I really like the book, i was not expecting to read about the trails but overall it was a good book. I read the bood in a week and i would read it again.

"The Mexican Mafia", Tony Rafael, NY, Encounter Books, 2007, ISBN: -13: 978-1-5 9403-195-3-, HC, 362 (372) pgs. Includes Introd. 6 pg., Contents 1 pg., & Prologue 4 pg., & chart of 37 Eme members, associates, workers, etc., & Index 10 pgs. 9 1/4" x 6 1/2".

A writer based in Los Angeles with a decade of active gangland researching via live interviews with gang members gives his revealing accounting of the history of Hispanic gangs, the Mexican Mafia, and the methodology used by law in securing convictions for murder, thievery and drug sales.

The author gives a skillful chronicle of the rise of the Hispanic Gangs and the formation of the Mexican Mafia in Los Angeles and how the initial attempts to suppress gang activity actually led to its dispersion throughout the penal system. We are introduced to the lifestyle of the gangs, their activities including the names of the more prominent gangs in Greater Los Angeles, as the "Avenues" of Highland Park, a collection of 2nd and 3rds generation Mexicans.

We learn, for example that Mexican Mafia, La Mafia Mexicana, or simply "Eme" (Spanish pronunciation of the letter "M"), was the brain-child of Luis "Huero" Buff Flores, member of the Hawaiian Gardens (California) Street Gang, in 1957. His idea was to create a "super gang" of institutionalized criminal inmates within the California Department of Corrections, beginning with Deuel Vocational Institution (DVI) in Tracy, CA where new inmates are sent for evaluation before final disposition for incarceration. Strict rules were made and membership involved "blood in" and "blood out", hierarchy of rules on "signing", tattoos, drug running and collecting taxes, pimping, homosexuality, doing drugs, etc. and those "green lighting" rules on executing others as for 'ratting', etc.

Missing, unfortunately, are several simple inveiglements that would have added much clarity to the book such as maps of the gangs' territories and depicting those zones where many of the murders took place. There is too much redundancy and wordiness in the later chapters that should have been easily deleted without injuring the story, suggesting an inconvenient "rush to publish". For anyone and everyone interested in gangs and gangsters, this is a basic book deserving to be read which profiles the ever successful attempts of the gangster Mexicans, many illegals, to terrorize American citizens and plunder their own, both within and outside of the penal correctional facilities.

This book was GARBAGE. I thought it was going to be like Machine Gun Mundos' book (Mexican Mafia), but, was not! Very disappointing.
This guy is obsessed with The Avenues targeting Blacks.
Well, Sr. Rafael: Get your facts straight! Why didn't you write anything about blacks targeting Mexicans? This has been going on for years, and I don't see the Media/books saying anything about this.
And what the hell does this have to with IMMIGRATION? Jesus Christ, no wonder there is a green light on this guy (good).

A well researched and investigated book. If you want to learn about the Mexican Mafia then read this book. Although it is a little too cop/prosecutor orientated it is still good- you just have to skip the cop parts to get to the good gangster stuff. But not a bad read by any means. I would like to see something from Tony Rapheal with more gangster profiles. I know he has it in him. Check out his blog, In the hat.

Well researched,deals mainly with small crew on trial for homicide.Detailed account of their exploits,fair amount of history coverd. One of the better books on la Eme.

I bought this book before boarding a long flight. The topic interested me and I thought it would give me a good insight into the Mexican Mafia. I was wrong.
I started reading and very soon realized is was confusing, extremely detailed with uninteresting facts and poorly written. The story revolved more around 1 La Eme crew, their trial, the DA and the investigative detectives. It really failed to provide detailed information or analysis of the origins, rise and present strength or organization of la Eme / Mexican Mafia. The author spends more time describing the life of Manzella the DA than he does key players of the mob.
Finally I skimmed through great parts of the book to arrive at the end knowing the same I already knew before reading it.

I bought this book before boarding a long flight. The topic interested me and I thought it would give me a good insight into the Mexican Mafia. I was wrong.
I started reading and very soon realized is was confusing, extremely detailed with uninteresting facts and poorly written. The story revolved more around 1 La Eme crew and really failed to provide detailed information or analysis of the origins, rise and present strength or organization of la Eme / Mexican Mafia.
Finally I skimmed through great parts of the book to arrive at the end knowing the same I already knew before reading it.

I was expecting more. The writing is poor. It is more like an investigative report aimed at the law enforcement community. For a lay person, it is so crammed with names and details, it is hard to read. I ended up skimming after the first half of the book. Also, the author is clearly pushing some of his own bias against immigration. Basically, I find the book irritating, even though I am very interested in the topic.

The Mexican Mafia by Tony Rafael is another in a series of books on the EME that will satifsy those interested in the subject. It is what it is: an account of a major trial (The Avenues Trial) that covers a lineup of new characters which many of us are unfamiliar with. Ramon "Mundo" Mendoza's CD "Mexican Mafia: From Altar Boy to Hitman" stands alone as a historical firsthand account of the EME's history complete with graphic details and photos. Rene "Boxer" Enriquez is currently collaborating with a writer and his book (due to be released by November-2007, according to informed sources) picks up where Mundo's ends. Getting it from the "horse's mouth" is unique and I look forward to firsthand accounts. But, with that said, there's room for good books such as Tony Rafael's who conducted years of research and strove for accuracy. Then you have the "joke" presented by Robert "Moco" Morrill's "The Mexican Mafia - The Story" who intentionally misleads readers into believing that the sky is red. He uses what he calls "Mocomatics" to support his assertions and displays a photograph in which he not only represents it to be Rudy "Cheyenne" Cadena's EME funeral, but places an arrow on an individual who he hints is "Moco" himself walking away from the EME "carnales" at this same funeral. Since then, several reliable sources have come forward to identify this photo as one taken in 1976 at the EME funeral of one Jesse "Chuy" Fraijo (from Norwalk) who died of a heroin overdose. Furthermore, using this "Mocomatics" reasoning, he should have known that half of these carnales were still in CDC when Cheyenne's funeral took place. Compared to this Fairy Tale, Mr. Rafael's attempt is a breath of fresh air for those who seek truth and accuracy.

"Champ" Amador

I was disappointed by Tony Rafael's book (pen name of "In the Hat" fame, not his real name). While it was a good literary work, it should have been named "The Avenues Boys and their recent involvement with La EME". It is really a case study of the recent Aves Trial, but barely touches on the past history and roots of the Mexican Mafia or other main EME shotcallers over the years. When it does mention some past incidents 1957-99, it is not always an accurate account by record or C-File. It talks about the Prosecutor, the Aves Case Detectives, but gives little to no credit to the dozens of EME Investigators/Experts in CDC and So Cal LE who monitored the prison gang over the years. It rarely cites where the writer got his research and history of the EME prior to 1999 to build up his own credibility. Rafael's book does quote Richard Valdemar at length and his role in the trials, but still there are no pictures like in Robert Morrill's book by the same title, or even like in "Mundo" Mendoza's book. I'd at least expect a few pics of the Aves if not Mexican Mafia members??? It talks about some of the "Brown on Black Hate Crimes" that have been covered in the media, but much of the info in the book has already been printed in L.A. newspapers or taken from court transcripts so I was left with the feeling I had not really learned much new.

I am impelled to begin my review of Tony's book with a brief response to Rob Thomas (the 1st of Mr. Rafael's reviewers- see below):

Mr. Thomas complains that the 'worst' part of Rafael's work is its 'right wing slant'.

Perhaps Thomas would have been happier with a decidedly 'liberal' slant on the book, in which Rafael blamed the gang epidemic (and the pervasive influence of the 'M') on Bush and Cheney.....or the absence of affirmative action programs??

Perhaps instead of holding parents (and individuals) responsible for their own bad choices, Tony should have elected to blame the government (or better yet, the 'white man') for the success of gangsterism?? That way, he would have almost certainly been guaranteed a lectureship at UCLA!

Mr. Thomas further laments Rafael's book cover, declaring it to have 'Mexican Immigration Xenophobia' written all over it.

This is laughable!

Here Thomas again betrays his own (obviously) liberal worldview. (Perhaps Mr. Rafael should have used a Swedish flag on the cover, in order to avoid the ever-present possibility of offending the PC thought police?)

By the way, Mr. Thomas, since the book's cover also portays the image of a 9mm Baretta (an Italian-made firearm), does it follow that Rafael's intention was to disparage the Italians too?

You're right, Mr. Thomas. The 'M' IS an American-born organization (particularly a California-born organization). But I haven't heard of any 'Emeros' lately waving the American flag or quoting the Federalist Papers. Have you?

Call me crazy, but the charter members of 'M' named themselves 'La Mafia Mexicana' (their designation, not ours). Many of them sport tattoes which read 'Cien por ciento Mexicano' or 'Orgulloso Mexicano', etc.

Moreover, along with most rank-and-file Surenos, many 'Emeros' portray themselves as Aztec warriors, who are carrying on their Mexican heritage.

Perhaps simply stating the obvious ought to be avoided in the interest of not sounding 'Xenophobic' to those who interpret EVERYTHING through the politically-correct (and always RACE-CONSCIOUS) lenses of a liberal political ideology??

Anyway, onward toward my actual review of Tony's book...

The book was enjoyable and educational, and it provides the reader with a fair understanding of the relationship between the 'M' and street gangs in California.

I applaud the way in which Tony takes his readers into the courtroom, and into the seldom-seen world of police (and DA) investigations.

Although (as mentioned) much of the material is meticulously-detailed and, in some cases, repetitious (after all, the book covers not one, but several different, although related, criminal trials), it was certainly not a major detraction from the overall enjoyment of the book.

One interesting fact from the book that I was previously unaware of:

Following the 'American Me' executions, Edward James Olmos was taxed $50k by the 'M', in order to get himself out of the hat. (As Mr. Rafael suggests, it's too bad that the other 'green-lighted' consultants didn't have the cash to get themselves off the list too)

The book also provides at least one chapter of historical background for 'M', discussing the influence of 1st and 2nd generation "Emeros" such as Cheyenne Cadena and Joe Morgan. (This is a good chapter for those who are relatively new in studying the subject)

My only real disappointment with the book is that I had hoped for some detailed, biographical discussion regarding some of the present-day 'leaders' and 'drop outs' in the 'M'. (The former would include 'carnales' like Alfie Sosa, Tupi Hernandez, Huero Shy and 'Champ', while the latter would include, most notably, "Boxer" Enriquez)

Since Mundo's CD-Rom "From Altar Boy to Hitman" covered the late-1950's through the early 80's, I had hoped that Mr. Rafael's book would, in a manner of speaking, pick up the story where Mundo left off. (Another book begs to be written from the perspective of someone like "Boxer" Enriquez, in order to provide an insider's perspective on "M in the 21st century")

However, to be fair, Tony Rafael explicitly states that he was not seeking to provide a biographical sketch of one or two high-ranking 'Carnales'. Rather, his work is written primarily from the perspective of law enforcement, and as an investigative reporter.

In conclusion, Mr. Rafael has performed a public service by writing his book. As Gava Joe (in his wisdom) rightly points out, this book is important "for anyone concerned about the fate of our children".

Well said, Gava Joe.

Buy Tony's book.......right wing slant notwithstanding.

With respect,

This book is more about former Los Angeles deputy district attorney Anthony Manzella than it is about the Mexican Mafia. And, most of what postulates to be about the Mexican Mafia is really just an expose` into one street gang that's allegedly heavily influenced by the Mexican Mafia.

That being said, what you basically get is a combination of a police report, complete with the typical law enforcement lingo, and an account of Manzella's case against the Mexican Mafia and a connected street gang. The case descriptions go into such boring detail that you literally have to set the book down every couple of pages.

But, what's worst about this book is the author's claim that it does not go into the sociology behind gangs, and instead focuses on the operations of the Mexican Mafia. Then on the last page, you'll notice he back tracks on this claim and takes a crack at it, by assuming gangs to be nothing more than a break down of the family. While this is part true, what's troubling is that instead of debunking theories such as poverty, drug infestation, and racism, he merely mocks them. About as far as he goes into debunking poverty's influence on gangs is insisting that gang members start too young to steer them away from gangs with a job, pointing out that kids shouldn't have to work a job, anyway. No similar view regarding kids being too young for incarceration.

Nobody's denying the Mexican Mafia's existence. But the right wing slant, the hypocritical flip flop on the sociology behind gangs, and the Mexican flag on the front cover (despite the Mexican Mafia, like all prison gangs, being an American born organization) has "Mexican Immigration Xenophobia" written all over Mr. Rafael's offering.

1 star.

I'm not sure what Publishers Weekly wanted from Tony Rafael's debut book, The Mexican Mafia. It seems they don't know either. If they're looking for an academic work, a courtroom drama, or a "just the facts, m'am" retelling, they won't find it here. This book isn't an in-depth biography of District Attorney Anthony Manzella, either. Instead, this is a guided tour of the sticky, tangled, messy, dangerous webs of the Mexican Mafia--La Eme--a prison-born, and prison-based group of top-level gang members who set policy and practice for many Hispanic Southern California gangsters on the street.

In this part of the spider web are the multiple murder and conspiracy trials of eight gangsters from the Avenues sets in Highland Park, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. Rafael uses theses trials as the setting for examining how the intertwining of law enforcement policy, politics, street gangs, the justice system, public perception and the mainstream media in Southern California have all played a part in the establishment and rise of La Eme. By picking apart the events of these trials, giving us the back stories, the histories, and the voices of the players, both big and small, Rafael guides us to the center of the web, where many of the Carnales, the "brothers," who make up La Eme's power brokers, sit in their cells in prisons across California and the United States. It's the flow of gangsters and these Emeros' orders, money and drugs, rules and penalties for behavior and misbehavior, from Pelican Bay, the SuperMax in Florence, CO, and the Los Angeles County jails to the streets of California and back to prison that has maintained the secrecy, power and control of the Mexican Mafia over the street level gangs that spread all over Southern California. It's this flow of orders that rests at the heart of these trials--that these murders and many other crimes are committed on the street level by Eme-controlled gang members, on the orders of these Carnales.

This book doesn't tie things up in a neat and tidy bow. It can't, because it's just a small glimpse of a much larger, ongoing problem. It isn't a quick and easy read either, but it is riveting, even compelling, in how raw, far-reaching, and unchecked the Eme's activities are. Rafael pulls no "politically correct" punches in looking at how political power plays, racial hatred, public funding of gang intervention programs, failures of law enforcement and more, have all helped to hide and inadvertently support this organization. Some parts of the book are largely repetitive, going over the same testimony of a handful of people over the course of several trials, and it may take some re-reading to follow the back stories and histories involved, and keep track of the many people and their associates, but this is a book well-worth reading. Like watching a spider consuming the fly it catches, it made me a little nauseous, but I couldn't tear my eyes away.