The gang more often preyed on its own members as factions warred, loyalties faltered and suspicions flared, according to the government. Out of a dozen nights outlined in the charges, authorities allege seven involved Mexican Mafia members attacking and in six cases, killing their own. At least six self-professed Mexican Mafia members including three initially charged in the indictment are listed as government witnesses. Prosecutors have not revealed any deals made to entice their testimony. Put simply, the group's bloodthirsty leadership helped engineer its own prosecution, investigators allege.
Defense attorneys deny their clients belong to any arch-criminal organization.
Some question if the notorious group even exists outside of stories told by criminals desperate for something to exchange for government leniency. Defense attorneys argue the government's case is built on the testimony of witnesses they say should be on trial. Prosecution witness Frank Estrada, who government documents allege participated in six killings, is uncharged. By October 1997, at least five informants with criminal records were handing FBI agents, sheriff's deputies and police detectives the building blocks of this case, court documents indicate. The informants talked mostly about the gang murdering its own members, punishments for disobeying orders and pocketing payoffs collected from drug dealers.