Patrelli contacted her again and told her that she would actually be going to the County Services Bureau USC Hospital location. Lieutenant Eric Smitson allegedly confronted Hernandez and pressured him to lie and say the attack at Kennedy Hall had been an isolated, drunken two-way altercation. Sheriff Alex Villanueva also repeated that claim to Captain William Jaeger, Chief Kelly Porowski, and investigators Jeff Chow, Vincent Choi, Jeff Hamil, and Scott Chapman. More LA Sheriffs Officials Accused of Misconduct in Banditos The DAs office didnt put adequate resources into prosecuting the case. There are 30 alleged members of the Executioners operating from the Compton station. They were treating her like a housewife, says Gregory Smith, Lopezs attorney. He ended up fiercely resisting oversight and clashing with watchdogs and the rest of the countys political establishment. LAist.com/radio. A Tradition of Violence is hosted and executive produced by Cerise Castle. Several members of the Banditos showed up, which was uncommon, according to court documents. Chavez said that the two men had been playing a game of chicken, and no investigation appears to have followed. She attempted to contact Romero about the status of her transfer request, but he was allegedly unavailable. Deputy Woodrow Kim, who was listed as a witness, stated Saavedra was lying about the claim in the IA investigation. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. The Banditos logo (Courtesy of Vincent Miller). It says this has happened "dozens" of times over the last three years. Gray was detained again on October 15, 2012. Joshua Smilor, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, Eduardo Sanchez, and Troy Krautkramer were deputies as of 2019. Los Banditos East LA Station has been a notorious LASD gang hub for decades, but not every deputy is welcome. Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. In December 2018, Banditos "secretly removed the bullets from Deputy Zaredini's shotgun," the lawsuit claims. Did you investigate the Banditos? asked Vincent Miller, an attorney representing the eight deputies, according to a transcript of the deposition excerpts. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. When one says that a person is in the car, it means that person is one of them. 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 Groundbreaking Suicide Squad That Tested Early Rockets And Flirted With The Occult. Although the plaintiffs were overwhelmed with calls, they were also denied backup by Munoz, Silverio, Rodriguez, Hector Soto Saavedra, Braulio Robledo, Jonathan Rojas, Nikolis Perez, Juan Sanchez, Aaron Abellano, Silvano Garcia, Claudia Perez, Vincent Moran, Edelmira Parra, Andrea Villa, and Eldimerra Parra. Two weeks after the ceremony, the Banditos gang removed ammunition from Deputy Zaredinis shotgun. Deputies based at the East L.A. station "have generated an excessive amount of stops and arrests in the community because of the pressure from the Banditos to inflate numbers, to satisfy illegal arrest quotas," the suit alleges. 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. Casas also says he received several intimidating messages from the Banditos, including demands to stop working at the station and threats of assault. The Banditos have existed for at least a decade at the East L.A. station, according to Kennedy. At the end of the call he followed Lopez to her car. 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. Hish told her that Gonzalez had allegedly hazed a deputy, which she denies. 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. She left the department. , and previously named only four former deputies and Los Angeles County. Lopez told Patrelli that she would go anywhere except for East LA. But eight deputies now accuse Sheriff Villanueva of allowing a violent group, the Banditos, to thrive in his department's ranks. Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news. Huntsman told The Times that about a third of the 41 deputies on his list admitted that they had tattoos or belonged to the groups; the rest were identified by other sworn personnel in statements to sheriffs investigators. The Banditos now ran East LA. Munoz, Moran, and Rodriguez cornered Gonzalez and pressured him to leave the station. The gang also denied Zaredini and Lemus backup. But new court documents that include sworn testimony from Chavez raise questions about and at times, contradict the sheriffs claims. 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 Bandidos emblem is a skeleton with a sombrero and a handlebar mustache holding a smoking revolver. Deputy gang members, or those seeking membership, have shot at least 19 County residents to death in that time. One of the new named defendants is Sheriff Alex Villanuevas chief of security, and another is his driver, according to Miller. 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. Knock LA is a nonprofit community journalism project, originally conceived by Ground Game LA. 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. Lopez was also subjected to intimidation: Deputy Benjamin Zaredini once followed Lopez into the garage area at the East LA station. What has previously been known about the groups has often been stitched together from allegations and testimony in lawsuits. The department did not respond to LAist's inquiry as to whether the policy has been formally adopted. In September 2018, two deputies were knocked unconscious at a department party at an event space called Kennedy Hall, the lawsuit says. "Other taxes take the form of sexual favors from female deputies," according to the complaint. 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.. On August 23, 2012, LASD personnel descended upon the 1300 block of South Marianna Avenue in East Los Angeles. Soon afterwards, Zaredini was removed as an FTO and lost his bonus pay. 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 gangs have existed within the LASD for at least 50 years. Despite ongoing litigation related to the Banditos, the gang appears confident that they can operate with impunity, and multiply. The money has been used for legal fees for some defendants in the claim and vacations for Banditos members to Thailand. Lieutenant Eric Simpson allegedly buried the memo under the orders of Chief Bobby Denham. Subgroups? Will Orange County's Fledgling Clean Power Agency Survive? 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 We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA. According to court documents, Villanueva also reinstated Danny Batman Batanero, one of the original 10 Banditos, and made him head of his security detail. 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. lawsuit that was first filed two years ago 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?. In late December 2011, an on-duty Lopez reported to a priority call. Art Hernandezs lawsuit charges that there is a video which shows members of the Banditos gathered at the station following the fight, preparing a cover story together. Privacy Policy. I dont know who the Banditos are, Chavez, who is now a commander, said under oath in March. At least four secret cliques or gangs of sheriffs deputies with names like the Banditos and the Executioners continue to operate and recruit within the L.A. Members have a common tattoo on their legs of a skeleton with a bushy mustache wearing a sombrero and bandolier holding a pistol, all of which are sequentially numbered. According to the complaint, Mendoza also conducted personal business while on duty and ordered her to do his work. 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. SEE MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON LA'S DEPUTY GANGS: Our news is free on LAist. She was placed on medical leave. Smith says that current Sheriff Alex Villanueva reached out to Gonzalez after taking office and assisted her with study for the Sergeants exam. 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. She immediately began to experience chest pains and shortness of breath, and was diagnosed with a stress-induced pre-heart attack condition. 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. He said that Villanueva did not discuss the problems at the station with him. July 19, 2021. And that was on purpose because they had failed in their job to lead the station.. We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA. The new defendants represent a significant expansion of the civil rights and workplace harassment Rodriguez was rehired despite being charged with falsifying the police report concerning the unlawful detainment and beating of Christopher Gray. 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. Sanchez continued to harass her saying, I dont understand why you dont want to meet up, are you worried about your reputation? When Lopez saw Sanchez two days later, he swore at her again for not going to meet up with him alone. 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. 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. Deputies who are members have adopted gang expressions, the lawsuit says. In 2014, L.A. County paid $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a female deputy who said she was bullied and harassed by Banditos. Today, the station is dominated Banditos. Cerise Castle | April 1, 2021 Part of A 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. Excerpts of Chavezs testimony were made public as part of a lawsuit brought by eight deputies who say they were routinely harassed by a gang of predominantly Latino deputies who have matching tattoos of a skeleton outfitted with a sombrero, bandolier and pistol. The pair demanded she immediately resign from her mentoring position, and she was removed the following day. Her case settled for $1 million in 2019. 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. 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. Many who are not recruited go along with the gangs requirements for fear of retaliation. Youve got people who rigged internal affairs bureau investigations, Miller told LAist. Rosa Gonzalez became the latest target of the Banditos abuses in December 2011, shortly after she arrived at the East LA Station. The memo included an anonymous letter detailing the Banditos wrongdoings. 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.''. The Banditos gang has controlled the East Los Angeles station like inmates running a prison yard, the lawsuit says. Members typically get matching tattoos and go by names such as the Grim Reapers and Jump Out Boys. LAist.com/radio. Villanueva has generally downplayed the problem, saying cliques are nothing more than "hazing run amok" and "intergenerational rivalry. Villanueva blamed the situation on "a leadership team that fell asleep at the switch.". Lopez was later contacted by ALADS union representative Julie Patrelli, who told her that East LA Captain James Wolak was willing to send Lopez to Cerritos Station. Deputy Lemus was stormed by Bandito associate Rebecca Cortez at a County detention facility. The lawsuit describes in detail how members of the "Banditos" clique allegedly control station operations. 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. Took his hands and bent them up so far behind his back that you could see his fingers behind his ears and he tore his shoulder. The report falsely described Gray as trying to open the door of the patrol vehicle. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Her doctor placed her on medical leave again. Decisions such as station fundraisers and events must be roundtabled at the home of Noel Crook Lopez or Marc Elizondo. She contacted the Back to Work Unit but was told they could not help her, and advised her to contact the station Director. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love my daily morning newsletter, How To LA. Despite Gonzalezs high test performance in the Sergeants promotional exam, she was repeatedly passed over for the promotion. In a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, the Sheriffs Department said Huntsmans letter failed to provide any actual evidence or new information and noted that the agency has provided the inspector general with all legally obtainable information requested., This is another irresponsible attempt from Mr. Huntsman to discredit the organization, through omission and misrepresentation, the department said. Two of the men are veterans with more than a decade on the job. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Deputy cliques in L.A. 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According to a lawsuit filed by eight East L.A. deputies and the A.C.L.U., the Banditos gang "controls the East Los Angeles station like inmates running a prison yard." Sheriff Alex Villanueva has downplayed the issue, saying problems associated with the groups are often the result of drunken deputies getting into fights and taking issue with those who refer to them as deputy gangs. Last month, Villanueva sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Board of Supervisors, demanding that they and others stop using the phrase. She's 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. She was very damaged by what happened, he tells Knock LA. Once she was out, Wargo began screaming at her. Eight L.A. County sheriffs deputies allege in a lawsuit that they were routinely harassed by a gang of deputies at the departments East L.A. station who have matching tattoos. 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