Law enforcement officials report that La eMe is the most powerful gang within the California prison system. Government officials state that there are currently 155–300 official members of the Mexican Mafia with around 990 associates who assist La eMe in carrying out its illegal activities in the hopes of becoming full members.
Los Arañas is a crew formed by Nicholas ''Asesino'' Aguilar, the leader of the Anaheim 13 street-gang which was reported as being inactive a few years ago. Aguilar led the street-gang for about three years until he was arrested for possession of narcotics, GTA and possession of illegal weaponry. The members of Los Arañas are primarily members of the Anaheim 13 street-gang but the crew also contains another Surenos affiliates that haven't been a part of Aguilar's gang. Los Arañas is known to be the deadliest crew that works for La eMe outside the prison. It is thought that the Hispanic faction led by Nicholas Aguilar has killed over 20 persons in the last year. The main reason of the murders committed of Aguilar's crew was the green-light put by MM on the street-gangs that didn't agree to pay the tax and to follow the rules of La eMe. ''We are Emeros (Mexican Mafia members) and we expect that these reglas are followed and respected by all true south-siders.'' This is the phrase that is making Aguilar one of the most violent and ruthless person within the whole organization.
- KEVIN ROJAS, aka Chino, aka Chino Grande, Aged 25, East Ganton, Los Santos
- RAYMOND RUIZ, aka Smokey, Aged 26, East Ganton, Los Santos
- EDGAR MATUA, aka Jumper, Aged 21, East Ganton, Los Santos
- NICHOLAS AGUILAR, aka Asesino, Aged 26, East Ganton, Los Santos
- RUBEN SALDANA, aka Shadow, Aged 24, East Ganton, Los Santos
Culture
Law Enforcement believes that La eMe presently is not presided over by a single leader. Many Mexican Mafia members have the authority to order murders and oversee various other criminal activities. They have almost a thousand associates that help carry out those orders and have the theoretical control of all Sureño gang members. Members are expected to engage in tests of their loyalty to La eMe, which may include theft or murder. The penalty for refusing orders or failing to complete an assigned task is often death. According to the gang's constitution, members may also be punished or murdered if they commit any of four major infractions. These include becoming an informant, acts of homosexuality, acts of cowardice, and showing disrespect against fellow gang members. According to gang policy, a member of the Mexican Mafia may not be murdered without prior approval by a vote of three members, yet the murder of non-members requires no formal approval.
During the early 1960s at San Quentin Prison, Luis Flores and Rudy "Cheyenne" Cadena established a blood oath for members of the Mexican Mafia. Prior to the establishment of the oath, members of the Mexican Mafia were allowed to return to their street gangs after incarceration. The new oath stipulated that the only way for a member to leave the Mexican Mafia was to be killed. Flores and Cadena also established a set of gang commandments. These included policies such as: a new member must be sponsored by an existing member, unanimous approval from all existing members to join (no longer policy), prioritizing the gang over one's family, denial of the existence of the Mexican Mafia to law enforcement or non-members, respect of other members, forgiving street conflicts which existed before incarceration. Execution of a member of the gang for policy violation must be committed by the gang member who sponsored him. La eMe has a blood in blood out credo: Murder or drawing of blood is a prerequisite for membership and anyone trying to get out will be killed.