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Patrelli refused to accompany Lopez to the meeting or send any other union representation saying, You should be grateful that Commander Romero is willing to meet with you!. However, the claim states the memo only focused on Munozs harassment and intentionally downplayed the role of the gang in the stations operation. "The Pink Hand's dominance of the management at the East Los Angeles Station was so strong, she was also nicknamed 'the Red Queen,'" the suit contends. 2023 Southern California Public Radio - All Rights Reserved, assertions made in legal claims filed in March and May, A Los Angeles Family Seeks Answers And Accountability After Black Mom Dies In Childbirth, A Brief History Of Why It Does Occasionally Snow In LA. We had a captain that was gracious enough to take her in [his unit] and she just hid, says Gonzalezs attorney, Gregory Smith. None of them appear to have been disciplined for the shootings. It also alleges that the Banditos once secretly removed ammunition from another deputys shotgun. This should be emblematic that policies that allegedly ban deputies from joining gangs will not fix this problem., Solis added that these deputies "cause havoc and harm" and only traumatize the community instead of helping and serving it. Internal Affairs investigator Eric Barron, allegedly a member of the Regulators, argued with plaintiff Deputy Mario Contreras counsel that the Banditos conduct did not constitute racial discrimination, because Latinos were targeting other Latinos. He slammed his hands on the side of the vehicle and said, What the fuck is wrong with you? When she asked Wargo what was going on, she was told that she was a trainee and to mind her business. Instead of investigating her claim, the department began investigating her. Gonzalez said under oath that in the summer of 2013, shortly after being given the day off and mentioning plans to travel to Hawaii, she received a text message sent to a group she was in with Deputy Jose Rauno. 4 min read. Romero offered Lopez a transfer in response, which she didnt think she deserved as she had done no wrong. However, he was found not guilty by a jury. Here's Why It's Especially Dangerous To Hike SoCal Mountains Right Now, How 4 Words Upended A University's Journalism Program, And Stirred A Reckoning Over Race, What A Popular Yoga Teacher's Descent Into Conspiracy Theories Says About The 'Wellness To QAnon Pipeline', Ancient Lung Disease Strikes Countertop Cutters In LA. The other plaintiff deputies continued to face harassment from Banditos associates. During her first two weeks of training, Valdez assigned Lopez to work a shift with Deputy Christopher Wargo, who was a prospect or puppy of the Banditos. And that was on purpose because they had failed in their job to lead the station.. Gray is visible on the tape observing the arrest from a distance. L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents East L.A., said in an emailed statement: "It is shameful to learn that the number of deputy gang members, specifically from the Banditos, have increased and now include those who have enabled and hid their misconduct. Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. The lawsuit also alleges that the plaintiff deputies have been continually harassed through the filing of the amendment. Sgt. and Aceituno recently did the same thing again and received no consequences from East LA Captain Richard Mejia, according to the complaint. July 19, 2021. He met his wife and the mother of his children in LA. Deputies who don't follow the Banditos' orders are subject to retaliation that can include getting overloaded with excessive calls, being sent out for extra calls at the end of their shift and being told routine calls are emergencies, according to the suit. Deputy gangs have existed within the LASD for at least 50 years. The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. Contreras and the other plaintiffs requested transfers out of the station, which were denied without explanation for weeks. Union Says It'll 'Wait And See', A Look Back At LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva's Tumultuous 4 Years, A Los Angeles Family Seeks Answers And Accountability After Black Mom Dies In Childbirth. Deputies Alfred Gonzalez, Oscar Escobedo, Ariela Lemus, Art Hernandez, Mario Contreras, David Casas, Louis Granados, and Benjamin Zaredini filed an internal complaint with Los Angeles County in March of 2019. In his letter, Huntsman requests that the Sheriffs Department cooperate with his investigation into the groups by providing investigative files and other documents. The next time she heard from Patrelli, she informed Lopez that Wolak wouldnt be sending her to the hospital location after all. It says they and others savagely beat and kicked Deputy Art Hernandez, leaving him unconscious, and that Deputy Oscar Escobedo was beaten by Munoz and strangled by Silverio, briefly losing consciousness. Villanueva told ABC7 on Tuesday, May 24, that the hearing was a political stunt that allowed witnesses to testify without cross-examination. Once she was out, Wargo began screaming at her. Lieutenant David Infante, who previously worked at the East LA station and knew about the complaint, made it known to Lopezs supervising Sergeant, Veronica De La Rosa, that he didnt want Lopez at Century Station. The L.A. County Sheriffs Department Inspector General has identified dozens of deputies who are allegedly members of gang-like groups that operate out of the East L.A. and Compton stations. The Banditos extract "taxes" from young Latino deputies for clique members' parties and travel, one of the deputies who filed the lawsuit told LAist. In a letter dated Monday, Inspector General Max Huntsman said his office has compiled a partial list that includes 11 deputies who allegedly belong to the Banditos, which operate out of the East L.A. sheriffs station, and 30 alleged Executioners from the Compton sheriffs station. Part of A Tradition of Violence, an extensive investigation into more than five decades of abuse, terror, and murder carried out by gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Gonzalez filed a lawsuit against the County in April 2016. Donate Now Gang culture is reinforced by older employees who reward newer recruits who subscribe to it. Even though he's one of the named plaintiffs, he requested anonymity out of fear that Banditos might harass him at his home or his new station because he spoke to the media. The Banditos have existed for at least a decade at the East L.A. station, according to Kennedy. The deputies, who do not want to be identified for fear of reprisal, claim the most prevalent are called the Banditos comprised of mostly Latino deputies who Granados and Zaredini both suffered retaliation for blowing the whistle, according to the complaint. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. SEE MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON LA'S DEPUTY GANGS: Our news is free on LAist. WebThe East Los Angeles Sheriffs station has the most documented history of deputy gangs. But the eight deputies this week filed an updated lawsuit with new allegations, including that the Banditos recently had an inking party where 10 deputies were tattooed, raising the total number of members to 100. In fall of 2017, Munoz sent Raymond Mendoza, an alleged Banditos shot caller, to confront Deputy Zaredini about not being hostile enough to Deputy Alfred Gonzalez. Chavez said that the two men had been playing a game of chicken, and no investigation appears to have followed. Attorneys representing a group of Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies who claimed to have been harassed and brutalized by the Banditos deputy gang at the East Los Angeles Station have filed a fifth amended complaint naming 17 additional associates of the group. The plaintiffs originally filed claims in 2019, stating they had been attacked, beaten, and denied backup as a result of refusing to cooperate with the gang. It asserts that the special unit members "showed up just in time to kill the perpetrator before he could murder their fellow deputy.". The legal action also accuses L.A. County and Sheriff Alex Villanueva of failing to eradicate the Banditos and other problem cliques, which date back decades and whose members have risen to the highest ranks of the department. In all, eight deputies are demanding $60 million in a new lawsuit against Los Angeles County and four fellow deputies they say are members of the "Banditos" deputy gang. On March 8, 2012, Barsh filed a Policy of Equity (POE), a practice that prohibits discrimination against County employees on a variety of bases, on Lopezs behalf and told Captain Henry Romero about the Banditos threats and harassment. A report by Loyola Law School found In one incident, "a deputy was shot twice, including in the face," and the suspect "would have murdered the fallen deputy if not for two special units coincidentally being [in] the area trying to talk down a mentally ill person," the complaint says. The FBI is investigating a secret society of tattooed deputies in East Los Angeles as well as similar gang-like groups elsewhere within the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, multiple people familiar with the inquiry said. On August 8, 2013, Lopez was taken off of disability leave and cleared to return to work. Two weeks after the ceremony, the Banditos gang removed ammunition from Deputy Zaredinis shotgun. In 2014, Gonzalez took the exam to become a Field Training Officer, and in July of that year, Master Field Training Officer Angelica Estrada assigned Gonzalez to be a mentor to new deputies. At at Civilian Oversight Commission meeting in May, Villanueva said the Banditos clique no longer exists at East L.A. station. One of the new named defendants is Sheriff Alex Villanuevas chief of security, and another is his driver, according to Miller. The Banditos And Other LA Sheriff's Deputy Groups Are Now Being Investigated By The FBI, East LA Sheriff's Deputies File Suit Claiming Harassment, Violence By 'Banditos' Clique, Authorities ID Man Arrested In Killing Of LA Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell As Husband Of Housekeeper, Huntington Park Police Shot, Killed Man Who Had Both Legs Amputated: What We Know So Far, LAPD Chief Bans Thin Blue Line Flag From Police Station Lobbies, Patrol Vehicles, And Uniforms, Mayor And City Council Members Express Concerns After LAPD Releases Footage Of Fatal Shootings, New LA Sheriff Says He Thinks Deputies Are Ready For A Stabilizer. Leaders, known as "shot-callers," determined deputies' hours, promotions, even days off. Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. The money has been used for legal fees for some defendants in the claim and vacations for Banditos members to Thailand. On that shift Lopez saw Wargo purchase reports, meaning that Wargo would write arrest reports for other deputies as part of initiation into the gang. Saavedra also attempted to have Gonzalez investigated for wrongfully sitting in a car with a victim, a claim that the complaint alleges to be completely fabricated. Sign up for our daily newsletters Deputy Lemus was overloaded with calls by the alleged morning Banditos shot caller, Raymond Mendoza. A CBS News investigation has uncovered allegations of gangs existing within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, possibly for decades. Its just smoke and mirrors, its just a pretend at reform.. I dont know who the Banditos are, Chavez, who is now a commander, said under oath in March. The Banditos consist primarily of Latinx LASD personnel, and allegedly do not allow women to become full-fledged members. "We haven't confirmed or denied any investigation," FBI Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told LAist. Deputies Alfred Gonzalez, Oscar Escobedo, Ariela Lemus, Art Hernandez, Mario Contreras, David Casas, Louis Granados, and Benjamin Zaredini, the latter of whom was previously accused of being a Bandito, claim to have suffered at the hands of the gang for the past four years. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Based on the information that I have, that is incorrect. Many who are not recruited go along with the gangs requirements for fear of retaliation. He ended up fiercely resisting oversight and clashing with watchdogs and the rest of the countys political establishment. Eric Valdez and Veronica De La Rosa were promoted to the rank of sergeant, which they held as recently as 2019. After Lopezs POE was filed, the harassment escalated. Along with the county, the suit names four Banditos as defendants: Raphael "Rene" Munoz aka "Big Listo"; Gregory Rodriquez aka "G-Rod"; David Silverio aka "Silver", and Michael Hernandez aka "Bam Bam," who the complaint says was assigned to Men's Central Jail. Eight Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies are suing the county, saying they were pressured by the Banditos gang to quit their jobs or leave the East Los Angeles station. Over the past 30 years, litigation related to deputy gangs at the East LA Station has cost taxpayers more than $36 million. When Sheriff Villanueva took over the department in December of 2018, he made it a priority to reinstate former employees with ties to deputy gangs, including Undersheriff Murakami and Caren Carl Mandoyan, a Grim Reaper. Inspector General Max Huntsman said that the investigation almost completely ignored evidence of the involvement of the Banditos which led to the assaultive conduct at Kennedy Hall, and that the investigation into the Banditos was a cover up by the sheriff and LASD. alleging the existence of a criminal gang of deputies called the Banditos at the departments East L.A. Station. When Contreras reported this to Captain Mejia, he instead suggested that Contreras ride with Deputy Juan Sanchez instead, who is allegedly affiliated with a street gang, as well as being an inked Banditos member. Knock LA is a nonprofit community journalism project, originally conceived by Ground Game LA. Those allegations accused the Banditos and their associates of harassing fellow deputies who dont support them, creating a hostile workplace, and planting evidence. In an interview with KPCC/LAist, Murakami denied that he's a member of the group. The lawsuit estimates 15-20% of the department's more than 9,000 sworn personnel are members of these cliques. Bandito godfather Sergeant Eric Valdez told Hernandez to tell the truth, as he was horrified with the gangs behavior. Forty-seven Los Angeles County Sheriffs officials were added Monday as named defendants Youve got people who were put in leadership positions who were basically there to hide and minimize and cover up the extent of the deputy gang problem.. On October 25, 2012, her car was vandalized while parked at the East LA Station. The Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Deputy Joshua Smilor, a Banditos associate, told her that she needed to call Valdez, Daddy and that she needed to submit to the program of his kids. Deputy Ortega informed her that there were were explicit photos of other women in the department having oral sex with Banditos members working as training officers. Gray was charged and prosecuted for intentionally obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing their duties. While under oath in a deposition, Rauno confirmed that he sent the message to the group. On August 23, 2012, LASD personnel descended upon the 1300 block of South Marianna Avenue in East Los Angeles. But her attorney, Gregory Smith, says the damage was done. Deputy Woodrow Kim, who was listed as a witness, stated Saavedra was lying about the claim in the IA investigation. In December 2013, Lopez was informed that if she didnt immediately request a transfer to Century Station, she would have to return to East LA. Munoz, Moran, and Rodriguez cornered Gonzalez and pressured him to leave the station. Lopez attempted to come back to work just over a month later, but was met with the same harassment as before. Cerise Castle | April 1, 2021 Part of A During the course of the investigations, the complaint alleges multiple Banditos members and associates lied about their knowledge of the gang and said they did not see the attacks. Hernandezs former FTO Marcelo Reaper Ortega and Contreras former FTO Elizondo also told him not to speak about what had happened. He says that Lopez left California altogether in an attempt to leave the trauma behind. The sheriff said previously that he cracked down on the Banditos presence in East Los Angeles as one of his first acts upon being sworn in. The claim states that Captain Mejia wrote a memo in June of 2018 to the County recommending an investigation into the Banditos. She'd gone into the pregnancy with a plan, knowing Black mothers like herself were at higher risk. Following her complaint to Chavez, Internal Affairs opened an investigation into the matter, resulting in a two-day suspension. 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