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. The trainees were reportedly told that if they stole anything from a suspect, they should dispose of it outside of the station. His body was recovered near Mount Islip. In May 2019, Contreras was denied backup by Deputies Nikolis Perez and Jonathan Rojas, both Banditos. 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.. Casas also says he received several intimidating messages from the Banditos, including demands to stop working at the station and threats of assault. did not have an immediate response. 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. 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. Its author Professor Sean Kennedy said at least seven remain active. To make sure you get our coverage: Deputies Garcia, Rodriguez, Munoz, and Silverio fled the scene in Garcias car and drove to the East LA Station. However Deputy Brian Goodwin, Commander Chris Blasnek, and Commander James Wolak rigged the investigation to support a seven-day suspension of Zaredini, according to the lawsuit. Rosa Gonzalez became the latest target of the Banditos abuses in December 2011, shortly after she arrived at the East LA Station. Members have gang nicknames and use slang like ese and homes when speaking with each other. 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 previously named only four former deputies and Los Angeles County. Hernandez told investigators the truth. Some of these goups have been accused of violence and harassment of both residents and colleagues. She also told Lopez she would contact her on August 11 with a work schedule, which Lopez received. Valdez appears to currently work as a sergeant at a different station. Chavez said he left East L.A. station in November 2019 after his promotion to commander. Forty-seven Los Angeles County Sheriffs officials were added Monday as named defendants As she was completing a victim interview, Hernandez began cursing at her. Following her complaint to Chavez, Internal Affairs opened an investigation into the matter, resulting in a two-day suspension. 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. The DAs office didnt put adequate resources into prosecuting the case. Several neighbors came out of their houses and filmed the incident. Prospects are put on a list and Banditos vote on who becomes a member at "roundtable meetings" held at a Bandito member's home, according to the lawsuit. They have been broken up in accordance to the law, and constitutionally permissibly, he said. 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. Bob Gregory, 62, went missing the same day as Sands. When Zaredini did not follow the Banditos orders to pressure Gonzalez to leave the station, Mendoza knocked him unconscious behind the East LA Station. The lawsuit alleges Sgt. The gang also denied Zaredini and Lemus backup. The lawsuit claims the department is "permeated by criminal gang culture" beyond the Banditos. Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news. 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. 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. Heres everything you need to know about coyotes in Los Angeles County. Banditos "intentionally fail to provide back-up during emergency situations and other dangerous calls to purposely place deputies in dangerous circumstances," the suit says. The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. Lemus, Contreras, Hernandez, and Escobedo were told they could move to another gang-dominated station, or a station far from their homes. 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). LAist.com/radio. Hish told her that Gonzalez had allegedly hazed a deputy, which she denies. LAist.com/radio. . Mejia also claimed to have forgotten texts and phone calls he received from Deputy Oscar Escobedo reporting the hostile work environment. Deputies Christopher Wargo, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, and Eduardo Sanchez, who were also mentioned, were loaned out to other stations. More LA Sheriffs Officials Accused of Misconduct in Banditos The Banditos are at least the third gang to emerge from the East LA Station. On March 26, 2012, Deputy Zaredini ran Lopezs vehicle off the road. Call Them What You Will There've Been 18 (Yes, 18) In The LA Sheriff's Department, A Controversial East LA Sheriff's Station Logo Was Banned. Chief Bobby Denham moved to initiate a fake investigation into the attack. Mismanagement, Sloppy Hiring Practices, Lack Of Transparency. Instead, the defendants face the allegations previously laid out in the lawsuit. Lopez went to Area Command to request a copy of the paperwork and discovered it had never been filed. He slammed his hands on the side of the vehicle and said, What the fuck is wrong with you? 4:30 p.m.: This article was updated to include Sheriff Villanueva's June comments about the Banditos. But new court documents that include sworn testimony from Chavez raise questions about and at times, contradict the sheriffs claims. 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. 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. . This is America, Orange recounts. Traditionally, once deputy gang membership reaches 100, a new group is introduced. 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. GET THE BEST OF LAIST IN YOUR INBOXSign up for our daily newsletter to receive the latest on local politics, food, culture and the absurdities of L.A. life. At East L.A., Gonzalez discovered, there was a shadow government: a secretive group of sheriffs deputies known as the Banditos. Bandito godfather Sergeant Eric Valdez told Hernandez to tell the truth, as he was horrified with the gangs behavior. . Romero offered Lopez a transfer in response, which she didnt think she deserved as she had done no wrong. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. In one of the more explosive allegations, the lawsuit claims Banditos declined to provide backup to deputies they don't like, endangering them and the public. The Sheriffs Department cited pending litigation and declined to comment other than to say Villanueva has done more to address organizational culture issues than all of his predecessors combined.. Rodriguez was rehired despite being charged with falsifying the police report concerning the unlawful detainment and beating of Christopher Gray. Those tactics were immortalized in a mural of the logo in the East LA Station floor. She attempted to contact Romero about the status of her transfer request, but he was allegedly unavailable. They were "threatened and bullied in attempts to get them to conform to the corrupt culture or leave the station," the suit alleges. After taking office in December 2018, Sheriff Alex Villanueva removed the captain and transferred numerous deputies out of the East L.A. station. 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. 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. However, the inquiry did not examine the allegations of withholding backup, according to the complaint. Deputy gangs, or 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. Prospects like Deputy Hector Little Listo Saavedra sent texts laughing about the 245 (assault and battery) and advised others to burn and destroy evidence. Lopezs lawsuit states that the harassment continued after she complained. A deputy grabbed him and cuffed him. Over the past 30 years, litigation related to deputy gangs at the East LA Station has cost taxpayers more than $36 million. Chavez said he was not told why he was being moved to the station and that he never made an effort to identify who belonged to the Banditos. Lopez spoke with Sergeant Betty Lascono, who placed her on the schedule to return to work the following day. Villanueva has said hes the first sheriff to have implemented a policy that prohibits membership in illicit groups. 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. Cliques? Lemus supervisor, Hugo Reynaga, initially marked the matter as resolved. The Bandidos emblem is a skeleton with a sombrero and a handlebar mustache holding a smoking revolver. 4 min read. 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. 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. At the end of the call he followed Lopez to her car. Dispatch refused to respond to her calls or provide backup. A look at years past when snows creeped into our citified neighborhoods, away from the mountains and foothills. Soon afterwards, Zaredini was removed as an FTO and lost his bonus pay. 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.. Joshua Smilor, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, Eduardo Sanchez, and Troy Krautkramer were deputies as of 2019. She was not in a good way. Many of the people who violently harassed Lopez are still with the department. 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. 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. opened an investigation The new court filing does not attach specific allegations to each new defendant. Even Near The Hollywood Sign, Authorities ID Man Arrested In Killing Of LA Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell As Husband Of Housekeeper, Another Missing Hiker Has Been Found Dead In San Gabriels As Search For Actor Julian Sands Continues, LA Explained: How To Live Safely With Our Coyote Neighbors. LA Sheriff Villanueva Toughens His Policy On Deputy Cliques. The Sheriffs wife, a retired LASD employee, allegedly put out messages telling deputy gang members to keep their heads up. Munoz, Rodriguez, Silverio and Michael Hernandez were all placed on paid leave. 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.. The federal probe follows allegations of beatings and harassment by members of the Banditos, a group of deputies assigned to the Sheriffs Departments East L.A. station who brand themselves with matching tattoos of a skeleton outfitted with a sombrero, bandolier and pistol. The deputy kept hitting him in his testicles and calling him a monkey. The suit accuses all four of being involved in the September 2018 attack on some of the plaintiffs. 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. The other plaintiff deputies continued to face harassment from Banditos associates. One of the deputies approached him and told him to step back and he said, Im nowhere near whats going on. The lawsuit estimates 15-20% of the department's more than 9,000 sworn personnel are members of these cliques. Lopez was also subjected to intimidation: Deputy Benjamin Zaredini once followed Lopez into the garage area 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.''. 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. Youve got people who rigged internal affairs bureau investigations, Miller told LAist. 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. He was elected in 2018 after running as a progressive Democrat who would reform the department. 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. 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