The Banditos now ran East LA. What has previously been known about the groups has often been stitched together from allegations and testimony in lawsuits. LAist.com/radio. She began training with Field Training Officer Eric Valdez, who deputies called the Godfather of East LA.. He says that Lopez left California altogether in an attempt to leave the trauma behind. 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 the face of a drier future, that iconic piece of Americana is on its way out in Southern California. According to the complaint, Mendoza also conducted personal business while on duty and ordered her to do his work. Deputies Christopher Wargo, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, and Eduardo Sanchez, who were also mentioned, were loaned out to other stations. The Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The IG's report on a deputy group Cerise Castle | April 1, 2021 Part of A In September 2018, two deputies were knocked unconscious at a department party at an event space called Kennedy Hall, the lawsuit says. did not have an immediate response. In December 2018, Banditos "secretly removed the bullets from Deputy Zaredini's shotgun," the lawsuit claims. Lopez spoke with Sergeant Betty Lascono, who placed her on the schedule to return to work the following day. 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. But Villanueva limited the investigation into the attack at the party, saying only the actions of individual deputies would be examined -- not the Banditos as a whole. The timing of this letter suggests Mr. Huntsman is using his public office and resources to campaign against the sheriff leading up to the June primaries.. 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. Zaredini retroactively received the bonus pay, but was denied a promotion by Captain Chavez and Undersheriff Timothy Murakami. Zaredini did not report the incident for fear of retaliation by the gang. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. Several members of the Banditos showed up, which was uncommon, according to court documents. 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. Villanueva has said hes the first sheriff to have implemented a policy that prohibits membership in illicit groups. Members of the Banditos can be identified by their signature tattoos of a skeleton wearing a sombrero, bandolier, and pistol. Bandito godfather Sergeant Eric Valdez told Hernandez to tell the truth, as he was horrified with the gangs behavior. Eric Valdez and Veronica De La Rosa were promoted to the rank of sergeant, which they held as recently as 2019. Los Angeles Countys top watchdog says in a report released Monday that substantial evidence exists that a secretive group of tattooed deputies at the East L.A. Will It Solve The Problem? Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news. Deputy Lemus was overloaded with calls by the alleged morning Banditos shot caller, Raymond Mendoza. She was placed on medical leave. READ NEXT: The Pink Hand, Big Listo, and Crook. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Smitson, Perez, and Sergeant Estrada informed the Banditos that Granados and Zaredini had blown the whistle. Traditionally, once deputy gang membership reaches 100, a new group is introduced. When one says that a person is in the car, it means that person is one of them. Villanueva told ABC7 on Tuesday, May 24, that the hearing was a political stunt that allowed witnesses to testify without cross-examination. Lieutenant Eric Simpson allegedly buried the memo under the orders of Chief Bobby Denham. LAPD Chief Moore also questioned officers' actions in the fatal shooting of Takar Smith, although not in two other fatal incidents. 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. Gang culture is reinforced by older employees who reward newer recruits who subscribe to it. 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. and The new court filing does not attach specific allegations to each new defendant. She's At at Civilian Oversight Commission meeting in May, Villanueva said the Banditos clique no longer exists at East L.A. station. Several neighbors came out of their houses and filmed the incident. He met his wife and the mother of his children in LA. Lopez filed a complaint against LA County in 2014 and eventually settled for $1.5 million, funded by taxpayers. People familiar with the schism described it to Knock LA as similar to the movie American Me (1992), which depicts the creation of the Mexican Mafia: Valdez was pushed out of the gang by younger, more aggressive deputies. Munoz, Rodriguez, Silverio and Michael Hernandez were all placed on paid leave. It says this has happened "dozens" of times over the last three years. The Banditos are at least the third gang to emerge from the East LA Station. The Countys deputy gangs also subjected him to an experience that left him traumatized. She previously covered the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, focusing on accountability stories and writing about failures by officials to comply with transparency laws. Mismanagement, Sloppy Hiring Practices, Lack Of Transparency. She left the department. 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. Based on the information that I have, that is incorrect. WebThe East Los Angeles Sheriffs station has the most documented history of deputy gangs. At the end of the call he followed Lopez to her car. Before this amendment, alleged members and associates of the gang included; Commander April Tardy; Captains Ernie Chavez (an alleged Vikings gang member), Richard Mejia, and Chris Perez; Lieutenants Eric Smitson, Anthony Easter, Edmundo Torres; Sergeant Angelica Estrada (AKA the Pink Hand); Rafael Rene Munoz (AKA Big Listo); Gregory Rodriguez (AKA G-Rod); David Silverio (AKA Silver); Michael Hernandez (AKA Bam Bam); Vincent Moran; Hector Soto Saavedra, who killed Paul Rea in 2019; Jeff Hamil; Jeff Chow; William Jaeger; Scott Chapman; Raymond Mendoza; Luis Carbajal; Braulio Robledo; Jonathan Rojas, who killed Anthony Vargas in 2018; Eldemira Para; Andrea Villa; Marc Elizondo; Nikolis Perez, who killed Anthony Vargas and Jorge Serrano in 2018; Kelly Porowsky; Woodrow Kim; Juan Sanchez; Aaron Abellano; Silvano Garcia; Joanna Macs Moran; Joanana Palombi; Jose Aceituno; Anthony Pacheco; Soraya Sanchez; Karla Sepulveda; Marcelo Ortega; Diana Woodward; Eduardo Muniz; Rebecca Cortez; Joe Mendoza; Erin Rosario; Jessica Santos; John Soria; Miguel Ortiz; Claudia Perez; Brian Goodwin; Manuel Palacios; Jodi Hutak; Pablo Partida; Noel Lopez; and Christopher Moore. 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. 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. Huntsman also said LASD ignored evidence that exists to support the conclusion that the Banditos are a gang-like clique and their influence has resulted in favoritism, sexism, racism, and violence ICIB did not want to delve into the Banditos involvement.. Chavez also said the 36 people moved from the station reflected general transfers, retirements or promotions, not a response to allegations centered around the Banditos. 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. However, he was found not guilty by a jury. But new court documents that include sworn testimony from Chavez raise questions about and at times, contradict the sheriffs claims. Heres everything you need to know about coyotes in Los Angeles County. The deputy kept hitting him in his testicles and calling him a monkey. The FBI The suit accuses all four of being involved in the September 2018 attack on some of the plaintiffs. One of the deputies who filed the lawsuit said federal agents interviewed him but declined to provide details. According to court documents, Villanueva also reinstated Danny Batman Batanero, one of the original 10 Banditos, and made him head of his security detail. . The updated lawsuit cites text messages between a group of deputies after the incident in which one jokes about the 245 at the party, referring to the penal code section for assault. She was not in a good way. Many of the people who violently harassed Lopez are still with the department. Sgt. 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. But after Captain William Jaeger was named in the lawsuit, the write-up was resurrected and escalated to an Internal Affairs investigation. Banditos "intentionally fail to provide back-up during emergency situations and other dangerous calls to purposely place deputies in dangerous circumstances," the suit says. They were treating her like a housewife, says Gregory Smith, Lopezs attorney. 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. Before joining The Times in 2016, she reported on crime and policing for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader. 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. 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. A number of the allegations in LOS ANGELES A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy received an alleged "Banditos" tattoo six months after a new policy banned cliques in the However, the inquiry did not examine the allegations of withholding backup, according to the complaint. 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 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. She said it's time the department take the elimination of deputy gang membership seriously.. His body was recovered near Mount Islip. Community members speak out at a town hall in East Los Angeles on July 10, protesting the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments handling of the Banditos, an She quickly learned there was a power struggle going on between FTOs Hernandez and Valdez, along with the latters Banditos associates. The entire leadership of East L.A. station was turned over, Villanueva said in a social media broadcast last fall. The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. As described by Huntsman, the Executioners 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. She was able to maintain control of the weapon but fell backwards into a wall, hitting the back of her head. Moore allegedly reported the attack directly to Banditos shot caller Raymond Mendoza. Villanueva has generally downplayed the problem, saying cliques are nothing more than "hazing run amok" and "intergenerational rivalry. Mejia opened an inquiry into Munoz and reported it to Lieutenant Eric Smitson and Captain Chris Perez. . Hernandez told investigators the truth. Some of these goups have been accused of violence and harassment of both residents and colleagues. Many who are not recruited go along with the gangs requirements for fear of retaliation. Aceituno recently did the same thing again and received no consequences from East LA Captain Richard Mejia, according to the complaint. And as I understand it, she really would have liked to have all of those things.. Cliques? But her attorney, Gregory Smith, says the damage was done. The claims filed Thursday were brought by five young Latino deputies involved in the melee at the party and two veteran deputies who say they suffered retaliation after warning station officials about the Banditos. 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. Prospects like Deputy Hector Little Listo Saavedra sent texts laughing about the 245 (assault and battery) and advised others to burn and destroy evidence. Decisions such as station fundraisers and events must be roundtabled at the home of Noel Crook Lopez or Marc Elizondo. Deputies who are members have adopted gang expressions, the lawsuit says. Once she arrived at Century Station, Lopez was assigned to the Youth Activity League, which significantly impacted her career prospects, according to her lawsuit. Members typically get matching tattoos and go by names such as the Grim Reapers and Jump Out Boys. Instead plaintiffs Oscar Escobedo, Art Hernandez, Mario Contreras, and Ariela Lemus were disciplined for charges stemming from the party at Kennedy Hall, effectively punishing them for being assaulted. 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. Patrelli instead scheduled a meeting with Lopez and Division Commander Henry Romero, who had been her captain at East LA. 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