Perched above the city of Santa Paula, California, large white letters spell out “SP.” To the average visitor, they stand for Santa Paula. But to the gang members who rule the streets below, SP means something darker: Snake Pit. That’s what the Santa Paula gangs call their hometown—infested, dangerous, and bad for your health. At […]

A Deep Dive into Ventura County’s Most Notorious Gang The presence of the Oxnard Colonia Chiques gang in Ventura County represents one of the most significant law enforcement challenges of the past several decades.  The city of Oxnard is known as the most dangerous city in Ventura County. Approximately 15% of the households do not […]

Gangs and violence are not just urban problems. They quietly infest small towns, transform neighborhoods, and shatter lives. Most discussions frame gangs and violence through sterile statistics or sensationalized headlines from distant metropolises. What is the truth? Gangs can thrive in small towns too. Santa Paula, California presents a perfect case study. Behind its charming […]

The Mexican Mafia’s Influence in the California Prison System The prison gang La Eme are present in both federal and California prisons. The difference between jail and prison is clear but often misunderstood. Jails are managed by local county sheriffs, while prisons are operated by the state. In California, the state prison system is run […]

What I Learned from Interviewing Gang Members After working for the FBI in Los Angeles for ten years, my transfer to the Ventura Resident Agency office provided a unique perspective on gang culture. In 2014, I received photographs of gang members identified by the Santa Paula Police Department. The similarity among these individuals was striking. […]