WEB BUZZ MAFIA

Vianna Roman is charged, along with 28 others, with a variety of crimes related to activities of the Harpys street gang in South L.A., reputedly run by her father from prison. When her father was convicted of the murder of a rival gang member and sentenced to life in prison without parole almost three decades ago, Vianna Roman was a 9-year-old girl . In the years since, Danny Roman , federal authorities say, has become a feared member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang . He allegedly controlled a 30-square-mile expanse of gang territory in South L.A. from behind bars in Pelican Bay State Prison . Doing his bidding from 700 miles away — passing down his orders of violence , collecting " taxes " from businesses and other gang members at his behest — was his daughter , federal prosecutors alleged Thursday. Vianna , now 37, a mother and operator of a meat market and water store, was among 18 arrested as part of a sweeping federal take-down of members o...

Steven Benavidez, who authorities say is linked to the Mexican mafia , is behind bars on suspicion of killing Erasmo Ledezma and possession of drug paraphernalia , authorities said. Authorities say witnesses led investigators to believe that Benavidez and other Mexican Mafia members are associated with Ledezma’s death after Ledezma did not pay his share to gang members. The Mexican Mafia is a documented prison gang that taxes individuals to get money and support, according to Superior Court documents. On Nov. 22, Phoenix fire fighters found Ledezma dead outside a business from gunshot wounds near the 4000 block of East Madison Street in Phoenix about 9:50 p.m. Investigators found that the Mexican Mafia members were searching for Ledezma because they thought he leaked information to police about a recent arrest, court documents show. The gang members were also collecting taxes from Ledezma and it was time for him to pay up, officials say. Benav...

The U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Texas says eight Hondo members of the Mexican Mafia pleaded guilty to various charges in federal court Friday.  These men were rounded up in October of 2011.  Assistant US Attorney David Shearer confirms the following charges and sentences: --Paul Anthony Sanchez, considered by the feds to be the Lieutenant out in the Hondo part of the organization, received got 260 months (21 years) after pleading guilty on Count 1 (Hobbs extortion conspiracy) and Count 2 (drug conspiracy). --Eduardo Garcia received 260 months (21 years) after pleading guilty to Count 1 and 2, plus Count 6 (felon in possession of firearms.  We're told he had a gun and a bulletproof vest). --Joseph Correa received 180 months (15 years) when he pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 2, plus Count 7 (felon in possession of firearms.  Shearer told News 4 WOAI Correa had 6 firearms and a bulletproof vest). --Jason Ryan Gonzal...