Prison Time
In 1946, Morgan beat to death the husband of his 32-year-old girlfriend and buried the body in a shallow grave. While awaiting trial, he escaped using the identification papers of a fellow inmate awaiting transfer to a forestry camp. He was recaptured and sentenced to 9 years at San Quentin State Prison. He was only 17 at the time.
In 1955, he led 11 inmates in a jailbreak from Los Angeles County Jail. He fled to Utah in 1956 and was captured a year later, with charges that included trafficking firearms; two hours later, he was caught in possession of heroin. Upon conviction, he was sentenced to two to ten years behind bars.
Morgan was well respected within the ranks of the Mexican Mafia and became a high-ranking member. His connections with cocaine and heroin suppliers in Mexico helped pave the foundation for the Mexican Mafia's narcotics distribution throughout California.
Morgan as a member of the Mexican Mafia committed the first prison gang street execution in Los Angeles in 1971.
Morgan died of liver cancer at California State Prison, Corcoran.
Read more about this topic: Joe "Pegleg" Morgan
Famous quotes containing the words prison and/or time:
“This great purple butterfly,
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Not a poor fool understands.
Once he lived a schoolmaster
With a stark, denying look....”
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