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How a Mexican Mafia killer became a law enforcement darling
LATimes.com ^ | Feb. 15, 2015 | Kate Mather and Victoria Kim

Posted on 02/17/2015 11:48:51 AM PST by Colofornian

The man sitting in the back of the vehicle is wearing a light-colored shirt, a patterned tie and an air of authority.

He's headed to a conference in Anaheim to give a speech and, as trees, hedges and apartment buildings flash by, he rattles off a list of accomplishments — his book, his expert witness testimony.

"This has been a dream of mine," he says in the online video, referring to his speaking invitation. "You know how many people have said, 'You can't do it'?"

There was every reason to doubt Rene "Boxer" Enriquez could.

Enriquez, 52, is serving a life sentence for ordering the killing of one woman and for fatally shooting a man five times in the head. Behind bars, he attacked other inmates with jail-made shanks. His criminal history includes armed robberies, drug sales and a sexual assault.

"If I would have listened to those naysayers, I'd be sitting up in Pelican Bay right now," he says in the video, which promotes a book he co-wrote.

Instead, he was on his way to speak to hundreds of officials at a conference hosted by the California Gang Investigators Assn.

Enriquez was once a key figure within the Mexican Mafia. But since agreeing in 2002 to tell authorities about the prison gang's activities, the inmate once considered so dangerous that he was isolated from other prisoners has become a valuable law enforcement asset — providing expert testimony and other help in scores of cases.

The transformation of Enriquez has been held up as evidence that even the worst offenders can find redemption. His cooperation has uncovered a murder-for-hire plot, helped secure lengthy prison time for gang members and provided vital information about the inner workings of one of the state's most notorious prison gangs...

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2002; 2015; 201502; bookdeal; bookdeals; boxerenriquez; california; cgia; enriquez; fbiinformant; gangs; inmate; johnturscak; lacell; laeme; lawenforcement; losangeles; mexicanmafia; reneenriquez; turscak
From the article:

The man sitting in the back of the vehicle is wearing a light-colored shirt, a patterned tie and an air of authority. He's headed to a conference in Anaheim to give a speech and, as trees, hedges and apartment buildings flash by, he rattles off a list of accomplishments — his book, his expert witness testimony. "This has been a dream of mine," he says in the online video, referring to his speaking invitation. "You know how many people have said, 'You can't do it'?" There was every reason to doubt Rene "Boxer" Enriquez could. Enriquez, 52, is serving a life sentence for ordering the killing of one woman and for fatally shooting a man five times in the head. Behind bars, he attacked other inmates with jail-made shanks. His criminal history includes armed robberies, drug sales and a sexual assault.

Related story: Children of victim upset that Mexican Mafia killer may be paroled

1 posted on 02/17/2015 11:48:51 AM PST by Colofornian
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To: Colofornian

So... is this “rehabilitation,” or is it a case of this thug conning authorities into settling old scores for him?

What are the odds?
Can you rehabilitate a cockroach? A rattlesnake?


2 posted on 02/17/2015 12:12:45 PM PST by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D.: "What Would Jack Bauer Do)
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To: Colofornian

Is this supposed to get people comfortable with the southern invasion?


3 posted on 02/17/2015 12:55:46 PM PST by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: Colofornian

“You know how many people have said, ‘You can’t do it’?”

A good many, but they’re all pushing up the daisies.


4 posted on 02/17/2015 1:47:12 PM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: Redbob

It was not about rehabilitating Enriquez, it was for those who are dealing with these guys in the prisons and on the streets everyday to gain additional insight into how the hardcore gang members think and operate. I can assure you that he’s not putting anything over on the officers in attendance at this conference; they are seasoned enough to know what information is useful and what is bogus.

Many if not most of these prisoners claim they have found religion or insight or remorse, and may give up some nuggets of info along the way. Some are genuinely trying to turn themselves around, but it doesn’t change what they’ve done.


5 posted on 02/17/2015 4:03:37 PM PST by Mjaye (Obama's chickens have come home to roost.)
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To: Colofornian

This is some of the richness of diversity that the Bushes, Obama, and the rest of the amnesty lobby have dumped on California.

And since it doesn’t stay in California the rest of you get to share in it.


6 posted on 02/17/2015 5:24:33 PM PST by Pelham (The refusal to deport is defacto amnesty)
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To: Colofornian

Yep, completely rehabilitated. Would you turn your back on him? I wouldn’t.


7 posted on 02/17/2015 5:41:31 PM PST by Colorado Doug (Now I know how the Indians felt to be sold out for a few beads and trinkets)
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