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. 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. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, Crews helping residents stranded by snow in Mariposa County, Home catches fire in snow-covered neighborhood in North Fork. We maybe started school but hardly any of us finished. Diaz was active as a youth coach, and as a cop he rose quickly through the ranks before, as he said, he was seduced by the lure of easy money, by stealing and selling methamphetamine for personal profit, the very drugs he was being paid to get off the streets. 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. It was really an honor. Like in the movie, Thomas Valles went to an overpass above Highway 99 one night after his parents got into a horrible fight. They were sooo funny to chat with. Mara, a 13-year veteran, had 55 cases involving 70 defendants. Youre driving on 99, the freeway, and you blink and youll miss it. Damacio Diaz one of the three Diaz brothers depicted in the 2015 Disney film about the victorious Central Valley team admitted to lying on his tax returns and accepting bribes from an . 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. "McFarland's Family of Champions," are Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. During the investigation, five other officers were placed on administrative leave related to the investigation and one recently resigned. His performance at the 1987 state meet did help McFarland lock up the title. Did you ever do that again? The Feds arrested him at the. These guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. Right now our community is excited obviously with the movie and rightfully so. 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." So, my dad worked ten, twelve, thirteen, fourteen hours a day sometimes and both of them [his parents] come from large families. 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. Damacio Diaz pleaded guilty to bribery, drugtrafficking and tax evasion. But federal agents arrested him at work today. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? I've watched "McFarland" probably more than 200 times. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. According to the California Department of Justice, Diaz and Mara conspired with another man, Noel Carter, 46. In our case, you know, theres seven and my dad worked a lot of hours. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. They work in the school system and believe in. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. Atty. 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.". 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Since we have a newborn we weren't able to see the pre-screening in theaters but I hope to see it as soon as it comes out on DVD. DANNY DIAZ : You know, growing up in McFarland we didnt have much. We are no longer theHeartbeat of Agriculture. Um, Im running my first half marathon soon, and, um, I just wanna know are those hills what you really trained on? it's not all true but he's okay with that. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically My dad has 13 brothers and sisters. We dont have actually any [CHUCKLES] malls. challenged town in California's farm-rich McFarland USA, released in 2015and starring Kevin Costner, is based on the McFarland High School cross-country team that won the California championship in 1987. According to Torres, the federal system will keep Diaz behind bars for more than four years before he becomes eligible for release. If they took statements, seized evidence or wrote reports, we will be sending letters to defense attorneys or defendants that represented themselves, she said. Leopoldo's father abandoned his wife and children. -KGET 17, Yes. Federal authorities say 43-year-old Damacio Diaz took bribes from a narcotics dealer, and, in exchange, provided the names of police informants, gave details of law enforcement investigations, and tried to protect him from arrest. And so, we have a great dad. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. Mr. White was there as a person that we can rely on. [LAUGHS]. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. This hearing is not about telling someone they are no good, ONeill said. Join Facebook to connect with Damacio Diaz and others you may know. 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 . Acting U.S. Atty. I can't wait to see this movie! 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. Coach Jim White is retired now, but if you go to McFarland, chances are you willsee him out there on his bike, keeping up with the kids every evening with a lotof his original team running alongside as well. Yet this fraud used his position for gain and greed. The real Coach Jim White took both the boys and girls cross country teams to the California central coast beach at Cayucos during the 1985 season (not the 1987 season). Mr. Diaz, their dad Paul, he pushed education real hard, too. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. Hi everyone! Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put them back on the street, released from custody Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo Memo Magallanes. Diaz then began cooperating with federal investigators and named other cops he said were corrupt. We were racing big races and trying to accomplish big things, so we looked at Mr. White as our dad. [CHUCKLES] And about two years ago, Mr. White, you help me pull? Diazs attorney, David Torres, was clearly relieved by the judges decision. McFarland, USA: Directed by Niki Caro. Where are Damacio and Patrick now? "I can't say I was going to jump, but I was thinking about my life and why some people would jump. The community of McFarland still works as a village to raise their youth. Not exactly. 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. champions. So, with myself, they [CHUCKLES] made me chubby in the movie. "Niki Caro wanted to show more family in the movie so they chose me," says the real David Diaz, who actually graduated during the school year before the first state title win. DAVID DIAZ : Not at all. They talk about being inspired to strive for something beyond picking in the fields. These were the guys running in the California heat and winning state titles. February 3, 2023, 11:49 PM Part of the docu-series focuses on former Bakersfield Police Officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara. was like to have a movie made about his Eguenia was best described by many that They are portrayed to be 15 and 10, a few years younger than they actually were at the time of the first state title in 1987 (the girls were in college at the time). My dad gives me a sense of security, she told the court. Juanita Diaz. The corruption scandal broke in November 2015 when federal agents arrested Bakersfield Police Detective Damacio Diaz for helping traffic methamphetamines. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. Girl, 13, Went Missing Last Week, and Suspect Is Arrested on . However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. You have permission to edit this article. Ray referred to Felicia Rosario as his "wife," though they were never married. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo "Memo" Magallanes. And so, I cant keep up with my kids in high school [CHUCKLES], but I go with my little seven-year-old. View the profiles of people named Damacio Diaz. 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. DAVID DIAZ : Yeah, so just to let you know: I think Hollywood did a, a very good job of depicting and not making it look too guilty as regarding CPS. High 61F. That was something that we did since we were third, fourth, fifth graders and by the time we got to college and were now training and, and running and living our lives with Mr. White some of us traveled out of the state, out of the country with Mr. White it became something that was gonna help us get out of our environment, and it did. Patrick Mara, center, speaks while flanked by attorney Fred Gagliardini. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? DANNY DIAZ : We didnt train. 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.. That decision also rocked the Kern County criminal justice system, marking the beginning of an ugly police corruption scandal involving cash, drugs and protection. Diaz said that his time as a narcotics detective drove him to a life of drinking and that Magallanes, a drug dealer and a prominent member of the Mexican Mafia, became more friend than informant. Also, take a closer look at the Diaz family, who had seven children run for McFarland. Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes shorts. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. SPONSORED LINKS
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