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The Black Hand: The Story of Rene "Boxer" Enriquez and His Life in the Mexican Mafia
“Chris Blatchford has hit a grand slam. The Black Hand is an important page turning book that will take you into a frightening dark world that shouldn’t exist… but it does. It’s riveting, and when you finish the book, you’ll get up and lock your doors. Highly recommended.”
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
December 20, 2015
I describe "The Black Hand" in one word: Brutal.
Boxer Enriquez recounts his seventeen years of being a "Carnal" (a senior leader) in the most powerful criminal organization functioning in the California prison system, the Mexican Mafia.
The book isn't just about the cold working of a criminal empire. Boxer tells his story with unexpected sensitivity and a Chicano brand of optimism. The man is highly charismatic. Yet, there is a dark side shown that is absolutely sobering. It's the part of him that is a frighteningly intelligent and ruthless. He shows us a man who can find dark humor in a jailhouse murder.
At the end it's a story about redemption. Boxer doesn't makes excuses for his life. He does, though, point out shortcoming in society and family that lead countless youths into a damning life of crime.
Rene "Boxer" Enriquez's life is a testament for the extreme evil a person can turn away from.
Boxer Enriquez recounts his seventeen years of being a "Carnal" (a senior leader) in the most powerful criminal organization functioning in the California prison system, the Mexican Mafia.
The book isn't just about the cold working of a criminal empire. Boxer tells his story with unexpected sensitivity and a Chicano brand of optimism. The man is highly charismatic. Yet, there is a dark side shown that is absolutely sobering. It's the part of him that is a frighteningly intelligent and ruthless. He shows us a man who can find dark humor in a jailhouse murder.
At the end it's a story about redemption. Boxer doesn't makes excuses for his life. He does, though, point out shortcoming in society and family that lead countless youths into a damning life of crime.
Rene "Boxer" Enriquez's life is a testament for the extreme evil a person can turn away from.
February 10, 2009
This book was a HUGE disappointment. I read the galley, but even if you excuse half the grammar errors, the lack of continuity is appalling, the introduction of characters who you don't see again for hundreds of pages is super frustrating, and the FLORID metaphors and ridiculous similes were unbearable. For example, the Protagonist come awake from a dream that is like "the dream that Johnny Depp has with Freddy Krueger in the 1984 horror film The Nightmare Before Elm St" Really? Not like the 1986 sequel? How about just plain: terrifying, or even scary? Overwrought, underthought, and just plain boring in parts. The book defeats one of it's implied purposes by tossing out the violence in such an offhand manner that by the time a baby and a 5yr old are murdered, you hardly notice.
Blech.
Blech.
February 13, 2026
This book shows just how much control gangs have on the lives of young people. Organized crime is bigger than ever and will always be a cat and mouse game with law enforcement. Sadly the gang life will lead to prison or death and nothing else in life. Rene’s story shows there is hope for someone willing to change.
January 20, 2015
The Black Hand introduces the life and story of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez and his association with The Mexican Mafia. This story shows the side of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez that he is a willing person to show the world his realization about The Mexican Mafia and without denying, is forward with every crime and takes full responsibility. The horrific crimes carried out throughout this book have shocked me and changed the views I have towards The Mexican Mafia, considering the fact that I have never looked into the subject until now, I have clearly learned a lot. This book although based on a specific character has a lot of information and a great story about a young boy sucked into the life of The Mexican Mafia.
A great way to describe this book is shocking, the things you can learn in just one book is crazy and after reading this you’ll want to know more. Once reading the introduction I was hooked and wanted to know more about this young boy getting involved more and more with these seriously crazy people.The murderous crimes done in this book is a part of the senselessness but there is another part that shows a side of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez that will shock one. Through the heartless crimes and deaths Enriquez has witnessed or done, one may say it would be very hard to escape that lifestyle yet Enriquez overcomes his wrong doings. Even with the consequences of leaving the mafia, after realizing that he had nothing left, Enriquez gets out of that lifestyle. His loyalty was very strong and he was down to do any task he was given without any complaints.
I personally loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about The Mexican Mafia. This book may be frightening to those due to the fact that there are details that some may not handle. The horrifying scenes about the bloody murders shocked me although I had already knew what the mafia was about, the way they showed no emotion was so crazy. There is no way i personally could do any of these crimes but reading about it is another story. The ending was a very interesting part knowing that through the whole book that there are many deathly rules when being a member of The Mexican Mafia and no way out unless death. Enriquez has his family and is focused on them rather than the people he has risked his life for and they have turned on him. Getting out of The Mexican Mafia may have been Enriquez toughest task yet it has been achieved and his story along the way is very interesting.
A great way to describe this book is shocking, the things you can learn in just one book is crazy and after reading this you’ll want to know more. Once reading the introduction I was hooked and wanted to know more about this young boy getting involved more and more with these seriously crazy people.The murderous crimes done in this book is a part of the senselessness but there is another part that shows a side of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez that will shock one. Through the heartless crimes and deaths Enriquez has witnessed or done, one may say it would be very hard to escape that lifestyle yet Enriquez overcomes his wrong doings. Even with the consequences of leaving the mafia, after realizing that he had nothing left, Enriquez gets out of that lifestyle. His loyalty was very strong and he was down to do any task he was given without any complaints.
I personally loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about The Mexican Mafia. This book may be frightening to those due to the fact that there are details that some may not handle. The horrifying scenes about the bloody murders shocked me although I had already knew what the mafia was about, the way they showed no emotion was so crazy. There is no way i personally could do any of these crimes but reading about it is another story. The ending was a very interesting part knowing that through the whole book that there are many deathly rules when being a member of The Mexican Mafia and no way out unless death. Enriquez has his family and is focused on them rather than the people he has risked his life for and they have turned on him. Getting out of The Mexican Mafia may have been Enriquez toughest task yet it has been achieved and his story along the way is very interesting.
July 9, 2018
I used to watch a series on the History Channel called 'Gangland' and found it fascinating as each episode took a look at a notorious gang and provided some insight to how these criminal groups work, and why people are drawn into them. When I saw this book at the bookstore it piqued my interest as it promised to really provide a deep look into one of these gangs, the Mexican Mafia from the point of view of a former member Rene 'Boxer' Enriquez.
The book delivered on the promise and started with a history of the infamous prison gang and it's original founders and then followed the life of Enriquez as he initially joined a street gang but eventually found himself in prison and was recruited into 'Le Eme'.
This provided such a deep dive into the operations of this criminal organization and shed light on how they use our very broken prison system to support and sustain the gang culture in the cities of Southern California and across the United States.
It was an enlightening read and I would recommend it to fans of true crime and history (in this case recent history).
The book delivered on the promise and started with a history of the infamous prison gang and it's original founders and then followed the life of Enriquez as he initially joined a street gang but eventually found himself in prison and was recruited into 'Le Eme'.
This provided such a deep dive into the operations of this criminal organization and shed light on how they use our very broken prison system to support and sustain the gang culture in the cities of Southern California and across the United States.
It was an enlightening read and I would recommend it to fans of true crime and history (in this case recent history).
January 30, 2018
The story is brutal in its recounting of how these gangs work. It’s depressing what immature aholes they all are; the ruthless killing and maiming over nothing. But it’s real life, so people certainly shouldn’t avoid this book because of its harsh realities, or its shining light on how almost worthless America’s prison system appears.
December 11, 2018
In all honesty it wasn't a bad book. I don't know exactly what I was expecting out of it but I was not impressed. I really actually got to enjoy the last few chapters because it detailed how corrupted our system is, especially in California, and how law enforcement gets their hands tied by politics.
March 25, 2011
Caught the audio book at the local barrio library, & they really should have gotten, at the very least, a Hispanic to do the audio. Or at least an American! I don't know where the dude that does the reading on this comes from, but he not only pronounces Spanish & Spanglish words wrong, he can't even get some common English words right! It would have been way cooler to listen to this from someone that speaks vato. I read another review about bad writing, this is definitely not a book you read looking for good writing, but the reviewer was totally right, there are a few awkward attempts at (what I'm guessing they were going for) metaphors. And, especially due to lack of pictures to reference back to with the audio book as compared to the actual book, there are lots of characters introduced early on to keep track of that don't come up very often or until so late in the book you've forgotten about them & what their relation is to the main character. I only gave it 3 stars for silly technicalities (? I guess) like that, but as far as the story goes on information & getting inside the state of mind of someone in a gang that grows old in prison & has nothing or hardly anyone genuine & tangible in their life, it's pretty hardcore. I can dig the cholo culture but not the gang side. I've known too many people whose lives have been fucked over. If you want to read a hardcore down to the bloody heart up to the bloody anus, cuz yes, there's lot of keistering going on, Mexican Mafia gang story then dig on this one.
March 9, 2012
"Boxer" Enriquez gives an account like no other. He is sincere in his story and captures the prison gang life like no other. "Boxer" tells it like it is, he doesn't sugarcoat a single thing. I have been a fan of Chris Blatchford for many years. His dangerous reports on the news mystified me for many years. This book made me understand the whole perspective of the whole realm of "politics" in the gang world. With all the violence and death I would not recommend this book to a sensitive reader.
December 9, 2021
A terrifying look into what people are capable of.
March 23, 2025
Overall it was great book. It felt as though I was living though the same experiences, the same pain he endured, the same tough decisions he had to made. I felt the realization he had hit him hard in the face and the rose-colored glasses had fallen. Would recommend this to anyone considering the gang life because it's not all about money and drugs. There is chaos
November 13, 2009
The Black Hand
Chris Blatchford
Harper Collins
10 East 53rd St, New York, NY 10022-5299
(212 207-7528 www.harpercollins.com
978-0-06-125730-8, $7.99, 2009
This was a very shocking true life story of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez and his life in the Mexican Mafia. The author has a journalism background and definitely does his homework on this one. This book can be compared to Hunter S. Thompson’s account on life with the Hell’s Angels, except Chris Blatchford was given permission to write this and was not undercover. I found this book very gripping and interesting, especially since I knew nothing about the Mexican Mafia.
The book tells Rene’s life story on growing up in East Las Angeles and his downward spiral into drugs and his first introduction into gang life. I like in the foreword section that Rene admits he was no angel and is not attempting to sugar coat his story. He had a pretty stable home life, but still turned to the darker side of crime and gangs. He is in and out of prison his entire life and only seems to get more vicious and more powerful behind bars. The reader gets horrifying accounts of his killing other people “Hits” and his animalistic savage lifestyle.
Of course Rene hits the bottom of the barrel and it takes him a while to realize that he wants out of the gang life and knows the risks involved in leaving the mafia. I am so glad that he got help in this regard and eventually got sober. It is sad that he will never be released from prison, but he is making what he can out of his current situation. Rene is now an expert on the Mexican Mafia and assists the Federal and Prison officials on his knowledge of it.
This book is definitely for mature audiences only and several parts had me cringing, especially of the barbaric killing of innocent people. I liked the author’s research in the book and would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those interested in mafia.
Chris Blatchford
Harper Collins
10 East 53rd St, New York, NY 10022-5299
(212 207-7528 www.harpercollins.com
978-0-06-125730-8, $7.99, 2009
This was a very shocking true life story of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez and his life in the Mexican Mafia. The author has a journalism background and definitely does his homework on this one. This book can be compared to Hunter S. Thompson’s account on life with the Hell’s Angels, except Chris Blatchford was given permission to write this and was not undercover. I found this book very gripping and interesting, especially since I knew nothing about the Mexican Mafia.
The book tells Rene’s life story on growing up in East Las Angeles and his downward spiral into drugs and his first introduction into gang life. I like in the foreword section that Rene admits he was no angel and is not attempting to sugar coat his story. He had a pretty stable home life, but still turned to the darker side of crime and gangs. He is in and out of prison his entire life and only seems to get more vicious and more powerful behind bars. The reader gets horrifying accounts of his killing other people “Hits” and his animalistic savage lifestyle.
Of course Rene hits the bottom of the barrel and it takes him a while to realize that he wants out of the gang life and knows the risks involved in leaving the mafia. I am so glad that he got help in this regard and eventually got sober. It is sad that he will never be released from prison, but he is making what he can out of his current situation. Rene is now an expert on the Mexican Mafia and assists the Federal and Prison officials on his knowledge of it.
This book is definitely for mature audiences only and several parts had me cringing, especially of the barbaric killing of innocent people. I liked the author’s research in the book and would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those interested in mafia.
August 1, 2018
I did not find this book a pleasant read.
First of all, there is no continuous storyline: something I would have expected considering the title. Most of the chapters were actually stand-alone stories about a killing. One chapter went even so far as to provide details about a killing of a family with young children and a baby. The so-called Maxson killing. Severral pictures of the shot victims of this killing were included in this book. I really dont understand this, since Boxer was not involved in these killing.
Second, many many characters are introduced. This by: firstname, alias and lastname. Since the author intermittently uses the three names of each person, the story becomes very difficult to follow.
Last, there are chapters where Boxer even doesn’t even appear in.
After 300 pages, the story became more focussed on Boxer himself. But in my opinion it was too few too late.
Unfortunately I can not give more than 2 stars as a rating. I advise against reading this book.
First of all, there is no continuous storyline: something I would have expected considering the title. Most of the chapters were actually stand-alone stories about a killing. One chapter went even so far as to provide details about a killing of a family with young children and a baby. The so-called Maxson killing. Severral pictures of the shot victims of this killing were included in this book. I really dont understand this, since Boxer was not involved in these killing.
Second, many many characters are introduced. This by: firstname, alias and lastname. Since the author intermittently uses the three names of each person, the story becomes very difficult to follow.
Last, there are chapters where Boxer even doesn’t even appear in.
After 300 pages, the story became more focussed on Boxer himself. But in my opinion it was too few too late.
Unfortunately I can not give more than 2 stars as a rating. I advise against reading this book.
Read
March 1, 2023This book was an eye-opener to the difference between how the media shows the mafia and what the mafia truly is. I loved the way it was narrated as it could have definitely been a first-person view, but just getting out the information of who did what and why was still incredible. Despite the number of names that were given throughout the book, I didn't HAVE TO memorize names as they made great introductions to people that would then die or be gone for the rest of the book. Even then, people were easy to keep track of and didn't have me confused. Something I realized was as violent as the mafia is, the book never went into details of killing someone that (I wouldn't think) make anyone disgusted. I would recommend this book to honestly anyone, with beginner Spanish reading skills, as this was an easy-to-read book. It was just a great eye-opener to the reality of the inside events of what one goes through in the mafia.
October 5, 2019
For anyone interested, wanted to mention that Rene Enriquez was denied parole by a California Governor Newsom in April 2019 after being granted parole. This also happened 3 times under Governor Brown. Personally, based on just the book, I'm ambivalent about the question. As for the book, I thought it was Very Good but not Great, and not especially well written for a book by long-time journalist who has received a number of awards. Also, at times the book felt like an endless stream of people perpetuating cruel, barbaric and inhumane acts with seemingly no sense of remorse. For me, the most interesting parts of the books were the sections describing the various ways the inmates gamed the penal system.
March 20, 2009
In keeping with my recent ability to misunderstand the thrust of a book's title, I picked up Black Hand hoping to learn about Mexican Drug Cartels, and instead learned a bit about La Eme, the Mexican Mafia, which was plenty interesting too.
Primarily a biography of Rene "Boxer" Enriquez, the book uses his experiences to illuminate the machinations of La Eme and its influence both within prison and without. Really a very engaging story that has all of the most positive resolutions you could hope for given the circumstances, a classic man makes himself better story.
Good read if you are interested in La Eme.
Primarily a biography of Rene "Boxer" Enriquez, the book uses his experiences to illuminate the machinations of La Eme and its influence both within prison and without. Really a very engaging story that has all of the most positive resolutions you could hope for given the circumstances, a classic man makes himself better story.
Good read if you are interested in La Eme.
July 16, 2009
Excellent, scary but true great book to read. Schools should have a gang prevention class for potential gang members or future criminals. Maybe they would think twice before getting involved in gangs and destroying their lives and others. It's a life with no future. Life is too short. For Rene "Boxer" Enriquez to be able to touch grass with his feet for the first time in over a decade it just hit me. We don't realize how blessed we are to be able to do that and more everyday of our lives.
April 8, 2024
An eye-opening must read on Mexican American and southern chicano gang culture, prison life, and organized crime. A light is shed upon a shadow within a shadow. The account is raw, the ways of the world lay open and unmasked without hesitancy or pretense.
April 27, 2011
Wow, couldnt believe what i was reading
Excellent
Excellent
April 18, 2013
Great book, however there were too many names included which ended up confusing me.
April 25, 2014
Amazing book , so dammn good !!
May 1, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “HE WAS A FEARED KILLER-EVEN IN A WORLD OF KILLERS-HE WAS A KILLER’S KILLER & PROUD OF IT”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------This book is a fascinating, but brutally intense character study of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez along with a history lesson of The Mexican Mafia. The Mexican Mafia known as La Eme (pronounced EH-meh) “is the Spanish phonetic pronunciation of the letter “M” – for Mafia.” Boxer’s story is told from his childhood in a nice home in Southern California with a hard working Father… to a teenage life of petty crime and drugs… to becoming a serious heroin addict by the time he was sixteen… to armed robberies… to prison(s)… to gang membership… to becoming such a *COLD-BLOODED-MURDERER*… that he was feared and respected in the eyes of the animalistic soulless den of the devil incarnate… LA-EME-THE MEXICAN MAFIA. When Boxer becomes a “CARNAL” or made-man, he rises to the highest echelons of “Eme” power. What is amazing to the reader is how absolute callously murders are ordered up… and executed. Even more amazing is the constant political in-fighting that is an everyday occurrence in Eme. It is immediately apparent to the reader that once a “VATO LOCO” becomes a “CARNAL” he worries more about being heartlessly murdered by his own brotherhood than he does by an outsider.
The reader follows Rene (he doesn’t really like his nickname Boxer) from one lockup to the next. From L.A. County jail… to San Quentin… to Folsom… to Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) a maximum security prison… and back and forth… between said prisons… and others… in a dizzying amount of transfers. The author educates the reader of prison life run by gangs such as La-Eme… the Aryan Brotherhood (AB)… and the Black Guerilla Family (BGF)… of which the Mexican Mafia is by far the most powerful, and is one of the biggest problems facing prison administers to this day. The reader will find out first hand that things they see in prison movies that they feel are phony… fake… they could never do that in real life… are an understatement of reality. Drugs inside prison are rampant. One of the main methods of smuggling drugs into prison is through lawyers and legal “runners”. Guards are not allowed to look at legal documents… so outsiders, iron tar heroin onto hundreds of pages of legal documents. “HEROIN CAME SEALED INSIDE CEREAL BOXES AND PACKS OF CARAMEL CORN. COCAINE WAS STASHED INSIDE OREO COOKIES AND BARS OF SOAP. MARIJUANA CAME DISGUISED INSIDE RITZ CRACKER BOXES. CHILDREN’S DRAWINGS AND GREETING CARDS WERE SOAKED IN METHAMPHETAMINE. PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS IN THE SHAPE OF PILLS WERE PRESSED INSIDE CHIPS AHOY COOKIES. TAR HEROIN WAS SEALED INSIDE TWO POSTCARDS STUCK TOGETHER TO LOOK LIKE ONE.”
“Shanks” (knives) were as prevalent as rice in China and murders were an everyday occurrence in the yard… in the shower… in the cells. Six inch shanks were hidden in an inmate’s rectum (called a “keister”) in order to get them into the yard to culminate their murderous assignment. There is even an agonizing picture of an x-ray of a shank being “KEISTERED” in the book, along with a multitude of murder scene pictures that are depicted throughout this sombering tale. How bad are the “killing-fields” we know as prisons? “DANIEL VASQUEZ, WHO STARTED HIS TEN-YEAR TENURE AS WARDEN AT SAN QUENTIN IN LATE 1983, SAYS, “THERE WERE SIX HUNDRED SHOTS FIRED BY GUARDS BECAUSE OF YARD VIOLENCE DURING MY FIRST SIX MONTHS ON THE JOB. I STOPPED COUNTING INMATE STABBINGS AND ASSAULTS AT TWO-HUNDRED-FIFTY ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I ARRIVED.” After Rene finished an earlier nine-year-eight-month prison sentence he said: “I WENT IN A CROOK AND CAME OUT A KILLER-MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER.”
No one is immune to the murderous tentacles of “LA-EME”… they have murdered a religious Cardinal… they have murdered each other while in a holding cell in the L.A. County Courthouse… they have killed in prison and out. One carnal, who followed orders, is spending the rest of his life in jail for MURDERING A MURDERER WHO OFFENDED ANOTHER MURDERER! And it doesn’t matter if you’re a "nobody" or famous… actor/director Edward James Olmos who produced and starred in the movie “American Me” was threatened because “La-Eme” didn’t like the way he portrayed one of the early leaders of their organization in the movie. They demanded… from prison… a copy of the script… got it… didn’t like the portrayal… threatened Olmos… there were rumors he paid “La-Eme” protection money… and two consultants on the movie with prior ties to “La-Eme” were murdered… Olmos tried to get law enforcement involved but when Olmos was called to testify… HE DIDN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING!
Nationwide the “MEXICAN-MAFIA” is estimated at close to one-hundred-thousand members and growing. It is the biggest organized crime problem that faces the United States. Once a gang member becomes a “carnal” there’s no way out and this self-imposed nightmare is best described by a current member: “IT’S LIKE BEING IN A TANK OF PIRANHAS WITH NO FOOD, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, SOMEBODY STARTS MOVING A CERTAIN WAY, AND THEY ARE ALL ON THEM.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------This book is a fascinating, but brutally intense character study of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez along with a history lesson of The Mexican Mafia. The Mexican Mafia known as La Eme (pronounced EH-meh) “is the Spanish phonetic pronunciation of the letter “M” – for Mafia.” Boxer’s story is told from his childhood in a nice home in Southern California with a hard working Father… to a teenage life of petty crime and drugs… to becoming a serious heroin addict by the time he was sixteen… to armed robberies… to prison(s)… to gang membership… to becoming such a *COLD-BLOODED-MURDERER*… that he was feared and respected in the eyes of the animalistic soulless den of the devil incarnate… LA-EME-THE MEXICAN MAFIA. When Boxer becomes a “CARNAL” or made-man, he rises to the highest echelons of “Eme” power. What is amazing to the reader is how absolute callously murders are ordered up… and executed. Even more amazing is the constant political in-fighting that is an everyday occurrence in Eme. It is immediately apparent to the reader that once a “VATO LOCO” becomes a “CARNAL” he worries more about being heartlessly murdered by his own brotherhood than he does by an outsider.
The reader follows Rene (he doesn’t really like his nickname Boxer) from one lockup to the next. From L.A. County jail… to San Quentin… to Folsom… to Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) a maximum security prison… and back and forth… between said prisons… and others… in a dizzying amount of transfers. The author educates the reader of prison life run by gangs such as La-Eme… the Aryan Brotherhood (AB)… and the Black Guerilla Family (BGF)… of which the Mexican Mafia is by far the most powerful, and is one of the biggest problems facing prison administers to this day. The reader will find out first hand that things they see in prison movies that they feel are phony… fake… they could never do that in real life… are an understatement of reality. Drugs inside prison are rampant. One of the main methods of smuggling drugs into prison is through lawyers and legal “runners”. Guards are not allowed to look at legal documents… so outsiders, iron tar heroin onto hundreds of pages of legal documents. “HEROIN CAME SEALED INSIDE CEREAL BOXES AND PACKS OF CARAMEL CORN. COCAINE WAS STASHED INSIDE OREO COOKIES AND BARS OF SOAP. MARIJUANA CAME DISGUISED INSIDE RITZ CRACKER BOXES. CHILDREN’S DRAWINGS AND GREETING CARDS WERE SOAKED IN METHAMPHETAMINE. PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS IN THE SHAPE OF PILLS WERE PRESSED INSIDE CHIPS AHOY COOKIES. TAR HEROIN WAS SEALED INSIDE TWO POSTCARDS STUCK TOGETHER TO LOOK LIKE ONE.”
“Shanks” (knives) were as prevalent as rice in China and murders were an everyday occurrence in the yard… in the shower… in the cells. Six inch shanks were hidden in an inmate’s rectum (called a “keister”) in order to get them into the yard to culminate their murderous assignment. There is even an agonizing picture of an x-ray of a shank being “KEISTERED” in the book, along with a multitude of murder scene pictures that are depicted throughout this sombering tale. How bad are the “killing-fields” we know as prisons? “DANIEL VASQUEZ, WHO STARTED HIS TEN-YEAR TENURE AS WARDEN AT SAN QUENTIN IN LATE 1983, SAYS, “THERE WERE SIX HUNDRED SHOTS FIRED BY GUARDS BECAUSE OF YARD VIOLENCE DURING MY FIRST SIX MONTHS ON THE JOB. I STOPPED COUNTING INMATE STABBINGS AND ASSAULTS AT TWO-HUNDRED-FIFTY ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I ARRIVED.” After Rene finished an earlier nine-year-eight-month prison sentence he said: “I WENT IN A CROOK AND CAME OUT A KILLER-MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER.”
No one is immune to the murderous tentacles of “LA-EME”… they have murdered a religious Cardinal… they have murdered each other while in a holding cell in the L.A. County Courthouse… they have killed in prison and out. One carnal, who followed orders, is spending the rest of his life in jail for MURDERING A MURDERER WHO OFFENDED ANOTHER MURDERER! And it doesn’t matter if you’re a "nobody" or famous… actor/director Edward James Olmos who produced and starred in the movie “American Me” was threatened because “La-Eme” didn’t like the way he portrayed one of the early leaders of their organization in the movie. They demanded… from prison… a copy of the script… got it… didn’t like the portrayal… threatened Olmos… there were rumors he paid “La-Eme” protection money… and two consultants on the movie with prior ties to “La-Eme” were murdered… Olmos tried to get law enforcement involved but when Olmos was called to testify… HE DIDN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING!
Nationwide the “MEXICAN-MAFIA” is estimated at close to one-hundred-thousand members and growing. It is the biggest organized crime problem that faces the United States. Once a gang member becomes a “carnal” there’s no way out and this self-imposed nightmare is best described by a current member: “IT’S LIKE BEING IN A TANK OF PIRANHAS WITH NO FOOD, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, SOMEBODY STARTS MOVING A CERTAIN WAY, AND THEY ARE ALL ON THEM.”
April 6, 2014
Self righteous, self serving bullshit.
December 2, 2019
An interesting look at the inner workings of the Mexican Mafia (La Eme) from someone who spent many years involved in the gang, and worked his way up to becoming fairly influential. While I don't know much about the structure of other gangs, apart from having read an autobiography by an ex-Crip a year or so ago, Le Eme seems to be somewhat unique in the rapidity with which they will turn on each other. This is partially due to the nebulous qualifications for entering the gang: the person must have demonstrated a willingness to kill for the gang, and the murder of members will be sanctioned for things as slight as perceived insults/petty thefts/backing down from a life-threatening altercation. La Eme also has a notorious disregard for the law, and sees prison time as a badge of honor. Since so many of La Eme's members have life sentences, they have no qualms about stabbing a fellow prisoner in the yard or over breakfast. And this is where their true danger comes from. They are not deterred by arrests, or prison time, or solitary confinement. All they are driven by is monetary profit (easy enough to come by in prison) and killing for La Eme.
Our interviewee, Rene "Boxer" Enriquez, has spent most of his life in prison. It was interesting to learn about how a bunch of hardened criminals function in prison, how they re-form webs of influence and profit. Boxer doesn't feel shame for exacting violence upon other criminals, but he does regret wasting his life in service to La Eme and missing a chance at having a family and a life on the outside. He also has clear, experienced insight on how these gangsters think and function. He is of the belief that the only way to stop violent gangs like this is to lock them up in solitary and invoke the death penalty whenever possible. If you aren't already interested in crime nonfiction, I can't imagine this holding much interest for you.
As far as qualms, I have two big ones: The prose here is sub-par. There are a lot of really awkward sentences and occasionally it's unclear what exactly is happening. It's totally readable, just not very polished. My second gripe is a little more nebulous. Boxer is marketed as a "Mexican mob killer" by this book, and he apparently has a vicious reputation. However, he has only murdered twice, and one of those murders was a hit he ordered someone else to do. The second was an intentional overdose over a period of hours, after which he finished the victim off with multiple shots to the head. In prison he participated in a handful of non-fatal stabbings. I got the sense that there was a lot about Boxer that was being sanitized. In recent years (well after this book was published), he's raped a cellmate, claimed he was abused by family members, and admitted to a gang rape while he was young. In the novel, his only reasoning for why he joined a gang of murderers was his drug use. I think there's still some to be unpacked here, and as-is I think we still are not seeing the full Boxer.
It is funny to note that like 70% of the criminals attacked in these stabbings survive, despite being tagged like a dozen times or more. Idk if it's through sheer spite or what.
Our interviewee, Rene "Boxer" Enriquez, has spent most of his life in prison. It was interesting to learn about how a bunch of hardened criminals function in prison, how they re-form webs of influence and profit. Boxer doesn't feel shame for exacting violence upon other criminals, but he does regret wasting his life in service to La Eme and missing a chance at having a family and a life on the outside. He also has clear, experienced insight on how these gangsters think and function. He is of the belief that the only way to stop violent gangs like this is to lock them up in solitary and invoke the death penalty whenever possible. If you aren't already interested in crime nonfiction, I can't imagine this holding much interest for you.
As far as qualms, I have two big ones: The prose here is sub-par. There are a lot of really awkward sentences and occasionally it's unclear what exactly is happening. It's totally readable, just not very polished. My second gripe is a little more nebulous. Boxer is marketed as a "Mexican mob killer" by this book, and he apparently has a vicious reputation. However, he has only murdered twice, and one of those murders was a hit he ordered someone else to do. The second was an intentional overdose over a period of hours, after which he finished the victim off with multiple shots to the head. In prison he participated in a handful of non-fatal stabbings. I got the sense that there was a lot about Boxer that was being sanitized. In recent years (well after this book was published), he's raped a cellmate, claimed he was abused by family members, and admitted to a gang rape while he was young. In the novel, his only reasoning for why he joined a gang of murderers was his drug use. I think there's still some to be unpacked here, and as-is I think we still are not seeing the full Boxer.
It is funny to note that like 70% of the criminals attacked in these stabbings survive, despite being tagged like a dozen times or more. Idk if it's through sheer spite or what.
February 4, 2023
Disclaimer: I read this book 4 years ago and my memory could be inaccurate in bringing up particulars. Without trying to summarize the book I will give the best review I can based on memory.
This is a pretty good book as far as the level of detail and the position of the person is concerned, quite a few of the stories he tells can be verified whether through public court documents or archived articles. Renee “Boxer” Enriquez is presented as a convict that belongs to a notorious prison gang that controls street gangs in Southern California primarily through intimidation and protection. I’ve always been fascinated with their hierarchy and the fact that they are a very California centered group, making it part of the history of the State that makes it unique. Prior to reading this I had some familiarity with Chris Blatchford, he was local reporter in Los Angeles and focused heavily on organized crime in the jail and prison system. His reporting on the dark under belly of the souther California region was always thorough and concise, he might be considered a reporters reporter, old school and to the point.
The plot follows Enriquez from childhood to life in prison, grueling and blood soaked journey. It would be a disservice to his victims for me to paint it as a story of redemption, there’s no way for me to truly know he is redeemed and it’s certainly not my place to forgive. Eventually Renee drops out of this pariah like gang and debriefs and reflects on his life thus far, with some aspiration for the future. In the interim between the dropping out and this book being written with Blatchford Renee has testified against his former cohorts and has helped get some of them off the streets or in a place where they aren’t able to make decisions that can cause harm to others from their prison cells, he should be commended for that regardless of his intentions.
The story itself can be a little too over the top at times with tiny explanations being offered by the subject (Enriquez) through the author for outrageous and stupid things that really have do not need justification beyond “I wanted to do it” or “I had to do it” when put into context that the perpetrator belongs to one of the most brutal and notorious gangs in the world. The only reason I imagine these explanations and sometimes outright chapters worth of deviations exist is to fill up space to make the book lengthier to satisfy the publisher.
Once you get past the meandering and the explanations of actions the book is brutal and realistic and short enough to not get overly cynical. Worth it if the subject interests you or you want to learn.
This is a pretty good book as far as the level of detail and the position of the person is concerned, quite a few of the stories he tells can be verified whether through public court documents or archived articles. Renee “Boxer” Enriquez is presented as a convict that belongs to a notorious prison gang that controls street gangs in Southern California primarily through intimidation and protection. I’ve always been fascinated with their hierarchy and the fact that they are a very California centered group, making it part of the history of the State that makes it unique. Prior to reading this I had some familiarity with Chris Blatchford, he was local reporter in Los Angeles and focused heavily on organized crime in the jail and prison system. His reporting on the dark under belly of the souther California region was always thorough and concise, he might be considered a reporters reporter, old school and to the point.
The plot follows Enriquez from childhood to life in prison, grueling and blood soaked journey. It would be a disservice to his victims for me to paint it as a story of redemption, there’s no way for me to truly know he is redeemed and it’s certainly not my place to forgive. Eventually Renee drops out of this pariah like gang and debriefs and reflects on his life thus far, with some aspiration for the future. In the interim between the dropping out and this book being written with Blatchford Renee has testified against his former cohorts and has helped get some of them off the streets or in a place where they aren’t able to make decisions that can cause harm to others from their prison cells, he should be commended for that regardless of his intentions.
The story itself can be a little too over the top at times with tiny explanations being offered by the subject (Enriquez) through the author for outrageous and stupid things that really have do not need justification beyond “I wanted to do it” or “I had to do it” when put into context that the perpetrator belongs to one of the most brutal and notorious gangs in the world. The only reason I imagine these explanations and sometimes outright chapters worth of deviations exist is to fill up space to make the book lengthier to satisfy the publisher.
Once you get past the meandering and the explanations of actions the book is brutal and realistic and short enough to not get overly cynical. Worth it if the subject interests you or you want to learn.
December 8, 2020
This book was a gift from a neighbor a few years ago. I wasn’t sure why he gave it to me, and I didn’t think much of the story at first, but I kept the book on my bedside table and would occasionally read it some days. It took a while for me to find interest, but it came one day when I discovered that my neighbor had family member in the La Eme mentioned in this book.
The book is brutal! The story of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez’s rise to power in La Eme, and the mafia’s control of street gangs across California (then the nation) was ruthless. Rene was a charismatic leader and jailhouse businessman who gamed the prison system. His reputation as a killer, drug addict, and eventually an informant got interesting when I read that Enriquez was denied parole in September of 2020. I began to pick up the book more often and discovered that Rene Enriquez’s life changed when he began to pick up books in prison. He was well-read, and soon discovered that the life he was living would eventually end up with him being killed one way or another.
Rene’s discovery of education and his realization that the mafia he loved and killed for seemed to always eat its own in the end. He also longed for normal life when he realizes what he had missed out on behind bars. Rene tells a story about hearing a baby cry while he was in the hospital. He had gone at least a decade without hearing that sound, without feeling grass under his feet, and without holding his own sons. This is a story about a man admitting that he made terrible choices, and as he watched his son’s grow up and parents grow old, he realized it was time for his own evolution.
The book was decent, but slightly frustrating. I would have liked to read more about his self-education and less about obscure mafia members whose stories seemed to be random acts of violence that didn’t do much to explain Rene’s growth as a person. I found myself questions the point of a few characters and random anecdotes about brutal murders that were clear digressions in some chapters.
I should make it clear that my neighbor is a good man, and his family member is killed in the pages of this book. It sparked a conversation between us, though. Conversations about a system setup to fail certain people, the power of acceptance and feeling of success that so many kids find in gangs that they don’t find at home or in school. It’s sad.
The book is brutal! The story of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez’s rise to power in La Eme, and the mafia’s control of street gangs across California (then the nation) was ruthless. Rene was a charismatic leader and jailhouse businessman who gamed the prison system. His reputation as a killer, drug addict, and eventually an informant got interesting when I read that Enriquez was denied parole in September of 2020. I began to pick up the book more often and discovered that Rene Enriquez’s life changed when he began to pick up books in prison. He was well-read, and soon discovered that the life he was living would eventually end up with him being killed one way or another.
Rene’s discovery of education and his realization that the mafia he loved and killed for seemed to always eat its own in the end. He also longed for normal life when he realizes what he had missed out on behind bars. Rene tells a story about hearing a baby cry while he was in the hospital. He had gone at least a decade without hearing that sound, without feeling grass under his feet, and without holding his own sons. This is a story about a man admitting that he made terrible choices, and as he watched his son’s grow up and parents grow old, he realized it was time for his own evolution.
The book was decent, but slightly frustrating. I would have liked to read more about his self-education and less about obscure mafia members whose stories seemed to be random acts of violence that didn’t do much to explain Rene’s growth as a person. I found myself questions the point of a few characters and random anecdotes about brutal murders that were clear digressions in some chapters.
I should make it clear that my neighbor is a good man, and his family member is killed in the pages of this book. It sparked a conversation between us, though. Conversations about a system setup to fail certain people, the power of acceptance and feeling of success that so many kids find in gangs that they don’t find at home or in school. It’s sad.
October 5, 2017
I enjoyed this look into the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang organization in California. Following the path of Rene Enriquiz from initiation beat down, first murder, to dropping out and finally redemption, you get an unprecedented look at the ugly underbelly of one of the states most powerful and feared criminal organization. Credibility was earned through violence, but there was also a very strict code of behavior. This discipline and respect and code of conduct unified a large amount of the Mexican criminal population in and around Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, OC and even up in the Bay Area. With most of the leaders behind bars in high security prisons like Pelican Bay, it's amazing that they could still run lucrative drug operations, order assassinations and earn a steady income, but this tell-all explores the scams, ruses and communication network that these resourceful criminals implemented. I learned a lot. It freaked me out at times, probably because I live in the middle of a lot of the goings ons, and was just oblivious to this other world, aside from a random headline now an then.
But more than just peeling back the hood of this criminal organization, it's a story about life. Rene's life, but his journey from thinking he knows what matters, working toward that and eventually reevaluating his priorities. He says it himself that most of these people are killers and can not be rehabilitated and any attempt to do so will not end well. He says that la eMe ruins everything it touches. But perhaps in writing this it's an attempt at some form of redemption. Make your own conclusions, but if you feel inspired, do read this and hear his voice.
But more than just peeling back the hood of this criminal organization, it's a story about life. Rene's life, but his journey from thinking he knows what matters, working toward that and eventually reevaluating his priorities. He says it himself that most of these people are killers and can not be rehabilitated and any attempt to do so will not end well. He says that la eMe ruins everything it touches. But perhaps in writing this it's an attempt at some form of redemption. Make your own conclusions, but if you feel inspired, do read this and hear his voice.
November 22, 2020
Narrado con una frialdad de periodista que te hace sentirte mal por las situaciones de la calle. Pero pronto la crueldad y la violencia te hacen apartar ese sentimiento. Y la sensación, además de la de miedo, es de coraje. Porque parece nada puede detener la violencia.
Este libro narra solo un fragmento de la Eme, (La Mafia Mexicana) en Los Ángeles, California y todo el control que poseen en los sistemas carcelarios. Esta historia no trata de hacer un recuento histórico, una narración crítica, es un compendio de las anécdotas de uno de los pandilleros más violentos, René "Boxer" Enriquez. Su vida dentro y fuera de la cárcel, la cual está presente en toda su historia. Si logras conectar los acontecimientos de las anécdotas, se vuelve escalofriante, lo que parece pasar en un lapso de tiempo bastante corto, la crueldad de una de las pandillas más peligrosas fe los Estados Unidos.
Las reglas. Las formas de organización. Su postura ante la vida. Sus negocios. Todo lo que toca "la mano negra" termina en muerte, caos y destrucción en todos los niveles. Y apenas van comenzando. La nueva "cosa nostra" pero con la más efervescente de la sangre latina. Y pese a sus códigos, y sus complicados sistemas de lealtad, como organización, todo es arrastrado por un vórtice que nadie puede detener. Alimentado por el miedo y la violencia.
Al terminar de leer este libro, los más viejos quieren una casa con jardín y famila. Ni ellos mismos pueden voltear al abismo que han creado. A mí me queda un sabor muy amargo. Encuentro muchas similitudes en otros organismos, sistemas, estructuras. Que me causa náuseas sea la única forma. Atrapado en una espiral.
Este libro narra solo un fragmento de la Eme, (La Mafia Mexicana) en Los Ángeles, California y todo el control que poseen en los sistemas carcelarios. Esta historia no trata de hacer un recuento histórico, una narración crítica, es un compendio de las anécdotas de uno de los pandilleros más violentos, René "Boxer" Enriquez. Su vida dentro y fuera de la cárcel, la cual está presente en toda su historia. Si logras conectar los acontecimientos de las anécdotas, se vuelve escalofriante, lo que parece pasar en un lapso de tiempo bastante corto, la crueldad de una de las pandillas más peligrosas fe los Estados Unidos.
Las reglas. Las formas de organización. Su postura ante la vida. Sus negocios. Todo lo que toca "la mano negra" termina en muerte, caos y destrucción en todos los niveles. Y apenas van comenzando. La nueva "cosa nostra" pero con la más efervescente de la sangre latina. Y pese a sus códigos, y sus complicados sistemas de lealtad, como organización, todo es arrastrado por un vórtice que nadie puede detener. Alimentado por el miedo y la violencia.
Al terminar de leer este libro, los más viejos quieren una casa con jardín y famila. Ni ellos mismos pueden voltear al abismo que han creado. A mí me queda un sabor muy amargo. Encuentro muchas similitudes en otros organismos, sistemas, estructuras. Que me causa náuseas sea la única forma. Atrapado en una espiral.
February 19, 2019
Come for the story, stay for the layers of socio-cultural commentary and insight. The writing doesn’t elevate the story; it even detracts from it at times. However, if you’re able to stick with it, what this book holds is much to be studied from numerous angles (psychology; sociology; crime; law; history, race, class, sexuality, and gender relations; etc). It’s almost too much to fully unpack and do a deep dive into all the layers.
All in all, personally, this was quite informative and brought up/connected important dots. Adding to the fact that this is about recent and still on-going matters — wow!
p.s. I get this was already a lot of terrain to cover, but I really wish it included some analysis. Perhaps a better writer, or someone else with more grasp of these interconnected spaces would have offered a better book. As it is, it left more to be desired.
All in all, personally, this was quite informative and brought up/connected important dots. Adding to the fact that this is about recent and still on-going matters — wow!
p.s. I get this was already a lot of terrain to cover, but I really wish it included some analysis. Perhaps a better writer, or someone else with more grasp of these interconnected spaces would have offered a better book. As it is, it left more to be desired.
July 3, 2023
Very good book in my opnnion
Rene Enriquez grew up in a good famiily,his father owned a factory and they had enough money but was hard with him.
His older brother liked the streets ,Rene went after him.
FRom a small age they where in street gangs , though his father tried to make him work in his factory.
He got in to drugs and in to prison when he was 18.
He decided to beat up a rival prisoner in order to get into the Emme
An older prisoner decided to recommend him into the Mexican Mafia ,Boxer did not have any problem to kill people
And in La Emme they loved to murdure people many time to order to stab anothen inmate from there own group for no reason.
Boxer saw how orders came to Destroy othere members though the guy was loyal to the gang
After ten or 20 years he became fed up of it as did some other members.
Rene Enriquez grew up in a good famiily,his father owned a factory and they had enough money but was hard with him.
His older brother liked the streets ,Rene went after him.
FRom a small age they where in street gangs , though his father tried to make him work in his factory.
He got in to drugs and in to prison when he was 18.
He decided to beat up a rival prisoner in order to get into the Emme
An older prisoner decided to recommend him into the Mexican Mafia ,Boxer did not have any problem to kill people
And in La Emme they loved to murdure people many time to order to stab anothen inmate from there own group for no reason.
Boxer saw how orders came to Destroy othere members though the guy was loyal to the gang
After ten or 20 years he became fed up of it as did some other members.
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