THE MEXICAN MAFIA TIMELINE (1957-2021)
1957 — The Mexican Mafia forms at the Deuel Vocational Institute at Tracey, California. Eventually known as “La Eme,” the organization originally consists of 13 core members. Some of the “founding father’s” included, Luis “Huero Buff” Flores, Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena, Joe “Peg Leg” Morgan, Ben “Topo” Peters, Michael “Poor Slim” Mulhern, Abraham “A.B.” Hernandez, Jesse “Chino” Gordon, Manuel “Rocky” Luna, Doroteo “Sleepy” Betancourt, Jose “Mongol” Silva and Frank “Moose” Bazure.
March 1958 – The LAPD holds a press conference and note an escalation in violent crimes committed by Los Angeles Hispanic gang members with affiliations to original La Eme members behind bars.
April 1958 — San Francisco gang member Michael “Killer Hatchet” Ison is committed to California youth authority after he and his brother attack a barber with a baseball bat. Ison rises to becomes La Eme’s Northern Cali shot caller.
May 13, 1958 — Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputy Ned Lovretovich is stabbed in court after offering testimony in the murder-robbery trial of Gregory H. Valenzuela and Augustin Acosta, two La Eme-connected gang members from East Los Angeles.
June 1958 — Mexican Mafia members Doroteo “Sleepy” Betancourt and Frank “Moose” Bazure murder a prison guard at San Quentin, marking the first of many attacks La Eme launches at correctional institute personnel in the years and decades to come.
December 23, 1959 — A 16-year old Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena begins serving a prison sentence for second degree murder at the Chino Institute for men.
March 1960 — LAPD and California Department of Corrections circulate a memo related to the fact that La Eme had begun rapidly spreading throughout the state’s prison system.
1961 – A Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena is transferred to San Quentin Prison and kills a black inmate on first day there.
B Michael “Killer Hatchet” Ison enters the California prison after a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon.
C Joe “Pegleg” Morgan leads 11 inmates in a jail break from the L.A., county jail. He had been called as a witness in a trial involving the murder of another inmate.
1962 – Ison acquires the nickname “Killer Hatchet” after murdering inmate Thomas Dever on behalf of the Mexican Mafia in San Quentin.
July 14, 1963 — La Eme narcotics chief Harry Gamboa Buckley aka “Hollywood Harry”, 43, of Monterey Pak is arrested and charged with heading a drug ring which sold $40,000 worth of pure heroin.
1964 — Mexican Mafia begins induction ceremony (blood oath) on Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena’s orders
1965 – The first seeds of the “Nuestra Family” are planted in a state prison in Soledad, California. Nuestra Family was Northern California’s answer to La Eme, in reaction to La Eme’s extortion efforts of Northern Cali Hispanics in the prison system
1967 — California Department of Corrections reports the Mexican Mafia controls the yard at San Quentin and has active chapters at Soledad and Folsom prisons.
November 7, 1967 — San Quentin inmate Forrest W. Smith, 42, a convicted burglar from Los Angeles, is killed in the prison hospital by convicted La eme hitman Leo “Psycho” Estrada Robles.
September 15, 1968 — Hector “Mad Dog” Padilla, a gang member from northern California, is attacked after a confrontation with La Eme gang leader Robert “Robot” Salas over a pair of shoes stolen by La Eme associate Carlos “Pie Face” Ortega. This is the third in a series of La Eme led attacks on Norteno associates and Nuestra Family gang members [Phillip Neri and Sonny Pena were killed earlier] and part of the so-called “Shoe War” between La Eme and Nuestra Family.
September 16, 1968 — Nuestra Familia launches an attack on the Mexican Mafia at 2:30 pm. The final tally left 11 wounded and La Eme member, Archie “The Anvil” Gallego dead.
1969 — Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena begins correspondence with members of the Latino political group the Brown Berets.
1970 — A.-Mexican Mafia and Black Guerilla family agree to a truce.
B.- Prison gang unit investigator, Joe Moody, finds the body of one of his female informants murdered in Monterey Park, California. Pinned to her body was a note with consisting of two words, La Eme.
1971 — A.-Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena [Bakersfield gang member later claimed East L.A’s Primera Flats] issues orders to recently paroled La Eme members to take over federally funded drug programs operating in L.A. barrios. The first target is the National Institute of Mental Health’s Special Program for Alcohol Abuse (SPAN) which was headquartered in Pomona.
B.-Paroled La Eme member Eduardo “Easy Ed” Aguirre is named executive director of League of United Citizens to help Addicts [LUCHA].
C.-Cadena and Black Guerilla Family founder George L. Jackson are targeted for their influence over large groups of prisoners. Cadena publicly calls for a reuniting of Latino inmates to fight the system. Within the gang it becomes common knowledge that Cadena hopes to unite the Mexican Mafia and Nuestra Familia creating a statewide criminal syndicate.
August 21, 1971 — George L. Jackson is murdered during a hostage situation at San Quentin Prison, leaving Cadena the states most outspoken prison reformist from behind bars.
Decemeber 1971 – The first street hit called in from behind bars by La Eme is carried out by Ramon “Mundo” Mendoza and Eduardo “Sailor Boy” Gonzales on an order from Pegleg Morgan.
Late 1971 — Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena is paroled to Los Angeles.
B.-Killer Hatchet Mike Ison is convicted of second degree murder for stabbing a fellow inmate 51 times in the prison chapel at Folsom.
January 21, 1972 — La Eme rival Carlos N. Rodriquez is killed by a shotgun blast to the face fired from point blank range in Pomona.
February 15, 1972 — George “Pollo” Felix is stabbed more than 30 times by Eme hitmen in Los Angeles.
February 17, 1972 — Ellen Delia is shot three times in the head and dumped on the way to Sacramento where she was scheduled to discuss the La eme’s infiltration of a state funded program.
March 16, 1972 — La Eme drop out, Raymond “Cheerio” Ochoa, 29, shot is found bound and tied to a chair in his Commerce apartment. He’d been shot to death a few feet from his wife and teenage son.
April 3, 1972 — Opening remarks are giving in the murder trial of Mexican Mafia member Gilbert “Shotgun” Sanchez, 30, of Commerce. Sanchez was accused of killing La Eme drop out Raymond “Cheerio” Ochoa, 29. Ochoa was shot in his living room near his 13 year old son who lay bound nearby.
April 21, 1972 — Aryan Brotherhood members Fred S. Mendrin and Donald C. Hale murders Nuestra Familia member Fred Charles Castillo in Palm Hall at Chino Institute for men. The hit is ordered by Mexican Mafia leader Joe Morgan. The murder reportedly seals a pact between the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican Mafia.
October 13, 1972 — Gilbert “Shotgun” Sanchez is acquitted of murdering Raymond “Cheerio” Ochoa in his Commerce City apartment on orders from La Eme shot caller Joe “Pegleg” Morgan. Sanchez was already serving a combined 150-year sentence for 15 counts of armed robbery.
October 19, 1972 — Nuestra Family member Leonard Arias brutally executed in California state prison in Tehachapi by La Eme
October 31, 1972 — Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena is returned to Chino Institute for men as a parole violator.
December 12, 1972 — Nuestra Familia members Santos & Gilbert Arranda are stabbed in the inmate Reception and Guidance center at Chino Institute for men.
December 18, 1972 — Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena is stabbed 70 times in Palm Hall at Chino Institute for men by members of La Nuestra Familia. Gilbert Sandoval and Steven Oropeza are injured in the attack as well.
1973 — A.-36 inmate murders occurred in behind bars in 1972, 30 of which are attributed to the Mexican Mafia.
B.-[LUCHA] Director Eduardo “Easy Ed” Aguirre flees to Mexico with $146,000 of the groups funds after a federal audit finds $300,000 in federal funds missing from the group’s coffers causing the collapse of the program.
C.-Community Concern, an L.A. based community self-help organization,’ receives $ 1million in federal funds. La Eme lieutenant, Rafael ‘Sparky’ Sandoval, a man with ties to Italian organized crime in Southern Cal and La Eme’s biggest shot callers behind bars, is the director. Sandoval also expanded LA Eme’s political ties donating several hundred thousand dollars to Richard Alatorre’s campaign for the California assembly.
November 11, 1973 — Pat Duran, a convicted car thief from San Bernardino, is stabbed in an exercise yard used by inmates held under protective custody at San Quentin. Duran had expressed concern for his safety after a run in with a La Eme member.
November 22, 1973 — Two San Quentin inmates are stabbed in separate incidents following dustups with La Eme at the “Q”; (1) Robert Tavluian, 28, from Los Angeles is stabbed in San Quentin’s main yard at noon. Tavluian suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest but survived the attack. (2) Thomas Gregory, 34, an inmate from San Francisco, died of stab wounds he received in the chow hall breakfast line.
June 1975 — Joe “Pegleg” Morgan secures a contract with Italian organized crime figures in LA’s Dragna mob which provides La Eme with a half dozen kilos of pure Mexican heroin in exchange for muscle work in Hispanic and non-Hispanic neighborhoods. The operation “which runs from Juarez through Tijuana into Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento,” nets the Mexican Mafia a profit of $60,000 per week (wholesale uncut).
July 1975-thru-November 1977: La Eme enforcers Ramon “Mundo” Mendoza and Eddie “Sailor Boy” Gonzales head consolidation efforts throughout the California prison system.
October 1975 — The Mexican Mafia carries out triple homicide of three Nuestra Familia members in California state prison
January 1976 — A.-Michael “Italian Mike” Delia, a paroled La Eme member, sets up Project Get Going. The stated aim of the program is to assist convicts re-adjust to to living in society. Delia’s program is launched by $228,000 worth of government aide.
February 14, 1976 – Joe “Pegleg” Morgan is released on parole. He is quickly indicted on federal narcotics charges and flees to Utah.
January 15, 1977 — Robert Lewis, a special assistant to Senator Alex P. Garcia (D-Los Angeles), is gunned down by La Eme members. Lewis was linked to Michael “Italian Mike” Delia’s Project Get Going.
January 16, 1977 — La Eme’s Ysidro “Frito” Trujillo, a resident of Project Get Going’s halfway house, is murdered in Los Angeles by Eddie “The Sailor Boy” Gonzales and Michael “Italian Mike” Delia.
February 1, 1977 — La Eme member Gibert “Eight Ball” Roybal is shot to death in his Fresno home by Alfred “Alfie Red” Sosa, Daniel “Choco” Montellano & Manuel “Manny Mo” Torres after announcing his plans to defect from the gang. The hit was ordered by La Eme OG Robert “Robot” Salas.
February 11, 1977 — La Eme associate, Jamie “Bruno” Chavez, is stabbed to death in Glassell Park by La Eme hitters, Alfred “Alfie Red” Sosa and Raymond “Huero Shy” Shyrock.
February 15, 1977 — La Eme member George “Poyo” Felix is killed in his Rosemead home by La Eme hit man Daniel “Choco” Montellano.
February 17, 1977 — La Eme shot caller Michael “Italian Mike Delia’s” wife, Ellen, is shot to death in Sacramento by La Eme hit men Alfred “Alfie Red” Sosa & Eddie “The Sailor” Gonzales. Ellen Delia’s murder was ordered by her husband Michael who feared she would expose the illegal affairs related to Project Get Going.
February 20, 1977 — La Eme boss Robert “Robot” Salas and enforcers Alfred “Alfie Red” Sosa & Armando “Monday Mandie” Varela are arrested in Monterey Park and charged with possession of a concealed weapon. Sosa and Salas are released on bail, but Varela remains in custody and begins cooperating in the investigation of the murder of Ellen Delia. His cooperation results in the re-arrest and filing of murder charges against Salas for the murders of Gilbert “Eight Ball” Roybal and Ellen Delia. Eddie “The Sailor” Gonzales cooperated as well and provided information in nine La Eme murders he participated in.
March 26, 1977 — La Eme hit man Alfred “Alfie Red” Sosa is arrested and charged with the murders of Ellen Delia and Gilbert “Eight Ball” Roybal. Sosa was apprehended in Tiajuna, Mexico.
April 22, 1977 — La Eme heavy hitters, Alfred “Alfie Red” Sosa, Michael “Italian Mike” Delia, Albert “Aztec” Valles, Daniel “Choco” Montellano & Raymond “Huero Shy” Shyrock were all indicted by a Los Angeles grand jury for the murders of Robert Lewis and Ysidro “Frito” Trujillo. Sosa and Shyrock were also indicted in the murder of Jamie “Bruno” Chavez, in Glassell Park. Valles and Montellano were charged in the deaths of La Eme member Gilbert “Eight Ball” Roybal in Fresno and George “Poyo” Felix in Rosemead.
April 23, 1977 – La Eme hit man Eddie “Sailor Boy” Gonzales is indicted for drug and weapon possession.
July 1977 — Joe “Pegleg” Morgan is captured in Utah. A charge of trafficking firearms is added to the narcotics and fugitive warrants he was facing.
August 26, 1977 — La Eme member Peter “The Pitbull” Savas (from Orange County’s notorious “F-Troop”) is shot and killed by a tower guard after ignoring a warning shot and while stabbing fellow inmate and BG member James Williams. The incident is incident linked to a string of racially charged attacks in San Quentin. Savas was aided in the attack by Ronald Hendricks, an inmate with ties to the Aryan Brotherhood.
October 1977 — Future La Eme Godfather Peter “The Fury” Ojeda, is given authority over all of Orange County.
May 15, 1978 — Joe “Pegleg” Morgan is sentenced to 5 years in state prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and transporting a rifle across state lines. A mere two hours later in federal court, he is sentenced to serve 2 to 10 years in federal prison for possession of heroin. His conviction was based on the testimony of turncoat La Eme enforcer Ramon “Mundo” Mendoza. He went on to be convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
October 1978 — La Eme hit man Daniel “Choco” Montellano released from jail after posting $100,000 in the Los Angeles murder cases and another $150,000 in the Fresno case.
November 11, 1978 — Nuestra Familia member Thomas “T-Bone” Trejo is stabbed to death in the rec yard inside the Federal Correctional Institution at Lompoc, California. An autopsy reveals Trejo suffered 45 stab wounds. La Eme kingpin Adolpho “Champ” Reynoso is convicted of ordering Trejo’s murder and sentenced to serve life plus 99 years in federal prison.
November 13, 1978 –Investigation launched into the relationship between Municipal County Judge Lenore Schreiber in Fresno and La Eme shot callers Daniel “Choco” Montellano and Robert “Robot” Salas after it is learned she has put money on the books and visited both men at the Fresno County Jail a number of times. Schreiber also lent Montellano her car on at least one occasion to visit his parole officer.
May 30, 1979 — La Eme shot caller Daniel “Choco” Montellano is charged with the murder of teenage gang member Jerry “El Gato” Granillo outside of Montellano’s Visalia apartment.
June 30, 1982 — Tito “Sunset” Marines Jr., best friend of La Eme shot caller Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez and a leader of the Mexican Mafia’s Ontario Vato Sunkist set, is found dead in southeast Ontario. Marines Jr.’s murder was believed to have been a paid hit carried out on behalf of Mary Lou Davilla Salazar aka “Bloody Mary Salazar,” a known female drug dealer in the area.
October 14, 1984 — La Eme lieutenant Alfred “A.A” Sandoval shoots and kills Gilbert Martinez & Anthony Aceves, who had ripped off Sandoval in a drug deal.
October 31, 1984 — Ray & Marlene Wells are shot execution style in their home in Belvedere Park and Alfred “A.A.” Sandoval is indicted for the double homicide. Ray Wells owed Sandoval a drug debt.
April 1985 – Mexican Mafia members Hector & Reynaldo Ayala carry out the auto body shop triple murders of Ernesto Dominguez, Marco Zamora and Jose Rositas in San Diego.
June 22, 1987 — Mary Lou Davilla Salazar aka “Bloody Mary,” Lourdes Flores & Francisco Delgado Ortiz are found slain in a home on Sunkist Street in Ontario.
June 25, 1987 — La Eme’s Ontario set shot caller Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez is arrested in connection with the Salazar, Flores and Ortiz murders. The slayings were linked to a beef with Mexican Mafia OG Ben “Topo” Peters.
July 19, 1988 — Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez is sentenced to 3 consecutive life terms plus 16 years in state prison for the murders of Salazar, Flores and Ortiz.
August 17, 1990 — La Eme enforcer Joe “Colorado Red” Ariaz executes drug dealers Daniel Arriaga and Salvador Barrasa on the order of La Eme shot caller Robert “Robot” Salas in Fontana. Arriaga and Barrasa owed $30,000 in taxes to the Mexican Mafia.
April 27, 1991 — Mexican Mafia members residing in California state prison at Oxford kill AB gang leader Danny “The Duke” Sammons.
June 12, 1991 — La Eme enforcer Joe “Colorado Red” Ariaz is convicted of one count of first-degree murder in the death of Daniel Arriaga. The jury failed to reach a verdict on the charge relating to the death of Salvador Barrasa.
July 16, 1991 — La Eme soldier Salvador “Mon Mon” Buenrostro is stabbed 26 times in an interview room at the Los Angeles County Jail by Benjamin “Topo” Peters and Rene “Boxer” Enriquez. Buenrostro was attacked for causing dissension within the group. It was rumored that Mon Mon made negative comments about La Eme Godfather Joe Morgan.
August 8, 1991 — La Eme enforcer Joe “Colorado Red” Ariaz is sentenced to serve 29 years to life in state prison.
1991 — La Eme founder Luis “Huero Buff” Flores dies of a heroin overdose
1992 — Sherriff’s Deputy Edward Roman is stabbed in the Los Angeles County jail by a suspected La Eme member armed with the sharpened end of a broom handle. Deputies found a 4-inch metal shank hidden in the rectum of La Eme associate Eulalio Martinez, who is later killed for failing to carry out attacks against deputies at the county jail well enough.
March 15, 1992 — American Me, a film about Mexican Mafia founding fathers Joe “Pegleg” Morgan and Rudy “Cheyenne” Cadena is released starring and directed by Edward James Olmos. The film offends Morgan and a contract is issued to eliminate Olmos and Eme members who served as advisors on the project.
March 25, 1992 — Charles “Charlie Brown” Manriquez a 53 year old La Eme veteran, is gunned down while walking through Ramona Gardens. Manriquez had served as an advisor to Olmos during the filming of American Me and authorities recovered an American Me business card from one of his pockets.
May 13, 1992 — Ana “The Gang Lady” Lizarraga, a Ramona Gardens gang counselor and consultant on the film American Me, is gunned down by La Eme enforcer. Jose “Joker” Gonzales. The 29 year old Gonzales was apprehended fleeing the scene of the crime.
February 6, 1993 — La Eme soldier Jose “U-Dog” Uribe, set to be a govt. witness, is stabbed 37 times in his cell in the high security wing of the Los Angeles County Jail. Jorge Lopez and Joaquin Alvarado committed the murder to curry favor with the Mexican mafia who had labeled Uribe an informant.
March 12, 1993 — LA Eme member Regino “The Bull” Deharo, South Ontario gang banger and recent parolee is captured after a 50 mile televised chase which includes a car jacking and several shots fired from the carjacked vehicle. The event started when Deharo, Robert Garcia and Jesus Ochoa bungled a robbery at a home in Pomona. During the televised chase Deharo wounded officer Roger Matthews in a shootout.
Winter 1993 — Mexican mafia shot caller David “Smiley” Gallardo from Big Hazard increases the amount of tax the members of the Hazard crew are required to pay as punishment for needlessly harassing customers. His demand is met with resistance from several Hazard gang members particularly Ricardo “Joker” Gonzalez and Humberto “Capone” Madrigal.
August 7, 1993 – La Eme soldier, Manuel “Rocky” Luna, is killed for his American Me consultancy.
October 26, 1993 — La Eme Godfather Joseph “Pegleg” Morgan is diagnosed with inoperable cancer. He is transferred from Pelican Bay to the prison hospital ward at Corcoran.
November 9, 1993 — Mexican Mafia Godfather Joe “Pegleg” Morgan dies of liver cancer at the age of 64. Morgan had spent his last days in the prison hospital ward at Corcoran State prison
Novwmber 17, 1993 – Mexican Mafia OG Benjamin “Topo” Peters replaces Morgan as La Eme Godfather. Peters is soon challenged for control of the organization by Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez.
December 5, 1993 — La Eme soldier Ricardo “Rascal” Gonzalez is found stabbed to death.
December 1993 – Orange County La Eme boss Peter “The Fury” Ojeda aka “Sana” is busted in Operation Green Ice on weapons charges.
January 8, 1994 — Mexican Mafia lieutenant Humberto “Capone” Madrigal comes under gunfire and is severely wounded near the Ramona Gardens housing project. Madrigal initially identifies “Smiley” Gallardo as his assailant but later retracts his statement.
February 13, 1994 — La Eme enforcers “Smiley” Gallardo and Juan “China Boy” Arias engage in a gun battle with Richie and Lalo Soriano. Both Soriano brothers were severely wounded and Arias suffered a wound to his hand.
March 1994 — Feared La Eme assassin Ernesto “Chuco” Castro begins cooperating with authorities leading to the arrest of almost two dozen major Mexican Mafia members in the coming months.
April 15, 1995 — La Eme Godfather Benjamin “Topo” Peters ends the conflict between “Smiley” Gallardo and the Big Hazard clique, arranging a peace agreement between the two warring factions.
April 22, 1995 — La Eme defector Anthony “Ditto” Moreno and 4 members of his family are killed.
May 1, 1995 — Because of Chuco Castro’s cooperation, the feds indict 22 members and associates of the Mexican Mafia RICO charges including, Benjamin “Topo” Peters, Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez, Raymond “Huero Shy” Shyrock, Michael “Musclehead” Salinas, David “Smiley” Gallardo, Sammy “Black Sam” Villalaba, Richard “Little Smiley” Gutierrez, Juan “China Boy” Arias, Alex “Pee Wee” Aguirre, Antonio “Little Tony” Rodriquez, Ray “Champ” Mendez, Randy “Cowboy” Therrien, Daniel “Black Dan” Barela, Jesse “Baldy” Moreno, Victor “Big Vic” Murillo, Joe “Shakey” Hernandez, Reuben “Night Owl” Castro & George “G-Rock” Bustamante.
June 6, 1995 — Benjamin “Topo” Peters and Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez, the top two defendants in the case, plead not guilty.
September 21, 1995 — La Eme’s Avenue Gang boss Vince “The Cigar” Caldera is arrested in the murder of 3 year Stephanie Kuhen. Her family had taken a wrong turn down an East L.A. street and was caught in a barrage of gang gunfire. Avenues Gang members Anthony Rodriquez, Manuel Rosales and Hugo Gomez are also charged in the case and all eventually convicted in the case.
October 20, 1995 — La Eme’s San Bernardino boss Phillip “Chano” Chavez, his cousin Patricio Rocha and Margie Martinez are shot to death by Ernie “Leche” Carillo in retaliation for Chano ordering the death of his nephew.
November 24, 1995 — La Eme soldier Ernie Joe “Leche” Carillo is murdered in retaliation for the slaying of the group’s San Bernardino shot caller Phillip “Chano” Chavez and two of his relatives the previous month.
December 27, 1995 — La Eme associates Ignacio
November 20, 1996 — The “La Eme Trial” begins in federal court in Los Angeles.
December 22, 1996 — Former La Eme hitman Johnny Torres enters testimony regarding the rules and regulations imposed on its members by the Mexican mafia.
March 23, 1997 — Former La Eme assassin Ernesto “Chuco” Castro wraps up his testimony in the La Eme trial.
May 12, 1997 — La Eme soldier Salvador “Mon Mon” Buenrostro appears as a defense witness in the Mexican Mafia trial. Buenrostro, an inmate at Pelican Bay, testifies that his stabbing at the Los Angeles County Jail by Topo Peters and Boxer Enriquez stemmed from a personal dispute not intra-gang politics.
May 29, 1997 —Federal prosecutors earn convictions on all but one of the 22-co-defendants in the La Eme Trial; Benjamin “Topo” Peters, Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez, Alex “Pee Wee” Aguirre, “Shaky Joe” Hernandez, Daniel “Black Dan” Barela, Raymond “Huero Shy” Shyrock, David “Smiley” Gallardo, Juan “China Boy” Arias, Reuben “Night Owl” Castro, Randy “Cowboy” Therrien, Raymond “Champ” Mendez and Jesse “Baldy” Moreno are all convicted. Only Victor “Victorio Uno” Murillo is acquitted in the case.
July 12, 1997 — Placentia resident Paul Fix is shot to death during a robbery by La Eme member Robert “Gypsy” Cervantes.
September 2, 1997 — David “Smiley” Gallardo and Randy ” Cowboy” Therrien are sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Gallardo received and additional 300 months in addition to the life sentence.
September 3, 1997 — Benjamin “Topo” Peters, Raymond “Huero Shy” Shyrock, Reuben “Night Owl” Castro are sentenced to life in prison without parole. Juan “China Boy” Arias (27) is sentenced to 32 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew stated he was giving Arias a break due to his youth. Judge Lew later sentenced Reuben “Tupi” Hernandez to his fourth life term. Drawing the lightest sentences were Daniel “Black Dan” Barela and Jesse “Baldy” Moreno and “Shaky Joe” Hernandez received 32- year terms.
September 5, 1997 — Judge Lew sentences Raymond “Champ” Mendez and Alex “Pee Wee” Aguirre to life sentences.
September 12, 1997 — A San Diego drug ring run by incarcerated Mexican Mafia shot caller Frank “Chino” Madriaga is broken up by police
September 27, 1997 — La Eme hit man Reuben “El Diablo” Gomez is charged with robbery and six counts of murder that occurred in a three-month span and tied to failed Mexican Mafia extortion payments.
October 25, 1997 — La Eme hit man Jimmy “Character” Palma is stabbed to death on Death Row by fellow inmates.
January 7, 1998 — Mexican Mafia shot caller Luis “Baldy” Maciel is sentenced to death for ordering the murder of Anthony “Ditto” Moreno and 4 members of his family.
April 4, 1998 — Mexican Mafia lieutenant Victor “Vic Uno“ Murillo, the lone La Eme Trial co-defendant acquitted in the case, is shot dead by La Eme member Charles “Chacho” Woody in Visalia.
May 1, 1998 — Seven-year old Mindy Flores is gunned down in her living room as shots intended for her sister’s boyfriend, Armando “Izod” Ibarra, go astray. Ibarra was under suspicion of providing information against an incarcerated La Eme member that is suspected of green lighting his murder.
November 19, 1998 — La Eme associates Richard Serrano, Jose Gutierrez and Enrique Delgadillo were shot to death on the order of Mexican Mafia shot caller Mariano “Chuy” Martinez in a Montebello auto shop owned by Serrano.
January 7, 1999 — Northside L.A. drug dealer Mike “The Hat” Hutto is shot as he stood in the doorway of a home in Colton. La Eme affiliates Edward & Anthony Hernandez from the Northside Colton clique are named as the prime suspects. Hutto had shortchanged them in a drug deal. The Hernandez brothers answered to La Eme shotcaller Mark “Turtle” Quiroz.
January 10, 1999 — Mexican Mafia associates Arthur Flores and Joseph Caldera are found shot to death within two blocks of one another on Arrowhead Avenue in San Bernardino. Brothers Edward and Anthony Hernandez are named as the prime suspects. Arthur Flores was killed hours after he was taken into custody for questioning in the shooting of Mike “The Hat” Hutto.
January 19, 1999 — La Eme affiliates Edward and Anthony Hernandez are sentenced to 3 consecutive life sentences in state prison for three murders.
February 2, 1999 — The feds indict 12 Mexican Mafia members for drugs and racketeering out of L.A.: Frank “Sapo” Fernandez, Jesse “Shady” Detevis , Juan “Topo” Garcia, Marcel “Psycho” Arevalo and Daniel “Sporty” Bravo, were the highest ranking of those arrested in the case.
July 1, 1999 — A second major federal drug and racketeering indictment in six months aimed at the Mexican Mafia is filed in L.A. Those arrested included, Gerardo “Blanco” Jacobo, Crispin “Rabbit” Alvidrez, Fernando “Buddy” Alvidrez, Mario “Whisper” Castillo, Rolando “Rolo” Ontiveros, Dominick “Solo” Gonzalez, Carlos “Cheeks” Aguilar, Reuben “Toker” Rojas and Joe “Inch” Annet as well as Sally Peters [wife of La Eme Godfather “Topo” Peters].
September 1, 1999 — La Eme soldier Jesse “Worm” Chavez and two others are arrested for the murder of Mindy Flores and the attempted murder of Armando “Izod” Ibarra.
February 21, 2000 — The Mexican Mafia organizes a riot in Pelican Bay Prison pitting its southern allies against Black inmates.
April 13, 2000 — San Diego La Eme shot caller Frank “Chino” Madriaga is convicted on drug and extortion charges.
July 9, 2000 — The Dead Presidents Massacre: San Bernardino street gang bosses John “Loco Johnny” Agudo, his brother Gilbert “Gibby” Agudo, Anthony “Ant Dawg” Luna and his brother, Marcellino “Spooky” Luna are killed for allegedly plotting a takeover of the Inland Empire drug trade ran by La Eme shot caller Salvador “The Bull” Hernandez and the belief that Agudo was informing on Hernandez. The murders came three days after Agudo had been released from prison.
July 17, 2000 — San Diego La Eme shot caller Frank “Chino” Madriaga is sentenced to 29 years and four months in his drug and extortion case.
September 8, 2000 — In SAN BERNARDINO, 11 members and associates of the Mexican Mafia are arrested in the Inland Empire: Antonio Hernandez, Santos Hernandez, Adolph Moraga, Sadie Ramirez, Judy Alvarado, Paul Flores, Monica Rodriquez, Alfredo Valdez, Raul Ramirez, Alfonzo Aguila and Danny Hanks are charged with operating a drug ring with connections to a Mexican cartel.
October 6, 2000 — La Eme Arizona shot caller Alfred “Chato” Sandoval, the highest-ranking Mexican Mafia member on Death Row in California, has his death sentence for the murder of Marlene Wells overturned by the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Sandoval came to California and went on a killing spree in 1984.
October 24, 2000 — Mexican Mafia crew bosses Frank “Sapo” Fernandez, Jimmy “Draino” Sanchez, Robert “Gypsy” Cervantes, Dominick “Solo” Gonzalez and Roy “Spider” Gavaldon, are convicted of racketeering. Sally Peters, ailing La Eme Godfather Topo Peters’ wife, is found guilty in the case, too.
November 26, 2000 — The racketeering trial of La Eme street boss Mariano “Chuy” Martinez begins in Los Angeles federal court. Martinez was Topo Peters’ proxy and boots on the ground outside prison walls.
January 6, 2001 — Mexican Mafia figures Robert “Gypsy” Cervantes and David “Reseda Slim” Gonzales-Contreras are sentenced to life in federal prison without parole for murder and racketeering.
January 7, 2001 – The state of California orders La Eme shot caller Robert “Gypsy” Cervantes is ordered moved from state prison to a federal facility to break his influence in the Mexican Mafia.
February 2001 — Mexican Mafia Godfather Benjamin “Topo” Peters dies of cancer at the age of 60. Peters had taken over La Eme boss duties from Joe “Pegleg” Morgan less than a decade earlier. La Eme’s Orange County boss Peter “The Fury” Ojeda is alleged to have replaced Peters as Godfather.
February 8, 2001 — Petra Celia Gonzales, the wife of La Eme leader Fred “Sapo” Gonzales, is arrested as the head of a mail-fraud ring from her Palmdale home.
February 15, 2001 — La Eme street boss Mariano “Chuy” Martinez is convicted of racketeering charges after 26 days of deliberation by the jury.
March 2001 — La Eme enforcer Mike “The Hatchet” Ison is beaten to death outside a pool hall near San Francisco’s skid row.
March 29, 2001 — Mexican Mafia affiliates Anthony Angulo and Ricky Camacho are convicted of killing Genaro Martinez, the brother of a high ranking La Eme member Eulalio “Lalo” Martinez.
March 30, 2001 — First degree murder charges are filed against La Eme lieutenant Jose “Clever” Sanchez for his role in planning a riot at Pelican Bay Prison which pitted southern Latino inmates against black inmates. La Eme member Miguel “Sharky” Sanchez was killed in the riot when a correctional officer opened fire on the rioting inmates on
April 30, 2001 — La Eme soldier Catarino “Termite” Gonzalez Jr. goes on trial for the 1998 murder of LAPD officer Phil Cuesta.
November 26, 2001 — Former Mexican Mafia enforcer John “Stranger” Turscak is sentenced to 30 years in prison for crimes committed while he was an FBI informant.
November 28, 2001 — La Eme associated gang members ambush three L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputies in the Inmate Reception Center downtown Los Angeles.
December 10, 2001 — La Eme affiliate Antonio Haro slashes the neck of L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy Chris Varela at the inmate reception center at the Los Angeles County Jail. The attack was ordered by the Mexican Mafia leaders in response to a crackdown by jail officials who became suspicious of a large number of high-ranking La Eme figures called as character witnesses in a court case in Los Angeles.
March 21, 2002 — The racketeering trial of Mexican Mafia shot caller Frank “Pancho Villa” Martinez (Columbia lil’ Psychos clique of the 18th street gang) begins.
March 22, 2002 — Mexican Mafia enforcer and shot caller Rene “Boxer” Enriquez agrees to debrief with the feds and the California State Police, effectively ending his reign as one of La Eme’s most feared and respected leaders.
June 9, 2002 — La Eme street boss Mariano “Chuy” Martinez is sentenced to life without parole plus 130 years in federal prison for his role in directing the Mexican Mafia’s activity in Los Angeles on behalf of Godfather Benjamin “Topo” Peters.
December 13, 2002 — La Eme shot caller Anthony ‘Coco’ Zaragoza (18th Street) is sentenced to life in federal prison for racketeering.
January 2, 2003 — Former La Eme lieutenant, Jesus “Gizmo” Rochin, the former No. 3 man in Chuy Martinez’s crew, is sentenced to 12 years in prison for racketeering, attempted murder, assault and narcotics conspiracy. Rochin became a prosecution witness to avoid a life term.
February 4, 2003 — Mexican Mafia shot caller Francisco ‘Puppet’ Martinez (McArthur Park) is sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years after being convicted of racketeering and murder.
February 19, 2003 — La Eme lieutenant Max “Mono” Torvisco is sentenced to 10 years in federal prison as part of a plea agreement in the Chuy Martinez case. Torvisco will have to serve 85% of his time before becoming parole eligible.
June 08, 2004 — Mexican Mafia affiliate Ricardo “Rock” Marquez pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute 33,000 tablets of ecstasy drug and possessing an unregistered automatic rifle. Marquez is the brother of imprisoned La Eme lieutenant Alberto “The Bat” Marquez and the narcotics operation was done in coordination with a Mexican drug cartel.
August 20, 2004 — Part of La Eme’s “Avenues Gang” crew, led by Gilbert “Lucky” Saldana, Merced “Shadow” Cambrero, Alexjandro “Bird Man” Martinez and Fernando “Freaky” Cazares are charged with federal weapons and civil rights violations in the racially-motivated killing of African-American Kenny Wilson
December 20, 2004 — An investigation looking into the financial dealings of the Mexican Mafia is launched after San Diego La Eme leader Frank “Chino” Madriaga amasses $40,000 in his inmate account; a portion of which he shared with La Eme leaders at Pelican Bay Prison.
January 27, 2005 — The feds drop Operation La Mano Negro and take down 37 members and associates of the La Eme’s San Diego crew.
June 16, 2005 — La Eme Godfather Peter “The Fury” Ojeda and 22 members of his Orange County crew and another 18 members of the Mexican Mafia’s Santa Ana crew are indicted on federal racketeering and drug charges.
June 17, 2006 — Three dozen members of La Eme’s San Diego crew are indicted on federal drug charges.
Oct. 29, 2007 — The Mexican Mafia’s No. 2 man in the Coachella Valley, Tony “Lolo” Gonzalez-Rodriguez, is arraigned on drug-trafficking charges in a Riverside, CA. courtroom.
February 21, 2008 – La Eme enforcer Danny “Clever” Leon is shot to death in machine gun battle. Leon was the leader of the Drew Street crew. Earlier that day, Mexican Mafia member and Avenues gang leader Marcos “Little Robot” Salas is assassinated, his 2-year old granddaughter is shot too.
June 5, 2008 — Imprisoned Mexican mafia leader Alberto “The Bat” Marquez and San Diego La Eme affiliates, Brian “Dusty” Smith, Juan “Manny Fresh” Velarde, Marco “Cobra” Corrado, Ruben “Rally” Santos, Rolando “Rolo” Montemayor and Jorge “Pedro Bombas” Lopez-Hernandez are indicted in federal court. The indictment charges that the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute Methamphetamine.. Authorities charged Marquez with orchestrating a methamphetamine deal 3 months after authorities extradited him from a Mexico city maximum security prison and lodged him in an federal facility near San Diego. All the defendants used their ties and influence over San Diego street gangs to further their criminal activities.
June 25, 2008 – Feds indict 32 Drew Street Gang leaders/members, including boss Francisco “Pancho” Real.
August 2, 2008 – LA Sherriff Deputy Juan Escalante is murdered by Mexican Mafia member Carlos “Stoney” Velasquez in front of Escalante’s Cypress Park residence
August 7, 2008 — Mexican Mafia shot caller Ruben “Night Owl” Castro attempts to withdraw his guilty plea to federal drug and racketeering charges. Prosecutors allege that Castro ran two branches of a Los Angeles La Eme faction from behind bars serving a life sentence in Colorado for a 1997 racketeering conviction.
August 12, 2008 — A jury ordered the death penalty for two La Eme members Luis “Little Maldito” Mendoza and Lorenzo “Lilo” Arias in the Dead Presidents Massacre case. Both were part of the 7th Street Locos crew under Mexican Mafia shot caller Salvador “The Bull” Herandez. The case was viewed as an example of how Mexican Mafia influence has forced some Latino street gangs to turn on their own members.
August 15, 2008 — Mexican Mafia member Juvenal “Juice” Vega-Soto was sentenced to a life prison term for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Vega-Soto was one of 35 people convicted in the conspiracy, which involved two murders, extortion, robberies and large-scale wholesale narcotics trafficking.
August 28, 2008 — Mexican Mafia San Bernardino shot caller Salvador “The Bull” Hernandez and his brother Alfred “Alley Boy” Hernandez sa sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for their role in a murder conspiracy case. Both pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder with a gang enhancement.
September 9, 2008 — Mexican Mafia San Bernardino lieutenants, Luis “Little Mandolito” Mendoza and Lorenzo “Lilo” Arias of the Seventh Street Gang both received the death penalty for the four gangland murders known as the Dead Presidents Massacre in July 2004. The murders were committed on the order La Eme shotcaller Salvador “The Bull” Hernandez.
September 11, 2008 — La Eme affiliates Ricardo “Ricky Ricardo” Polanco and Arthur “OGA” Garcia received sentences of 50 and 55 years to life for the murder of Mexican Mafia soldier Frankie “Frankie B” Buelna in 2005. Buelna’s hit was green lit by longtime Eme enforcer Darryl “Ontario D” Castrejon for collecting taxes in his area without authorization.
September 17, 2008 — La Eme female affiliate Janette Amaya, a tax collector for Inland Empire shotcaller Salvador “The Bull” Hernandez, received a six-year prison term after pleading no contest to a charge of transporting heroin for sale. Amaya also pled no contest to charges of violating probation in cases involving real-estate fraud and drug transportation. Amaya was convicted of the special circumstance of being a gang member and was alledged to have “recruited females to run guns and drugs and do other business for the Mexican Mafia.
September 24, 2008 — Mexican Mafia shot caller Salvador “The Bull” Hernandez and his brother Alfred “Alley Boy” Hernandez are named as co-defendants in a 50-million dollar civil lawsuit. The alleged victim, Leonard Epps, asserted that the Hernandez brothers and their associates engaged in a conspiracy to commit murder, negligence and intentional infliction of mental distress.
October 2, 2008 — La Eme enforcer Albert “Spanky” Amaya, is sentenced to 25 years to life in an extortion case. Spanky Amaya was one of Mexican Mafia San Bernardino shot caller Salvador “The Bull” Hernandez’s main tax collectors. Hernandez himself is sentenced to serve a mandatory 25 years to life sentence under the “three strikes law” for his role accepting shakedown cash from Amaya.
November 18, 2008 — After the judge rejects his motion to have his guilty plea thrown off the books, Mexican Mafia shot caller Ruben “Nite Owl” Castro, is sentenced to 27 years in federal prison. Despite his recantation, he had admitted to running a criminal enterprise from his maximum-security cell in Florence, Colorado, using his influence to enforce tax payments on drug, fruit and ice cream sales as well as winnings and table time for chess players in McArthur Park. Castro was already serving three consecutive life sentences after a 1997 conviction on racketeering and conspiracy.
December 8, 2008 — Bosses of La Eme’s 18th Street gang are named in a lawsuit filed by Los Angeles city attorney Rock Delgadillo demanding civil damages on behalf of residents of two Los Angeles neighborhoods. According to the suit, proceeds from the suit “if successful,” would be returned to the neighborhoods in question: The Mexican Mafia leaders named in the suit are Sergio “Tricky” Pantoja, Frank “Puppet” Martinez, Araceli “Traviesa” Bravo, Michael “Mousie” Pineda, Jose Juan “Wicked” Alvarez, Noe “Lil Duster” Chavez, Efrain “Dandy Boy” Ruiz Torres, Jose “Toro” Morales Perez and Ruben “Nite Owl” Castro.
January 12, 2009 — Ten Mexican Mafia members from Florencia 13 are convicted on multiple counts of drug and weapons charges. The case featured several news accounts of Florencia 13 gang members targeting blacks in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood on the order of La Eme shot caller Arturo “AC” Castellanos. According to prosecutors, Florencia members began an ethnic cleansing process after receiving the order from Castellanos in 2004. The race-based order is just one of many which filtered from the California prison system into the streets in the immediate aftermath of the 1992 gang truce and L.A. riots.
January 16, 2009 — LA Eme San Diego shot caller Raul “Huero Sherm” Leon, one of the most highly regarded members of the Mexican Mafia in the state of California, was sentenced in federal court to life without parole by U.S. District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw. Already serving a life sentence for murder, Leon pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in connection with a 2006 federal indictment charging 36 members of La Eme with various crimes. Part of Leon’s plea agreement includes an admission from Leon that he took part in the 2002 murder of Jabilla Barragan at High Desert State Prison in Susanville; He also admitted being a member of the Mexican Mafia and conspiring to distribute drugs and launder money from Pelican Bay State Prison.
January 27, 2009 — La Eme Pomona shot caller Daryl “Ontario D” Castrejon failed to appear at a court hearing for the first time in three years. It was initially believed that Castrejon had been arrested on a cold case murder January 24 but a check with local and federal authorities found this to have been a matter of speculation. Speculation ran wild as to the whereabouts of the La eme veteran, yet nothing concrete ever materialized.
February 13, 2009 — The feds file Operation Gangland and ensnare San Diego Mexican Mafia members Patrick “Pat-O” Ponce, Mauricio “Psycho” Mendez, Ernest “Criminal” Soqui, Phillip “Chino” McMillen, Arcadio “Mugsy” Nieto, Ruben “Espano” Rivas, Garrett “Chino” Estock, Ernest “Dopey” Lampley, Rosario “Chaio” Mercado, Melvin “Casper” Berg, Rodolfo “Crazy” Lopez, Gerardo “Pirate” Canela, Eduardo “Funny” Macias, Jorge “Blue” Lerma-Duenas and Jesus “Joker” Rodriquez for conspiracy.
June 25, 2009 – The feds hit San Bernardino shot caller Salvador “The Bull” Rodriguez’s wife, Jeanette, and others in the “Westside Vertugo” crew in an 18 count indictment.
September 22, 2009 – The LAPD’s “T.O.U.G.H” Unit, in conjunction with the FBI, DEA and ATF, arrest 88 La Eme affiliates in the Avenues Gang. The No. 1 defendant in the case is fast-rising Mexican Mafia shot caller Rudy “Little Psycho” Aguirre.
March 25, 2010 – The feds earn guilty pleas from the bulk of La Eme’s San Diego crew in Operation Gangland.
July 13, 2011 – Operation Black Flag hits and ensnares 100 Orange County La Eme soldiers, lieutenants and shot callers, including Mexican Mafia Godfather Peter “The Fury” Ojeda, in a federal drug and racketeering case. Ojeda feuds with his one-time protege, Armando “Little Mondo” Moreno for power in Orange County.
January 25, 2012 – The DEA’s Operation Notorious County and the ATFs Operation 12 Step combine into another sweeping bust of the San Diego La Eme crew, now led by Rudy “Crazy” Espudo.
April 1, 2012 – La Eme female affiliate Juanita Carillo-Ortiz is killed inside a Tijuana, Mexico hotel room for bad mouthing La Eme boss Peter “The Fury” Ojeda.
August 23, 2012 – The feds drop Operation Crystal Light out of Pomona, netting 27 La Eme members and associates, including shot caller Jose “Tokie” Barron.
November 28, 2012 – The feds indict two and a half dozen Ventura County La Eme members and associates, including shot caller Martin “Evil” Madigral.
May 23, 2013 – La Eme San Diego crew boss Rudy “Crazy” Espudo pleads guilty to drug and racketeering
August 6, 2013 – La Eme L.A. County Jail shot caller Jose “The Fox” Rodriguez Landa and several lieutenants, including Michael “Boo” Moreno, Fred “Fast Freddy” Montoya, Luis “Little Louie” Vega, Manuel “Cricket” Jackson, James “Rube” Soto, Ray “Loco” Lozano, Sonia “Shorty” Apodaca and Claudia “Giggles” Garcia are all indicted on federal racketeering charges.
September 24, 2013 – The feds drop Operation Smoking Aces and arrest 130 La Emes in Orange County on racketeering and drug charges. George “Monk” Martinez was the No. 1 defendant in the case and reported directly to Mexican Mafia Godfather Pete “The Fury” Ojeda in prison.
October 21, 2013 – La Eme’s Avenues Street Gang boss, Rudy “Lil’ Psycho” Aguirre, sentenced to 25 years in prison for drugs and racketeering in state court.
January 27, 2014 – Mexican Mafia affiliates, Armando “Mad Mondo” Barajas and Juan “Nitro” Gill of La Eme’s Black Angels set in Ontario are convicted in a federal racketeering case.
August 28, 2014 – The feds drop Operation Wicked Hand on the Mexican Mafia’s Ventura County clique. The No. 1 defendant in the bust is La Eme’s Simi Valley shot caller Edwin “Wicked Eddie” Mora.
June 18, 2015 – The feds indict 15 members of Northeast L.A. La Eme shot caller Arnold “Frogtown Arnie” Gonzales’ crew in Operation Gig’em, including his street boss, Jorge “Bouncer” Gray. Gonzales had forged a peace treaty between warring factions of the Mexican Mafia in L.A. County.
January 13, 2016 – La Eme Godfather and Orange County shot caller Peter “The Fury” Ojeda is found guilty in federal court for a myriad of racketeering offenses.
May 13, 2016 — Mexican Mafia soldier Hector “The Parakeet” Velasquez is shot to death in Paramount, California over a beef with La Eme shot callers related to extortion collections. Velasquez was a member of the South Central L.A. La Eme faction known as the 155th Street Gang.
May 25, 2016 – La Eme Godfather and Orange County shot caller Peter “The Fury” Ojeda is found guilty for a second time in six months, this time in state court.
June 14, 2016 – The feds file Operation Froglegs and ensnare La Eme’s Whittier shot caller Jose “The Pumpkin” Loza, as well as 50 other Mexican Mafia members and associates from across Whittier, Stockton, Riverside and Sante Fe Springs, for drugs, murder and racketeering.
November 20, 2016 — Mexican Mafia soldier Mario “Snaps’ Chavarria is gunned down in Compton. Chavarria was one of the leaders of La Eme’s 155th Street Gang in South Central L.A. and was beefing with La Eme bosses over shakedown territory in South Central.
July 14, 2017 – The feds drop Operation Emero and nail San Diego La Eme shot caller Alberto “The Bat” Marquez.
February 28, 2018 – The feds land another sweeping racketeering indictment against La Eme’s San Diego crew; There are 37 San Diego Mexican Mafia members and associates, including high-ranking La Eme figures, Adrian “Bandit” Gomez, Robert “Sleepy” Gonzales and Colin “Frosty” Jones.
October 2018 – La Eme Godfather Peter “The Fury” Ojeda dies in surgery while serving a 15-year federal prison sentence for racketeering at age 76. Power in Orange County is passed to Johnny “The Crow” Ortiz.
May 2, 2018 – The feds file Operation Dirty Thirds targeting the Mexican Mafia’s Santa Ana crew; There are 85 La Eme shot callers, members and associates indicted in the case. The top two defendants in the bust were Jose “The Fox” Rodriguez Landa and his street boss Luis “Little Louie” Vega.
March 2, 2020 – La Eme’s Whittier shot caller Jose “The Pumpkin” Loza is sentenced to life for the murder and racketeering.
June 11, 2020 – La Eme Southeast L.A. shot caller Danny “Popeye” Roman is assassinated in prison.
June 22, 2020 – LA Eme member Ramon “Razor” Alvarez is sentenced to 17 years in prison for drugs and racketeering in charges stemming from the Operation Smoking Aces case.
January 11, 2021 – Former La Eme enforcer Sam “Blackie” Villalba is murdered in Long Beach. Villalba was kicked out of the Mexican Mafia for putting his hands on La Eme shot caller James “Rube” Soto. He was linked to the American Me murders.
September 14, 2021 – Former La Eme enforcer Oscar “The Scar” Moriel commits suicide in Huntington Beach, CA. weeks away from turning himself in to serve a prison sentence on a gun and ammo case. Moriel was one of the star witnesses against Le Eme Godfather Peter “The Fury” Ojeda at the Operation Black Flag trial.
October 15, 2021 – La Eme’s Pomona shot caller Michael “Big Mike” Lerma is charged for ordering a summer 2020 jailhouse murder of a prisoner over a drug debt.
November 19, 2021 – Excommunicated Mexican Mafia member Donnie “Lil’ Man” Ortiz is shot to death on a street corner in Chino.