Manuel Medrano is a former member of the Arizona Mexican Mafia, also known as the New Mexican Mafia, a US prison gang. He was in and out of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry for 20 years and served time for armed robbery and drug trafficking.
Medrano speaks with Business Insider about the gang structure and hierarchy, as well as ties to the cartels. He covers gang tattoos, language, and rivalries with the Border Brothers. He also talks about the loose alliance the gang had with the Aryan Brotherhood. Medrano discusses corrupt prison guards and offers his opinion on mass incarceration and US drug policy.
Medrano now runs Phase Two of Life, a charity in Arizona. He also runs the YouTube channel Chronicles, where he speaks with former gang members.