damacio diaz wife damacio diaz wife

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. Damacio Diaz, photo courtesy of Mama Latina Tips. I cannot thank all of the people involved enough for bringing this story to us. According to Torres, the federal system will keep Diaz behind bars for more than four years before he becomes eligible for release. But I still do that and I coach. On one occasion, Mrs. Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia. Since then, from what we can tell, the 50-year-old has chosen to retire and lead a comfortable yet quiet life in his home county of Kern; he hasnt moved anywhere. Its a poor community. McFarland, USA (2015) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Niki Caro Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Antonio Pinto Cinematography by Adam Arkapaw . it all made sense. Our father never could ever go watch us race. No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. The ramifications of the corruption scandal could be large. There is no shame in admitting that this case has kept me awake at night, and few do, ONeill said to the packed courtroom. DAMACIO DIAZ : They said youre fat. JIM WHITE : Let, let me add one thing to that. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. 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. 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. How is the district attorney going to oppose any motion for a new trial when these investigators have admitted to such rogue behavior? said Ben Meiselas, who is representing several families suing the Bakersfield police, included a man shot while allegedly an informant for Mara. 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.". Those suckers are, are steep. I wanna know what your guyss first reaction was when you heard that not only was your story going to be a movie but specifically this movie and knowing what these true life, inspirational movies become? . DAVID DIAZ : Uh, we donttrain. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and DANNY DIAZ : east from McFarland, Mr. White here would take us to the hills. This was an all expense paid trip provided by Disney. And thatsthe one we have now. I even performed the wedding service for Damacio Diaz . The Diaz brothers represent 3 of the 7 runners from the McFarland Cross Country team of 1987. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. Patrick Mara, center, speaks while flanked by attorney Fred Gagliardini. Right now our community is excited obviously with the movie and rightfully so. Damacio Diaz. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. Los Angeles, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; 1 arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, Officials unprepared for epic mountain blizzard, leaving many trapped and desperate. And he told me I want them to get their education, so I will go back and get my education. It was great meeting you on the trip - it was such fun! 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. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. -KGET 17, Yes. Lisa Green is sending letters to defendants in 64 potentially tainted criminal convictions after her office examined scores of convictions involving the work of the disgraced pair. Unlike most defendants sentenced to prison for drug trafficking and other serious crimes, Diaz, dressed in a dark suit, walked out of the courthouse Monday afternoon unshackled, temporarily a free man. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. But federal agents arrested him at work today. And so, we were just happy that Disney stuck with that first year and were lucky to be in the movie. Central Valley. Write by: They came from a large family where faith,educationand hard work were important. You can read our Kevin Costner Interview about his role as Jim White in the McFarland, USA movie. They pocketed 4 pounds and turned in just a pound as evidence, officials said. The relationship between the brothers and Coach White is endearing. Overall though, they agreed that the picker lifestyle and Latino culture of the community was perfectly captured. He must report to federal authorities before 2 p.m. Dec. 5 to begin serving his sentence. To you culture, um, is all about community and it takes a village to raise a child. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 1999 - 2000 Mara said that when he partnered up with Diaz in spring 2012, Diaz walked out of a bedroom and handed him a few hundred dollars, while he stuck a large amount of money into his own pockets, according to court papers. He will then be subject to three years of supervised release. The 16-count indictment against the 17-year police veteran includes bribery and trafficking methamphetamine. Yet this fraud used his position for gain and greed. On October 3, 2016 Diaz was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return. . went on to college. Those are the two extremes and those are the two options that are there for our community. White and many other family members and friends were in court to support Diaz. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. Right before interviewing Kevin Costner (see that here), we had the great privilege of interviewing the real life inspirations behind the new Disney film, McFarland, USA, Coach Jim White and the Diaz brothers, David, Damacio and Danny.They were so charming, and funny, and honest. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! DAVID DIAZ : So, just to go back and let you know how my mother was depicted in previous scripts [LAUGHS] was probably a more accurate [CHUCKLES] version. And so, its just a fun place to be. That is definitely true. 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's wife Courtney painted a picture him as a strong Christian and dedicated family man who in her words 'became a lost soul alone in the dark' while undercover. 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. If it were ethical, I would pay to have you go to UCLA, he said, noting that it clearly was not. Their actions risked their fellow officers safety for greed.. 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. Diaz this summer pleaded guilty to bribery, drug trafficking and tax evasion, and Mara admitted to selling methamphetamine. We run three, four, five miles a day just to stay in shape. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. My dad has 13 brothers and sisters. Under it you read three words:Tradition, Unity, and Excellence. Where are Damacio and Patrick now? 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. By Laura Donaldson On 2/3/23 at 8:00 AM EST They spoke often of God and their church, as well as the work they do there. His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Sheila Jaffe Production Design by Richard Hoover But if it werent for sports our kids would be lost, because its either education and sports or the streets. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. Diazs attorney, David Torres, was clearly relieved by the judges decision. These I was able have aninterview with Jim White and the Diaz brothers (David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz) who are the real life inspirations behind the McFarland, USA film. Two years later, we signed with another one, not quite that often, but it took a long process. 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." It was fat. Welcome to Killing County. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. Colin Kaepernick's new three-part true crime docuseries, which premieres on Hulu Friday, Feb. 3, tells the story of alleged corruption and cover-up that happened at a police department in a . And, wow, those hills are its not rolling hills. A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. It was back in 1987 when Damacio Diaz inadvertently became a local celebrity of sorts owing to the way he built McFarland High Schools winning cross-country dynasty alongside his two brothers. Disgraced cop's 5-year sentence a fraction of prosection's recommendation, Corrupt cops compel Kern DA to inform defense attorneys about 'tainted' cases. He did a lot of things for us that our dad couldnt, becauseit financially just wasnt available. Each one of the brothers are land owners in McFarland. If one or two of those boys couldn't make practice at four o'clock 'cause they're just gettin' in from work, then I might practice at 6 or 7 o'clock with those boys. 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. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them by helping them pick in the fields. 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 . So, for us it was normal. Defendants could seek motions for a new trial or to withdraw pleas in some cases. Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. Leopoldo's father abandoned his wife and children. It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. 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. More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. Mr. White was there as a person that we can rely on. I was just running to, to displace other runners and add them more points. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery . He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. 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. FRESNO, Calif. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why. But his chief is ready to turn his back. 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. Theres nothing to do in McFarland. So, thatwas good. DANNY DIAZ : Yeah, if you drive600 miles out . McFarland High School is actually just down the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not across the street. View the profiles of people named Damacio Diaz. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. Yes. Thats what they wanted to do and Im just excited to be included in the movie. Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net 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. . Mr. Diaz, their dad Paul, he pushed education real hard, too. Therefore, Damacio pleaded guilty to bribery, possession, attempted possession with the intent to distribute, and false income tax returns on May 31, 2016 hed resigned from BPD months prior. Damacio Diaz was released Friday from a halfway house in Sacramento, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The community of McFarland still works as a village to raise their youth. An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges he. Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on new Hulu documentary "Killing County," which explores the story of Damacio Diaz. Talbert said that we concluded no officers were complicit in joining Diaz and Mara, and that no further prosecutions were planned at this time. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. He advised her to first trust in God, as the Almighty, he said, is not subject to the weaknesses and failings of humankind. They are a faith-filled family. Like in the movie, Thomas Valles went to an overpass above Highway 99 one night after his parents got into a horrible fight. (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. May God BLESS you all richly. We were raised in the field, it was our life. Also, take a closer look at the Diaz family, who had seven children run for McFarland. This hearing is not about telling someone they are no good, ONeill said. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. "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. It depends on the circumstances. And we try to trip him up on that, and hes very smart in that regard. "Sometimes I helped them work in the fields," says the real Coach Jim White, "but more importantly, I had practice at a different time. Killing County is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 3. It reviewed 87 cases. I still race competitively even though youre not as good as you once were. 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. 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. We would like your email. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The charges against Damacio Diaz have people in his hometown in disbelief.