Lawyer accused of enabling Mexican Mafia rackets could avoid prison with guilty plea

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Gabriel Zendejas Chavez leaves the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Indicted in 2018 in an investigation of the Mexican Mafia's rackets in L.A. County jails, Chavez pleaded guilty in federal court to a rarely filed charge called "misprision of a felony." A lawyer accused of helping members of the Mexican Mafia traffic drugs, collect extortion money and expose government informants pleaded guilty Thursday in a deal with prosecutors that may spare him prison time. Gabriel Zendejas Chavez, who was indicted in 2018 in an investigation of the Mexican Mafia's rackets in L.A. County jails, told U.S. District Judge George Wu he was guilty of a rarely filed charge of "misprision of a felony."