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. But I still do that and I coach. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. McFarland, USA: Directed by Niki Caro. Thats what they wanted to do and Im just excited to be included in the movie. If I could beat their third, fourth, fifth man, sixth man whatever, I would add more points to them. DAVID DIAZ : He was a very inspirational part. Those suckers are, are steep. We were very happy that that was going to take place. -LCU.edu, Yes. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. However, it was later revealed that BPD Detectives Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara were involved in making Ramirez an informant. Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. Their actions risked their fellow officers safety for greed.. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo Memo Magallanes. children ran for Jim White and all seven 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. An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. View Others. DAMACIO DIAZ : The one that took off real fast, you know. it all made sense. 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 . We all feel grateful and the whole communitys just embracing it. potential at the predominantly Latino high Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. It was such a great experience. They threw it out. 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. The. [LAUGHS] And we dont have the big grocery stores. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. I never had pressure. And sports is what kind of helped us get out of that. How did that impact your lives during high school to move on in the future? Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. 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. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery . Early on, ONeill seemed to be signaling he was taking a hard-line stance. Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. DAMACIO DIAZ : Our kids all compete. But, no, they made me chubby or overweight [CHUCKLES] and hecka hella slow [LAUGHS] when you watch 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. No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. 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,. Eguenia was best described by many that However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. Some, like David Diaz, became teachers themselves. Sunny to partly cloudy. on their time as cross country runners And so, I cant keep up with my kids in high school [CHUCKLES], but I go with my little seven-year-old. February 3, 2023, 11:49 PM Part of the docu-series focuses on former Bakersfield Police Officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara. champions. It gave you character. The corruption scandal broke in November 2015 when federal agents arrested Bakersfield Police Detective Damacio Diaz for helping traffic methamphetamines. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. So, for us it was normal. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He told me to take my wife out on a date or buy my kids something, Diaz would later recall in court papers. of 1 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. Is that how the last race happened? I had never been the top five, and as you know the top five are the ones that score. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. 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." And believe it or not, before he was a coach, hes a scientist. These men were the real life inspirations for McFarland USA. High 61F. We basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. But U.S. Atty. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. All seven Diaz (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). And so, we were just happy that Disney stuck with that first year and were lucky to be in the movie. Mr. White had a lot more influence in how this script was written. The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. 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. 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 said he doesn't recognize the man he was three years ago when he was a detective working for Bakersfield police. They still believe in him, and so does his attorney, David A. Torres, who said, "He is and was a hero, in my opinion, and he is the same Damacio Diaz he is.". Those are the two extremes and those are the two options that are there for our community. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. 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 he told me I want them to get their education, so I will go back and get my education. 17 Damacio Diaz Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 17 Damacio Diaz Premium High Res Photos Browse 17 damacio diaz stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [CHUCKLES]. Their parents are also highly regarded by each of them and they obviously have a deep love for the family unit. DAMACIO DIAZ : They said youre fat. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. DANNY DIAZ : Im trying to be nice here. By Laura Donaldson On 2/3/23 at 8:00 AM EST Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel A couple weeks later, the Bakersfield Police Department put him on leave after a federal investigation started to reveal an alleged connection to a major meth dealer. In 2016 Diaz was sentenced for crimes including federal. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. Damacio Diaz pleaded guilty to bribery, drugtrafficking and tax evasion. With Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Johnny Ortiz. Where are Damacio and Patrick now? 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. But I also understand clearly that while he did not sell his soul, he certainly rented it out.. Davids the oldest and he was a bully. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. But he encouraged us to play sports. David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. These guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. 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. Their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys even harder to succeed and do well. It taught you how to accept losing or winning. 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. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. and preaching in the Church of Christ. The U.S. Attorneys Office had recommended a sentence of between roughly 17 and 22 years, but the judge had discretion. Damacio Diaz was released Friday from a halfway house in. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . But the guys over here were in decent shape still. Then to keep him on the narrow road or that straight road is tough. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. All the notoriety that theyre getting and what this man over here, Mr. White, our coach, has brought to not just our program but to our community. In the least, such scenes seem to have been exaggerated by the filmmakers. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White 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.". 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. JIM WHITE : Ive done it quite often. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. The Diaz brothers represent 3 of the 7 runners from the McFarland Cross Country team of 1987. Now that he's cooperating with authorities, he has allegedly implicated others in the department, including his former partner . What about the children? Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. 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. "McFarland's Family of Champions," are I even performed the wedding service for Damacio Diaz . That year, Mara filed for bankruptcy and said he was drinking heavily. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego Coach White called Thomas over. [LAUGHS] Much worse. Jim White is the main character of the sports drama film McFarland, USA. [LAUGHS]. So for us, it was a way of life. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. See Sites with Your Personal Info. Each one of the brothers are land owners in McFarland. Thats because it comprises not only archival footage but also first-hand accounts of individuals closest to the matter to truly uncover this Californian citys merciless, violence-driven justice system. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. We [LAUGHS], we played basket. Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison.He pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges. DAMACIO DIAZ : Mr. White might have more than us. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. Not exactly. Additionally, Coach White would be there for counseling and fulfilling needs beyond what their parents could afford. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Damacio Diaz found himself on the other side of the law when he was convicted and sentenced for his role in selling drugs stolen from a Bakersfield Police Department evidence room. The best result we found for your search is Damacio Diaz age 50s in Bakersfield, CA. They also plan to seize about $50,000 in cash and a home in an exclusive McFarland neighborhood. A 1997 LA Times article described it as a rickety, worn bicycle, but did not state that it was a girl's bicycle like in the movie. 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. 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. When the informant left, the narcotics detective found just under $1,000 in the passenger-side door pocket. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. He will have about two months to think about what comes next. That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. Many of the citizens of McFarland were extras in the movie. "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. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. The former NFL player is an executive producer on Hulu's "Killing County.". 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 . They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. So, Danny youre talking about they made you a little different. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on new Hulu documentary "Killing County," which explores the story of Damacio Diaz. You have permission to edit this article. He was a fifth grade teacher and before he was a P.E. Matter of fact, he ordered us and he forced us and he made us play sports, because the way he saw it hes the first one, and so he learned it before us. 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. I was just running to, to displace other runners and add them more points. 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. Even some of us, after graduating college, like Danny, the day after he graduated from the university with the diploma, he was in the fields working, because that was, in our family, what was expecteduntil he got hired and got his job. 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. Write by: Gabriel Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego Diaz, and father and mother Paul and Juanita Diaz. 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. DANNY DIAZ : Uh, well, that was the last race for that year. Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. A drug and corruption scandal has rocked the Bakersfield Police Department. Low 44F. -KGET 17, Yes. And then Disney resigned us and got a better script writer. [LAUGHS] So, just to let yall know were proud of what Hollywood did and what Niki and the producer and everyone did, but we lived in a very, very strict environment and still do to this day. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. His performance at the 1987 state meet did help McFarland lock up the title. He says that Bakersfield. They investigated every name that came up, uncovered every rock, and no one elses name came to light in their scandal, the chief said. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. it's not all true but he's okay with that. But Mr. White was our second father. . In an extraordinary statement, Judge ONeill spoke directly to Diazs daughter, Caroline. Welcome to Killing County. And we were part of the Royal Rangers andwe did that on Tuesday nights at our local church. 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. Both men are currently in halfway houses, Diaz in the Sacramento area and Mara in the Long Beach area. Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. Diaz pleaded guilty to stealing. 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. Under it you read three words:Tradition, Unity, and Excellence. Still, it was rarely the entire quantity as he, his partner Patrick Mara, as well as an associate, reportedly had this combined side hustle. Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net -KGET 17, Yes. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. After the interview we were able to get a picture with them. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Sheila Jaffe Production Design by Richard Hoover The most police executions. And theres not much to do there. Leopoldo's father abandoned his wife and children. 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. It reviewed 87 cases. According to the National Park Service, citing law enforcement officials, the husband and wife were discovered on Jan. 13. 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. And, uh, low and behold, Mr. White, during Thanksgiving break, uh, when we have no school, he had an emergency. Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. So, thats a big change. Forty-four of his cases will result in letters. His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. Damacio Diaz, 48, is scheduled for release on May 10 while Patrick Mara, 40, is expected to be free on April 20, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records. [LAUGHS] We all, all of us are basketball players. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. [LAUGHS] Theymade me, uh . Included in the segment, titled He did a lot of things for us that our dad couldnt, becauseit financially just wasnt available. Phillip A. Talbert said the two detectives were specially selected for a joint drug task force in a region plagued by methamphetamine. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. Noel Carter, 45, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today for conspiring with Bakersfield police officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana that Diaz and Mara seized in the course of their duties as police officers, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. [Asking Danny referring to the last race of the first year]. 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. May God BLESS you all richly. 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. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. We were racing big races and trying to accomplish big things, so we looked at Mr. White as our dad. There is no shame in admitting that this case has kept me awake at night, and few do, ONeill said to the packed courtroom. 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. Damacio Diaz. More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. Two years later, we signed with another one, not quite that often, but it took a long process. 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. 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. So hes a very knowledgeable guy. He is portrayed by Kevin Costner. Both are about to begin five-year federal prison sentences for their crimes. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. And we try to trip him up on that, and hes very smart in that regard. Primary filming took place in McFarland, California in 2013. They are a faith-filled family. In fact, a blink of an eye as you drive down Highway 99 in California and you will miss it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? The detective tipped him off about a Drug Enforcement Administration wiretap that captured him chatting, advising him to lay low, according to documents. 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. We were about seven or eight years old when all that began. Coach White took the orders and delivered them. Scott Spielman said. 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. Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. 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. 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. DAVID DIAZ : Uh, we donttrain. 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] Im a runner. All of a sudden I saw these headlights and it was Mr. White in his '59 Chevy." 1999 - 2000 And we I took them to the fields because I was looking for workers to try to get us some income so we can go to Oregon and we can go to San Jose and we can put shoes on their feet. The highest homicide rate The most crime. So we have a lot of uncles and everybody has a lot of kids. 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.