Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news. assertions made in legal claims filed in March and May But eight deputies now accuse Sheriff Villanueva of allowing a violent group, the Banditos, to thrive in his department's ranks. Contreras and the other plaintiffs requested transfers out of the station, which were denied without explanation for weeks. Villanueva has generally downplayed the problem, saying cliques are nothing more than "hazing run amok" and "intergenerational rivalry. 'Thank goodness that were in the era of videos,' said the family attorney as they file a federal civil rights lawsuit, In a memo, Chief Michel Moore said extremist groups have hijacked the use of the Thin Blue Line Flag to symbolize their undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views.. 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. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Just a few days later she was summoned into the Watch Commanders Office by Sergeants Hish and Florence, who were not her supervisors. Lopez spoke with Sergeant Betty Lascono, who placed her on the schedule to return to work the following day. alleging the existence of a criminal gang of deputies called the Banditos at the departments East L.A. Station. is investigating the Banditos Banditos meetings are held at the home of Deputy Noel Crook Lopez. On April 10, 2013, Lopez found a dead rat underneath the drivers side door of her vehicle. 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. In early March 2012, someone posted a phony Department Personnel Transfer Request at the East LA station with Lopezs name on it. Former Undersheriff Ray Leyva stated in a deposition that Villanueva made a settlement with Deputy Gregory Rodriguez, a Bandito, shortly after Rodriguez was involved in the attack at Kennedy Hall. The lawsuit says Banditos are given preferred parking spots at the station and collect taxes from young deputies, including through a recent fundraiser to help four of them pay for legal expenses related to these claims. Deputy Lemus was overloaded with calls by the alleged morning Banditos shot caller, Raymond Mendoza. In a retaliation lawsuit filed by a sheriffs lieutenant, a deputy associated with the Executioners testified last month that he had participated in deciding who could get a tattoo and had attended seven so-called inking parties. On September 26, 2018, Deputies Munoz, Silverio, Rodriguez, and Moran apparently planned to attack Deputy Gonzales in order to make an example out of him. In reality, Villanueva sent notices to terminate Banditos Rafael Munoz, Gregory Rodriguez, and David Silverio, as well as discipline plaintiff deputies in what appears to be retaliation. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. In a conversation with LAist, the new sheriff acknowledges that, as an outsider, "I have my work cut out for me" in winning the support of the department's rank-and-file. In their claim, the deputies allege that Raymond Mendoza, Jonathan Rojas, Woodrow Kim, Juan Sanchez, and Luis Valle have recently served and continue to serve as field training officers (FTO). In March and April 2018, two of the plaintiffs, deputies Louis Granados and Benjamin Zaredini, were "alarmed by the increasingly hostile and violent nature" of the Banditos' activities, the lawsuit states. But new court documents that include sworn testimony from Chavez raise questions about and at times, contradict the sheriffs claims. 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. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love my daily morning newsletter, How To LA. 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. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. The lawsuit describes in detail how members of the "Banditos" clique allegedly control station operations. On August 8, 2013, Lopez was taken off of disability leave and cleared to return to work. On October 25, 2012, her car was vandalized while parked at the East LA Station. LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman has accused Sheriff Alex Villanueva of promoting a code of silence'' around secret societies within his department, but Villanueva calls the IG's actions purely politically driven and an attempt to undermine the department.''. This method of punishment is known as freeway therapy. Zaredinis transfer was allegedly denied in order to initiate another investigation into him for being stern with the trainee of Regulators associate Deputy Karla Sepulveda, resulting in a two-day suspension. Lieutenant Eric Simpson allegedly buried the memo under the orders of Chief Bobby Denham. The claim charges that Mejia admitted the action was improper, and that Commander (then Captain) Ernie Chavez and Commander Eli Vera (a candidate for sheriff) stated the action was retaliatory. Sgt. His body was recovered near Mount Islip. We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA. . And as I understand it, she really would have liked to have all of those things.. Halfway through her training, Lopez was reassigned to Field Training Officer Edwin Hernandez. 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. The new court filing does not attach specific allegations to each new defendant. Zaredini retroactively received the bonus pay, but was denied a promotion by Captain Chavez and Undersheriff Timothy Murakami. Rafael Munoz approached Casas on at least two occasions to ask him to be his eyes and ears in the southern part of the precinct. FTO Hernandez brought the fake request to Sergeant Jennifer Barsh, who ordered Lopez back to the station. Chavez said he left East L.A. station in November 2019 after his promotion to commander. A look at years past when snows creeped into our citified neighborhoods, away from the mountains and foothills. When she asked Wargo what was going on, she was told that she was a trainee and to mind her business. She was assigned to the Los Angeles County Jail until transferring to the East LA Station in 2011 where she began training to become a patrol officer, according to court documents. It says this has happened "dozens" of times over the last three years. The FBI On Sept. 19, 2018, just nine days before the attack at the party, two East L.A. deputies were shot, "coming close to being murdered, because of the intentional failure of the Banditos to provide back up," the suit claims. 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. In this role, the FTOs are able to abuse their trainees without any accountability. 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. Zaredini did not report the incident for fear of retaliation by the gang. The Executioners were 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. LAist reported in July that If she didnt comply, she wouldnt pass her probationary period and it could be extended indefinitely. Former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka was a tattooed member of the Vikings, which a federal judge called a "neo-nazi white supremacist" group. The Cavemen preceded the Banditos at the East L.A. Station. Hernandez pointed at her body and turned to another male deputy saying, Look at these! and, What do you think, bro? He said to Lopez, What are you going to do about it? He kicked over a garbage can in front of incarcerated people working there and yelled to Lopez, Hey trainee, why dont you come over here and clean up the fucking mess you made?. Hish told her that Gonzalez had allegedly hazed a deputy, which she denies. After Lopezs POE was filed, the harassment escalated. SEE MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON LA'S DEPUTY GANGS: Our news is free on LAist. She immediately began to experience chest pains and shortness of breath, and was diagnosed with a stress-induced pre-heart attack condition. 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. Gregory Rodriguez was charged with perjury by the office of then District Attorney Jackie Lacey for lying in his report. 4:30 p.m.: This article was updated to include Sheriff Villanueva's June comments about the Banditos. The other plaintiff deputies continued to face harassment from Banditos associates. Lopez told Patrelli that she would go anywhere except for East LA. Pushed him up against the police car. . The new defendants include two commanders, three captains, two lieutenants and 41 deputies, according to plaintiffs attorney Vincent Miller. It describes members of the group as maintaining control by intimidation of other deputies and control of key positions, including dispatcher, scheduling deputy and training officer. A Tradition of Violence is hosted and executive produced by Cerise Castle. Subgroups? It says Banditos denied them backup, Granados was denied a promotion he had earned and Zaredini was stripped for a time of his position as a training officer. Later he was asked: To your knowledge, you were not brought in to quell the Banditos situation, correct?. Deputy Woodrow Kim, who was listed as a witness, stated Saavedra was lying about the claim in the IA investigation. One of the deputies who filed the lawsuit said federal agents interviewed him but declined to provide details. Many of those men were also members of the Banditos. Huntsman did not name the deputies and said his office has identified additional possible members from other sources. 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. The incident was never investigated, despite it being reported, according to the complaint. Gang culture is reinforced by older employees who reward newer recruits who subscribe to it. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. Los Banditos East LA Station has been a notorious LASD gang hub for decades, but not every deputy is welcome. We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA. Deputies Christopher Wargo, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, and Eduardo Sanchez, who were also mentioned, were loaned out to other stations. To make sure you get our coverage: Privacy Policy. Angelica Estrada, one of the few female associates of the Banditos and a woman who wielded tremendous influence at the station, "went over Mejia's head" to the captain at the time and then-Chief Bob Denham to block any discipline of the Banditos. It was never used on the department at all. Forty-seven Los Angeles County Sheriffs officials were added Monday as named defendants Gray was charged and prosecuted for intentionally obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing their duties. Once she was out, Wargo began screaming at her. Rosa Gonzalez, a deputy who later sued the station, said under oath that she heard Lopez referred to as The Glob.. While Deputy Granados encountered other deputies firing guns at a suspect and pulled over his vehicle, he was written up for misconduct by Diana Woodward. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Munoz, Moran, and Rodriguez cornered Gonzalez and pressured him to leave the station. They were detaining and taking Grays brother-in-law into custody according to Grays attorney, Olu Orange. County lawyers instructed the deputy not to answer questions about whether he has the Executioners tattoo, which is a skull with a rifle and a military-style helmet, surrounded by flames. In May 2019, Contreras was denied backup by Deputies Nikolis Perez and Jonathan Rojas, both Banditos. A second investigation into the Kennedy Hall incident initiated by Sheriff Villanueva resulted in the termination of Deputies Gregory Rodriguez, David Silverio, and Sergeant Michael Hernandez, all members of the Banditos. The Banditos gang has controlled the East Los Angeles station like inmates running a prison yard, the lawsuit says. What are you going to do? On December 23, 2011, Deputy Eduardo Sanchez, another Banditos associate, swore at Lopez and demanded that she meet up with him. There were sexual implications to his request and she told him that she would not meet up with him alone. They use word on the yard, a phrase used to explain what is being said among people in prison, according to the lawsuit. 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. Attorneys representing a group of Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies who claimed to have been harassed and brutalized by the Banditos They met with station Lt. Richard Mejia, who initiated an investigation into the Banditos gang and interviewed about 20 deputies who acknowledged the Banditos problem, according to the suit. The lawsuit A CBS News investigation has uncovered allegations of gangs existing within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, possibly for decades. As she was completing a victim interview, Hernandez began cursing at her. Despite ongoing litigation related to the Banditos, the gang appears confident that they can operate with impunity, and multiply. 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