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Sona believed in his community. He also believed that serving it through a gang was a good idea; An idea that took him down the wrong track.
Running with a gang in southeast Fresno, Sona never did hard time. He was caught up in the gang culture, so consequently and repeatedly he did time in the California Youth Authority. His four brothers and sister are still gang affiliated
His earliest memories of gang life start at about five. His parents came to America from Cambodia, and the influence of gangs flourished in the ghetto-like apartment complexes where the refugees found themselves.
Territorial feuds with rival Hispanic gangs made a strong impression on young Sona, instilling in him a sense of pride. It seemed natural to follow the power to a point of dominance.
At some point, during his yo-yo existence with jail, Sona realized there was probably a better way than beating up people. His point of view changed. The fruitlessness of the returning to jail weighed on his soul.
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