connections with a foreign drug cartel to rise up the ranks of his prison gang, the mexican mafia. >> once i opened the door with the drugs, i got recognition. by getting that recognition, i get power. with the power, i get control of whatever yard i go to. when once i control the yard, i control the inmates. >> miguel perez was a big drug distributor in various prisons he had been in. i think the thing that so shocked me is that so much of the drugs coming into prison can never happen, unless there's a whole group of people out there willing to assist. >> even though the individuals locked up, they have a lot of access to individuals on the street. they have visitors that see them on a regular basis. they have mail, they can send mail out, receive mail. they're able to send coded messages out to other street gangs, or carry out their deeds.