Disgraced cop of 'McFarland USA' fame gets five years in prison Carloseven told a story about how well Kevin Costner bonded with his9 year old brother. 5 to 6 miles were just the warm-up in addition to ellipticals, bikes, and more training. Thanks! Damacio Diaz is married to his wife Courtney Diaz. 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. The highest homicide rate The most crime. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Running Force of 7 Actors Behind McFarland, USA 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. The film tells a fictionalized version of the McFarland High School cross-country team's 1987 race to victory. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. But it also came from a burning desire not to let their teammates down -- their literal and their figurative brothers. 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. Menu. Michael Aguero, who playsDamacio Diaz, was also a runner from the area. 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." Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? 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 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 "Law & Order", Who Are Rooney Mara's Parents and What Do They Do For A. HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Damacio Diaz attends the world premiere of "McFarland, USA" at The El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. The primary subject of the documentary is the victim, Jorge Ramirez, Jr. Actor Danny Mora attends the premiere of Disney's "McFarland, USA" at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. A week later, Diaz booked approximately one pound of methamphetamine from the vehicle stop into evidence. A true crime thriller we made set in Kevin McCarthys district. In addition to Ramiro,Sergio Avelar (Victor Puentes) is also an actual runner and member of the McFarland Track Club. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. As a detective in Bakersfield, Calif., Damacio Diaz rose to national attention after the film McFarland, USA, was released in 2015. Along with fellow BPD Detective Patrick Mara, 40, the two were sentenced to five years in federal prison. 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. McFarland, USA (also known as McFarland) is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Niki Caro, produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson with music composed by Antnio Pinto.The film was co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures. Reportedly born in March 1972, Damacio Diaz is 50 years old (as of Jan 2023). The only reason Im telling that story is because that person is the person that we spent 4 months with. But as the McFarland Cougars continued to train, and then started to win, and then kept winning, every runner in White's program became a figurative brother. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? As a detective in Bakersfield, Calif., Damacio Diaz rose to national attention after the film McFarland, USA, was released in 2015. Welcome to Killing County. In addition to accepting illegal bribes, Diaz also engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. I saw when it stops being about just you, and starts being about the person right next to you -- whether in the fields, or at the two-mile marker in the state meet. Only then did they "get to" do 10 half-mile repeats at a 2:45 clip straight uphill. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Cop depicted in movie 'McFarland USA' pleads guilty to bribery, drug charges. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. Diaz violated not only the trust of this organization but that of this community. 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. Not to mention, he has become one of my familys best friends! pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. His career as a detective was relatively uneventful until Jorge Ramirez, Jr. was shot by Bakersfield . 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 . Because, as their father told him in a line of dialogue that ended up in the movie, "Every hour my boys train with you is an hour they don't work with me. 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. 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. We love each other as brothers and we never lost that connection. Family is especially important in McFarland, as it is in many ethnic cultures in this country. This football coach arrived in town and figured out that the work ethic and stamina forged in the fields would translate better to distance running. Detective whose story is featured in McFarland USA arrested If you follow them on social media, you can see it even more. Jamie White. The judge sentenced me to a time period that we believe is fair.. Diaz violated not only the trust of this organization but that of this community. 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. Diaz, 48, was a member of the famed McFarland cross-country teams of the 1980's. He was portrayed in the movie Damacio Diaz, a former Detective for the Bakersfield Police Department, has been . His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. . Actor: McFarland, USA. 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. 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. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian K. Delaney and Angela Scott prosecuted the case. He broke the chain because he didnt want to live that life or go down that path. The pair were sentenced in federal . U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. ONeill ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on December 5, 2016. McFarland, USA Movie Photos and Stills | Fandango The search uncovered an ice chest containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine divided into multiple bags. Because maybe, just maybe, the community of McFarland didn't just influence White to finally lay down his own family's roots there. Select from premium Danny Mcfarlane of the highest quality. Disgraced detective whose story was told in 'McFarland USA' gets prison Bakersfield, California, Police Narcotics Detective Charged with Damacio Diaz sentenced | KBAK Johnny Samaniego ended up coaching cross-country for 10 years, before coaching the girls' basketball team at McFarland High School. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . Diaz was arrested in November following a 17-year career with the Bakersfield Police Department. 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. Their feet are in the fertile soil, their gaze is forward, and they run shoulder-to-shoulder -- right next to one another. Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com. Speaking of being off camera, what did each of these young men take away from the movie? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Imagine a movie being made about your small town. Damacio Diaz in a Bakersfield Police Dept. McFarland | You can't have my job, but I'll tell you a story Damacio Diaz is interviewed on camera inKilling County,which premieres on Feb. 3, 2023, on Hulu. 2 Grizzlies, LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United, PSG to battle for Abraham, Bayern back in charge, Yamal makes history, Napoli's party spoiled: Weekend Review. McFarland, USA. Damacio Diaz was a subject of the movie McFarland USA and became a Bakersfield police officer. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Finally, Carlos, who plated Thomas Valles, knew everyone would want to know what it was like working with Kevin Costner. The film tells a fictionalized version of the McFarland High School cross-country team's 1987 race to victory. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. Michael Aguero (Damacio Diaz) In fact, these 7 actors spent so much time together that they built genuine relationships off the set. 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. 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. ", 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. 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. This case is finally over, and we are extremely blessed and happy to announce that we are victorious, Diaz said. Health First Claims Mailing Address, Articles D
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