Jesús Malverde — The Generous Bandit
Jesús Malverde (1870–1909) is a legendary Mexican bandit turned folk saint whose devotion has spread to Mexican-American communities throughout the US Southwest. Born in Sinaloa, Malverde was said to rob from the rich and give to the poor, earning him the nickname 'The Generous Bandit' or 'The Robin Hood of Sinaloa.' He was hanged by government authorities in 1909, and his body was left to rot, but local people began to build a shrine at his grave. Today his shrine in Culiacán, Sinaloa, is visited by thousands who pray for protection, luck, and miracles. In the United States, Malverde is espec