A Social Network Analysis of an MS-13 Network: Structure, Leadership Roles, and the Use of Confidential Informants

The current study focuses on a federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act indictment of MS-13 gang members who were charged based on a nine-and-a-half-year multi-agency investigation in Southern California. Using a social network analysis approach, the authors examine the relationship between crime types, shot-callers, and actor centrality metrics, and the importance and positioning of confidential informants (CIs) in gathering evidence and intelligence in large-scale gang investigations. Consistent with previous literature on the role of shot-callers, findings suggested the crime types murder/attempted murder are significantly related to those identified in the indictment and named as shot-callers. However, the centrality measures for shot-callers were not significantly different from those for other members. Finally, one particular CI played a significant role in the network, as s/he had the highest centrality measures. We also discuss implications for future research on CIs and their roles in evidence collection.