The Tezcas is a Hispanic American street gang active in northern California. The gang was formed in 1957 by members of various Latino street gangs in southern California who banded together in prison to protect themselves. The Tezcas transformed from a prison gang into an allied street gang whose members were known for their tattoos and their violence. The Tezcas' main income cam efrom cocaine trafficking, smuggling goods to Vancouver using ships such as the MRC Richmond, growing and distributing marijuana, and engaging in other criminal pursuits.