Prospects like Deputy Hector Little Listo Saavedra sent texts laughing about the 245 (assault and battery) and advised others to burn and destroy evidence. The top watchdog for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has identified more than 40 alleged members of gang-like groups of deputies that operate out of two sheriffs stations. Privacy Policy. The next evening, LASD held a department-sponsored party at Kennedy Hall. The sheriffs department declined to comment on the allegations. 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. The Banditos initially attempted to recruit some of the plaintiffs. A new policy is meaningless if you dont actually enforce it, said Miller, the attorney representing the deputies. His body was recovered near Mount Islip. Soon afterwards, Zaredini was removed as an FTO and lost his bonus pay. Chavez said that the two men had been playing a game of chicken, and no investigation appears to have followed. In late December 2011, an on-duty Lopez reported to a priority call. The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. Before joining The Times in 2016, she reported on crime and policing for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader. 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). Granados reported this to Woodwards supervisor, Sergeant Albert Maldonado, who initially discarded the write-up. Banditos also pressure deputies "to ignore constitutional protections which require there to be probable cause to stop and arrest civilians," which leads to the "planting and manufacture of evidence and other illegal acts," the complaint claims. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy associated with a gang-like group of deputies with matching tattoos testified that he has attended about seven inking parties.. All eight requested transfers out of East L.A. and moved to other stations earlier this year, according to their attorney, Vincent Miller. Mejia opened an inquiry into Munoz and reported it to Lieutenant Eric Smitson and Captain Chris Perez. April Valentine died at Centinela Hospital. The Fort Apache insignia, which depicts a riot helmet and a boot with the words Low profile and siempre una patada en los pantalones or always a swift kick in the pants, was created at the station during the Chicano Moratorium, when deputies brutalized hundreds of people gathered to protest the Vietnam War. The Banditos only recruit young Latino deputies, said the plaintiff who spoke to LAist. She contacted the Back to Work Unit but was told they could not help her, and advised her to contact the station Director. The memo included an anonymous letter detailing the Banditos wrongdoings. A report by Loyola Law School found Donate Now Deputy gangs, or Decisions such as station fundraisers and events must be roundtabled at the home of Noel Crook Lopez or Marc Elizondo. After Lopezs POE was filed, the harassment escalated. A new study finds that 16% of L.A. County Sheriffs deputies and supervisors said in an anonymous survey theyve been asked to join a secret clique. He was elected in 2018 after running as a progressive Democrat who would reform the department. 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. However, the claim states the memo only focused on Munozs harassment and intentionally downplayed the role of the gang in the stations operation. The Banditos control the East Los Angeles station "like inmates running a prison yard," the lawsuit alleges. Gang culture is reinforced by older employees who reward newer recruits who subscribe to it. And that was on purpose because they had failed in their job to lead the station.. LOS ANGELES A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy received an alleged "Banditos" tattoo six months after a new policy banned cliques in the Gray filed a lawsuit against the County, and accepted a settlement of $549,000, which taxpayers financed. The incident was the focus of two internal Sheriffs Department investigations one of which Villanueva has said led to the discipline of 26 employees as well as a report by the Office of Inspector General. 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. "Other taxes take the form of sexual favors from female deputies," according to the complaint. 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. Orange says that Gray told himhe was beaten by several deputies. Instead of assisting Contreras, Perez and Rojas drove by and mocked him, according to the complaint. 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!. 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. Will Orange County's Fledgling Clean Power Agency Survive? Escobedo was unable to work for a week afterwards, according to the suit. Lopezs lawsuit states that the harassment continued after she complained. Zaredini retroactively received the bonus pay, but was denied a promotion by Captain Chavez and Undersheriff Timothy Murakami. 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?. 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. 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. Munoz, Rodriguez, Silverio and Michael Hernandez were all placed on paid leave. 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? The new defendants include two commanders, three captains, two lieutenants and 41 deputies, according to plaintiffs attorney Vincent Miller. The IG's report on a deputy group You meet up with us when we tell you to! Her answers didnt satisfy him and he told her, Fuck you! and, You are on your own! Around January 16, 2012, Deputy Benjamin Zaredini attempted to knock Lopez to the floor while she was carrying a loaded shotgun. Deputy Zaredini was allegedly left without backup for most of the summer of 2018 under the direction of Munoz, Eldemira Parra, Andrea Villa, and Claudia Perez. There are 30 alleged members of the Executioners operating from the Compton station. "They see who is eager to belong, who they can manipulate, who they can control easily," he said. draft a policy regarding cliques Sergeant Angelica Pink Hand Estrada and John Soria were able to carry out the Banditos wishes with the blessings of station leadership such as Lieutenant Eric Smitson and Captain Ernie Chavez. 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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. Smitson, Perez, and Sergeant Estrada informed the Banditos that Granados and Zaredini had blown the whistle. alleging the existence of a criminal gang of deputies called the Banditos at the departments East L.A. Station. When she tried to get away by getting back into the patrol car, Wargo blocked her path and said You are a product of Valdez, and he is God at East LA Station, and if you dont submit to the program, you will have problems here! In January 2012, Lopez ran into Deputy Andrew Hernandez again on another call. 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 money has been used for legal fees for some defendants in the claim and vacations for Banditos members to Thailand. The lawsuit claims the department is "permeated by criminal gang culture" beyond the Banditos. is investigating the Banditos She was also regularly sent on calls with just a few minutes left on her shift. Munoz, Eldemira Parra, Andrea Villa, and Claudia Perez controlled the calls through dispatch, and would send Granados and other plaintiffs out at the end of their shifts, forcing them to stay past their work time. In early March 2012, someone posted a phony Department Personnel Transfer Request at the East LA station with Lopezs name on it. Munoz, Moran, and Rodriguez cornered Gonzalez and pressured him to leave the station. Deputy Christopher Moore, who was on-duty and assigned to the party, stood by and watched the assault. For the latest national news from NPR and our live radio broadcast, visit Cliques? Her case settled for $1 million in 2019. When Lemus went to Captain Chavez with a complaint, Chavez told her he liked how Mendoza controlled the line. Afterwards, he and Lieutenant Anthony Easter reopened a citizen complaint against Lemus where a victim charged she had taken too long to take him to the hospital. This is America, Orange recounts. 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 In August, Villanueva announced a zero tolerance policy on deputy cliques/subgroups engaging in misconduct, according to the statement. The DAs office didnt put adequate resources into prosecuting the case. . Jefferson Chow, who has been in the department for 26 years, was tasked with investigating a September 2018 fight between deputies at a department party at Kennedy Hall in East Los Angeles. Its just smoke and mirrors, its just a pretend at reform.. She previously covered the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, focusing on accountability stories and writing about failures by officials to comply with transparency laws. He showed her a transfer request form with two choices: San Dimas or Walnut Stations. They have been broken up in accordance to the law, and constitutionally permissibly, he said. Gonzalez developed high blood pressure and a heart condition which led to her removal from the field. Escobedo and Hernandez were treated at a local hospital, Escobedo for "severe neck pain and strain, dizziness, and nausea due to lack of oxygen from being choked out," and Hernandez for a concussion and cuts that required sutures, the complaint alleges. Instead, it issued this statement: Sheriff Alex Villanueva was the first sheriff in the history of LASD to implement a strict policy prohibiting cliques and sub-cultures, and he has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to transparency and accountability.. When one says that a person is in the car, it means that person is one of them. The current undersheriff, Tim Murakami, has a "Cavemen" tattoo, according to the lawsuit. In September 2018, two deputies were knocked unconscious at a department party at an event space called Kennedy Hall, the lawsuit says. Immediately afterwards, then Banditos prospect Hector Little Listo Saavedra allegedly claimed Zaredini called him a homophobic slur over one year prior. One of the deputies approached him and told him to step back and he said, Im nowhere near whats going on. Before joining The Times in 2016, she reported on crime and policing for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader. During the August 14, 2013, meeting, Romero asked Lopez where she wanted to go. "We haven't confirmed or denied any investigation," FBI Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told LAist. Following her complaint to Chavez, Internal Affairs opened an investigation into the matter, resulting in a two-day suspension. Attorneys representing a group of Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies who claimed to have been harassed and brutalized by the Banditos If you're enjoying this article, you'll love my daily morning newsletter, How To LA. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Despite Gonzalezs high test performance in the Sergeants promotional exam, she was repeatedly passed over for the promotion. Zaredini did not report the incident for fear of retaliation by the gang. 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. Gray was charged and prosecuted for intentionally obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing their duties. Today, the station is dominated Banditos. Two weeks after the ceremony, the Banditos gang removed ammunition from Deputy Zaredinis shotgun. But her attorney, Gregory Smith, says the damage was done. And as I understand it, she really would have liked to have all of those things.. The gang also denied Zaredini and Lemus backup. Lopez told Patrelli that she would go anywhere except for East LA. Is that an incorrect statement by Sheriff Villanueva that he transferred 36 people? Miller asked. 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. Once she was out, Wargo began screaming at her. Several neighbors came out of their houses and filmed the incident. The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. 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. The Sheriffs Department may not refuse to produce the records requested below by unilaterally declaring that no deputy sheriff is a member of a law enforcement gang, Huntsman wrote, adding that the Banditos and Executioners may fall within the states definition of such a gang. On October 25, 2012, her car was vandalized while parked at the East LA Station. According to a complaint, Lopez wasnt given adequate time to prepare administrative paperwork, supervisors at the East LA station refused to sign off on her reports, and detectives didnt file or investigate her cases. READ NEXT: The Pink Hand, Big Listo, and Crook. It says about 30 members and prospects work at the East L.A. station, adding the others work elsewhere or have retired. Knock LA is a nonprofit community journalism project, originally conceived by Ground Game LA. The trainees were reportedly told that if they stole anything from a suspect, they should dispose of it outside of the station. While under oath in a deposition, Rauno confirmed that he sent the message to the group. She was able to maintain control of the weapon but fell backwards into a wall, hitting the back of her head. Traditionally, once deputy gang membership reaches 100, a new group is introduced. 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. 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. After taking office in December 2018, Sheriff Alex Villanueva removed the captain and transferred numerous deputies out of the East L.A. station. The lawsuit FTO Hernandez brought the fake request to Sergeant Jennifer Barsh, who ordered Lopez back to the station. Once she rejected them, they retaliated against her. In November 2011, Deputy Andrew Hernandez, a Banditos associate, leered at Lopezs breasts in the hallway as she was leaving the womens locker room. Mejia also claimed to have forgotten texts and phone calls he received from Deputy Oscar Escobedo reporting the hostile work environment. The Banditos of the East Los Angeles Sheriffs Station seemed not only to embrace the tradition of terrorizing surrounding communities, but celebrate the Lopez was also subjected to intimidation: Deputy Benjamin Zaredini once followed Lopez into the garage area at the East LA station. Lopez was informed by other women in the department that Valdez expected female trainees to submit to male training officers, meaning she had to drink, party, and provide sexual favors upon request. 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. Bandito FTOs would demand taxes, handing their trainees empty envelopes and telling them to fill them with money, sometimes up to $2,000, by the end of the day. In this role, the FTOs are able to abuse their trainees without any accountability. He informed her that she would be put on loan to Century Station pending the approval of her transfer, but refused to give her a copy of the paperwork. Deputies Gregory Rodriguez, Monica Farias, Steven Miller, Alejandro Lomeli, and Marc Elizondo pounced. 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