Opinion ID: 783483
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Narcotic Distribution in California's Jails and Prisons

Text: 75 Appellants also aided and abetted the distribution of narcotics in California's jails and prisons. For example, in a recorded telephone call on March 21, 1995, two Mexican Mafia associates called J. Hernandez from the Los Angeles County Jail and informed him that all of Gallardo's drugs had arrived at the jail, and that approximately $2,500 from the sale of those drugs had been collected on Gallardo's behalf. 76 The indictment charged conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of narcotics as a racketeering act, and the jury found the crime proven as to all Appellants except Moreno. The jury also convicted the same Appellants of conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of narcotics. 17. Conspiracy to Extort 77 Overwhelming evidence in the record shows that Appellants conspired to extort money and firearms from various street gangs. Audiotaped and videotaped conversations, and E. Castro's testimony, showed that the Mexican Mafia exerted control over street gangs by setting rules of engagement (such as no drive-by shootings) and mediating disputes between street gangs. The Mexican Mafia also extorted regular payments of money and firearms from street gangs. If a gang refused to pay the tax, the Mexican Mafia attacked or allowed attacks by other street gangs against the offending gang. This meant that members of the offending gang were attacked on the street and in jail until the street gang agreed to pay the tax. 78 The indictment charged conspiracy to extort as a racketeering act, and the jury found the crime proven as to all Appellants except Mendez and Moreno. The jury also convicted the same Appellants of conspiracy to extort.