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Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Mexican Mafia Dropout Rene "Boxer" Enriquez Granted Parole After 32 Years

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Rene Enriquez, also known as Boxer was a high-level Mexican Mafia member for 17 years until dropping out in 2002.

California parole officials have approved the release of a notorious former Mexican Mafia prison gang leader who has been cooperating with law enforcement for nearly 20 years.

Two consecutive governors previously blocked parole for Rene “Boxer” Enriquez in part based on the argument that he is safer in prison than on the streets, where he may be targeted as a snitch by his old cronies.

“They can’t deny him parole based on, 'He might be in danger.' That’s kind of his risk to take,” his attorney, Laura Sheppard, said Tuesday.

Authorities have taken extraordinary steps to protect him over the years, once booking him into custody under a false name on a bogus charge of possessing a swordfish without a license. In 2015, the Los Angeles Police Department used SWAT officers and a police helicopter to secure a downtown building so Enriquez could speak to a group of police chiefs and business leaders about the gang's growth and operations. Just last week, prison officials refused to provide his current photograph, citing security concerns.

“With his knowledge of the Mexican Mafia, it’s his belief that if he stays out of their way ... that he’ll be fine," Sheppard said. "He doesn’t believe they’re going to chase him down like you see in the movies, hunt him throughout the world.”

Yet Enriquez plans to keep cooperating with federal authorities as they are again prosecuting the leadership of the prison-based gang that began in the 1950s in a juvenile jail and has since grown into an international criminal organization.

“It’s how he makes amends," Sheppard said. "He’s probably prevented more crimes than he was ever involved in.”

Mexican Mafia Member

He has been in state prison since 1993, serving a life sentence for two second-degree murders, multiple assaults, and a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Enriquez joined the Mexican Mafia — nicknamed the Black Hand or “La Eme,” its Spanish language initial — in 1985 while serving an earlier prison stint for rape and armed robbery, according to parole records. He spent nearly the next two decades building a reputation within the gang through murder, drug-running, and terror, both in and out of prison.

Gov. Gavin Newsom turned over the final decision on the fate of Enriquez, now age 60, to a hearing by a 12-member panel of the 21-member parole board. He cited in part the “unique security threats.” Enriquez has revealed “the inner workings of large-scale gang associations and informed on individual gang members. He testified for the prosecution in numerous cases,” Newsom wrote.

Officials including a retired assistant director for the California prison system told the parole panel during a hearing Monday that Enriquez is a changed man who will continue contributing to law enforcement's battle against the gang.

“I’ve seen the worst of the worst and I know that he has definitely changed his world," said retired San Diego Police detective and gang expert Felix Aguirre. But relatives and friends of Cynthia Figueroa Gavaldon lined up to argue that he is still dangerous and they fear for their safety upon his release. She was a 27-year-old mother of two young children when Enriquez ordered her killed on Christmas Eve 1989. Enriquez "has nothing to offer the community. All he ever has known and touched has died,” said her father, Raymond Figueroa, referring to Enriquez as a “monster.”

He had two gang associates, including Figueroa's daughter, killed for violations such as stealing drugs and money. In the second case, he and an accomplice first forcibly overdosed their victim with heroin before driving him to a remote area where Enriquez fatally shot him.

He and another man also stabbed a Mexican Mafia leader Salvador “Mon” Buenrostro 26 times with inmate-made weapons in 1991 in an interview room in the Los Angeles County Jail, though Buenrostro survived. The attempted murder was committed in full view of lawyers and Sheriff Deputies that attempted to intervene.

Enriquez has said he quit the gang in 2002 when he discovered its members were killing children and innocent relatives of gang members who fell into disfavor. Since then he has debriefed with prison officials, testified in court cases, and provided information to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. He has become a speaker educating law enforcement on the structure and activities of gangs. He has said that he would have help from a witness protection program if he is released.

Controlling Sureño Gangs

While serving time for armed robbery at the age of 19, Enriquez started carrying out assaults and murders for Mexican Mafia leaders in San Quentin and Folsom prisons. The mafia had deep roots in the California prison system, having been formed there in the 1950s.

"And once we got into the gangs, we understood that the homeboys that got out of prison were well respected. You go there, and you learn prison," Enriquez says. "We wanted to get to prison somehow. And we were destined to get there."

Enriquez learned the art of making homemade knives and hiding them in his rectum. He carried out assaults for the Mexican mafia on other inmates. Then, after he was paroled, Enriquez used his connection with Mexican mafia leaders in prison to extort drug dealers on the streets, where the cocaine and crack trade was booming.

Perhaps Enriquez's greatest achievement was in helping extend the Mexican Mafia's brand to dozens of L.A. street gangs. In the mid-1990s, the group put out calls to stop drive-by shootings among L.A. Latinos. But Enriquez says the aim wasn't peace. Enriquez treated the street drug dealers like owners of a fast-food franchise. They could use the Mexican Mafia name in return for part of their profits, and they were intimidated into paying.

"Our true motivation for stopping the drive-bys was to infiltrate the street gangs and place representatives in each gang, representatives which then, in turn, tax illicit activities in the areas," he says. Gang members in Southern California were taxed on their drug deals and forced to buy from Mexican Mafia associates supplied by their cartel connections. In exchange, the gangs receive protection in prisons and from other drug dealers.

Jose "Bat" Marquez was extradited from Mexico to the United States.

Eme member and AFO Chief Enforcer "Popeye" was killed during a botched hit on journalist Blancornelas.

Cartel Connections

One of the most direct connections of the Mexican Mafia prison gang to Mexican drug cartels came out of the infamous Arellano Felix v Sinaloa war of the early 1990s.  

San Diego gang and Mexican Mafia member David "Popeye" Barron Corona helped protect the AFO brothers during the shootout at Christine's nightclub. Popeye famously recruited gang members from Logan Heights in San Diego for the failed hit on El Chapo at the Guadalaraja airport resulting in the death of Cardinal Ocampo. Prosecutors in the U.S. charged nine Logan Height members with the cardinal's hit-squad murder. Three pled guilty and they are serving 18 to 22 years in prison. Later, Popeye would be killed by a ricochet bullet during the failed hit on Zeta journalist Jesus Blancornelas in 1997.

Popeye recruited fellow members such as Jose "Bat" Marquez who was the one who had initially recruited Popeye into the Mexican Mafia. While in Mexico, Bat was working as an enforcer and trafficker for the Tijuana Cartel run by the Arellano Felix family before falling out of favor due to his meth use.

Bat's purpose was to ask his Mafia brothers to assist Popeye and the Arellanos to find and kill El Chapo Guzman — the head of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Arellanos offered $2 million and whatever state they wanted in Mexico. They also offered drugs and "heavy artillery" and their help crossing it into the U.S.

Bat Marquez said that he wanted to start a chemical lab store and would pick up five drums of ephedrine a week in Mexico. He will keep the chemicals on the Mexican side of the border but the Eme brothers were welcome to all they wanted. Bat Marquez only asked for help on how to make the meth.

Several Mexican Mafia members who attended this meeting took trips to Tijuana in the days that followed. Several returned with ephedrine or meth. But 22 of them would be arrested on April 29, 1995, and charged under federal RICO statutes. Bat is currently in federal US prison for murder and racketeering after being a fugitive in Tijuana, Mexico for years.

Operating from the SHU

A secret to Enriquez's success was his transforming the punishing isolation of the SHU into a sort of sanctuary. Rival gangs couldn't get to him, and most cops and prosecutors thought their job was already done. After all, Enriquez was serving two life sentences. The prison couldn't do much more to punish him. But lifers have time to think and scheme.

Enriquez remembers participating in something called "the thousand concepts" at Pelican Bay. "We'd spin off a thousand ideas. And if only one of them was profitable, we were succeeding. So we'd do this every day up in Pelican Bay, a thousand miles from our base of power, spinning off ideas that paid money," he says.

Previous Parole Decisions

And over the years, Enriquez has had dozens of letters of support for his parole from the FBI, local law enforcement officials, multiple state and federal prosecutors, and a deputy state attorney general.

Newsom previously blocked Enriquez's parole twice, in 2019 and 2020, and then-Governor Jerry Brown blocked it three times, in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

“He personally molded and shaped the Mexican Mafia’s expectations of its members and expanded the gang’s reach outside the prison,” Brown wrote in 2016. He said that included pioneering the gang's control of a vast network of drug dealers and gang members outside the prison walls.

Newsom this time said he was leaving a decision to the parole board because of its “unique procedural and appellate history” and “other unusually complex factors.” He asked parole officials to consider both Enriquez's “particularly violent criminal history and his singular rehabilitative record.”

A Los Angeles County judge overturned Newsom's 2020 parole reversal in August, saying the governor hadn't shown proof that Enriquez is still dangerous. The Second District Court of Appeal had blocked Enriquez's release while it considers Newsom's appeal.

Sheppard said she hopes the appeals court still rules on the case, even with Enriquez paroled, to set a legal precedent that “the governor can’t just make a decision based on speculation and historical issues.”

Source NBC LA, NPR, Borderland Beat

71 comments:

  1. Prior rape conviction during the mid 80s?

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    Replies
    1. He once raped a girl and once raped a man.

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    2. He was both. Atransmanshedoohickey

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  2. Well I do believe in second chances. But it's a tough one with this case and character. But at the end of the day who are we to judge what someone should he submitted to or not ..

    BLANKO

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    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. I demand SIR's analysis of this.

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    Replies
    1. It seems as the Rats are currently winning in the underground criminal world. Tekashi 69, El Vincentillo, Sammy the Bull, Renee Boxer from La Eme, Mob James from Mob Piru. The list goes on hehehe (michael jackson voice)

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    2. Thats why the world is what it is full of rats and theres no loyalty no respect no more silence oath

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    3. 11:12 I'd say death sentence,
      if enriquez has really changed, GOD will surely welcome him in Heaven...

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    4. Very few dudes that can hear life sentence in court.... Everybody has a price. Nothing wrong with being FREE and being called a Rat... Instead of doing life and being called a Solid Rock.

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  4. First they release Sammy the rat then La Vicentilla and Serafina and now him? Damn they’ll release rapists and snitches but want to give life sentences to drug traffickers?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Grampa AMLO will give him Brazos no Balazos. AMLO number #1 in the world. He is the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Atleast AMLO doesn't have alzheimers like sleepy joe.

      Delete
    2. 1242 Nutthugger AMLO lawyer has come from hiding under his rock to belittle me for telling the truth about lazy grampa AMLO! Now he will attack and tell me to go to night school and my English grammer is bad.

      Delete
    3. I love ALMO (no homo).

      Delete
    4. 12:42 but Grampa Obrador has a motor mouth talks a lot of nonsense like Sir, that I no longer put attention.

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    5. 842 Anti AMLO imposter you are not fooling anyone you fool! Dr. Sol will call you out and ban you as he has done to many others who break the guidelines of the BB website. Furthermore lazy grampa does NADA, nada and built barracks for the soldiers to play cards and smoke weed and watch novelas.

      Delete
    6. 7:25 "Sleepy Joe" and "Low Speed ALMO" are evil, proof is they beat the system, The Unpresidented Diagrace, the PRI and the PAN, PRD, PVEM, MC PES, etc, etc and etc...
      Putting you to sleep is one of their tricks, then they slip it to you in the ass, no wonder you are so sore.

      Delete
    7. Obrador nutthugger Lawyer
      Looks like you have been banned a few times, and have learned to be careful at how you treat others in here. It's only comments, don't let the best of your emotions get the best of you. I am proud to see they have moderaters in here to keep the place in order.
      Have a great day.

      Delete
    8. 8:36
      You love ALMO
      Hell you 😷 sick.

      Delete
    9. 1012 you are the Anti-Obrador imposter. You are not fooling me as I know how you are not the real anti-obrador commenter. Furthermore it is foolish to think Dr. Sol will fall for your trick. Tricks are for kids as I know you are a young teenie bopper who lives inside your mothers basement you Poncho. AMLO is #1 president of mexico.

      Delete
    10. 11:59 nothing to do with AMLO, but here you are giving useless opinions.

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    11. AMLO still has a better rating approvement than sleepy joe 😬😂

      also, what's with old warhwak joe always tryna shake imaginary peoples hands?

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    12. AMLO IS THE BEST PRESIDENT IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND A CARTEL SNITCHALOA COLLABORATOR😈👿

      ATT: OPERATIVA EMOJI

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    13. 1237 and 100 more grampa AMLO nutthugger lawyers will come to defend the lazy enpt president as he does nada and is a puppet of the cartels and high ranking military. Furthermore you will try to discredit me as my comments are the truth and facts as to lazy ALMO.

      Delete
    14. Atleast AMLO doesnt have a cocaine addicted son like old joe

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    15. 215 Joe Biden gave the information to grampa AMLO to put Mr. Q in the hands of the DEA and as grampa ablador is a puppet of the u.s and the cartels and of the high ranking military he gave him up because the bribes were not worth it. Furthermore you are a AMLO nutthuger who is also a Trumpster. AMLO is ranked #1 in the world but his country is also number 1 for violence as he only built barracks for the soldiers to sit and play cards and smoke weed. You are a fool if you think I will believe that AMLO is the best as I know Biden has done a better job at fighting the violence in Mexico until crazy AMLO kicked out the DEA.

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    16. AMLO smokes fentanyl.

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    17. Grampa AMLO smokes meth like SIR

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    18. AMLO was/is obstinate, he became El Presidente because he campaigned for 45 years against the worst of the worst the PRI, PA , US, SPAIN BRAZIL and PANAMA had to offer through their journalistas chayoteros and money hungry drug trafficking televisa, and will be re-elected for presidente with a vitalicio clause just to make his ignorant detractors understand:
      "Tox Poouli, Tox Deii"

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  6. This lame was in old folsom for a bit on and i believe when they went after the AB a couple years back they intercepted a call or a kite where they talked about having a pair or camaradas who were going to "pretend" to lock it up and take 2 street made and smuggled hunting bowie knife. Allegedly
    Glad this dude is getting iut, makes it out so he can finally meet his maker and put his ass 6 ft under for being a fucking rat

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    Replies
    1. Orale Carnalgas! La onda lives eshe! 😎

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    2. Donde estas zombie

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    3. 1:28 aqui atrás de ti, güey...
      metiéndote todo el jale por la retaguardia.

      Delete
  7. He shld never be outside just on the fact he's a convicted rapist.

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  8. Governor Grewsome at it again , flooding our streets with criminals and trying to disarm law abiding citizens…..yea that makes sense!🖕🏼🖕🏼

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Governor Awsome has also wipped his ass with "tromp wannabe" de santis, In Florida chingadamadre!!!
      Governor Awsome is not affraid of going to Disneyland or of homeless using their freedom to live where they can

      Delete
    2. Yea with his thirty body guards … Pussy

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    3. Who is Governor Grewsome?
      What State does he Govern?
      What Country?
      Mexico
      Finland
      Norway
      USA
      Russia

      Delete
    4. 11:33 Governor Awsome is the current California Governor

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    5. California 5th largest economy in the world.

      Delete
    6. 11:35
      Nevermind the reddit kids. Even Sir got it wrong.
      He meant Governor Newsom of California, in the USA.i
      Furthermore 12:35 creating fake news.
      Guns will taken away lol.

      Delete
    7. 7:42 Awsome is no mistake.
      Congress will take the guns away some day, even senators from the party of NO are selling out to try and save their arsehoods...I don't give a fuck, one shot 177 bb guns are not getting taken and I am not selling mine like a cheap crack ho on the streets.

      Delete
  9. In UK prison a rapist could not be mixed with other prisoners be killed or in hospital the rapists have there own wing "kill them all" I think

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    Replies
    1. The UK prisons are soft. UK prisoners wouldn’t last 5 mins in California prisons. I’ve done time in both places. UK is soft.

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    2. 10:43 california have the most dangerous prisons in the US?

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    4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  10. Pure garbage. He should have never been granted parole!

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  11. Hey just a fucking minute, your majesty! This ain't the joint with three hots and a cot! This is the streets, homie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11:11 who is "your majesty"?
      Make sure there is no doubt.

      Delete
  12. And the game is on.

    ReplyDelete
  13. YouTube that new SNY prison gang. Zapatistas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now they going to burn Zapata?

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    2. Special Needs Yard Zapatistas,
      here I was looking for Southern New York zapatistas.

      Delete
  14. Look you fools Obrador built the barracks for the military, and he colored them pink.
    You bunch of ponchos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anti AMLO imposter. You are not fooling anyone you Poncho.

      Delete
    2. 4:01-- You dumb fucks yes political system in Mexico sucks. PRI screw everyone over for about a century and you cry every time an apple falls from the tree with this president. The majority of Mexicans are the lower part pf the economic spectrum and their vote is valid and equal to yours. Shut the hell up and enjoy the rest of the six years. If PRI wins legally you can go back to your corrupt ways....

      Delete
    3. 10:03 PRI has a catalogo de prostitute she lawmakers showing their ass to the PRI high lord executioner, alejandro "Alito" moreno he who says "you don't kill journalistos a balazos, you kill them with hunger, daddy"
      And we have here bunches of hijueputas complaining about "ALMO"???
      Alito used his PRISTICATALOGO to extort his prostitutes like televisa and the school of the Policia Nacional de Colombia used theirs

      Delete
  15. RIP CH.
    Charles Bronson as Min called him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was a fucker and I hope he burns in hell forever!

      Delete
  16. Should not parole this guy, he’s too institutionalized to make the necessary changes to become a responsible adult… rape, robbery, kidnapping, etc. Are all mental impacts and will continue… that’s all he knows, sadly. Do I believe that people change? Yes. But, they should stop stay in prison to finish their time. This guy is too smart, networked, and protected… he’s so smart that he likely has a plan to the plan for the plan which best benefits HIM.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A man in his 30s lived in our apartment complex
      In was incarcerated (unkn), but a lady with 2 kids took him in, church related.
      Once someone comes out of prison, the person may continue the life of crime or be clean
      Anyway, I sense he would study, what time I would leave to work and also my wife. One day I discovered a bolt that closes the screen off. I quickly had undercover cameras installed. It showed he would hang around looking at our door. He was chasing the place to burgarlize or do harm to my wife.Reported the issue to MGMT.A few days he was gone.

      Delete
  17. Boxer a piece of shit......period....snitches deserve no credit at all

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    1. 8:53 thanks to snitching...
      you got the chonchon you gat.
      Boxer will get the chonchon he wants.

      Delete
    2. Hi what's your name "Boxer"
      Well my name is "El Zombie '

      Do you think you will get out soon, yes and what will you do. Smoke mota and kick back with my homies.

      Delete
    3. Everyone has a price.. Everyone is human.... all these stand up guys got promoted in the MOB by telling on what other dudes be doing to Earn. You do t have to talk to the PIGS to be a finger.

      Delete

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