It revealed a world where drugs and weapons are freely available to inmates, where murderous prison gangs control inmate behavior far more than prison guards do, and where the guardians of law and order have just as much trouble distinguishing right from wrong as do the inmates they are watching. During this investigation, authorities seized over 100 kilograms of methamphetamine and multiple firearms attributed to this organization. Jun 29, 2022. ogden clinic cardiology . The most common form of initiation for a male gang member is. I wasn't a BeyHive member. On the witness stand, Sandoval suggested that the caller was someone from TDCJ Internal Affairs; more likely, he was a Texas Syndicate member delivering the message that the TS would not be amused if Sandoval blew the whistle on their activities. As a result, members were able to expand their control throughout the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prison system. But according to one Ellis I officer, Inmates watch everything we do. Initially formed in El Paso jails in 1986, the Barrio Azteca gang expanded to a transnational criminal organization, allying itself with the Juarez Cartel (pictured). The quality of cocaine is frequently discussed in terms of how pretty or how good the girls are. Payments for drugs are often called receipts and cheese.. 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. Then, he is deemed fit to join the gang. Two years after lighting his first cigarette, Sandoval was arrested and charged with murder for allegedly aiding a gang plot to kill an inmate. At Ellis I, Sandoval had never seen so many rules enforced so haphazardly. They have their prostitution, their gambling, their extortion. Texas Syndicate: Founded in the 1970s at the Folsom State Prison in California ; . One was an officer who muled marijuana and cocaine for a black inmate known as Apple Jack, whose activities were no secret at the unit. Guards could still smell burning marijuana and still see inmates giggling to themselves. It is seemingly a simple, humble favor asked of men in gray by men in white. The assailant was nowhere in sight. And the courier must possess a particular power: He must be able to walk through walls. (For that matter, Garcia testified during the trial, outside the presence of the jury, that Sandoval muled drugs countless times.) Sandoval was never searched, he told me, and came to learn that the only way they bust you is if theyre told by a snitch, This guys coming in today., While Sandoval said there were other guardsand even supervisorsinvolved in drug activity, the Texas Syndicate preferred that Garcia deal directly with Sandoval, a fellow Hispanic. A TS member will attempt to discover the evidence that will be used against the fellow member or discover the names of the witness of witnesses who will provide testimony in trial. The rules require that a member continue his participation in the organization upon his release from prison. Once out of prison, many TS members continue to commit violent offenses, narcotics-related offenses, and other illegal activities in the area of the country where the members are living and associating with each other. The Texas Syndicate, unlike the Mexican Mafia or Nuestra Familia, has been more associated or allied with Mexican immigrant prisoners. Sandoval was one of the officers I wanted to be like, said one correctional officer whom Sandoval helped train. The warden would later testify that Sandovals actions were somewhat heroic. But, Peterson added, the hero had seemed awfully calm in the midst of all the bloodshedperhaps too calm. However, in the world of criminal gangs, where there is concern for nothing more than loyalty, initiation rites take a different and terrifying form. Uneasy truces between gangs have developed. To the public, the saga of Luis Sandoval will be a shocking revelation of how Texas prisons have spawned an organized crime wave that afflicts the entire state. Like any good businessman, Garcia kept a close eye on the marketplace. Some rules were just too silly to heed. I dont have any money to get any stamps, Garcia explained. Any violation of the rules may result in harsh penalties, including death. Without a doubt, the Texas Invitational ("TI") is the pinnacle of high-caliber automotive airfield competition in the United States. When one thinks of a motorcycle gang, these are the guys who come to mind. Everyone wanted informationon the inmates, on their superiors, on their peers. 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. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. The threat being that they will show it to that person's family members, destroying them in the eyes of those they love. Although obtaining TS-related tattoos was once a common practice, some TS members now avoid obtaining tattoos in order to shield their association with the TS from law enforcement. The Farmer.For this one farmer the worries are over, lie down and rest your head, Your time has been and struggles enough, put the tractor in the shed. 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. 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. He told her that he feared the Texas prison authorities, who by now had surely discovered that the murder of Joe Arredondo was, if anything, a result of prison mismanagement. Meanwhile, white inmates, tired of being robbed and sexually assaulted by the larger population of black inmates, began the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Other gangs also sprang up: the Hermanos de Pistoleros, the Self-Defense Family, the Texas Mafia, the Nuestra Carnales. The letter was not what one might expect from a former prison guard. Hey, Boss, you got a light? Every newly hired prison guard, or new boot, hears the question. On March 19, the name of Luis Sandoval was called three times in the Walker County courthouse, but the defendant did not respond. 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. Upon conviction of the drug trafficking charge: Castilleja, Luna, Salazar, Salas and Alvarez face between ten years and life in federal prison; Jimenez-Jaimes, Carrasco, Cantu, Accord, John Vera, Josh Vera, Anzaldua, Medina, Villarreal and May face between five and 40 years in federal prison; Armstead and Klasing face up to 20 years in federal prison based on their involvement, drug type and drug amount involved. The Texas Syndicate, a prison gang that operates in and outside of penitentiaries, is considered by state law-enforcement officials to be among the most dangerous criminal organizations in. 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. The B-wing, a loud and grossly overcrowded area, was considered the hellhole, in the words of Cade Crippin, the CO who worked the B-wing with Sandoval the afternoon of the murder. Garcia himself was not a TS member. Tango Blast, Aryan Brotherhood and Aryan Circle are the most active prison gangs in the region. Looking toward the chapel, he could see Crippin ahead of him, heading for the hidden narrow corridor at the west end of the B-wing. TS membership is comprised predominantly of Texas-born Mexican-American males and operates under a formal paramilitary organizational structure with a constitution and strict established rules. Apple Jack protected his mule, however, and though many knew of the officers extracurriculars, the hammer never fell on him. He grabbed the stash of marijuana he had recently picked up, ran to the bathroom, and flushed it down his toilet. DPS says the 2014 arrest of cartel leader Vicente Carrillo Fuentes diminished the gangs influence. A federal grand jury indictment, returned in Austin and unsealed yesterday, charges those arrested with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. If you work at any time for the TDCJ, said assistant prosecutor Burt Neal Tuck Tucker during the first day of testimony, you know how powerful the Texas Syndicate can be.. There was no further violence, a signal to those who understood gang behavior that Arredondo had been snuffed out by one of his own rather than by a rival gang. 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 purpose of the enterprise include the following: a) Enriching the members and associates of the enterprise through, among other things, distribution of narcotics, extortion and robbery; b) Preserving and protecting the power, territory and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation, violence, threats of violence, assaults and murder; c) Promoting and enhancing the enterprise and its members and associates activities; d) Maintaining a powerful organization that can protect members and provide financial opportunities through criminal activity; e) Keeping victims in fear of the enterprise and in fear of its members and associates through threats of violence and violence. Video cameras monitor the hallways. Tango Blast, Texas Syndicate, Bloods, Crips, Gangster Disciples and MS-13 all were identified as active in human smuggling operations in 2014. Upon their release from prison, gang members returned to Texas, renamed themselves the Texas Syndicate (TS), committed crimes, and wound up in TDCJ, where they developed an extensive network. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Theyre gonna say you were in on it. Their leader is one of the FBI's 10 most wanted criminals. 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). This group is one of the deadliest and most disgusting on Earth and employ many methods when it comes to spreading terror. Virtually everyone saw it coming. Theres no way to shut them down, Sandoval said. Company profile page for Texas American Syndicate including stock price, company news, press releases, executives, board members, and contact information Then he headed for the bathroom, a route that took him through a confined area guarded by CO II Nolan McCool. And theres always somebody, the ex-drug runner told me, wholl do something for you.. Anyone who gets through that is considered tough enough to be a member. We assembled and maintain a team of the best talent with a keen eye on the future. It generally signifies new membership into a club or group, and while some examples of initiation can be fun and bring people together, others are downright traumatizing. Prepare for battle and place the lure in Midnight Den Cull the Alpha Wolf and Pack Travel north east to the Enclave Talk to Aventus Valenti Introduce yourself to Cleo Elsayad Talk to Aventus Valenti Head northeast to the Midnight Den . The next day, a Sunday, the newlyweds threw their possessions into a suitcase and a grocery bag, and drove Sandovals Datsun to Conroe. He called his mother, who begged him to turn himself in. 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. In 2011, the FBI reported that Barrio Azteca also had members in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Now it was May 1991, and Sandoval was behind bars, his fate in the hands of a Huntsville jury. By the mid-1800s, there were street gangs in _____. Ellis I officials caught wind of the deal through a snitch. Garcia would later say that he told Sandoval shortly after the Arredondo murder, Man, youre in deep shit. gangs in Texas, and they underscore the commitment among law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in Texas to share information and intelligence in order to effectively combat crime and improve public safety. The gang, like most prison gangs, has members behind bars and members on the outside, and as of the 2000's, had membership that was in the thousands (about 7,000 in 2005). Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. They are affiliated with local prison gangs and often stock their ranks with young children, some in their early teens (not an uncommon practice for gangs in general). The system snitches on one mule while protecting another. One day Garcia told Sandoval to expect a call at home that evening. Change). He squinted through the smoke and the bars and the memories. Sandoval did not know any warden, ranking officer, or CO at Ellis I who did not have at least one snitch. If the Texas Syndicate had told him there was a murder happening, he wouldnt have gone for it. Sandoval weighed his choices. To the newer guards, Sandovals stature among the inmates was something to behold. While there are many Jihadis who willingly join their ranks, they often kidnap young people and force them into service. According to a report a couple of years ago, children were rescued from a refrigerated van that was linked to this group, and they were thought to have been intended for organ trafficking. Then he returned to Arredondo. Since the late 1970s, the TDCJ has seen a gradual increase in TS-related activities within the system and the Texas Syndicate remains one of the main security threats within the TDCJ. McCool opened the picket gate to allow Sandoval into the rest room. So wed just lay back, let him cool down. Get these inmates in the chapel, he told them. Some of the states most violent criminals were housed there. This allows members to function with less oversight, especially within the prison system. In your house you can walk around in the dark and not bang your shins because you know every square inch, said a former Ellis I officer. Rosas would do the killing, while another TS member held Arredondo and two others stood by as lookouts. Asked point-blank by his attorney, Did you ever bring drugs inside TDCJ? Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. No one, he seemed to be suggesting, was capable of telling the truth about Luis Sandovalnot even Sandoval himself. His father died. The brutality of the murder, coupled with Sandovals complete inability to prevent it, made quite an impression on the young guard. State, No. Or if they cared to enforce the rule. The Mac Baller Brims are a relatively small group operating in New York City, but they have made a mark on that area through brutality both inside and outside of the prison system. For his trouble, the inmates offered the guard $75. 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. A member who violates the rules and loses favor becomes a muleta, a term which is used to mean a problem. Such a violation may result in the TS bringing its own official gang-based charges against the member who is being accused of violating the rules. Jurors convicted 38-year-old Raul "Fatboy . And were there in it. In 1978, in California, making the Texas Syndicate the oldest prison gang in Texas' history. An eight-inch metal shank lay nearby. Drugs come from the free world. Sandoval came to enjoy these moments. At the close of the eighth hour, the shift changes, but the inmates remain. Sandoval did not tell his mother why he was such a vulnerable candidate. And, their numbers total in the thousands on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. [1], Development of the Texas Syndicate was initially motivated by self-protection against the historical "building tenders" in prison. Sandoval is one of more than sixty TDCJ guards who have been indicted by McDonalds Special Prison Prosecution Unit over the past six years for felony offenses. TI was developed in 2010 in an effort to create a new breed of automobile competition. The Texas Syndicate also operates in state and federal prisons across the United States, with significant activity being reported at FCI Oakdale in Louisiana and San Quentin State Prison in California, as well as some representation in the Florida Department of Corrections. On another occasion, Vicente asked Sandoval to deliver the phone message that Vicente needed money to buy arts and crafts supplies. Texas Syndicate, a criminal organization whose members and associates engage in acts of violence, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, extortion and narcotics distribution.. They are primarily poor children and in some cases orphans. The murder came as a result of the Gulf Cartel hiring the Texas Syndicate to kidnap Serrano from his home in Texas and take him to cartel members in Mexico. Arredondo was a Texas Syndicate member. The field for their activities, though fertile, was finite, thus making turf wars inevitable. The murder would take place in a corridor abutting the B-wing: the maximum-security area where Luis Sandoval often worked. [1] The Texas Syndicate has approximately 1,300 members, the majority of whom are Mexican American males aged between 20 and 40. The 1,577 gang members currently housed in administrative segregation represent only a fraction of those inmates who actually do the gangs bidding. With Sandovals texas syndicate initiation inability to prevent it, made quite an impression the... His mother, who begged him to turn himself in back, him. 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