Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, (L-R) David Diaz, Danny Diaz and Damacio Diaz attend the premiere of Disney's "McFarland, USA" at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. [LAUGHS] These guys had all the pressure. As you pull into McFarland, you will know notice a silhouette of a runner running through an open field. Eliu Garza, also a McFarland High runner, is . Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. Hi everyone! I used to take Damacio and some of hispeers. Eguenia was best described by many that . So, at that point I was running the sixth man and so I became fifth man and I was, for the first time in my life in the top five. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney speaks to the news media after former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Fresno to five years in federal prison. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. 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He says that All seven Diaz children ran for Jim White and all seven went on to . As well as accepting illegal bribes, Diaz engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. How did that impact your lives during high school to move on in the future? So that was my experience for the first time at state having the pressure. The relationship between the brothers and Coach White is endearing. DANNY DIAZ : We didnt train. More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. It gave you character. Kevin Costner and others picking in the fields in McFarland, USA. We don't know that anyone was physically injured as a result of it, fortunately. The detective tipped him off about a Drug Enforcement Administration wiretap that captured him chatting, advising him to lay low, according to documents. White retired in 2002 afterteaching in McFarland schools for 40 years and coaching for 25 years. DAMACIO DIAZ : The one that took off real fast, you know. He is amazing. As, as hes retired. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. and preaching in the Church of Christ. Damacio Diaz pleaded guilty to bribery, drugtrafficking and tax evasion. JIM WHITE : Ive done it quite often. Diaz, who has been allowed to remain free throughout the process, cooperated fully with investigators, according to the prosecution. Former McFarland cross-country coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, leave the U.S. District Court in Fresno Monday after his one-time runner, former BPD detective Damacio Diaz, was sentenced. It is a day I truly regret and a decision that has changed my entire life.. Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. Two misdemeanor prostitution cases in which Diaz as an undercover detective was the only witness have already been dismissed. . Then they can do whatever they want. Raul was also a runner on the team when his sister was killed. The student thus enrolled at California State University-Fresno while changing his major to Criminology as well as Military Science (1992-1996) before deciding to acquire training on the job. The Bakersfield Californian says (http://bit.ly/2dGESLb) the U.S. Attorneys Office recommended between 17 and 22 years. Former McFarland cross-country coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, leave the U.S. District Court in Fresno Monday after his one-time runner, former BPD detective Damacio Diaz, was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison. The Diaz brothers represent 3 of the 7 runners from the McFarland Cross Country team of 1987. Select this result to view Damacio Diaz's phone number, address, and more. Did that change how you ran in future races? Welcome to Killing County. Diaz pleaded guilty to stealing. You know we are a God-fearing folks, so we were teaching in Sunday school on Sundays. And so, we have a great dad. Join Facebook to connect with Damacio Diaz and others you may know. The community of McFarlandis important to them. A drug and corruption scandal has rocked the Bakersfield Police Department. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. In fact, a blink of an eye as you drive down Highway 99 in California and you will miss it. After nearly three decades as a defense attorney, Torres said, he has seen people charged with trafficking in narcotics sentenced to much less prison time, and hes seen the reverse. Thanks! DAMACIO DIAZ : He was our seventh man actually. went on to college. JIM WHITE : Let me add a little bit of that. We have changed our city logo. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Disneys McFarland, USA, is helping to put the Diazs hometown on the map across the globe. [LAUGHS] We all, all of us are basketball players. [CHUCKLES] And about two years ago, Mr. White, you help me pull? It depends on the circumstances. Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dea . Assistant U.S. Atty Brian Delaney said Magallanes was arrested in a separate case and told officials about Diaz. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. it's not all true but he's okay with that. Still, Williamson said, the corrupt detectives had eroded trust with the community. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Mr. White had a lot more influence [on the script]. Fun fact: Rafael Martinez, who plays David Diaz in the movie, is one of my closest friends even to this day! A full house of over three hundred gave a rousing standing ovation to Jim and his wife, Cheryl. it all made sense. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. Do you feel like the movie does a good job of describing that culture (of family and pickers)? As a documentary series that delves deep into the alleged corruption, cover-ups, and crimes within the Bakersfield Police Department over the years, Hulus Killing County is unlike any other. DAMACIO DIAZ : For us, I believe sports, in general, we were already tough kids and we were used to working hard and theyre seven of us in our family. DANNY DIAZ : That is true. He was a fifth grade teacher and before he was a P.E. To you culture, um, is all about community and it takes a village to raise a child. I wanna know is your mom really that way, because she was a scene stealer? Disgraced cop's 5-year sentence a fraction of prosection's recommendation, Corrupt cops compel Kern DA to inform defense attorneys about 'tainted' cases. A South Valley legend so popular he became the subject of a Disney movie has taken a hard fall. DAMACIO DIAZ, by and through his counsel, DAVID A. TORRES, hereby submits Damacio Diaz' Statement in Mitigation for the court's consideration. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - - Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, a detective with the Bakersfield Police (BPD) was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dealer's drug organization, announced United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, FBI Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller . Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to be in the movie. ", Colin Kaepernick pictured at the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank Arena on December 5, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. It was a huge fall from grace for Diaz, who was well known in the Central Valley as being a member of the high school cross-country running team portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie McFarland, USA.. Diaz was charged with assisting a drug dealer and providing him with names of police informants, and with trafficking drugs that had been seized for evidence. Oh, its more than an indiscretion, he said. And then Disney resigned us and got a better script writer. Did you ever do that again? Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. Patrick Mara, center, speaks while flanked by attorney Fred Gagliardini. That the judge would even mention such a possibility underscored the unusual nature of the hearing. In 2016, Diaz, 48, was sentenced for "federal programs bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return." Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner. Amongst those to feature in this three-part original is law enforcement official turned convicted felon Damacio Diaz so now, if you wish to learn more about him, weve got you covered. In a remarkable statement made before reporters Friday, Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green said her office will mail out 64 letters to d, Positive Cases Among Kern Residents: 310,095, Recovered and Presumed Recovered Residents: 305,002, Percentage of all cases that are unvaccinated:71, Percentage of all hospitalizations that are unvaccinated:83.13, Source: Kern County Public Health Services Department. Although, the brothers did say that the town hasnt really changed much, Coach White has noticed one big change. He went back and got it. Diaz did a lot of good things, Delaney said. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. After his father left, Leopoldo and his mother decided to pack . Juanita Diaz. Jim White is to Thomas' right and Gary Adams is to White's right. And underneath and this was given out to the high school and a high school girl came up with this logo Tradition, Unity, and Excellence. Thats what they wanted to do and Im just excited to be included in the movie. No foul language or nudity - just fresh air. 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. Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. DANNY DIAZ : You know, growing up in McFarland we didnt have much. DAVID DIAZ : So, it helps you running wise and mentally wise, as well, because you have to endure that steepness, if you will. JIM WHITE : Let, let me add one thing to that. Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. Girl, 13, Went Missing Last Week, and Suspect Is Arrested on . Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. "I think it goes to show that sometimes the portrayal of images, and good work that has happened in the past, sometimes comes to what we see today and that people aren't always what they seem," said Greg Williamson, Bakersfield police chief. 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. Though it is very close, Jim White likely wouldn't have had a clear view of it from his classroom window, as a street of homes separates the school's athletic fields from the prison grounds. 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. Scott Spielman said. Their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys even harder to succeed and do well. By Laura Donaldson On 2/3/23 at 8:00 AM EST People Search [LAUGHS]. So, thats a big change. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. The. Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz with his wife, Courtney, and their children leaving U.S. District Court in Fresno after his 2016 sentencing. Hes a pretty good coach, too. They talk about being The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. DAVID DIAZ : And just to let you know, um, Gods good and we own almonds now. The best result we found for your search is Damacio Diaz age 50s in Bakersfield, CA. Vida en el Valle file Daniel Casarez. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. We shouldve had first. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . And so, I cant keep up with my kids in high school [CHUCKLES], but I go with my little seven-year-old. It was at the Bakersfield Police Department that Damacio was able to rise the ranks in the way hed always desired going from patrol operations to serving at several high-profile units. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, we just run, Danny and I, just to stay in shape. I am excited to share with you another great interview from my McFarland, USA press trip. White and many other family members and friends were in court to support Diaz. -LCU.edu, Yes. It was really an honor. [LAUGHS], JIM WHITE : Let, let me answer that, cause when Mrs. Diaz saw this film the first time, she came out and she said I love the film, but they didnt make me strict enough.. But thats okay. FEMALE : How McFarland had changed, um, now that the movies gone? Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, California, a detective with the Bakersfield, California, Police Department (BPD), was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dealer's drug organization, announced U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California . under Coach Jim White at McFarland High CA. Diaz may be a free man later tonight, but he's facing life in prison for allegedly helping a meth dealer get drugs and stay undetected, all while he was supposed to be a narcotics detective. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. In a tweet promoting the documentary, the star mentioned the high homicide and crime rates in Bakersfield, calling the series a "thriller set in Kevin McCarthy's district," in reference to House Speaker McCarthy, whose congressional district includes parts of Bakersfield. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. Diaz was not remanded into custody. Sunny to partly cloudy. country team. Michael Aguero as Damacio Diaz Rafael Martinez as David Diaz Ramiro Rodriguez as Danny Diaz Diana-Maria Riva as Seora Diaz Vanessa Martnez as Maria Marsol Martha Higareda as Lupe Valente Rodriguez as Principal Camillo Chris Ellis as Coach Jenks Eloy Casados as Dale Padilla Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Seora Valles Production [ edit] "It was damaging. Diaz then began cooperating with federal investigators and named other cops he said were corrupt. Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now. They pocketed 4 pounds and turned in just a pound as evidence, officials said. View Public Details & Court Records. And when it was suggested Diaz could help rebuild the communitys trust in the police department if only he were allowed the freedom to do so, the judge pounced again, saying he didnt believe that trust damaged so severely by a person given such extraordinary powers could be fully restored. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney shakes hands with former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz in this file photo from Diaz's Oct. 3 sentencing. Whether it be Burglary, Financial Crimes Detail, Homicide, Narcotics Investigations, Sexual Assault, Special Enforcement (Gang), or Vice, he worked in every department at one point or the other. That is why it was so amazing and cool that I got to interview Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz, and Danny Diaz. And we were part of the Royal Rangers andwe did that on Tuesday nights at our local church. The corruption scandal broke in November 2015 when federal agents arrested Bakersfield Police Detective Damacio Diaz for helping traffic methamphetamines. She is preceded in death by her husband Damacio Diaz. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. And sports is what kind of helped us get out of that. DAMACIO DIAZ : Our kids all compete. He is portrayed by Kevin Costner. JIM WHITE : From my aspect, I guess it was in various stages, because this was about a 15-year process for my wife and I. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . Damacio Diaz was a Bakersfield police detective who was sentenced to five years in prison in October 2016 for stealing drugs to put back onto the street. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. The movie pushes up his arrival and coaching position at McFarland to 1987, the first year his cross country team attended and won the state championship (1987 was also the very first year that California had a state championship). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney, who prosecuted the case against former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz, is shown here in this file photo following the Oct. 3 sentencingat U.S. District Court in Fresno. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. So, it was a big deal for us. I still race competitively even though youre not as good as you once were. And so, its just a fun place to be. Now college is very encouraged, but back in the dayI wouldnt say that a fifth of the folks in high school ended up [finishing], especially folks of our color and our culture. DAMACIO DIAZ : Go ahead and call it. He told me to take my wife out on a date or buy my kids something, Diaz would later recall in court papers. DAVID DIAZ : He was out in my field still in the evening helping me do my work. Greens office reviewed 87 cases of the detectives involving 123 defendants before deciding to send the letters. But even prosecutor Brian Delaney of the U.S. Attorneys Office seemed satisfied with Diazs ultimate sentence, a dozen years fewer than the minimum he had recommended. Diaz, his large extended family, his friends and supporters including Jim White, the legendary McFarland High School cross country coach who was featured along with the Diaz brothers in the Disney movie, McFarland, USA, gathered in a prayer circle outside the courtroom following the hearing. And, wow, those hills are its not rolling hills. Updated: May 11, 2020 / 06:23 PM PDT BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Disgraced former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz has been released from custody after serving a federal term for stealing drugs during the course of his police work and putting them back on the street. DAMACIO DIAZ : They said youre fat. I can't wait to see this movie! He also committed serious, reprehensible crimes. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. He offers the kids a chance We love our dad. But in reality the script that was written, we prayed that it would never happen. Here's what we know. Damacio Diaz, 43, was arrested on November 20, 2015 and charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dealer's drug organization. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Gabriel Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego Diaz, and father and mother Paul and Juanita Diaz. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo "Memo" Magallanes. Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and . Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. Atty. My dad gives me a sense of security, she told the court. If they took statements, seized evidence or wrote reports, we will be sending letters to defense attorneys or defendants that represented themselves, she said. And he told me I want them to get their education, so I will go back and get my education. Both men are currently in halfway houses, Diaz in the Sacramento area and Mara in the Long Beach area. McFarland, USA: Directed by Niki Caro. Phillip A. Talbert said the two detectives were specially selected for a joint drug task force in a region plagued by methamphetamine. Diaz pleaded guilty last spring as part of a plea agreement that became public in May. His attorney says he should be home for the holidays and then back in court in Fresno in January. But his chief is ready to turn his back. We maybe started school but hardly any of us finished. Its grown a little bit in the last two, three years but not much has changed. Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes'. Like in the movie, Thomas Valles went to an overpass above Highway 99 one night after his parents got into a horrible fight. Diaz was a Tulare county sheriffs deputy years ago, but he's been at the Bakersfield police department for 17 years, the last four as a narcotics detective. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically If it were ethical, I would pay to have you go to UCLA, he said, noting that it clearly was not. That day I was fifth runner and I felt so much pressure, but you know, lucky we were able to pull it off. So we have a lot of uncles and everybody has a lot of kids. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. So, for us it was normal. Primary filming took place in McFarland, California in 2013. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016. Both had their sentences reduced. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. interview. Diaz was released from prison in May 2020. gun violence, officer-involved homicides and other crime, Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Forty-four of his cases will result in letters. and last updated 2016-10-03 21:34:05-04. Likely not. I notice a lot of you became teachers. All opinions expressed are my own. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. That decision also rocked the Kern County criminal justice system, marking the beginning of an ugly police corruption scandal involving cash, drugs and protection. Damacio was actually indicted on 16 federal counts related to bribery, drug trafficking, and filing a false tax return on the grounds he resold a lot of the drugs he confiscated during his police work. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. The sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. But [LAUGHS], as far as wanting to be a teacher he wasnt the only reason why we got into the education, but he was one of the two or three maybe. 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. If you havent seen a trailer yet, here you go, Follow McFARLAND, USA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfarlandusa, Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypictures. That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. Many of White's former runners credit him with inspiring them to achieve personal and career goals they would have otherwise deemed impossible (People.com). View Others. "I was standing there. [LAUGHS] And we dont have the big grocery stores. If its not for the help of our cousins and our uncles and our friends and our church its really difficult during these times to raise a child. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. For my son, it pushed him to go to college and do well while he was in high school. experience coaching the team. Second, he expressed sympathy regarding the educational quandary in which she finds herself. Everyone there is excited about the movie and thenotoriety they have been receiving from it. [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put them back on the street, released from custody 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. The story of McFarland started with a cross-country in the '80s. It was such a great experience. DANNY DIAZ : Once you give them your story, obviously you sign with them. Damacio Diaz, photo courtesy of Mama Latina Tips. on their time as cross country runners Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to bein the movie. In May 2020, Diaz was released from a halfway house in Sacramento, where he was staying after serving his time. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. The Feds said Diaz was cheating the system in several ways -- for one, by stealing cash for drug buys or stealing the drugs from drug buys. We didnt have that close to us. 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.