How the Mexican Mafia Works: 'Gangster Confidential' Airs Tonight

Réne Enríquez fought his way to the top of one of America's most ruthless gangs, the Mexican Mafia, for 20 years. From behind bars, he was able to kill and order deaths of gang rivals on Southern California streets. But then he began to have a change of heart.

Reporter Michael Montgomery stayed on the story for a year and a half and tonight he finally tells Enríquez's story from the beginnings of the Mafia to running the organization and from the life choices he eventually had to make such as leaving the gang to what the Mexican Mafia is like today.

"Gangster Confidential," which airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. on KPCC 89.3 FM, is a quest for redemption and freedom inside California penitentiaries, which is known as America's most brutal prison system. According to America Public Media, this documentary draws on unprecedented access to the jails and prisons with more than 30 hours of audio diaries recorded by Enríquez.

The audio and video (a YouTube clip is below) can also be found online at a special section dedicated to the amazing documentary.

Photo Courtesy Réne Enríquez