International Journal on Criminology Volume 3, Number 2, Fall 2015 | Page 70

Organized Crime Behind Bars
Richard Valdemar, a sergeant specializing in prison gangs at the Los Angeles
Sheriff 's Department, has calculated the tonnage and cash turnover associated with
heroin trafficking in the prison of Los Angeles County, 211 an institution for prisoners
in transit, awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Heroin is probably the least used
drug in California since a number of poisoned batches were distributed around twenty
years ago. Nonetheless, even given the above conditions, those who control this traffic
make a substantial profit. Here are Valdemar's figures:
Average population on any given day:
Heroin addicts (± 10% of prisoners):
Detoxed (± 2% of addicts): -38
Total active heroin addicts on any given day:
Minimum daily dose of heroin:
A total each day of:
An annual consumption of:
Value of one gram:
In one year, for this prison, heroin dealing alone
yields a minimum of some:
18,639 prisoners
1,864 prisoners
1,826 prisoners
0.01 g per user
18.26 g heroin
6664.9 g (6.7 kg)
$ 80 on the street
$ 240 in jail
$ 1,600,000
More than 6.5 kg of heroin is a considerable quantity. The quantities and cash
traded for marijuana and cocaine are undoubtedly much higher. For example, Jimmy
Delgado, a “sergeant” of the Texas Mexican Mafia, was convicted of “conspiracy,
racketeering and trafficking” after dealing more than 5 kg of cocaine in the Texas prison
system. 212 These are huge amounts considering the system is meant to be “closed,” and
proves the extraordinary resourcefulness of gangs in prison.
In 1995, 25% of inmates in US high security prisons were drug addicts. The
figure is probably higher today. 213
How do drugs make their way into prison? The complicity of corrupt guards
is, of course, vital, but the wives and friends of detainees are often involved, as well as
“associates” of the criminal groups—sometimes, too, women organized in gangs. 214
These women are often used as “mules,” who are either voluntary, threatened or paid.
They are better equipped to hide drugs about their person and are often under less
suspicion than their male counterparts.
211
Valdemar, R., California Prison gangs information sheet, California Gang Investigators Association,
2003.
212
He is also accused of three murders. US Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office, Southern
District of Texas, press release, May 23, 2003.
213
Emergency Response and Research Institute. Unfortunately we were unable to find more recent
figures.
214
For example, a subgroup of the Gangster Disciples recruited young schoolgirls called the “Sisters of
Struggle” or the “Intellectual Sisters.” They serve as logistical support to imprisoned members of GD.
The female subgroup of the Latin Kings is, of course, called the Latin Queens.
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