Manuel Medrano is a former member of the Arizona Mexican Mafia, also known as the New Mexican Mafia, a US prison gang. He was in and out of the Arizona Department of Corrections for 20 years and served time for armed robbery and drug trafficking.Medrano speaks with Business Insider about the gang structure and hierarchy, as well as ties to the cartels. He covers gang tattoos, language, and rivalries with the Border Brothers. He also talks about the loose alliance the gang had with the Aryan Brotherhood. Medrano discusses corrupt prison guards and offers his opinion on mass incarceration and US drug policy. Medrano now runs Phase Two of Life, an Arizona-based charity. He also runs the YouTube channel Chronicles, where he speaks to former gang members. The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, originated in 1957 in the California prison system. According to law enforcement, the gang is splintered into the New Mexican Mafia, founded in Florence, Arizona, around 1974, and other factions. Many prison gangs in the US take the name Mexican Mafia, including the Mexikanemi, or Texas Mexican Mafia. Find out more: phasetwooflife.org https://www.youtube.com/c/CHRONICLES100:00 - Intro00:27 - Joining the Gang02:57 - The Rules06:06 - The Expansion07:14 - The Hierarchy08:29 - The Rivalries11:18 - On the Street13:57 - The Money16:45 - The Recruitment18:17 - The Codes21:02 - The Guards25:13 - The Sting30:06 - The Aftermath32:08 - The Future33:47 - CreditsMORE HOW CRIME WORKS VIDEOSHow Prison In Russia Actually Works | How Crime Works | Insiderhttps://youtu.be/ZVgHfUaI3LYHow Counterfeit Rolexes Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insiderhttps://youtu.be/TzEi95mhVI4How Car Theft Actually Works | How Crime Works | Insiderhttps://youtu.be/EHevgEKGwhY------------------------------------------------------#mexicanmafia #crime #insider Insider's mission is to inform and inspire. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com/Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insiderInsider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderInsider on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisinsiderInsider on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Insider/2708030621Insider on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@insiderHow US Prison Gangs Actually Work (New Mexican Mafia) | How Crime Works | Insider