Where are Damacio and Patrick now? But his chief is ready to turn his back. Diazs former partner, Patrick Mara, 36, of Bakersfield pleaded guilty to related charges on June 20, 2016, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2016. The trio honestly had an unwavering determination in their efforts despite being mere teenagers at the time, and thats what eventually inspired the 2015 Disney sports drama film McFarland, USA. However, the former chose to pursue General Education as a field of study instead of focusing on his athleticism upon graduation because he apparently hoped to establish his career as a teacher. Date Ideas Marriage Affirmations Affirmations for Him Marriage Tips Real Life Marriage DIY Marriage Retreat, Baby Activities for Kids Affirmations for Kids Parenting Teens Communication is Key Spreading Their Wings, Curriculum Preschool Elementary Most Asked Questions Things You Didn't Know Tips for Success, First Grandchild Role of Grandparents Getting Started Big Shoes to Fill They Say Your Name Grandparent Adventures. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. I cannot express how much I already love this movie and the actors in it. The FBI and its federal law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate individuals who violate their oath of service and ignore the commitment they made to their communities.. Heres what we know. The FBI and its federal law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate individuals who violate their oath of service and ignore the commitment they made to their communities.. In doing so, he betrayed the trust of the public and his fellow officers., Damacio Diaz used his lawful authority as a sworn peace officer with the Bakersfield Police Department to illegally enrich his self-interests, said Michael T. Batdorf, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team, that Diaz was a member of, from a mainly Latino high school in McFarland, California, that won a state championship. pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. McFarland USA . Imagine a movie being made about your small town. Damacio Diaz, who was featured in the movie McFarland, USA and is currently a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, has been arrested on bribery and drug trafficking charges. Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com. The United States Attorney's Office said Diaz continued to operate the informant "even though he was fully aware of the informant's ongoing criminal activity and, during this time, Diaz received bribes from the informant in return for intelligence on law enforcement activities as well as protection from investigation and arrest.". NFL Player Patrick Mahomes' Net, Is Patrick Gibson In A Relationship and Who Has He Dated?, Is YouTube Gaming Killing Twitch? Kevin Costner arrives at the world premiere of "McFarland, USA" held at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. The "Law & Order", Who Are Rooney Mara's Parents and What Do They Do For A. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. Michael Aguero is known for McFarland, USA (2015) and Made in Hollywood (2005). 2 Grizzlies, LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United, PSG to battle for Abraham, Bayern back in charge, Yamal makes history, Napoli's party spoiled: Weekend Review. The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. White -- played in the film by Kevin Costner -- wasn't from McFarland. It was back in 1987 when Damacio Diaz inadvertently became a local celebrity of sorts owing to the way he built McFarland High School's winning cross-country dynasty alongside his two brothers. As a detective in Bakersfield, Calif., Damacio Diaz rose to national attention after the film McFarland, USA, was released in 2015. "The embarrassment is just going to keep growing over this," Laura Harth, the campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told Newsweek. McFarland, USA. Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. Yosemite Valley fully reopens after forecasted flooding falls short, 19 people displaced after apartment fire in SE Fresno, American Airlines pilots vote to authorize strike. The only reason Im telling that story is because that person is the person that we spent 4 months with. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. He did submit every kind of narcotics to evidence following each bust. The most police executions. Family Life Report an . Cop depicted in movie 'McFarland USA' pleads guilty to bribery, drug charges. Jim White . Before each season, White had to plead his case to their parents to let them run. Diaz and Mara maintained possession of the remaining nine pounds of methamphetamine, and they ultimately sold it for their own personal gain. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. Damacio Diaz, 44, was sentenced Monday for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and making and subscribing a false income tax return, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorneys Office to investigate these types of crimes that have a negative impact on our communities and the American Taxpayer., Diaz's illegal activity caused irreparable damage to his reputation, put the lives of others at risk, undermined public trust in the Bakersfield Police Department, and facilitated criminal activity, said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the FBI Sacramento field office. College football reporters' NFL draft takeaways, Rangers-Devils Game 7: Key players, matchups and final score predictions, 'This is probably his best shot': Why the time is now for Harden and the 76ers, Ranking the fights at UFC 288: Why Henry Cejudo's return tops the list, Man United in pole position for top four, but can't take their eyes off Liverpool, The VAR Review: Red cards for Jota, Skipp; Richarlison penalty claim, Zags, Vols have gained spots in men's WTE Top 25, Will Levis opens up about emotional draft day, After hoopla of going No. When Rodriguez arrived at the auditions, Caro got a call from the producer saying the right person . Jamie White. For each one of them, it was adifferent lesson. On September 20, 2012, while on duty, Diaz stopped a vehicle operated by two individuals from Yakima, Washington and used a BPD dog handler and police dog to search the vehicle. He was staying at the halfway house after serving his time. Fax Line:(916) 554-2900. The search uncovered an ice chest containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine divided into multiple bags. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. Seora Diaz: Omar Leyva . 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now', XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. McFarland, USA (2015) Full Cast & Crew. Also new to acting wasRafaelMartinez (David Diaz). The Bakersfield Police Department is committed to building and maintaining public trust by holding our employees accountable for their actions and we will continue to provide quality service to our community. They still hang out and text each other. Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on the project, and says in the trailer that it "is one of the most powerful projects I've ever been involved with.". What the longest game in MLB history says about baseball today, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? He actually skipped school to make the audition but has no regrets about it. As well as accepting illegal bribes, Diaz engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. Speaking of being off camera, what did each of these young men take away from the movie? Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Only then did they "get to" do 10 half-mile repeats at a 2:45 clip straight uphill. For the Diazes, that often was their literal brother. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct., Bakersfield Chief of Police Williams stated: I appreciate the efforts of all agencies involved in this lengthy and exhaustive investigation and I am thoroughly satisfied with the ultimate conviction of Damacio Diaz. Ramiro Rodriguez had no intention of auditioning when he agreed to . Diaz pleaded guilty to the charges on May 31, 2016. The behavior and criminal activity that was exposed during this comprehensive investigation is in no way reflective of the commitment and remarkable public service the over 500 employees of the Bakersfield Police Department provide to our community on a consistent basis. The trio honestly had an unwavering determination in their efforts despite being mere teenagers at the time, and that's what eventually inspired the . But while researching the project, I sat down with the Diaz family. She is the daughter of the lead character, Jim White, and his wife, Cheryl. Full court documents of who Diaz is as well as Diaz's final statements before sentencing. But even worse, they say he tipped off the drug dealer when police might be coming his way, even giving the guy information from a secret wiretap. He broke the chain because he didnt want to live that life or go down that path. According to court documents, between April 2012 and February 2015, while employed as a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD), Diaz handled a criminal informant who was involved in the large-scale sale and distribution of methamphetamine. Welcome to Killing County. Hanging out with them in the interview room, you could definitely see that connection. Trivia. They still hang out and text each other. Diaz and his brother Danny were on the championship team; a third brother, David, had graduated by then but was included in the movie version. The 2004 Red Sox "idiots," Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs dynasty, or the European Ryder Cup squads -- all of these championship teams have won more than individual player valuation suggested that they should. Ramiro Rodriguez pictured with Rafael Martinez ("David Diaz) and Michael Aguero ("Damacio Diaz") at the McFarland USA press conference. For each of them, watching their small town suddenly be on the map has been a blessing. Seor Diaz: Valente Rodriguez . The sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. Despite the possible life sentence, a federal judge ruled Diaz can be released. Oakland As reliever opens up about anxiety: Its something Ive struggled with, Can 49ers win Super Bowl with rookie kicker? Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert said at the time of Diaz's sentencing: "Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law. Ramiro sat 1:1 with me as we talked about challenging ourselves to try new things (ironically this is his first film and my first 1:1 interview, ever), getting a part he never intended to audition for, and why it's important to share Danny's story with . Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now. Nightly family dinners, Sunday church, festive quinceaeras -- these are vital community experiences to be celebrated and celebrated together. Meet, Alyssa Diaz's Children: Who Is Alyssa Diaz Married To? A week later, Diaz booked approximately one pound of methamphetamine from the vehicle stop into evidence. Sure. And not just ANY role the role of Danny Diaz. According to court documents, while employed as a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD), Diaz handled a criminal informant, for nearly three years between April 2012 and February 2015, who was involved in the large-scale sale and distribution of the drug methamphetamine. You travel to the audition simply to drive your cousin who wants to give it a try and somehow end up with a role in the movie. Rooney Mara's Children: Who Is Rooney Mara Married To? Damacio Diaz is married to his wife Courtney Diaz. Google ' McFarland USA fact vs. fiction' and you get quite a few options that separate the true story of the upstart cross country program at the rural Central California high school and Hollywood's spin on it in the 2015 film starring Kevin Costner as coach Jim White. If you havent seen McFarland, USA yet why not? All Rights Reserved. streaming McFarland, USA? Diaz, whose role on McFarland High School's 1987 championship cross country team was documented in the film [] Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. David, Damacio and Danny Diaz all ran for coach Jim White on McFarland High's first state championship team in 1987, a journey portrayed in the film, "McFarland, USA." Learn more about contributing; Edit page. Diaz continued to operate the informant even though he was fully aware of the informants ongoing criminal activity. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.". The former police officer was subsequently sentenced to five years in federal prison, just to be released days early from a halfway house in Sacramento, California, on May 8, 2020. Diaz turned his back on those opportunities and broke the trust his community placed in him, violating the very laws he was sworn to enforce. But talking to the Diaz brothers, and every runner for McFarland, I saw something deeper: a type of bond that forms only when people are pushed to their physical and mental limits. The 44-year-old Damacio Diaz was a 17-year veteran of the department Associated Press. They also plan to seize about $50,000 in cash and a home in an exclusive McFarland neighborhood. She is inspired by her father's passion for running and works hard to be the best athlete she can be. In other words, he joined the Tulare Police Department as a low-level officer in August 1996 just to work hard and be able to move on to Bakersfield as a detective precisely two years later. During this time, Diaz received bribes from the informant in return for intelligence on law enforcement activities as well as protection from investigation and arrest. Its really coming together and being a community[the way]it should be.. Diaz continued to operate the informant even though he was fully aware of the informants ongoing criminal activity. The most police executions. We don't know that anyone was physically injured as a result of it, fortunately. If you follow them on social media, you can see it even more. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! The married couple exchanged their wedding vows in April 2006. An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and drug charges. Damacio Diaz of McFarland cross country fame admits to police corruption and drug charges, faces federal prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law. The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. Diaz pleaded guilty to the charges on May 31, 2016. See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by . Diaz was released from prison in May 2020. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. He's a former 20-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department and was . According toABC 23, Ramirez was shot at a parking lot near a hotel while working as an off-the-books police informant for the Bakersfield Police Department, attempting to gain information on felon Justin Harger. 501 I Street, Suite 10-100 But as the McFarland Cougars continued to train, and then started to win, and then kept winning, every runner in White's program became a figurative brother. Diaz became well-known after being portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA,starring Kevin Costner, about the transformation of a running team in McFarland. Niki Caro Writing Credits . Hectorbelieved that the film reinforced the idea of equality and not judging a book by its cover., That once you get deeper into whats real and all the values that are there, you see that everybodys equal. Damacio Diaz: Diana Maria Riva . Carter was also ordered to pay $70,513 in restitution to his former employerwho he admitted to embezzling money fromand to forfeit $286,251 in proceeds from drug trafficking, according to federal prosecutors. Carloseven told a story about how well Kevin Costner bonded with his9 year old brother. At least, that's where my head was at in the fall of 2010, when I was approached to write a movie about a high school cross-country team from the Central Valley of California, from the (literally) one-stoplight town of McFarland. Thanks! There used to be a lot of crime back then, like gangsters and stuff, but now its really holding down its spot for the national spotlight. Photo by RON PHILLIPS -- From left, Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran), Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar), Damacio Diaz (Michael Aguero), Danny Diaz (Ramiro Rodriguez), Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner . The primary subject of the documentary is the victim, Jorge Ramirez, Jr. Damacio Diaz is one of the subjects of new Hulu documentary Killing County. Damacio seemingly prefers to stay well away from the spotlight these days, but we do know the family man tied the knot with his long-term partner, teacher Courtney Diaz, on January 26, 2021. Still, it was rarely the entire quantity as he, his partner Patrick Mara, as well as an associate, reportedly had this combined side hustle. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and drug charges. Principal Camillo: Danny Mora . But federal agents arrested him at work today. Then something changed, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, Four dead in apparent mass shooting in Mojave, What was behind the protest against an archaeologist at last weeks L.A. Times Book Festival, Column: If not cops or guns, what will it take to make us feel safe? Damacio Diaz, who was featured in the movie McFarland, USA and is currently a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, has been arrested on bribery and drug trafficking charges. Actor: McFarland, USA. We appreciate the support we have been given throughout this investigation and wish to thank the community for their patience and understanding., DEA Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin stated, Damacio Diaz committed crimes in a community he took an oath to serve and protect.
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