And as you work there, you tend to become a product of your environment. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated, following a one-car accident that left his limbs temporarily paralyzed. But no one suspected a thing. Unlike most state crises, there is absolutely no mystery to the takeover of our prisons by violent gangs. And all you see is white shirts. Sandoval, he was a good kid, said the inmate of the guard who had once done him favors. Plain and simple, many young people trying to get into this group are instructed to kill a member of a rival gang. The Joint Crime Information Center thanks these agencies and centers for contributing to the production of this assemss ent. When Sandoval told me that, he was sitting in the interrogation room of the Walker County jail in Huntsville, wearing prison whites. Garcia, of course, could snitch to the Ellis I authorities. Some of the states most violent criminals were housed there. For his trouble, the inmates offered the guard $75. Initiation into the group comes from other members, and members are required to make a life-long commitment. Gangs didnt worry about guards; they worried about each other. The impulse is to accommodate the inmate, since prisonsspiritual wastelands of concrete and metalcry out for random acts of human kindness. Many prison gangs have a generalized standard of who to accept. The blacks, in turn, formed the Mandingo Warriors. The officials fitted Sandoval with handcuffs, leg irons, and a belly chain. Probably the most famous of any gang on this list, the Hell's Angels have hundreds of chapters in dozens of countries across the globe. On the way home Sandoval asked his cousin to drive the scenic route. Virtually everyone saw it coming. I didnt do it, Sandoval announced to me in a recent phone conversation. The Bloods and the Crips will likely adapt to their new environment just as other inmates do. Until Judge Justices decree, TDCJs inmate population was essentially governed by brutal trusties known as building tenders, whose methodswhich included beating and sodomizing inmates into terrified submissionwent largely unchecked by prison officials. Texas Syndicate, a criminal organization whose members and associates engage in acts of violence, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, extortion and narcotics distribution.. The Texas Syndicate 2,082 views Jun 18, 2022 62 Dislike Share Save Gangsters Cops and Politicians 3.4K subscribers Gang Expert Gabe Morales discusses the California roots of the Texas. That afternoon, Ellis I warden Jerry Peterson called Sandoval into his office to congratulate him on a fine job. Hey, boss, you got a light? Luis Sandoval pulled out his lighter and, as he had before, lit the cigarette held by Armando Garcia. If you last six months in there, youll make it. An estimated 70,000 in their ranks, they are as violent as they are numerous, and what was once a Los Angeles-based operation, now has interests across the United States and in Canada. His father died. Nearly all of them, however, confessed that they knew TDCJ had its share of dirty guards. To make identification difficult for prison officials, most gang members no longer wear tattoos. Meet the Barrio Azteca gang, considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in Texas. The so-called "hybrid members" allow the gangs to grow their empires with increased influence both in prisons and on the streets. I was in the dayroom. The thought worked away at his nerves. Sandoval put his hand against the wound, looked up, and saw Crippin and McCool standing there, gaping. Bring a gurney! called the lieutenant. A gurney was produced, but the inmate ignored it. . All Garcia and his friend Vicente lacked was a reliable drug mule who could be counted on to transport drugs into the prison. But the first six months is hell. Sandoval was determined to tough it out. Eventually, Sandoval agreed to bring drugs into Ellis I. He was pronounced dead at seven that evening, a victim of twenty stab wounds. Justice therefore ordered that the two thousand building tenders be replaced by more prison guards, who would police the inmates with a firm but civilized hand. Join The Syndicate Speak with representative Astrid in the Syndicate Enclave and, should you desire, join the Syndicate Go up the stairs within the Enclave to speak with Astrid. One day Sandoval received a phone call at work. 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. Are you on trial or is TDC on trial?. Assistant U.S. His wife divorced him. He had been ordered to carry out a hit on another inmate and had failed to do so. When Luis Sandoval went to work for the Texas prison system, he did the wrong favors for the wrong people. Prisoners join gangs, thereby becoming strong, and prey upon the weak. But for males who want to get into the United Bloods, they usually have to endure a vicious beating (generally 31 seconds) or give a member of a rival gang a "buck-50," which is a slash across the face that requires a hundred and fifty stitches. Eventually, however, Vicente and Garcia began to ask for more than a light. The first major TDCJ gang, a Hispanic group known as the Texans, consisted of former residents who were doing time in California penal institutions in the mid-seventies. His assignment was one of the toughest jobs in Ellis I. By the mid-1800s, there were street gangs in _____. If they dont make this hit, theyll become the person to get hit. However if a member is not deemed worthy to be initiated, the denied appellant could end up becoming victimized by the gang, such as making the person pay money for protection and be put to work for the gang through prostitution. Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. Drugs come from the free world. By the time 21-year-old Luis Sandoval, a new boot at Huntsvilles Ellis I Unit in the summer of 1985, was approached by an inmate with an unlit cigarette, his ears were still ringing from a more desperate request he had heard during his first week on the job. Texas Mexican Mafia comes in a distant second with 4,700 members, followed by the Texas Syndicate (3,400 members), Latin Kings (2,100 members) and MS-13 (800 members). Back in late 2014, police estimated their numbers to be over 500, but there is no telling how much that number has grown by now. And the courier must possess a particular power: He must be able to walk through walls. There were many times when he said, I aint gonna do this shit anymore. And wed think, well, maybe were putting too much pressure on him. Joe Arredondo was one of those inmates, an arrogant squirt barely over five feet tall who frequently provoked guards but never got in trouble for it. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Armando Garcia had seen this coming. For the vast majority of high school and college teams, at least in the United States, there is at least some form of initiation; and these days, most of them are alcohol-based. (LogOut/ That statistic does not come close to reflecting the actual number of TDCJ employees suspected of involvement in corrupt activities. Inside the walls of each prison is drugs, prostitution, gambling, extortion, and grand theft, but no investigation into any of these things has ever been made. The letter did not say what such an investigation would say about Luis Sandoval. When a new member is ready to be "patched in," they are instructed to go buy a new pair of jeans and a denim jacket. The Texas Syndicate originated in the early 1970s in the California prison system as a response to other prison gangs that were preying on native Texan inmates. The first Texas prison guard ever to be tried for the murder of an inmate seemed eager to describe, to me and to the jurors, the pressures and temptations a correctional officer faces. Several of them testified vigorously that Ellis I was understaffed and overcrowded, and that the unit was riddled with blind spots. Other weapons were by-products of inmate ingenuity, as in the case of Cosmo, the death row inmate who fashioned a bomb out of matchstick tips and an asthma inhaler and blew a hole in his cell wall. Prisons, crammed with thrill-seekers and outright junkies, provide the ultimate captive consumers. The Texas Syndicate, more than La Eme or Nuestra Familia, has been more associated or allied with Mexican immigrant prisoners, such as the "Border . Snow flakes glide gently from the sky.The Farm Hand. Though inmates werent allowed needles for tattooing, resident artists took to using the metal pieces of windup toys. After release from prison, a TS member is required to contact the high-ranking member in the geographical area where the released member intends to reside. Sandovals apparent relationship with the gang did not escape the attention of the Ellis I population. They specialize in the usual street crimes including robbery, car theft, drug trafficking, assault, and murder, but the 18th Street Gang is also known to have been involved with human trafficking and illegal immigration initiatives. He would stand at the searchers desk like he was running the building, Sandoval said. 0333 344 7476. muck tool progression. But, he insisted, that didnt make him a murderer. Even before the call, Luis Sandoval had been sweating bullets. Rival gang members may also be referred to in the feminine form. Of course, sometimes a hazing ritual goes too far. The youth gangs havent caused trouble yet, but the realities of prison life suggest that this will surely change. Dont go in there, said the veteran, who then correctly hollered Fight! Presently other guards arrived, along with a lieutenant, who ordered, Open the gate.. The investigators didnt tell me much, nor was I particularly inquisitive, he said. The moment Garcia asked Sandoval to bring marijuana into TDCJ, it did not take superhuman deductive powers for the guard to figure out the Hispanic inmates clientele. 10 facts about the Barrio Azteca, one of the most dangerous gangs in Texas, Mark Lambie/AP Photo/El Paso Times, Mark Lambie. Texas Syndicate Gang Members. The 18th Street Gang has grown from a small group in Los Angeles to a criminal empire with influence that stretches and indeed dominates the streets of areas of central America and Mexico, along with having operations in several European countries. When asked about it, Sandoval testified that the report merely contained Schapers accusations, which Sandoval denied then and would deny now, under oath. Yes, he had mailed Vicentes letters, had cashed two money orders for the inmate, and on three different occasions, had delivered packages from a parking lot to a telephone booth. Sandoval figured the odds were about even. He was on a westbound bus, fleeing the state. At a given time, Sandoval would stand guard over hundreds of inmates. Relying on American trained experts with global experience, we have created an open minded culture with a never ending drive for innovation. Examples of coded language indicating that someone is to be eliminated include putting an X over the name of the individual or by referring to this targeted individual as X. Additionally, TS members will state that this targeted individual has a green light, or has been designated as a muleta (problem). RELATED:Feds: Fugitive Texas elementary teacher tied to hit men, drug running and kidnapping. Just like in the free world. Yet a former prison drug-runner confirmed the obviousthat without the help of TDCJ employees, the flow of drugs into state prisons would dry up. Barrio Azteca members are suspected of carrying out the March 2010 assassination of a U.S. Consulate employee, her husband and the husband of another U.S. Consulate employee. The 18 second beating is a theme for this gang, and they often employ it as a disciplinary measure when proper respect isn't shown to a leading member or if a member goes against the gang's rules. Pursuant to this objective, members act to protect each other and to build a strong, disciplined organization through intimidation and violent retribution against outsiders and through strict and harsh discipline of members and associates who violate the rules and goals of the enterprise. Other members have been instructed to attack strangers or cops, and of course, many of the women who get into this gang do so by offering themselves to multiple members. A few days later, on April 12, 1991, FBI agents showed up at the apartment where Sandoval had been hiding and took him to the Los Angeles County jail. In the tenements across the street from the Texas A&I University stadium lived a fifteen-year-old girl named Veronica, whom he married on June 22, 1985, after learning that TDCJ had accepted his application for employment as a correctional officer, or CO. 8/21/2008) (Tex. They will brutally violate any men they wish to join their cause and catch it on video tape. Prospects are generally not allowed to make decisions or be present inside the meetings and are required to stand outside when such decisions are made. Hispanics who were not TS members formed their own gang, the Mexican Mafia, which today outnumbers the TS two to one but is not considered as well organized by prison officials. Well, so does the inmate. Other chapters of the gang make this cocktail but use the blood of other members and recruits, along with wine and ashes to make it. Sandoval did not tell his mother why he was such a vulnerable candidate. Chris is a sports enthusiast with a fondness for politics, craft beer, horror movies and travel. During August and September of 1985, a long-standing rivalry between the Mexican Mafia and the TS exploded into a free-for-all throughout the prison system, leaving eleven inmates dead. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Sometimes, that person is allowed to chose between taking out a prison guard or a rival gang member, but other times, the decision is made by the member in a position of leadership. They now have allegiances with other gangs and have a membership in the thousands throughout the southern United States. Paranoia overcame him. Youre telling us you saw nothing? The new boot suffered the usual abuse from veterans and inmates. Sandoval described Ellis I warden Jerry Peterson as a good man but a figurehead. Anytime they choseanytimethey could kill him. house for rent waldport oregon; is thanos a villain or anti hero It was a pleasure to deal with an inmate man to man, for once. Upon graduating from Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, Joshua joined the Express-News in 2014 as a breaking news reporter. Its like a fly in a salt shaker., Today the numbers still favor the inmates: There are 47,751 of them and only 3,500 security personnelnone of whom carries a gunper eight-hour shift. None of them knew anything about Sandoval and drugs. If you are switching factions, you will need to leave your company in order to change to Syndicate. Extra guards to supervise the gathering had to come from some other post. But the system will not change. He did so and, he told me, was then given $50 by the inmates. As with some of the groups we'll cover in this list, some people will argue that the people involved with Mungiki are innocent victims in a struggle against the Kenyan government, but their operations closely mimic gang activities. Anyone who gets through that is considered tough enough to be a member. The guards were hired. Im on trial, sir, conceded the polite young man in the pin-striped suit who sat in the witness stand. That afternoon in the interrogation room, Special Prison Prosecution Unit investigator Royce Smithey bore down on Sandoval. If he refused to do the favor, they could always snitch on him for lighting an inmates cigarettethough Sandoval didnt think either was that type of inmate. Sandoval came to enjoy these moments. But things got more interesting when Internal Affairs investigator Dale Schaper walked into the room and handed Sandoval copies of his phone records, showing that 25 phone calls he had made on Vicentes behalf were to a high-ranking TS official named Felix Benavidez. But the defendants earnest tone suggested that this was itself an injusticethat the prison system had asked the impossible of prison guards and was now punishing Sandoval for the states shortcomings. Everyone agreed that the building tender system was a cheap and crudely effective method of maintaining order. Sandoval was then ordered to take off his uniform and replace it with inmate furlough clothes. Do they spread their message and beliefs through peaceful interaction and pamphlets? Either the guard didnt know what was going on, or he did. Arturo Gallegos Castrellon, pictured, is serving a life sentence in U.S. federal prison for leading the assassins. Agencies assisting in making arrests include: Karnes County Sheriffs Office, Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office, Comal County Metro Narcotics Task Force, San Marcos Police Department, Hays County Narcotics Task Force and the San Antonio Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Ten months after the murder, on October 23, 1987, Sandoval was again summoned to the wardens office. In return, the snitch had an oversized cell to himself, plus a hall pass that gave him the run of the unit. Ruben Mosso, 'El MIlenio" "FBI: Los Zetas - problema de seguridad nacional para EU," January 9, 2008, "Prison Gangs (continued) - Gangs and Security Threat Group Awareness", "Special Issue: Gangs in the United States", "Appendix B. National-Level Street, Prison, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Profiles - Attorney General's Report to Congress on the Growth of Violent Street Gangs in Suburban Areas (UNCLASSIFIED)", http://www.communitycorrections.org/psn/publications/TxGngThrtAssessment2010.pdf, First prison gang remains a force to fear, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Texas_Syndicate&oldid=1123850487, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox criminal organization with ethnicity or ethnic makeup parameters, Pages using infobox criminal organization with rivals parameter, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles with dead external links from June 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Place the Texas Syndicate before anything else, Understand that the Texas Syndicate is always in the right, Keep all gang information within the group, This page was last edited on 26 November 2022, at 01:12. Today supervisors advise guards: We cannot stop a hit. After the lockdown, the murder rate plunged. I was a damn good officer, he told both me and them. His assistant wardens run the building. Indeed, Peterson said to me that his units drug problem isnt rampant, but he also acknowledged that much has escaped his attention over the years. Any violation of the rules may result in harsh penalties, including death. By the spring of 1986, prison officials had examined every inmate for telltale tattoos, weeded out identifiable gang members, and ordered that they spend the rest of their sentences in administrative segregation, away from the general population. This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Austin Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Gonzales Police Department. texas syndicate initiation. Sandoval buckled. Sandoval did not know any warden, ranking officer, or CO at Ellis I who did not have at least one snitch. 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