It was great meeting you on the trip - it was such fun! The movie pushes up his arrival and coaching position at McFarland to 1987, the first year his cross country team attended and won the state championship (1987 was also the very first year that California had a state championship). But Mr. White was our second father. That day I was fifth runner and I felt so much pressure, but you know, lucky we were able to pull it off. JIM WHITE : Ive done it quite often. And sports is what kind of helped us get out of that. In our case, you know, theres seven and my dad worked a lot of hours. Federal authorities say 43-year-old Damacio Diaz took bribes from a narcotics dealer, and, in exchange, provided the names of police informants, gave details of law enforcement investigations, and tried to protect him from arrest. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect it's not all true but he's okay with that. "I can't say I was going to jump, but I was thinking about my life and why some people would jump. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. You have permission to edit this article. They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. DAVID DIAZ : Uh, we donttrain. They are amazing guys who still have that humble hardworking attitude! DIAZEugenia Vasquez Diaz loving wife, mother, grandmother passed away on August 1, 2012 at the age of 94. Chance of rain 40%. Jim White is to Thomas' right and Gary Adams is to White's right. It reviewed 87 cases. An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new They have also lived in Mc Farland, CA and Delano, CA. Here's what we know. I feel like if hes gone, I wont have anyone, said Diazs daughter Caroline, a student at Bakersfield College who had originally planned to attend UCLA. 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.". If they took statements, seized evidence or wrote reports, we will be sending letters to defense attorneys or defendants that represented themselves, she said. I cannot thank all of the people involved enough for bringing this story to us. 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. They went back to the original first year that we won state. Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel DANNY DIAZ : Once you give them your story, obviously you sign with them. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.". We were very happy that that was going to take place. What Happened to Damacio Diaz? I feel safe knowing he is in my corner.. It taught you discipline. Damacio Diaz, photo courtesy of Mama Latina Tips. The. He did submit every kind of narcotics to evidence following each bust. Atty. A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. 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. And so, we have a great dad. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. Leopoldo's father abandoned his wife and children. pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. teacher. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. My mom has 12. 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. Now, local prosecutors say the scandal jeopardizes other criminal cases. I wanna know is your mom really that way, because she was a scene stealer? These guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. If it were ethical, I would pay to have you go to UCLA, he said, noting that it clearly was not. Damacio Diaz is one of the subjects of new Hulu documentary Killing County. 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. Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. Diaz was a local celebrity at the time. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. CA. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. Thanks! Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. It was fat. DANNY DIAZ : We, we love basketball. 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. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. children ran for Jim White and all seven Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . The ramifications of the corruption scandal could be large. The hearing included impassioned appeals by Diazs brother, wife and daughter, with the two latter witnesses in tears through much of their statements. May God BLESS you all richly. Magallanes then told another drug dealer to dump his phone. We all feel grateful and the whole communitys just embracing it. He is amazing. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. Defense attorneys compared the Bakersfield situation to the Los Angeles Police Departments Rampart scandal in the late 1990s, in which corrupt officers tainted cases. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. I can't wait to see this movie! Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net The disgraceful and criminal behavior of Diaz and Mara has gravely impacted the Bakersfield Police Department as well as our community as a whole, she said. Diaz did a lot of good things, Delaney said. Yet his desire to always be at the front and center of action soon reached such an extent that he started blurring the line between right and wrong, resulting in his arrest in November 2015. We have also done internal investigations on many allegations that were made and once again they have been unable to uncover anything. Facebook gives people the power to. Coach Jim White is retired now, but if you go to McFarland, chances are you willsee him out there on his bike, keeping up with the kids every evening with a lotof his original team running alongside as well. "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. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, we just run, Danny and I, just to stay in shape. Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. Mr. White was there as a person that we can rely on. 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. Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. 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. In 2016 Diaz was sentenced for crimes including federal. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. But U.S. Atty. 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. All three girls graduated with degrees in education from Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas; Tami in 1985, Julie in 1988, and Jami in 1991. 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. Yes. 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. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? 1999 - 2000 He offers the kids a chance They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. The highest homicide rate The most crime. PUBLISHED: October 4, 2016 at 7:44 a.m. | UPDATED: October 4, 2016 at 7:53 a.m. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie . JIM WHITE : From my aspect, I guess it was in various stages, because this was about a 15-year process for my wife and I. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . -KGET 17, Yes. Damacio Diaz, 43, was arrested on November 20, 2015 and 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. Forty-four of his cases will result in letters. 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. I notice a lot of you became teachers. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. Did you ever do that again? So, for us it was normal. Additionally, Coach White would be there for counseling and fulfilling needs beyond what their parents could afford. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes shorts. Damacio Diaz said he doesn't recognize the man he was three years ago when he was a detective working for Bakersfield police. [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. How often do you guys still train together with the new students? Early on, ONeill seemed to be signaling he was taking a hard-line stance. of 1 Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. Some of these teams that came after us were way better than us, way better than me as far as the running. Each one of the brothers are land owners in McFarland. 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 . 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. 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. Did that change how you ran in future races? David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. Like in the movie, Thomas Valles went to an overpass above Highway 99 one night after his parents got into a horrible fight. DAMACIO DIAZ : Go ahead and call it. DANNY DIAZ : east from McFarland, Mr. White here would take us to the hills. There are no shopping malls or large grocery stores. 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. Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. The legendary former McFarland They work in the school system and believe in. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. 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] Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. How did that impact your lives during high school to move on in the future? Eguenia was best described by many that You know we are a God-fearing folks, so we were teaching in Sunday school on Sundays. Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. Plus I love Kevin Costner! We dont have actually any [CHUCKLES] malls. As you pull into McFarland, you will know notice a silhouette of a runner running through an open field. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. -LA Times. No. Diazs loyalty to Magallanes would be his downfall. She was amazing in the movie. On one occasion, Mrs. Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! He is portrayed by Kevin Costner. It gave you character. Sports in high school can make or break a young man. 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. 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. 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,. Damacio Diaz. Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. That is why it was so amazing and cool that I got to interview Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz, and Danny Diaz. Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com. All seven Diaz View the profiles of people named Damacio Diaz. I still currently run. SPONSORED LINKS In a remarkable statement made before reporters Friday, Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green said her office will mail out 64 letters to d, Positive Cases Among Kern Residents: 310,095, Recovered and Presumed Recovered Residents: 305,002, Percentage of all cases that are unvaccinated:71, Percentage of all hospitalizations that are unvaccinated:83.13, Source: Kern County Public Health Services Department. 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. And we were running number one all year long. Our father never could ever go watch us race. So I'd have two practices." I am excited to share with you another great interview from my McFarland, USA press trip. So that was my experience for the first time at state having the pressure. We run three, four, five miles a day just to stay in shape. McFarland, USA comes to theaters on Friday, February 20th. 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. And, wow, those hills are its not rolling hills. 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. But federal agents arrested him at work today. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016. And so, we were just happy that Disney stuck with that first year and were lucky to be in the movie. Ray referred to Felicia Rosario as his "wife," though they were never married. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. As well as accepting illegal bribes, Diaz engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. Damacio Diaz was a Bakersfield police detective who was sentenced to five years in prison in October 2016 for stealing drugs to put back onto the street. DANNY DIAZ : That is true. Youre driving on 99, the freeway, and you blink and youll miss it. country team. Diaz then began cooperating with federal investigators and named other cops he said were corrupt. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. That year, Mara filed for bankruptcy and said he was drinking heavily. JIM WHITE : Thomas. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. Yes. What about the children? Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. That the judge would even mention such a possibility underscored the unusual nature of the hearing. . Their parents are also highly regarded by each of them and they obviously have a deep love for the family unit. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. It was such a great experience. (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). 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. Coach White called Thomas over. Two years later, we signed with another one, not quite that often, but it took a long process. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. And, uh, low and behold, Mr. White, during Thanksgiving break, uh, when we have no school, he had an emergency. View Public Details & Court Records. Wife of California doctor who drove family off cliff in Tesla doesn't want him prosecuted . 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. McFarland, USA: Directed by Niki Caro. "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. Mara, a 13-year veteran, had 55 cases involving 70 defendants. 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. "Sometimes I helped them work in the fields," says the real Coach Jim White, "but more importantly, I had practice at a different time. 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. Were all a year apart. If I could beat their third, fourth, fifth man, sixth man whatever, I would add more points to them. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. That was something that we did since we were third, fourth, fifth graders and by the time we got to college and were now training and, and running and living our lives with Mr. White some of us traveled out of the state, out of the country with Mr. White it became something that was gonna help us get out of our environment, and it did. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. DAVID DIAZ : And just to let you know, um, Gods good and we own almonds now. It depends on the circumstances. JIM WHITE : Let me add a little bit of that. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. Did Coach White encourage you to use any of his style when youre teaching or coaching? DAMACIO DIAZ : Us training together, maam? DAVID DIAZ : He was out in my field still in the evening helping me do my work. Also, take a closer look at the Diaz family, who had seven children run for McFarland. We were raised in the field, it was our life. Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. I was just running to, to displace other runners and add them more points. Sunny to partly cloudy. 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." Oh, its more than an indiscretion, he said. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Would they flee bargain the same way with non-police criminals? We didnt have that close to us. 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. He also was indicted on charges of disclosing wiretap information to a criminal partner, interfering with a criminal investigation, and other felonies, but those charges were dismissed in the plea agreement. People Search Damacio is related to Elizabeth Z Diaz and Delia G Garza as well as 3 additional people. 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. Kevin Costner (Coach Jim White) and Diana Maria Riva (Seora Diaz) in McFarland, USA. ONeill instructed Delaney to directly telephone the warden of the prison assigned to receive Diaz in order to help ensure the safety of the former cop who will soon find himself behind bars. These men were the real life inspirations for McFarland USA. DANNY DIAZ : And we played basketball the entire week. So we have a lot of uncles and everybody has a lot of kids. cross country coach talks about what it I used to take Damacio and some of hispeers. DAVID DIAZ : Not at all. Raul was also a runner on the team when his sister was killed. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. But thats okay. DAMACIO DIAZ : He was our seventh man actually. To you culture, um, is all about community and it takes a village to raise a child. They were sooo funny to chat with. 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. Talbert said that we concluded no officers were complicit in joining Diaz and Mara, and that no further prosecutions were planned at this time. Its hard to understand how he could do both.. 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. I never had pressure. According to the California Department of Justice, Diaz and Mara conspired with another man, Noel Carter, 46. Twitter.