She Was a Realtor. And a Gang Leader.

When Irene Rodriguez died last year at 72 of complications from Parkinson’s, Calvary Mortuary in East Los Angeles filled with mourners. A video screen showed photos of her beaming at […]

*This is a very good, very scary read. VL By Julián Aguilar, Texas Tribune (7 minute read) HOUSTON — It’s the savagery that most bothers veteran police officer George Rhyne. […]

*Sam Quiñones always writes fascinating stuff. This time he tells us the latest about California’s Latino criminal underground. The history of California’s criminal groups is a part of the history […]

**Some reassuring news hidden behind Los Angeles murder stats. Context makes the difference in urban settings, along the border, anywhere that numbers are used to paint pictures. VL By Sam […]

*Although nefarious, the Mexican Mafia is one of So Cal’s important institutions. Sam Quiñones tell us we need to know how it works. VL By Sam Quiñones, A Reporter’s Blog […]

*Wonderful piece, as always, by NewsTaco contributor Sam Quiñones, published in Pacific Standard Magazine. I’m a fan of the creative process, and Sam gives us a little behind-the-scenes look at […]

*Sam Quiñones is one of my favorite partners/contributors. He’s a wonderful storyteller. Do yourself a favor, read this. VL By Sam Quiñones, A Reporter’s Blog Out in Riverside, the other […]

By Sam Quiñones, A Reporter’s Blog Two Latino gang members from Compton are scheduled to plead guilty on  Thursday, Oct. 16, to federal hate crimes in attacks on black youths […]

By Sam Quiñones, A Reporter’s Blog The hunger strikes in California prisons lately are motivated as much by prison gang maneuvering as by concern over human-rights violations. That’s the opinion […]

By Sam Quiñones, A Reporter’s Blog Mexican Mafia member Rafael “Cisco” Munoz-Gonzalez was sentenced to life in prison today. Munoz-Gonzalez was tried on charges that he’d controlled the Puente 13 […]