IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorneys Office to investigate these types of crimes that have a negative impact on our communities and the American Taxpayer., Diaz's illegal activity caused irreparable damage to his reputation, put the lives of others at risk, undermined public trust in the Bakersfield Police Department, and facilitated criminal activity, said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the FBI Sacramento field office. The primary subject of the documentary is the victim, Jorge Ramirez, Jr. Following Diaz and Maras indictment in October 2016, Damacio was released from a halfway house in Sacramento in May 2020, perKGET. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorneys Office to investigate these types of crimes that have a negative impact on our communities and the American Taxpayer., Diaz's illegal activity caused irreparable damage to his reputation, put the lives of others at risk, undermined public trust in the Bakersfield Police Department, and facilitated criminal activity, said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the FBI Sacramento field office. White didn't just coach three Diazes. 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. Jim White moves his family after losing his last job as a football coach, and at his new school he turns seven disappointing students into one of the best cross-country teams in the region. 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. 95814, Telephone:(916) 554-2700 Damacio Diaz is married to his wife Courtney Diaz. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. 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. Google ' McFarland USA fact vs. fiction' and you get quite a few options that separate the true story of the upstart cross country program at the rural Central California high school and Hollywood's spin on it in the 2015 film starring Kevin Costner as coach Jim White. As a documentary series that delves deep into the alleged corruption, cover-ups, and crimes within the Bakersfield Police Department over the years, Hulus Killing County is unlike any other. This case is finally over, and we are extremely blessed and happy to announce that we are victorious, Diaz said. His his first time seeing the ocean was while he was filming McFarland, USA. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. 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. Damacio Diaz, one of the three "running Diaz" brothers who helped build the McFarland . BAKERSFIELD, CADamacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when . Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015. Diaz was arrested in November following a 17-year career with the Bakersfield Police Department. But federal agents arrested him at work today. . The REAL Danny Diaz was his high school counselor. There used to be a lot of crime back then, like gangsters and stuff, but now its really holding down its spot for the national spotlight. Damacio Diaz, who was featured in the movie McFarland, USA and is currently a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, has been arrested on bribery and drug trafficking charges. He says he walked away from a lifestyle filled with heartache and gangs. 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. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. ONeill ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on December 5, 2016. The 44-year-old Damacio Diaz was a 17-year veteran of the department. McFARLAND, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) - Officers agree that the indictment of Detective Damacio Diaz gives a black eye to the Bakersfield Police Department, but in the city of McFarland the damage could . According toABC 23, Ramirez was shot at a parking lot near a hotel while working as an off-the-books police informant for the Bakersfield Police Department, attempting to gain information on felon Justin Harger. 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. Imagine a movie being made about your small town. 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. In fact, these 7 actorsspent so much time together that they built genuine relationships off the set. That's food off our table.". Diazs former partner, Patrick Mara, 36, of Bakersfield pleaded guilty to related charges on June 20, 2016, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2016. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? I am excited to share with you another great interview from my McFarland, USA press trip. Sure. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. 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! . 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. Based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high . 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. Did that come from cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, proper running form? Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.". 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. And to answer who is Kevin Costner? U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California, Domestic Violence, Child Exploitation, and Human Trafficking Prevention, Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Bribery, Drug Trafficking, and Filing a False Tax Return, Former State Employee Sentenced to 12 months in Prison for Role in $2 Million Scheme to Defraud the Office of AIDS, Eastern District of California Completes Prosecution of 20 Defendants in DMV Corruption Cases, Bay Area Men Charged with Bribing a Vallejo City Official. 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. But talking to the Diaz . Official websites use .gov 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. Diaz was charged with assisting a drug dealer and providing him with names of police informants, and with trafficking drugs that had been seized for evidence. 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. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. Reportedly born in March 1972, Damacio Diaz is 50 years old (as of Jan 2023). Three out of the seven young McFarland USA cast 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. His attorney says he should be home for the holidays and then back in court in Fresno in January. Is Netflix, Amazon, Now TV, ITV, iTunes, etc. They were running close to 12 hours a day for shooting. The most police executions. In addition to Ramiro,Sergio Avelar (Victor Puentes) is also an actual runner and member of the McFarland Track Club. He also coached their sister, Delia, and three more brothers -- Diego, Dario and Gabriel -- through the years. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Damacio Diaz in a Bakersfield Police Dept. Damacio Diaz. February 18, 2015 By // by Coralie 6 Comments. As we sat in the living room of that house, I looked up at the high, wood-beamed ceiling at a hand-painted mural of all seven siblings running through the almond groves around McFarland. He shares "screenplay by" credit on "McFarland, USA," directed by Niki Caro and starring Kevin Costner. The town has changed for the better. White -- played in the film by Kevin Costner -- wasn't from McFarland. The highest homicide rate The most crime. 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 is already in theaters and doing well! Find Danny Mcfarland stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. NFL Player Patrick Mahomes' Net, Is Patrick Gibson In A Relationship and Who Has He Dated?, Is YouTube Gaming Killing Twitch? The search uncovered an ice chest containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine divided into multiple bags. Family is especially important in McFarland, as it is in many ethnic cultures in this country. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. Yes, McFarland is an inspirational story. 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 . The Bakersfield Police Department is committed to building and maintaining public trust by holding our employees accountable for their actions and we will continue to provide quality service to our community. 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. Kevin Costner arrives at the world premiere of "McFarland, USA" held at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. 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. Streamer Asmongold, Why Do The Handmaids Wear Red On Hulu's 'The Handmaid's, What Was Mary Mara's Cause Of Death? But his chief is ready to turn his back. 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. Its really coming together and being a community[the way]it should be.. Heres what we know. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . And these moments form the cinematic story of "McFarland, USA," just as much as the actual running does. It was back in 1987 when Damacio Diaz inadvertently became a local celebrity of sorts owing to the way he built McFarland High School's winning cross-country dynasty alongside his two brothers. The Bakersfield Californian says (http://bit.ly/2dGESLb) the U.S. Attorneys Office recommended between 17 and 22 years. 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 . A week later, Diaz booked only one pound of methamphetamine from the car into evidence. "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. Lock They even brought in the local McFarland cross-countrycoach to help them with thetraining which beganevery morning at8am. If you've played any sport at any level, then you've probably sacrificed to a certain extent -- running suicides in basketball, Oklahoma drills in football. Similar to Diaz, Mara pled guilty to stealing narcotics such as methamphetamine and marijuana to give to Noel Carter for profit. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . The sentence given to Damacio Diaz on Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for the 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. 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. Yes, the McFarland High boys did win a team title at the first CIF-State Cross . A true crime thriller we made set in Kevin McCarthys district. 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. Seor Diaz: Valente Rodriguez . All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! A South Valley legend so popular he became the subject of a Disney movie has taken a hard fall. Damacio Diaz was released Friday from a halfway house in Sacramento. You travel to the audition simply to drive your cousin who wants to give it a try and somehow end up with a role in the movie. This means in April 2023, Damacio and Courtney will be celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary. "McFarland, USA" is inspired by a 1987 true story, in which an unlikely band of inexperienced, under-equipped, young Latino runners with exceptional determination rise to become cross-country state champions under the leadership of their coach, Jim White. Learn more about contributing; Edit page. Kevin Costner. At the time of the crimes, he was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force and the Southern Tri-County Task Force of the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Before Fame. 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. 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 . A former Bakersfield Police Department detective and member of the famed McFarland High School cross-country team depicted in the Disney film McFarland, USA was sentenced this week to five years in prison. Diaz pleaded guilty to the charges on May 31, 2016. Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. The trio honestly had an unwavering determination in their efforts despite being mere teenagers at the time, and that's what eventually inspired the . What Happened to Damacio Diaz? 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." Follow these guys to see where they are headed next! Damacio Diaz sentenced to 5 years for drug charge. A lock ( Before each season, White had to plead his case to their parents to let them run. 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. Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report. The FBI and its federal law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate individuals who violate their oath of service and ignore the commitment they made to their communities.. He's a former 20-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department and was . 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. 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. Have a question about Government Services? After serving his sentence, Mara was sent to a halfway house in Long Beach before ultimately being released in April 2020. Yvonne Gaide was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $472,717 in restitution for wire fraud in relation to a scheme to divert Sacramento Main Office 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. Speaking of being off camera, what did each of these young men take away from the movie? 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Family Life 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Everybody has their own opinions. For each one of them, it was adifferent lesson. The Feds arrested him at the department Friday morning and removed evidence. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. 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 was one of the real-life members of the team. Caro had a particularly hard time finding the right actor to play McFarland runner Danny Diaz. Ramiro Rodriguez had no intention of auditioning when he agreed to . Workingwith him was one of the best experiences of mylife.. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Their feet are in the fertile soil, their gaze is forward, and they run shoulder-to-shoulder -- right next to one another. cast as Damacio Diaz, are actual runners and Ramiro Rodriguez, as Danny Diaz, was . 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 . McFarland USA was released earlier this year and tells the journey of coach Jim White, played by actor Kevin Costner. Three suspects in custody following fatal shooting in South L.A. Man who set five wildfires in San Diegos back-country gets 9 years in prison, Man serving life sentence for raping and killing San Bernardino 9-year-old charged with murder in second cold case. 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. The drugs were seized by Bakersfield police officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara before being given to Noel Carter, 45, so he could sell them, according to federal prosecutors.