Corona was recruited in 1993 by David (Popeye) Barron, an infamous hit man for the Arellano brothers, Benjamin, Ramon and Javier. He’d saved Ramon’s life the year before.

When his friend and mentor David Barron-Corona was killed on the job, Corona said, he began to tire of the violence. But, he said, he was scared and felt trapped. That is, until his daughter was born.