This is America, Orange recounts. Deputy Louis Granados claims that his number of calls went up in 2018 after he blew the whistle on the Banditos with Deputy Zaredini. Traditionally, once deputy gang membership reaches 100, a new group is introduced. The lawsuit describes in detail how members of the "Banditos" clique allegedly control station operations. He says that Lopez left California altogether in an attempt to leave the trauma behind. The incident was never investigated, despite it being reported, according to the complaint. According to Lopezs complaint, the employees who had been moved as a result of her complaint were returned to the East LA station on December 27, 2012, without her receiving prior notification. Following her complaint to Chavez, Internal Affairs opened an investigation into the matter, resulting in a two-day suspension. She'd gone into the pregnancy with a plan, knowing Black mothers like herself were at higher risk. While under oath in a deposition, Rauno confirmed that he sent the message to the group. Deputy Joshua Smilor, a Banditos associate, told her that she needed to call Valdez, Daddy and that she needed to submit to the program of his kids. Deputy Ortega informed her that there were were explicit photos of other women in the department having oral sex with Banditos members working as training officers. But the eight deputies this week filed an updated lawsuit with new allegations, including that the Banditos recently had an inking party where 10 deputies were tattooed, raising the total number of members to 100. 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. Saavedra also attempted to have Gonzalez investigated for wrongfully sitting in a car with a victim, a claim that the complaint alleges to be completely fabricated. 4 min read. "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. 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. A look at years past when snows creeped into our citified neighborhoods, away from the mountains and foothills. 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. 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 next evening, LASD held a department-sponsored party at Kennedy Hall. 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. LASD has never thoroughly investigated allegations of gang corruption, and this case is no exception, Huntsman told The Times. , including the charge that the Banditos named as defendants in the lawsuit attacked fellow deputies at a September 2018 off-duty party, leaving two unconscious and sending them to the hospital. No one had any knowledge of that name, Villanueva said. Its just smoke and mirrors, its just a pretend at reform.. 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. She quickly learned there was a power struggle going on between FTOs Hernandez and Valdez, along with the latters Banditos associates. 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 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.. On that shift Lopez saw Wargo purchase reports, meaning that Wargo would write arrest reports for other deputies as part of initiation into 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. In this latest filing, the plaintiffs have identified 17 additional alleged associates of the Banditos by name: Undersheriff Timothy Murakami (a tattooed Caveman), Sergeant Hugo Reynaga, Edmundo Torres, Hugo Ramos, Mario Castro, Manny Navarro, Nikki Hanamaki, Vincent Choi, James Wolack, Chris Blasnek, Albert Maldonado, Leo Sanchez, Elizabeth Aguilera, Luis Valle, Bobby Denham, and Anthony Rivera. The sheriff said previously that he cracked down on the Banditos presence in East Los Angeles as one of his first acts upon being sworn in. The next time she heard from Patrelli, she informed Lopez that Wolak wouldnt be sending her to the hospital location after all. 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. Decisions such as station fundraisers and events must be roundtabled at the home of Noel Crook Lopez or Marc Elizondo. Her doctor placed her on medical leave again. In 2016, Munoz, Deputies David Silver Silverio, Vincent Moran, Anthony Pacheco, Leo Sanchez, and associate Andrea Villa forced Casas to pay taxes to the gang a scheme allegedly cooked up by Noel Lopez, Mark Elizondo, Munoz, Rodriguez, and Silverio. She was assigned to the Los Angeles County Jail until transferring to the East LA Station in 2011 where she began training to become a patrol officer, according to court documents. 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. But new court documents that include sworn testimony from Chavez raise questions about and at times, contradict the sheriffs claims. In one incident, "a deputy was shot twice, including in the face," and the suspect "would have murdered the fallen deputy if not for two special units coincidentally being [in] the area trying to talk down a mentally ill person," the complaint says. She's Deputies who are members have The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. 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. Tanaka is serving a five-year prison term for trying to cover up jailhouse beatings. Deputies Gregory Rodriguez, Monica Farias, Steven Miller, Alejandro Lomeli, and Marc Elizondo pounced. 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 Escobedo and Hernandez were brutally beaten and went to the emergency room for treatment. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. 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. The Banditos control the East Los Angeles station "like inmates running a prison yard," the lawsuit alleges. The Executioners were Forty-seven Los Angeles County Sheriffs officials were added Monday as named defendants The deputies who filed the lawsuit include seven men and one woman. 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. He was elected in 2018 after running as a progressive Democrat who would reform the department. Some of these goups have been accused of violence and harassment of both residents and colleagues. 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.. Gray was charged and prosecuted for intentionally obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing their duties. The gang also established a culture at the station where deputies work backwards, meaning they arrest civilians then later come up with probable cause by planting and manufacturing evidence. According to the complaint, Mendoza also conducted personal business while on duty and ordered her to do his work. Huntsman did not name the deputies and said his office has identified additional possible members from other sources. One of the deputies approached him and told him to step back and he said, Im nowhere near whats going on. The claim states that Captain Mejia wrote a memo in June of 2018 to the County recommending an investigation into the Banditos. And any time youre a Black man, somebody calling you a monkey, in my book, thats racism, Orange tells Knock LA. She contacted the Back to Work Unit but was told they could not help her, and advised her to contact the station Director. Lemus, Contreras, Hernandez, and Escobedo were told they could move to another gang-dominated station, or a station far from their homes. Several members of the Banditos showed up, which was uncommon, according to court documents. This should be emblematic that policies that allegedly ban deputies from joining gangs will not fix this problem., Solis added that these deputies "cause havoc and harm" and only traumatize the community instead of helping and serving it. 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 Banditos are at least the third gang to emerge from the East LA Station. 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. She also told Lopez she would contact her on August 11 with a work schedule, which Lopez received. 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 the face of a drier future, that iconic piece of Americana is on its way out in Southern California. The same crew also allegedly hatched a plan to overload deputies who did not obey the Banditos with emergency calls. and She had no assistants trying this case. Granados reported this to Woodwards supervisor, Sergeant Albert Maldonado, who initially discarded the write-up. In December 2018, Banditos "secretly removed the bullets from Deputy Zaredini's shotgun," the lawsuit claims. Banditos meetings are held at the home of Deputy Noel Crook Lopez. repeat At the end of the call he followed Lopez to her car. The lawsuit claims the department is "permeated by criminal gang culture.". The current undersheriff, Tim Murakami, has a "Cavemen" tattoo, according to the lawsuit. Lopez was also subjected to intimidation: Deputy Benjamin Zaredini once followed Lopez into the garage area at the East LA station. To make sure you get our coverage: He slammed his hands on the side of the vehicle and said, What the fuck is wrong with you? 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. 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. And that was on purpose because they had failed in their job to lead the station.. Banditos "intentionally fail to provide back-up during emergency situations and other dangerous calls to purposely place deputies in dangerous circumstances," the suit says. Lopez also believed that she would be subjected to further harassment if she went to another area. In an unprecedented lawsuit, eight Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies Wednesday accused a group of their colleagues at the department's East L.A. station of being members of a secret "criminal gang" that violates their civil rights with a campaign of harassment and physical attacks. Banditos groom young deputies they are considering for membership in the group, assigning them mentors, the deputy said. 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. The Banditos extract "taxes" from young Latino deputies for clique members' parties and travel, one of the deputies who filed the lawsuit told LAist. 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). 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.. Gonzalez passed the exam, and Smith says she is currently a Patrol Sergeant. Granados and Zaredini both suffered retaliation for blowing the whistle, according to the complaint. At that point, Lopez informed Barsh about the harassment she had been subjected to by the Banditos. Many who are not recruited go along with the gangs requirements for fear of retaliation. Deputy Lemus was overloaded with calls by the alleged morning Banditos shot caller, Raymond Mendoza. 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. Rodriguez told Contreras that he was going to be assigned to ride along with Munoz. Several videos taken at the scene show him standing several feet away from the car until he is arrested and taken into custody. One of the deputies who filed the lawsuit said federal agents interviewed him but declined to provide details. Gonzalez filed a lawsuit against the County in April 2016. However, he and Deputy Louis Granados reported harassment that they had observed at the hands of Banditos to Captain (then Lieutenant) Richard Mejia. 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. I dont know who the Banditos are, Chavez, who is now a commander, said under oath in March. Joshua Smilor, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, Eduardo Sanchez, and Troy Krautkramer were deputies as of 2019. Moore allegedly reported the attack directly to Banditos shot caller Raymond Mendoza. She was contacted by Lascono again, who told Lopez to report to work on August 11. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love my daily morning newsletter, How To LA. On August 23, 2012, LASD personnel descended upon the 1300 block of South Marianna Avenue in East Los Angeles. Thirty-one of these allegedly are themselves Banditos, associates, or prospects for the gang, he said. Its author Professor Sean Kennedy said at least seven remain active. Theyve been called "gangs" because they wear matching tattoos, operate in secrecy, and have initiation rituals. One of the new named defendants is Sheriff Alex Villanuevas chief of security, and another is his driver, according to Miller. The anonymous employee told the panel a gang known as the Banditos still essentially runs the East Los Angeles station, despite Sheriff Alex Villanuevas previous insistence that he cleaned house at the station. 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. 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. The Banditos gang has controlled the East Los Angeles station like inmates running a prison yard, the lawsuit says. We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA. 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 Several neighbors came out of their houses and filmed the incident. The Sheriffs wife, a retired LASD employee, allegedly put out messages telling deputy gang members to keep their heads up. 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.. 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. Heres everything you need to know about coyotes in Los Angeles County. 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. . 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 gang also denied Zaredini and Lemus backup. 17 New Defendants Identified in Ongoing Suit Against the Banditos and LASD, deputy gang at the East Los Angeles Station. None of them appear to have been disciplined for the shootings. 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. She left the department. Gang culture is reinforced by older employees who reward newer recruits who subscribe to it. He ended up fiercely resisting oversight and clashing with watchdogs and the rest of the countys political establishment. A deputy came to his home as Gray was moving a car into his driveway. The lawsuit alleges Sgt. Sources within LASD told Knock LA that the Banditos recently held an inking party to add 10 new tattooed members to their ranks and take membership to 100. Lopez filed a complaint against LA County in 2014 and eventually settled for $1.5 million, funded by taxpayers. Many of those men were also members of the Banditos. Instead of assisting Contreras, Perez and Rojas drove by and mocked him, according to the complaint. Rosa Gonzalez, a deputy who later sued the station, said under oath that she heard Lopez referred to as The Glob.. His return, along with the elevation of other Banditos associates, solidified the gangs grip on the station. alleging the existence of a criminal gang of deputies called the Banditos at the departments East L.A. Station. The Banditos are said to operate out of the sheriffs East L.A. station, and sport tattoos of gun-wielding skeletons wearing sombreros. Despite ongoing litigation related to the Banditos, the gang appears confident that they can operate with impunity, and multiply. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he is working to rebuild the leadership team at the East L.A. Sheriffs station and address denounced rogue activity by a deputy clique called Los Banditos. According to KABC 7, a new captain at the East LA station aims to hold supervisors accountable for behavior that is out of policy. July 19, 2021. Vincent Miller, an attorney for the whistleblower deputies, says that the gang was looking for Gonzalez, but didnt hesitate to beat up other deputies as well, including: Deputies Jose Fuentes, Art Hernandez, Oscar Escobedo, and David Casas. ", Villanueva did Hernandez told investigators the truth. 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. On April 10, 2013, Lopez found a dead rat underneath the drivers side door of her vehicle. The lawsuit claims the department is "permeated by criminal gang culture" beyond the Banditos. Oct. 3, 2019: This article was updated to include Undersheriff Murakami's denial that he is a member of the Cavemen. Chavez said he left East L.A. station in November 2019 after his promotion to commander. Membership for the gang is exclusively Latino: women and Black employees are not allowed to join. Aceituno recently did the same thing again and received no consequences from East LA Captain Richard Mejia, according to the complaint. Villanueva did not respond to questions about the discrepancies. 3:20 p.m.: This article was updated to note that the Sheriff's Dept. They were detaining and taking Grays brother-in-law into custody according to Grays attorney, Olu Orange. In one claim, Miller, the deputies attorney, portrayed the East L.A station at the time of the fight as a place run by the Banditos in a similar manner to prisoners running a prison yard. Deputies Christopher Wargo, Benjamin Zaredini, Andrew Hernandez, and Eduardo Sanchez, who were also mentioned, were loaned out to other stations. The new defendants represent a significant expansion of the civil rights and workplace harassment 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. 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. 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. LOS ANGELES A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy received an alleged "Banditos" tattoo six months after a new policy banned cliques in the Deputy gang members, or those seeking membership, have shot at least 19 County residents to death in that time. 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. Rodriguez was discharged from the department as a result of the charges, but later was given his job back and returned to the department. Please exercise self-care and check in with yourself before choosing to read. 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. Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Pushed him up against the police car. Gregory Rodriguez was charged with perjury by the office of then District Attorney Jackie Lacey for lying in his report. In fall of 2017, Munoz sent Raymond Mendoza, an alleged Banditos shot caller, to confront Deputy Zaredini about not being hostile enough to Deputy Alfred Gonzalez. in a lawsuit David Infante was a lieutenant as recently as 2019. More LA Sheriffs Officials Accused of Misconduct in Banditos During the August 14, 2013, meeting, Romero asked Lopez where she wanted to go. 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. April Valentine died at Centinela Hospital. Will Orange County's Fledgling Clean Power Agency Survive? 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. Deputies Alfred Gonzalez, Oscar Escobedo, Ariela Lemus, Art Hernandez, Mario Contreras, David Casas, Louis Granados, and Benjamin Zaredini, the latter of whom was previously accused of being a Bandito, claim to have suffered at the hands of the gang for the past four years. Immediately afterwards, then Banditos prospect Hector Little Listo Saavedra allegedly claimed Zaredini called him a homophobic slur over one year prior. Los Banditos East LA Station has been a notorious LASD gang hub for decades, but not every deputy is welcome. The money has been used for legal fees for some defendants in the claim and vacations for Banditos members to Thailand. Those 36 individuals would simply reflect general transfers, Chavez responded. In September 2018, two deputies were knocked unconscious at a department party at an event space called Kennedy Hall, the lawsuit says. She previously covered the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, focusing on accountability stories and writing about failures by officials to comply with transparency laws. 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. The lawsuit also charges that Banditos shot caller Manny Navaro was hired to be Villanuevas driver, and that Bandito Joe Mendoza was promoted to Commander of LASD Media Relations., The Banditos grip on the station tightened in the months following Villanuevas swearing in. 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. assertions made in legal claims filed in March and May Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. 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. 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. 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. Deputies Garcia, Rodriguez, Munoz, and Silverio fled the scene in Garcias car and drove to the East LA Station. Contreras and the other plaintiffs requested transfers out of the station, which were denied without explanation for weeks. Smith says that current Sheriff Alex Villanueva reached out to Gonzalez after taking office and assisted her with study for the Sergeants exam. What has previously been known about the groups has often been stitched together from allegations and testimony in lawsuits. The Banditos initially attempted to recruit some of the plaintiffs. 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