respect"), followed by the sender's placa and perhaps their gang affiliation. There are many variations of these phrases and all are standard practice. The general tone of the actual body of the kite is also usually very respectful. Respectful tones and phrases such as "love and respect" ("amor y repeto") may seem odd to those unfamiliar with prison customs, especially coming from convicted felons, however every inmate follows these customs. Omission of overtones of respect in a kite may be interpreted by the recipient as an intention to disrespect or insult by the sender. Below is an example of a typical Sureño huila. In this scenario, the shotcallers of the Sureño SHU program are assigning two torpedoes to a hit. "Heavy hitters", especially Mexican Mafia members and their close associates, are known to write important huilas completely in Spanish in addition to any codes that may be applied to the contents. This is to prevent unauthorized readers from understanding the subject if the kite is intercepted. An incredibly important point to note is that it is standard practice to show any kite you receive to your cellmate so that they may read the contents. This is a matter of common courtesy adopted by any good cellmate. The main function is so that your cellmate knows that you have not just received a kite ordering you to kill them. Customs also apply to the way kites are sent and received. When addressing another cell, it is standard practice to begin with "excuse me on the tier" (or a Spanish derivative). You would then announce your name, cell, the person or cell you are attempting to address and then your message. For example, if you were sending a kite you would say something along the lines of "mail inbound for 04" (04 being the target cell). If the recipient announces they are ready to receive, you would send the kite on your fishing line (see below) and wait for the signal to pull your line back once the cell has received the kite. When you are finished addressing the unit, you announce "thank you on the tier" (or a Spanish derivative). "Fishing" is the process by which anything is sent from one cell to another. It is most commonly used to transfer kites but can also transfer cargo, such as commissary or a book (so long as the cargo is capable of fitting under the cell doors). A fishing line is technically two lines of thread, most commonly sourced from bed sheets, which is tied into a single rope upon which a "carrier" may be attached. A carrier is any object capable of holding the kite or cargo you are sending, such as a flattened toothpaste tube or small cardboard container. The carrier is shot out of the sender's cell towards the recipient's cell, who then uses their own line to "hook" the other line and reels the cargo to their cell. This is fishing. The intricate details of fishing and how to roleplay it are usually taught in character. There are some alternative methods used to communicate between cells in limited circumstances. Some facilities' plumbing infrastructure allows certain cells to communicate with each other when their toilets are emptied. This is sometimes referred to as a "bowl phone". Some vent systems also permit a similar method of communication. Gang members are known to use contraband cell phones to communicate with each other. This is the most common way the Mexican Mafia delivers orders and receives information. A burner phone network can allow a shotcaller in the SHU to instantly communicate with subordinates on mainline yards or other parts of the SHU. Communication between the street and a cell is also possible, and this communication forms the backbone of modern Mexican Mafia operations. Orders to kill or conduct business are transmitted from SHU cells on a regular basis by phone. Phones are an extremely valuable commodity in prison, and can sell for over a thousand dollars depending on supply & demand and the quality of the phone being sold. Street Prison/Jail REGLAS In Character reglas shouldn't be thought of like faction rules. Good roleplay can stem from characters breaching or bending the reglas to suit their own interests. Mainline reglas can also be a lot like the Mexican Mafia's reglas. There are 'hard' reglas and 'soft' reglas. Some might be broken routinely and are just there for show (soft reglas), and some might be taken rather seriously and really do have punishments attached (hard reglas). I'm not going to list which is which. It usually depends on the mindset of the shotcaller(s) at any given time, and how they choose to interpret and apply the reglas. This is something for faction members with leadership characters to consider also. Don't treat the reglas as gospel, it might be practical to ignore the application of some. Keep this in mind when you roleplay. What can your character get away with? How does it benefit him? To repeat, the reglas are not faction rules. They're completely In Character. Do with that information what you will. This thread can be taken IC in the form of a kite given to new inmates and kept on hand by authority figures (as in real life). This thread should not, however, be used as a substitute for checking in newcomers with proper roleplay. You know what the most important reglas are and these should be communicated to newcomers first hand. The full version of the reglas can be given to them later.