into that and other alleged cliques within the department. 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. Villanueva blamed the situation on "a leadership team that fell asleep at the switch.". 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. 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. I went to the trial for a day or two and the Deputy DA who was trying the case had no partner. The Sheriffs wife, a retired LASD employee, allegedly put out messages telling deputy gang members to keep their heads up. It was never used on the department at all. 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. She attempted to contact Romero about the status of her transfer request, but he was allegedly unavailable. , and previously named only four former deputies and Los Angeles County. 18 deputy gangs that have operated within the department The Banditos control the East Los Angeles station "like inmates running a prison yard," the lawsuit alleges. All eight requested transfers out of East L.A. and moved to other stations earlier this year, according to their attorney, Vincent Miller. The FBI The Banditos initially attempted to recruit some of the plaintiffs. When Zaredini did not follow the Banditos orders to pressure Gonzalez to leave the station, Mendoza knocked him unconscious behind the East LA Station. A deputy came to his home as Gray was moving a car into his driveway. 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. 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. After taking office in December 2018, Sheriff Alex Villanueva removed the captain and transferred numerous deputies out of the East L.A. station. Deputy Christopher Wargo drove to the location and blocked Lopezs patrol car so she could not move and ordered her out of the vehicle. 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. However, he was found not guilty by a jury. As she was completing a victim interview, Hernandez began cursing at her. There are 30 alleged members of the Executioners operating from the Compton station. 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. 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. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Hernandez told investigators the truth. 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. "Other taxes take the form of sexual favors from female deputies," according to the complaint. Deputy Lemus was overloaded with calls by the alleged morning Banditos shot caller, Raymond Mendoza. The pair demanded she immediately resign from her mentoring position, and she was removed the following day. Traditionally, once deputy gang membership reaches 100, a new group is introduced. Several videos taken at the scene show him standing several feet away from the car until he is arrested and taken into custody. She contacted the Back to Work Unit but was told they could not help her, and advised her to contact the station Director. The Banditos gang has controlled the East Los Angeles station like inmates running a prison yard, the lawsuit says. Smitson, Perez, and Sergeant Estrada informed the Banditos that Granados and Zaredini had blown the whistle. The disciplinary letters stemmed from an internal investigation into an East L.A. Sheriff's Station clique called "The Banditos," accused of operating like a gang. Lieutenant Eric Simpson allegedly buried the memo under the orders of Chief Bobby Denham. 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. The Banditos now ran East LA. She was placed on medical leave. One of the deputies approached him and told him to step back and he said, Im nowhere near whats going on. Escobedo was unable to work for a week afterwards, according to the suit. The new defendants represent a significant expansion of the civil rights and workplace harassment Instead, the defendants face the allegations previously laid out in the lawsuit. She was not in a good way. Many of the people who violently harassed Lopez are still with the department. 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 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. Gonzalez filed a lawsuit against the County in April 2016. Munoz, Rodriguez, Silverio and Michael Hernandez were all placed on paid leave. 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. Deputy Louis Granados claims that his number of calls went up in 2018 after he blew the whistle on the Banditos with Deputy Zaredini. 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. . 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. Those who do not are pushed out. Zaredini retroactively received the bonus pay, but was denied a promotion by Captain Chavez and Undersheriff Timothy Murakami. The trainees were reportedly told that if they stole anything from a suspect, they should dispose of it outside of the station. Subgroups? The Banditos are a group of nearly 100 deputies who wear matching tattoos of a skeleton with a thick mustache, sombrero, pistol and bandolier, according to the suit. According to the lawsuit, the deputy detained, battered, and searched Gray without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. . Gray was charged and prosecuted for intentionally obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing their duties. Her case settled for $1 million in 2019. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. It says about 30 members and prospects work at the East L.A. station, adding the others work elsewhere or have retired. Patrelli contacted her again and told her that she would actually be going to the County Services Bureau USC Hospital location. Around August 4, 2014, Gonzalez filed a formal grievance against Sergeant Peter Hish, an alleged Banditos member, and Sergeant Joel Flores, an admitted tattooed member of the gang, alleging that she was subjected to gender discrimination. The lawsuit The legal action also accuses L.A. County and Sheriff Alex Villanueva of failing to eradicate the Banditos and other problem cliques, which date back decades and whose members have risen to the highest ranks of the department. Gonzalez developed high blood pressure and a heart condition which led to her removal from the field. Twenty-four are currently stationed in East L.A. Her daughter was born by emergency C-section. April Valentine died at Centinela Hospital. The department did not respond to LAist's inquiry as to whether the policy has been formally adopted. Member activities allegedly include leaving dead rats for enemies and killing teenagers. LASD does not appear to have disciplined anyone for the text exchange. The next time she heard from Patrelli, she informed Lopez that Wolak wouldnt be sending her to the hospital location after all. His return, along with the elevation of other Banditos associates, solidified the gangs grip on the station. During the August 14, 2013, meeting, Romero asked Lopez where she wanted to go. Eight Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies are suing the county, saying they were pressured by the Banditos gang to quit their jobs or leave the East Los Angeles station. On April 10, 2013, Lopez found a dead rat underneath the drivers side door of her vehicle. The list includes 11 deputies allegedly belonging to the Banditos and operating out of the East LA sheriff's station. The lawsuit claims the department is "permeated by criminal gang culture" beyond the Banditos. She was able to maintain control of the weapon but fell backwards into a wall, hitting the back of her head. Today, the station is dominated Banditos. While under oath in a deposition, Rauno confirmed that he sent the message to the group. Members of the gang are given special privileges, like preferred parking spaces. lawsuit that was first filed two years ago assertions made in legal claims filed in March and May opened an investigation The Banditos are said to operate out of the sheriffs East L.A. station, and sport tattoos of gun-wielding skeletons wearing sombreros. He met his wife and the mother of his children in LA. She quickly learned there was a power struggle going on between FTOs Hernandez and Valdez, along with the latters Banditos associates. The Banditos gang has controlled the East Los Angeles station like inmates running a prison yard, the lawsuit says. 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. Many who are not recruited go along with the gangs requirements for fear of retaliation. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. 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. She'd gone into the pregnancy with a plan, knowing Black mothers like herself were at higher risk. The Banditos logo (Courtesy of Vincent Miller). 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. The lawsuit alleges Sgt. The group embraces the tradition of violence passed down by the gangs that came before them and turns on anyone who questions them. Its author Professor Sean Kennedy said at least seven remain active. 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." Will It Solve The Problem? Lopez filed a complaint against LA County in 2014 and eventually settled for $1.5 million, funded by taxpayers. 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. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he intends to fire or suspend 26 deputies for misconduct related to a 2018 attack by the "Banditos" deputy One deputy alleges in a complaint against the County that activities like fundraisers, training parties, and staff barbecues at the East LA station must be roundtabled by the Banditos. She immediately began to experience chest pains and shortness of breath, and was diagnosed with a stress-induced pre-heart attack condition. 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? Once she was out, Wargo began screaming at her. She signed up to take the sergeants exam to seek a promotion in July 2013, but was unable to take it because of continued harassment, despite her not coming into the station regularly. 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. Attorneys representing a group of Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies who claimed to have been harassed and brutalized by the Banditos One of the deputies who filed the lawsuit said federal agents interviewed him but declined to provide details. 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. On October 25, 2012, her car was vandalized while parked at the East LA Station. 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. 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. Chief Bobby Denham moved to initiate a fake investigation into the attack. 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 ended up fiercely resisting oversight and clashing with watchdogs and the rest of the countys political establishment. A new policy is meaningless if you dont actually enforce it, said Miller, the attorney representing the deputies. He was a nuclear physics major in college and relocated to Los Angeles to work on some construction projects. Gray is visible on the tape observing the arrest from a distance. Lopezs lawsuit states that the harassment continued after she complained. Forty-seven Los Angeles County Sheriffs officials were added Monday as named defendants Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. "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. Orange says he doesnt think Lacey was interested in prosecuting police officers. 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. alleging the existence of a criminal gang of deputies called the Banditos at the departments East L.A. Station. 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. A spokesperson for the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, which represents some of the defendants, declined to comment until he saw the new court documents. A report by Loyola Law School found After Casas rejected the Banditos recruitment attempts, he faced harassment. I dont know who the Banditos are, Chavez, who is now a commander, said under oath in March. Deputies who are members have 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. 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.. Instead of investigating her claim, the department began investigating her. Villanueva has said hes the first sheriff to have implemented a policy that prohibits membership in illicit groups. We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA. Villanueva did not respond to questions about the discrepancies. 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.. According to the complaint, Mendoza also conducted personal business while on duty and ordered her to do his work. Those 36 individuals would simply reflect general transfers, Chavez responded. The other plaintiff deputies would provide assistance, despite the fact they would have to go outside of their respective areas of service. 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. As described by Huntsman, the Executioners At East L.A., Gonzalez discovered, there was a shadow government: a secretive group of sheriffs deputies known as the Banditos. At at Civilian Oversight Commission meeting in May, Villanueva said the Banditos clique no longer exists at East L.A. station. Banditos groom young deputies they are considering for membership in the group, assigning them mentors, the deputy said. 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. The inspector generals new figures add to a growing body of information about the secretive groups, which have existed in the Sheriffs Department for decades. 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. 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. Attorneys representing a group of Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies who claimed to have been harassed and brutalized by the Banditos deputy gang at the East Los Angeles Station have filed a fifth amended complaint naming 17 additional associates of the group. More LA Sheriffs Officials Accused of Misconduct in Banditos Decisions such as station fundraisers and events must be roundtabled at the home of Noel Crook Lopez or Marc Elizondo. Mismanagement, Sloppy Hiring Practices, Lack Of Transparency. Smith says that current Sheriff Alex Villanueva reached out to Gonzalez after taking office and assisted her with study for the Sergeants exam. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love my daily morning newsletter, How To LA. Gray filed a lawsuit against the County, and accepted a settlement of $549,000, which taxpayers financed. Several members of the Banditos showed up, which was uncommon, according to court documents. 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. '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.. She was also regularly sent on calls with just a few minutes left on her shift. FTO Hernandez brought the fake request to Sergeant Jennifer Barsh, who ordered Lopez back to the station. Sgt. 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. Later he was asked: To your knowledge, you were not brought in to quell the Banditos situation, correct?. But he has also taken credit for addressing the problem by instituting a policy that prohibits deputies from joining groups that promote behavior that violates the rights of others. Deputies who are members have adopted gang expressions, the lawsuit says. 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. ", Villanueva did The Cavemen preceded the Banditos at the East L.A. Station. in a lawsuit For the latest national news from NPR and our live radio broadcast, visit The suit also claims Banditos encourage deputies to increase their arrest numbers by planting evidence on suspects. 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. 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. It asserts that the special unit members "showed up just in time to kill the perpetrator before he could murder their fellow deputy.". Rodriguez was rehired despite being charged with falsifying the police report concerning the unlawful detainment and beating of Christopher Gray. 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). Members have gang nicknames and use slang like ese and homes when speaking with each other. SEE MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON LA'S DEPUTY GANGS: Our news is free on LAist. Members of the Banditos can be identified by their signature tattoos of a skeleton wearing a sombrero, bandolier, and pistol. 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. . 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. Gregory Rodriguez was charged with perjury by the office of then District Attorney Jackie Lacey for lying in his report. Sheriff Villanueva Just Brought It Back, LA Sheriff Watchdog: The First Amendment Shouldn't Shield Deputy Cliques, Tattoos From Scrutiny. 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. He says that Lopez left California altogether in an attempt to leave the trauma behind. Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. The new defendants include two commanders, three captains, two lieutenants and 41 deputies, according to plaintiffs attorney Vincent Miller. Lopez was nervous about returning to a hostile environment, so she contacted the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) who told her they could not help. LASD has never thoroughly investigated allegations of gang corruption, and this case is no exception, Huntsman told The Times. 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