While not as strong as it used to be in earlier years due to affiliated gangs dropping out of the alliance, Folk Nation is still prominent in drug trafficking, homicide, theft, burglary, and extortion. The current Mexican Mafia of Texas was formed in the Texas Prison System in 1984 to protect the Hispanic inmates of the Texas Prison System from the Texas Syndicate. App., 2008) On Dec. 21, 2006, Texas Syndicate members are arrested for the contract killing of Julio A. Serrano. They were founded in Nigeria over a decade ago, but now operate in several African countries. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Prison systems monitor the gang activity within the facilities and continue to identify new symbols for the gangs. According to the United States Department of Justice, prison gangs play an important role in the transportation and distribution of narcotics for drug trafficking organizations. Like any good criminal organization, there is an interesting ritual for all new members, although there are some variations for different chapters. google_ad_client = "pub-4036751848030958"; 13 gangs and cartels that are working together in Texas, Source: 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment, via the National Gang Intelligence Center; 2017 National Gang Report Survey. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): History, Role & Purpose, What is a Federal Supermax Prison? The National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC) has reported that gang membership has been on the rise due to an increase in drug trafficking opportunities, collaborations between different gangs, and aggressive recruiting tactics. Cassiano also was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit violent crime in aid of racketeering for his role in the murder of Jose Guadalupe de la Garza and the November 9, 2009, murder of Jesse James Polanco in Uvalde. A Guard in Gangland - Texas Monthly ISIS calls euphemistically calls this process "marriage"and in many cases, the thought of joining the group is less horrifying for a victim than having to explain to family members what happened. Sources:NY Post, Free Republic, Vice, LA Times, PBS, VOA News, Daily Caller, Boston.com, International Business Times. Once a gang member is initiated, the recruit is under a blood in blood out oath whereas, they typically make a cut on their arm to symbolize their blood in, and that their only way to leave the gang is death, either from murder from a rival gang, or death for treason. Their initiation ritual for new recruits includes a pledge but also a bath in a mixture of goat's blood, urine, and tripe. That beating often takes the form of "running the gauntlet," in which a recruit is forced to run between two lines of members who are armed withwellwhatever weapons they can get their hands on. Texas Syndicate cocaine trafficker returns to prison for over 10 years Throughout the 1990s, many affiliated gangs broke away from the People Nation alliance to become neutral parties or form new alliances. Texas Syndicate moved into Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prisons and . They keep a low profile, so the inmates who are part of the gang aren't as easily identified as the other prison gang members. The Texas Syndicate (or Syndicato Tejano) is a mostly Texas-based prison gang that includes Hispanic and at one time White members (The organization at one time did allow non-Hispanic members to join, but that policy was repealed in the 1980s). While the Texas Syndicate is primarily a prison-based gang, they have many members who operate on the outside. Additionally, a sombrero with a dagger can symbolize NF members. EME killings are extremely gruesome and calculated to establish fear and intimidation. Plain and simple, many young people trying to get into this group are instructed to kill a member of a rival gang. College Fraternities are a basis of social support and are a useful means of college students to feel part of a group and not isolated from other college students. AB members, suspects, and associates in the federal prisons were responsible for 26 homicides. The Gulf and Los Zetas cartels have hubs in Dallas, Houston and Laredo. Gang initiation is determined either by a formula system, whereas if the member completes all the requirements (which sometimes include killing another person) and the other basic requirements (such as race, ethnicity etc), they are automatically initiated. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The street gangs typically act as drug-dealing retailers for the Mexican cartels, who focus more on smuggling narcotics and distributing to various hubs around the country. Federal, state and local authorities have arrested 17 members and associates of the Texas Syndicate in connection with a methamphetamine/heroin trafficking operation in central Texas announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, and Gonzales . As the organization grew, it rapidly changed into a criminal organization involved in extortion, narcotics trafficking, and murder both inside and outside the prison system walls. Within the prison system, there is a widely agreed upon initiation requirement, and it is that a new recruit must kill someone. Most gangs will just have their way with female members (referred to as s*xed-in) who want to join.