Puente 13 Explained

Puente 13
Founders:-->
Founding Location:La Puente, California, United States
Years Active:ever since 1953
Territory:San Gabriel Valley
Ethnicity:Mexican American
Membership Est:100 - 1000(including affiliates)[1]
Activities:Drug trafficking, fraud, murder, assault
Allies:Mexican Mafia[2]
Sureños[3]
Rivals:Azusa 13,[4] Townsmen 13[5]

Puente 13 (P13) is a street gang in La Puente, California. They are Sureños.[6] They are described as Mafia related or Mexican mafia related. They were formed c. 1953 as the Bridgetown Gentlemen (puente is Spanish "bridge"),[7] or "Old Town Puente". Then they dropped the "Old Town", later adding the "-13" that signifies allegiance to the Mexican Mafia.[8] [9] The gang is known for its violent criminal activities, drug smuggling and illicit contributions to the Mexican Mafia.

Territory

Puente 13 claims the entire city and is one of the many gangs in the San Gabriel Valley. [10]

Notable events

2013: Two carnals (leaders) of the gang taken down.[11]

2018: 17 people were indicted on identity theft charges and charges relating to supplying methamphetamine, including to the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, after an investigation into the gang led by the DEA and the USSS.[12]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.sgvtribune.com/2020/01/10/after-a-spate-of-gang-violence-in-la-puente-authorities-seek-to-quell-residents-concerns/ After a spate of gang violence in La Puente, authorities seek to quell residents’ concerns
  2. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/brothers-who-led-mexican-mafia-backed-puente-13-street-gang-sentenced-life-prison Brothers Who Led Mexican Mafia-Backed Puente-13 Street Gang Sentenced To Life In Prison As Result Of Federal Racketeering Case
  3. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca9-13-50102/pdf/USCOURTS-ca9-13-50102-0.pdf United States of America v. Michael Anthony Torres
  4. https://www.dailybreeze.com/2013/03/06/puente-13-gang-leader-brother-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/ Puente 13 gang leader, brother sentenced to life in prison
  5. Web site: Man sentenced for 2006 la Puente 'execution' of Valinda man who failed to pay 'taxes' to Mexican Mafia . 23 December 2016 .
  6. Book: The Hollywood Kid: The Violent Life and Violent Death of an MS-13 Hitman . Martínez . Óscar . Martínez . Juan José . Verso . 2019 . 3 October 2020 . CrimeReads.
  7. Web site: Brothers Who Led Mexican Mafia-Backed Puente-13 Street Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison as Result of Federal Racketeering Case. 2015-06-23.
  8. Book: Frank C. Girardot Jr.. Name Dropper: Investigating the Clark Rockefeller Mystery. 8 March 2014. eBookIt.com. 978-1-4566-2141-4. 146–7.
  9. 182 Cal.App.4th 1009; 105 Cal.Rptr.3d 887 [Mar 2010] https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2276777/people-v-arias/
  10. http://lang.dailynews.com/socal/gangs/articles/ALL_p1side1.asp L.A. Daily News Special Report: "Terror in our streets"
  11. Web site: Gang Task Forces Take Down Mexican Mafia 'Carnals' . 14 March 2013 . Richard . Valdemar . 3 October 2020.
  12. Web site: Investigation into Puente 13 Street Gang leads to federal narcotics, fraud and identity theft charges against 17 defendants.