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 . The film tells a fictionalized version of the McFarland High School cross-country team's 1987 race to victory. Former BPD officers who resold seized drugs released from federal They are the real-deal and its inspiringto see their interactions even when they are not on camera together. The town has changed for the better. Former Bakersfield Police officers Damacio Diaz, 48, and Patrick Mara, 40, have been released from federal custody, according to the Board of Prison's website. The highest homicide rate The most crime. 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. In doing so, he betrayed the trust of the public and his fellow officers., Damacio Diaz used his lawful authority as a sworn peace officer with the Bakersfield Police Department to illegally enrich his self-interests, said Michael T. Batdorf, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. Workingwith him was one of the best experiences of mylife.. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. An ex-detective who had been on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the . 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 . Welcome to Killing County. Meet the Actors from McFarland, USA #McFarlandUSAEvent Acting U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law. Ramiro Rodriguez had no intention of auditioning when he agreed to . 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. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . McFarland, USA (2015) Full Cast & Crew. Follow these guys to see where they are headed next! He was staying at the halfway house after serving his time. Michael Aguero is known for McFarland, USA (2015) and Made in Hollywood (2005). Brittny Mejia is a Metro reporter who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2014. 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 Damacio Diaz, a former Bakersfield, Calif., detective, speaks after his federal sentencing in a bribery and narcotics case in Fresno, Calif., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Both had their sentences reduced. 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. The "Law & Order", Who Are Rooney Mara's Parents and What Do They Do For A. Why did he share it? Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. All of that. 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. 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. TheCalifornia Department of Justicenotes that Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara conspired with businessman Noel Carter, where they deliberately failed to submit the seized drugs into the BPD evidence room, and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter so Carter could sell those narcotics for profit.. Their feet are in the fertile soil, their gaze is forward, and they run shoulder-to-shoulder -- right next to one another. 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. It was at the Bakersfield Police Department that Damacio was able to rise the ranks in the way hed always desired going from patrol operations to serving at several high-profile units. 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. 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. Trivia. 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. Damacio Diaz Age. Contribute to this page. Find where to watch movies online now! Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. When Diaz filed a joint income tax return that year, he omitted additional income of at least $97,900, according to the U.S. attorneys office. 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. Former detective depicted in 'McFarland, USA' is sentenced to five 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. 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. Finally, Carlos, who plated Thomas Valles, knew everyone would want to know what it was like working with Kevin Costner. McFarland, USA. His attorney says he should be home for the holidays and then back in court in Fresno in January. 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. Suggest an edit or add missing content. 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. Trek to the big screen: the real 1987 McFarland, USA runners share McFarland USA was released earlier this year and tells the journey of coach Jim White, played by actor Kevin Costner. 5 to 6 miles were just the warm-up in addition to ellipticals, bikes, and more training. On September 20, 2012, while on duty, Diaz stopped a vehicle operated by two individuals from Yakima, Washington and used a BPD dog handler and police dog to search the vehicle. 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.". She is the daughter of the lead character, Jim White, and his wife, Cheryl. Where are Damacio and Patrick now? Damacio Diaz: Where is the Former Detective Now? Danny Mcfarland Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images 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 . Michael Aguero, who playsDamacio Diaz, was also a runner from the area. 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. . Vida en el Valle file Daniel Casarez. Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Conspiring - KTLA Niki Caro Writing Credits . U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. ONeill ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on December 5, 2016. 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. If you have, you know exactly who Danny is. It has been life-changing for these young men. February 18, 2015 By // by Coralie 6 Comments. 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Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. I am excited to share with you another great interview from my McFarland, USA press trip. Danny Mcfarlane Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images 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.. Damacio Diaz, whose story was told in a Disney movie about a high school cross-country team, admitted to accepting bribes and drug offenses, federal prosecutors said. McFarland, USA - movie: watch streaming online - JustWatch As a detective in Bakersfield, Calif., Damacio Diaz rose to national attention after the film McFarland, USA, was released in 2015. Damacio Diaz is married to his wife Courtney Diaz. "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. 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. Talbert announced. Report an . 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. Detective whose story is featured in McFarland USA arrested The 2004 Red Sox "idiots," Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs dynasty, or the European Ryder Cup squads -- all of these championship teams have won more than individual player valuation suggested that they should. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. Doug Brien recalls doing it. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. 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. Damacio Diaz, one of the three "running Diaz" brothers who helped build the McFarland . 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. The former NFL player is an executive producer on Hulu's "Killing County.". 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. Where is Damacio Diaz Now? 'Killing County' on Hulu Explores His - MSN Damacio Diaz Wife. 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. Johnny Samaniego ended up coaching cross-country for 10 years, before coaching the girls' basketball team at McFarland High School. McFarland | You can't have my job, but I'll tell you a story L.A. has a new answer, Epic snowpack upends rhythms of life for many species in Sierra Nevada range, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims. The multi-part documentary is coming to the streaming platform on February 3 and includes first-person interviews with individuals and families plagued by gun violence, officer-involved homicides and other crimes in Bakersfield and Kern County, California. 1,856 Mcfarland Film Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Cop depicted in movie 'McFarland USA' pleads guilty to - Police1 A bit more seasoned in their acting careers were the three remaining actors, Carlos Pratts (Thomas Valles),Hector Duran (Johnny Sameniego) and Johnny Ortiz (Jose Cardenas). streaming McFarland, USA? The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. It opens nationwide Feb. 20. In May 2020, Diaz was released from a halfway house in Sacramento, where he was staying after serving his time. He says he walked away from a lifestyle filled with heartache and gangs. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Hanging out with them in the interview room, you could definitely see that connection. Diaz continued to operate the informant even though he was fully aware of the informants ongoing criminal activity. A week later, Diaz booked approximately one pound of methamphetamine from the vehicle stop into evidence. According to court documents, between April 2012 and February 2015, while employed as a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD), Diaz handled a criminal informant who was involved in the large-scale sale and distribution of methamphetamine. Yosemite Valley fully reopens after forecasted flooding falls short, 19 people displaced after apartment fire in SE Fresno, American Airlines pilots vote to authorize strike. Damacio Diaz of McFarland cross country fame admits to police corruption and drug charges, faces federal prison. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Mr. Ortiz believes that if he can do it anyone can. If you follow them on social media, you can see it even more. 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. Talbert announced. The most police executions. It was such a great experience. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. Its really coming together and being a community[the way]it should be.. His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. BPD said that Ramirez was with Harger when the police arrived, and Harger began firing at the officers, prompting the officers to fire back. Welcome to Killing County. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015. ''McFarland USA'' was released in 2015 and tells the story of coach Jim White, played by Kevin Costner, and the transformation of a rural running team. McFarland, USA - Wikipedia As it turns out, Ramirez was an informant at the behest of Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara. Ramiro Rodriguez pictured with Rafael Martinez ("David Diaz) and Michael Aguero ("Damacio Diaz") at the McFarland USA press conference. Before each season, White had to plead his case to their parents to let them run. Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, California, a detective with the Bakersfield, California, Police Department (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 U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California . In February 2015, he attended the film's world premiere. Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. 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. A week later, Diaz booked approximately one pound of methamphetamine from the vehicle stop into evidence. RAW VIDEO: Former BPD detective Damacio Diaz reacts to 5-year - YouTube I cannot express how much I already love this movie and the actors in it. The REAL Danny Diaz was his high school counselor. Damacio Diaz; 2015; Related news. There's a reason for that. Thanks! Diaz pleaded guilty to the charges on May 31, 2016. McFarland, USA Movie Photos and Stills | Fandango 'McFarland USA' runner Damacio Diaz gets prison - The Mercury News Not to mention, he has become one of my familys best friends! Diaz, whose role on McFarland High School's 1987 championship cross country team was documented in the film [] Damacio Diaz sentenced to 5 years for drug charge. Additionally, Diaz admitted to stealing nine pounds of methamphetamine, which he and his former partner, Patrick Mara, then sold for personal gain, prosecutors said. 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. Actor Danny Mora attends the premiere of Disney's "McFarland, USA" at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. In addition to accepting illegal bribes, Diaz also engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. 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. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Remembering 1987: McFarland Fact vs. Fiction - California MileSplit Nightly family dinners, Sunday church, festive quinceaeras -- these are vital community experiences to be celebrated and celebrated together. Diaz violated not only the trust of this organization but that of this community. We would like your email. Despite the possible life sentence, a federal judge ruled Diaz can be released. 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. A U.S. district judge ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on Dec. 5. 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. 501 I Street, Suite 10-100 White -- played in the film by Kevin Costner -- wasn't from McFarland. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. Damacio Diaz Bio, Today, Age, Wife, Hulu's Killing County McFarland, USA is already in theaters and doing well! Movies. Speaking of being off camera, what did each of these young men take away from the movie? For three 'McFarland, USA' actors, Kern County isn't just the film's 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? Full court documents of who Diaz is as well as Diaz's final statements before sentencing. 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. His his first time seeing the ocean was while he was filming McFarland, USA. Select from premium Danny Mcfarlane of the highest quality. Once you watch McFarland, USA, I think you will be inspired to believe the same thing! 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. Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. The sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. But federal agents arrested him at work today. But there was something else, something less obvious, that would help create an athletic dynasty that would win nine California state titles within 14 years. 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. Over the years, the Diazes used that work ethic to put one foot in front of the other long enough to achieve success in agriculture, law enforcement and education. Sacramento, CA. Carloseven told a story about how well Kevin Costner bonded with his9 year old brother. If you havent seen McFarland, USA yet why not? Damacio Diaz was handed down a five-year sentence in federal prison for drug trafficking, bribery and other charges. He ran one year of cross-country in high school in Gainesville, Florida; he wasn't particularly fast. 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. 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 . BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. Damacio Diaz's McFarland legacy in jeopardy after arrest They were running close to 12 hours a day for shooting. Disgraced detective whose story was told in 'McFarland USA' gets prison Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. Detective whose story told in 'McFarland USA' gets prison - AP NEWS Synopsis. He shares "screenplay by" credit on "McFarland, USA," directed by Niki Caro and starring Kevin Costner. Reportedly born in March 1972, Damacio Diaz is 50 years old (as of Jan 2023). See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by . These I was able have an interview 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. The 44-year-old Damacio Diaz was a 17-year veteran of the department Associated Press. 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. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. 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. Still, it was rarely the entire quantity as he, his partner Patrick Mara, as well as an associate, reportedly had this combined side hustle. 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,. Menu. Sure. McFarland has about 12,000 people, 95 percent of whom are Latino -- migrants who have found their way to the Central Valley for more than 40 years to work in agriculture. This case is finally over, and we are extremely blessed and happy to announce that we are victorious, Diaz said. The search uncovered an ice chest containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. Meet, Alyssa Diaz's Children: Who Is Alyssa Diaz Married To? From left to right: Thomas Valles, Victor Puentes, Damacio Diaz, Johnny Samaniego, Jose Cardenas, Danny Diaz . They still hang out and text each other. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. ), 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. He was in a 2015 episode of Made in Hollywood. 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. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. 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. 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. Damacio Diaz was a subject of the movie McFarland USA and became a Bakersfield police officer. Select from premium Danny Mcfarland of the highest quality. After sentencing, Diaz spoke with reporters outside the federal courthouse in Fresno. Killing County is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 3. Based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high . 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. Damacio Diaz, portrayed in McFarland USA movie, Bakersfield PD officer He also coached their sister, Delia, and three more brothers -- Diego, Dario and Gabriel -- through the years.