ned with the Texas Syndicate. Their rules refer to the Texas Syndicate as their “cousins”. Recruiting efforts have slowed due to the number of other white gangs and the fact that they are aligned with a predominantly Hispanic gang. “Gang tattoos are worn on the right forearm or behind the right shoulder; before a member leaves the Texas Department of Criminal Justice he must be tattooed” (F.B.P., 1994, p.47). At this current time the Texas Mafia has no known enemies.Texans incarcerated in the California Prison System formed the Texas Syndicate (TS) in 1974. Some members came back to Texas, were arrested and incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where the recruiting began and brought the Texas Syndicate to be the second largest S.T.G. in Texas. Members are predominately Mexican American males, but there are some instances where White offenders have been accepted as full members. “The TS has a formal organizational structure and set of written rules (movidas) for its members. A TS member is called a “carnal,” a group is called “carnales,” and a TS recruit is called a “cardinal.” The institutional leader is called the “Chairmen””(F.B.P., 1994, p.19). The primary goal of the TS is the control of the narcotics trade, extortion of other offenders, control prostitution, undermine prison officials, and conduct contract killings as needed. “The Texas Syndicate also employs what are called “advisors” or “financers” who are not members but work for the group one admitted “financer” reported that his responsibilities included holding money for the gang as well as “hooking officers.” The money he held was kept in an outside bank account … To “hook” an officer, the inmate gains the confidence of an officer, usually new to the job, then persuades the officer to bring...
