Mexican Mafia Informant Says He Approved Jail Killing
A Mexican Mafia leader-turned-informant admitted on the witness stand in federal court Friday that he had violated his pact with prosecutors by authorizing the killing of a fellow prisoner.
Under cross-examination in the trial of 11 suspected Mexican Mafia members and associates, Max Torvisco, 24, said he gave a go-ahead for the slaying at the request of another gang member.
Torvisco began cooperating with the government a month after he and about 40 other Mexican Mafia members were arrested on racketeering charges in 1999. He said he had no idea whether the death decree was ever carried out.
A former student at Cal State L.A., Torvisco is the government’s star witness in the trial, which is being held in a high-security courtroom.
He has acknowledged authorizing as many as 40 killings as a Mexican Mafia kingpin. On Friday, he claimed credit for making Latino street gangs throughout Los Angeles obedient to the Mexican Mafia. He said he also controlled Mexican Mafia activities at the Los Angeles County Jail.
Torvisco said he volunteered to become a government witness because he feared he might receive a death sentence if convicted.
The trial resumes Tuesday.
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