Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jul 2000
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Marisa Taylor, Staff Writer

MEXICAN MAFIA MEMBER SENTENCED TO 29 YEARS

Man Convicted On Extortion Charges, Distributing Meth

A member of the Mexican Mafia was sentenced to 29 years and four months in 
prison yesterday for a conviction on charges of extortion and distributing 
methamphetamine.

Frank Macias Madriaga, 45, was found guilty in April of demanding cash 
payments from drug suppliers as tribute to the Mexican Mafia, also known as 
La Eme,  for the phonetic Spanish pronunciation of the letter M.

Madriaga of National City was a significant "made" or inducted member of 
the Mexican Mafia, prosecutors said. He sports the black-hand tattoo of La 
Eme  on his chest.

Federal and state authorities were tipped off to Madriaga's operation in 
July 1998 when they arrested Mark Anthony Mendez, one of Madriaga's main 
gang or "crew" members.

Mendez began cooperating with investigators and led them to Madriaga and 
dozens of other methamphetamine traffickers in San Diego County.

Madriaga also was implicated by Juan Carlos Lopez, a National City 
marijuana trafficker who went to police the same month, contending that 
Madriaga was demanding thousands of dollars in payment as a "tax" to La Eme.

During the trial, experts testified that La Eme  exerts control over the 
drug-trafficking world not just by demanding payments and drugs, but by 
requiring lower prices for drugs.

Many of the identified members of the gang are incarcerated in the 
maximum-security Pelican Bay state prison in Crescent City, where Madriaga 
served time.

Six other drug suppliers pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from 
three to 10 years.

Madriaga's sentence was significantly higher partly because of his criminal 
record, which includes two convictions for robbery, said Timothy Coughlin, 
a prosecutor in the case.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D