La Eme: The Rise and Fall of a Mexican Mafia Godfather

In this searing biography of Joe “Pegleg” Morgan – a ruthless and cunning gang leader who rose to the revered position of “Godfather” of the feared Mexican Mafia (a.k.a. La Eme) by shooting, stabbing, and fighting his way to the top – you will find out the blood-soaked truth about the violent life of a “made man” who excelled in his chosen path as a career criminal and forever altered the dynamics of the convict culture in the California Department of Corrections (CDC).An adopted son of East Los Angeles, he was a Caucasian of Croatian ancestry but taken in and embraced by the Mexican American community. Author and veteran crime journalist Diego Martinez tracks Morgan’s journey in vivid, meticulously researched detail, starting from his family history to his early years as a teen gang member, to his involvement in a deadly love triangle – which led to him getting shot in a confrontation with police, and ultimately losing his leg. Having spent more years of his life in incarceration than on the streets, he thrived in the worst maximum-security institutions the state of California had to offer, serving hard time in Folsom, San Quentin, Pelican Bay, and other notorious prisons.Learn about how Joe Morgan took La Eme to new heights with his criminal ingenuity, elevating the Mexican Mafia from a prison gang originally made up of predominantly Chicano juvenile delinquents to a transnational organized crime syndicate – operating as a well-oiled machine, raking in millions of dollars in drug money.A fast-paced read for crime buffs, Diego Martinez’s book is sure to appeal to fans of both history and true crime, as well as readers from all walks of life – laying bare the true origins of the Mexican Mafia’s rise to power and the infighting, betrayals, and law enforcement pressure that eventually caused Joe Morgan’s demise. Read more