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. Family is especially important in McFarland, as it is in many ethnic cultures in this country. Everybody has their own opinions. 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 . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Meet, How Rich Is Patrick Mahomes? Kevin Costner arrives at the world premiere of "McFarland, USA" held at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. 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 sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. He also coached their sister, Delia, and three more brothers -- Diego, Dario and Gabriel -- through the years. 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). 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,. But the boys were committed to the fledgling running program, and White was a good enough salesman that they still made it to cross-country practice. For a general manager, isolating this trait is the white whale. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? 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. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now. Damacio Diaz is interviewed on camera inKilling County,which premieres on Feb. 3, 2023, on Hulu. As a detective in Bakersfield, Calif., Damacio Diaz rose to national attention after the film McFarland, USA, was released in 2015.The film tells a fictionalized version of the McFarland High . Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. White didn't just coach three Diazes. She is inspired by her father's passion for running and works hard to be the best athlete she can be. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. It actually helped him put up the championship banners that crowd the front of the school's gymnasium, just a few hundred yards from that one stoplight. 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. Diaz continued to operate the informant even though he was fully aware of the informants ongoing criminal activity. 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. McFarland, USA. Diaz and his brothers were members of the . Niki Caro Writing Credits . Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. 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. A lock ( 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. After serving his sentence, Mara was sent to a halfway house in Long Beach before ultimately being released in April 2020. After sentencing, Diaz spoke with reporters outside the federal courthouse in Fresno. the chemistry you see on screen is exactly what we are in real life if not more. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. ONeill ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on December 5, 2016. Damacio Diaz is married to his wife Courtney Diaz. Jim White . He ran one year of cross-country in high school in Gainesville, Florida; he wasn't particularly fast. To a man, each of these brothers credits his unique endurance to a childhood spent picking almonds and grapes in the massive fields that stretch out to the horizon in all directions from their town. Damacio Diaz, one of the three "running Diaz" brothers who helped build the McFarland . Brittny Mejia is a Metro reporter who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2014. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015. Hanging out with them in the interview room, you could definitely see that connection. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? Damacio Diaz. John Ortiz as Jose Cardenas, Ramiro Rodriguez as Danny Diaz, Carlos Pratts as Thomas Valles, Sergio Avelar as Victor Puentes, Michael Aguero as Damacio Diaz, Kevin Costner as Jim White, Hector Duran as Johnny Sameniego and Rafael Martinez as David Diaz in "McFarland, USA." pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. Family Life Damacio Diaz in a Bakersfield Police Dept. Diaz was arrested in November following a 17-year career with the Bakersfield Police Department. This case is finally over, and we are extremely blessed and happy to announce that we are victorious, Diaz said. Its really coming together and being a community[the way]it should be.. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS In April 2019, Carter was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for conspiring with Diaz and Mara to sell the seized drugs. 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. 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. The only thing that separates us is the color of our skin, so we should try to treat each other equally., For Johnny, he wants people to take away these four ideals when they walk out of the theater:motivation, dedication, inspiration, and anythings possible.. The Department of Justice said Diaz and Mara would deliberately fail to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead would give them to Carter, who would sell them for profit. During the defense's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll, Trump's attorney asked the writer why she "did not scream" when she was "supposedly raped. The film tells a fictionalized version of the McFarland High School cross-country team's 1987 race to victory. They also plan to seize about $50,000 in cash and a home in an exclusive McFarland neighborhood. The multi-part documentary is coming to the streaming platform on February 3 and includes first-person interviews with individuals and families plagued by gun violence, officer-involved homicides and other crimes in Bakersfield and Kern County, California. Suggest an edit or add missing content. 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. 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. 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. Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law, said Phillip A. Talbert, the acting U.S. attorney for Californias eastern district. They even brought in the local McFarland cross-countrycoach to help them with thetraining which beganevery morning at8am. 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 . 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." . L.A. has a new answer, Epic snowpack upends rhythms of life for many species in Sierra Nevada range, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. 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.". 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.. From left to right: Thomas Valles, Victor Puentes, Damacio Diaz, Johnny Samaniego, Jose Cardenas, Danny Diaz . Is Netflix, Amazon, Now TV, ITV, iTunes, etc. Have a question about Government Services? White -- played in the film by Kevin Costner -- wasn't from McFarland. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner. As a detective in Bakersfield, Calif., Damacio Diaz rose to national attention after the filmMcFarland, USA, was released in 2015. That's food off our table.". pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. Trivia. She writes narrative pieces with a strong emphasis on the Latino community and others that make up the diversity of L.A. and California. But you will learn that he, and the other 6 runners, are actually much more than that. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to . Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Grant Thompson is a screenwriter based in Los Angeles. One of the things that take the full movie circle is that this was more than a group of actors, three out of the seven young actors on the team in the movie are from the McFarland areaSergio Avelar, who plays Victor Puentes, and Michael Aguero, cast as Damacio Diaz, are actual runners and Ramiro Rodriguez, as Danny Diaz, was a champion soccer player. Damacio Diaz is one of the subjects of new Hulu documentary Killing County. The Feds arrested him at the department Friday morning and removed evidence. Though according to Damacios own account in the Hulu production, his dreams and aspirations took a complete turn once he witnessed some adrenaline-pumping, actual police work first-hand. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Also new to acting wasRafaelMartinez (David Diaz). Damacio Diaz was handed down a five-year sentence in federal prison for drug trafficking, bribery and other charges. var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase, McFarland USA runner gets prison for corruption as police detective. All of that. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Ramiro Rodriguez had no intention of auditioning when he agreed to . One of his coachessince elementarywas the real Thomas Valles (played by Carlos Pratts). It's worth noting that when I interviewed the entire Diaz family, I did so in their large, comfortable house that was built by hand, on land that the family now owns. He actually skipped school to make the audition but has no regrets about it. The Diazes grew up with more than 10 family and extended family members all crammed into a small, two-bedroom, cinder-block house. The series explores how his family was affected by the corruption, but it also focuses on a former police detective named Damacio Diaz. 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. Their feet are in the fertile soil, their gaze is forward, and they run shoulder-to-shoulder -- right next to one another. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? McFarland, USA. Damacio Diaz Wife. 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. She was the one who drove them to the fields at 5 a.m., where they picked fruit right up until the school bell rang, and then again in the afternoons after school. Rooney Mara's Children: Who Is Rooney Mara Married To? The former BPD official apparently knew what he was doing wasnt right in any way, shape, or form, yet he couldnt find a way out as there was no one he could approach for help, as per the docuseries. He says he walked away from a lifestyle filled with heartache and gangs. But talking to the Diaz . A bit more seasoned in their acting careers were the three remaining actors, Carlos Pratts (Thomas Valles),Hector Duran (Johnny Sameniego) and Johnny Ortiz (Jose Cardenas). Natalia . Seor Diaz: Valente Rodriguez . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The search uncovered an ice chest containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. They just did so at night, after seven hours of school and seven more hours of backbreaking work in the fields. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Diaz and Mara maintained possession of the remaining nine pounds of methamphetamine, and they ultimately sold it for their own personal gain. A true crime thriller we made set in Kevin McCarthys district. We don't know that anyone was physically injured as a result of it, fortunately. Sacramento, CA. If you follow them on social media, you can see it even more. The BPD dog handler did not seize any of the drugs from the vehicle, but turned the scene over to Diaz and Mara to secure the methamphetamine and oversee the investigation of the incident. THE Danny Diaz in McFarland, USA. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Bakersfield Police Department. In addition to accepting illegal bribes, Diaz also engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now', XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. 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." 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! Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. Greed was a major motivation for Diaz to begin making unfortunate decisions that brought him to conspire with drug dealers and accept bribes for money. They still hang out and text each other. 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. Additionally, Diaz admitted to stealing nine pounds of methamphetamine, which he and his former partner, Patrick Mara, then sold for personal gain, prosecutors said. 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. In 2016, one of the real-life McFarland runners, Damacio Diaz, was sentenced to five years in prison for taking bribes and selling drugs while he was a Bakersfield police detective. The 44-year-old Damacio Diaz was a 17-year veteran of the department Associated Press. Damacio Diaz, a former Bakersfield, Calif., detective, speaks after his federal sentencing in a bribery and narcotics case in Fresno, Calif., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. . Full court documents of who Diaz is as well as Diaz's final statements before sentencing. As he walked a Hollywood red carpet in February and talked to Action News anchor Graciela Moreno about McFarland USA, little did Diaz know his life was ready to unravel. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County.
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