Informant Gets 12 Years in Mexican Mafia Case

A Mexican Mafia member who became a government witness was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday for racketeering, attempted murder, assault and narcotics conspiracy.

Jesus Rochin once served as the Mexican Mafia's chief enforcer at the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail, overseeing beatings and knifings of inmates who ran afoul of the prison-based gang.

One of 24 alleged Mexican Mafia members indicted in 1999, Rochin negotiated a plea agreement with prosecutors and agreed to testify against the other defendants, most of whom were subsequently convicted.