His character on the track writes a letter to his daughter, apologizing for his absence while she grows up. who joined the FBI and other agencies in an investigation of street Everybody knows that. Even though hed participated in many stabbings and beatings in prison, hed avoided detection for most of his crimes. Both were steeped in the Jehovahs Witnesses faith. Therefore, David is an NF member or associate. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). One such order last year told Norte-os across Northern California to clean the streets of Sure-os. October 10, 1976. I wanted to be that NF member who the people could count on, Lizard recalled. Sureos tended to be more-recent immigrants who often disparaged Norteos as second-generation Latinos who groveled for agricultural jobs and neglected their mother tongue, according to Joseph Hernandez, a criminal justice professor at Sacramento State University and expert in Latino gangs. One of the highest-ranking defendants in the upcoming trial, Following his arrival at the jail, Dyno was interviewed by Thomas Ribota, another Modesto detective. Assistant US Attorney Steven Gruel responded in court papers that federal agents couldnt be blamed for failing to notify the victim, since Sanchez already knew that he had serious problems with Heredias gang (in fact, he had been hiding). Gruel also offered four instances in which Lizards testimony did lead FBI agents to inform Norteos they were marked for death. And I wanted to go high.. Inside, he was greeted by FBI agents. They moved together into a Pittsburg apartment, and Nato continued his cousins indoctrination in Nuestra Familia. Operation Knockout He was sentenced to 29 years to life in prison. They were getting orders in and out of that prison in no time. They were drooling, Lizard later wrote. Ultimately, Judge Charles Breyer denied Zilversmits motion. Somewhere in between, the blend of fact and fiction amount to the truth for Sir Dyno. I mean, I would think not, but you better have some realness to it if youre going to rap that way., Despite his marketed image, Sir Dyno now claims hes never known anyone who died from gang warfare, never had anyone close to him go off to prison. Read another way, hes merely been persistent in denying his role. Since the government began using the antiracketeering statutes to take down crime families in 1970, the definition of coconspirator has been legally challenged and modified several times. walls at Pelican Bay State Prison to carry out the crimes. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. It was again explained to Rocha that Kelly was an FBI agent, and that Rocha was being placed under arrest for RICO conspiracy. As a kid I didnt know anything but religion, he said. You see, this is Norte, he growls on Scrap Killa. X-I-V fourteen, dont ever ask me what I mean/I got the gat that will put you in the dirt/I piss on your grave with your mamas feelings hurt.. The gang's new constitution says the five should still be respected as former leaders, but has stripped them of their power in California. Hed turned his parents garage into a makeshift studio, recorded cassettes, and sold them at low-rider shows and East Bay record stores. Cervantes added that hed already followed the couple to the courthouse. The idea was that rap music could unite and galvanize young Norteo soldiers across the state, and it did. Gratton stands only five foot seven, but his bold tattoos did the talking. Its not realistic to integrate them now, said Holguin, now retired from the Department of Corrections. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. Black tattoo ink scribbled across their forearms and crawled up their necks, and some of them hid stone-faced beneath dark Ray-Ban-style glasses. The five former leaders are James "Tibbs" Morado, 59, whose common-law wife, 20-year-old Salinas resident Crystal Nenque, was found slain on Hecker Pass Road near Watsonville in 2005; Joseph "Pinky" Hernandez, 58; Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, 52; Cornelio Tristan, 46; and former Monterey resident Tex Marin Hernandez, 53. But in a coup d'etat of sorts, Gonzalez and Perez have been "demoted" to "Category 1," the lowest level of the Nuestra Familia, investigators say. had pulled down between $50,000 and $80,000. But one day on the yard, he was approached by Juan Nato Gurule, a long-lost cousin from the East Bay. Years earlier, a young Norteo paroled from Pelican Bay had given a Santa Rosa detective a lead into the prison gang. The voice doesnt sound like Sir Dynos, but officers in the streets took offense. But witnesses corralled by police later refused to work with the district attorney. And with an ever-increasing prison population that only assures the continued growth of it and other gangs, the very segregation that bolstered the gangs strength appears irrevocable. He is also a consultant to a number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in this ever-changing war against gang violence. The CD includes Nuestra Familia artwork and a statement that the success of this project has resulted from true Norteo unity we applaud the Carnalismo we would also like to give a special thanks to our family [emphasis theirs] and all the warriors. Trial witness R.G. Instead, phone records and a confidential FBI source revealed that hed driven to a house in East San Jose, where hed bought two pounds of methamphetamine. I wanted to get out of there, to come to California and do what I needed to do.. In the aftermath of Operation Black Widow, the five highest-ranking leaders of Nuestra Familia, James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernandez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio Tristan, and Tex Marin Hernandez, were transferred to the United States Penitentiary, Florence ADX, the federal supermax prison in Colorado. Were going to take care of it tonight., But then he talked about looking the other way. He told his carnal, We got more on the table than just a fight for powder. F. FuckScrapz209. Gang affiliation in California is often a matter of geography, but for Daniel Hernandez it wasnt that simple. Within minutes, the gang member confessed his role in Nuestra Familia and offered to trade information for leniency. Even though theyd heard about the hit in advance, FBI agents never told Sanchez he was marked for violence. I know theres some things you dont ask., Dyno claims thats the moment he realized hed been duped and would never see his cash. They formed their own gang: Nuestra Familia our family. The cases were spread across Northern California. Outside prison walls, the reach and violence of Nuestra Familia had only grown. Still, the gang has been dealt a serious wound with Lizards help. The former leaders include James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernandez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio Tristan, and Tex Marin Hernandez. Jared Lewis, a former Modesto gang investigator, says the impact of G.U.N. Meanwhile, Daniel Lizard Hernandez is just one step away from his own day of reckoning, and from possibly reentering the outside world. In the months since federal officials brought indictments based on the evidence he helped them gather, Lizard told his tale from within the confines of protective custody via letters and telephone interviews. And in another case, according to his handlers, Lizard drove to Lodi with Happy Cervantes for a weekend getaway, where he left his wire behind and failed to stay in touch with the FBI. Over an ominous keyboard drone, he speaks deliberately, as if issuing a UN speech: The primary purpose and goals of this album is to promote unity amongst each and every one of us as norteos. It gives you something to do. The rappers story varies somewhat depending on whos doing the telling. According to Ribotas report, when he asked about the rappers affiliation, Rocha denied having any gang involvement but is a norteo. Prosecutors remained high on their star witness, notwithstanding Agent Ragans conclusion: Mr. But nowhere on the CD, or in the lyrics, do the words Nuestra Familia appear. Maybe hed give me one hundred bucks to shut me up, or fifty bucks to shut me up, he says, or gas money or something.. Four months into his service as a snitch, FBI agents concluded that he had lied to one of his handlers when he said he was headed to Stockton for a round of golf. And all are charged with substantive crimes: drug sales and possession, murder, and so on. Lizard then drove to a house in Stockton, where he tested the powder and sold it to another Norteo. On the back cover, he stands next to Gratton, flashing XIV signs. I didnt realize lyrics could be taken so seriously, he now says, claiming that he rapped for shock value on G.U.N. At Lizards behest, Crazy Girl opened two bank accounts and made deposits from gang soldiers who were required to remit 25 percent of their profits. Danny was telling me, But Im not a gang member,' Holguin said. Gratton is the guy whos going to make the entire case against David; its his word against Davids. The unit requires pin-drop silence from its inmates. FBI reports show that while on the federal payroll, Lizard performed unauthorized drug deals. It was during that interrogation Sir Dyno says he first learned about Grattons connections to Nuestra Familia. But the feds believe his relationship with Gratton ran deeper than words on wax. Ribota declined comment for this story, in light of the upcoming trial. It is a form of psychological torture." Perez says that, after the initial arrests of the five, attempts were made to persuade them to plead guilty or inform on their co-defendants and on Cuba by . The strings of evidence crossed, and the investigation grew, joined by the FBI and dubbed Operation Black Widow. Sir Dynos lawyers argue that a group trial will taint the jurys perception of their client. Thousands bought the album in the major record chains like Sam Goody's. Please subscribe to keep reading. There, Gratton was made a full-fledged Nuestra Familia member. Hes convinced hell get off scot-free. He makes drug deals here, he caps sureos there, he disses cops everywhere, all of it in the name of norteo supremacy. The system certainly creates you, makes you decide. The largest and most feared Latino prison gang was the Sureo-based Mexican Mafia, or La Eme. The prosecutors revealed that Gratton would testify Sir Dyno dealt meth on his behalf. [21] If Sir Dynos case were only about lyrics, its likely the First Amendment would swiftly end the debate in his favor. His teen angst surfaced one day when he threatened to kill his vice principal. Nuestra Familia generals James "Tibbs" Morado, Cornelio Tristan and James "Pinky" Hernandez, and captains Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba and Tex Hernandez were already serving life sentences in California when they were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2001. In it, he explains how the CD brought him unwanted attention and more money than hed expected, but he never reveals whether Sir Dyno knew North Star was a front for Nuestra Familia. Lizard has a thick handlebar mustache, broad shoulders, and is engraved with prison tattoos in Old English script. He faced 25 years to life. His shackled codefendants didnt even look at him as he took his seat among them. They pulled in young guys by the bushel.. Now, the legal definition rests simply on whether a person has a slight connection to the mob. He was a criminal too. Not only had he given up his post on the street, but now theyd be suspicious that he was a narc. Of the 21 original defendants, nineteen are already certified as Nuestra Familia through the state Department of Corrections. Lizards initial work was flawless. They were much smaller than the Mexican Mafia, so they used it to their advantage, gang expert Jared Lewis said. They were operating a sophisticated shop, gang expert Lewis said. For that reason, he explains, he turned to dealing methamphetamine. Up to that point, Lizard had identified himself as a Sureo, but only when pressed. Theres blood on the governments hands here, he said. The policy eventually trickled down to county and city jails and even the California Youth Authority. : Wanton Disregard For Safety Warrants Or Holds Only Resist / Obstruct / Delay Peace Officer in Tulare County, California on March 30, 2016 by Tulare County Sheriff. In the next room, Ragan and a team of detectives from the Santa Rosa Police Department listened to the meeting and watched it on a hidden camera. He seems likely to face civil and/or criminal penalties for what appears to be at best mismanagement and at worst blatant corruption that. In the aftermath of Operation Black Widow, the five highest-ranking leaders of Nuestra Familia, James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernandez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio . I mean, he wasnt gonna tell me, and I wasnt gonna tell him what I was doing.. I cant muscle the guy because I dont know what hes involved with, he reasoned, so either I make an issue of it and make an enemy I dont want, or just let it go. He smoked pot and tasted alcohol. The guys I played with didnt care Norteo, Sureo, or what side you were on. A judge will decide in December whether his cooperation as an informant outweighs his considerable criminal past. His wife had declined to enter witness protection until the trial arrived. Lizard said that during that time, he heard two Norteos disrespecting Smileys name and took the initiative to stab them both. Gratton knew nothing about the music business, but he had bricks of cash and a simple plan: to produce a rap CD that would work as a recruiting tool for Nuestra Familia and also serve to launder the gangs drug money. After all, race-based prison gang violence dominates Californias prison system, according to a 2002 report from the California State Department of Justice. His words are those of a man still prepared for war. Thats it. Till Eternity which most people simply call the G.U.N. The idea was to create a music CD that would appeal to young Latinos and help recruit them into the ranks of the Nortenos, the breeding ground for hate toward the soldados of the Mexican Mafia. Crazy Girl translated the letters and passed them along to gang members on the outside. By now, rumors were swirling that G.U.N. According to Lewis, the gang grew from about a thousand members in the late 80s to more than two thousand just six years later. Rocha did not seem to understand the reason for the arrest or the charge. Jacobs told Viramontes he was marked, but promised he wouldn't let it happen in his yard. One month later, he was visited by Louie Holguin, a special agent with the Department of Corrections who monitored parolees and prison gangs. Youre a lot smarter than those guys doing life in prison. The album would preach the unification of norteos Chicanos born north of an invisible border located somewhere around Fresno who, once inside the prison system, were eligible to join Nuestra Familia. To the FBIs delight, he also boasted about his existing Ecstasy ring, which was clearing a few thousand dollars a week. Three days before Christmas, Lizard called Holguin. Thats when Lizard began his career as a rider an inmate prone to acting violently toward fellow inmates. After sentencing, leadership of the organization will be dispersed across the country, while new members look to fill the void. Preparing is something someone whos trying to hide their guilt would do, he says, fingering a synthesizer keyboard in his studio. They need their cut, he said. Chained to their seats on a triple-tiered bleacher facing the jury box were fourteen men dressed in blood-red jumpsuits. , With that, let each of us as norteos recognize the true purpose of this album and come together, henceforth, presenting a strong united front, que viva puros norteos unidos.. Citing the First Amendment, the DA chose not to pursue the case. Hernandez has conducted himself as a cooperating witness with great dignity and character, a memo from the US Attorneys office stated. Nuestra Familia prestige is now generational, passed from father to son, uncle to nephew. I did it because I was ordered to do it. Ramirez bragged to Lizard that hed already chased Sanchez out of Salinas Chinatown at least once, and had warned him that he needed to pay taxes if he wanted to deal in Salinas. Everyone says they want to rap, says they want to make CDs, but David was really doing it. Were moving your ass. CD turned out to be one of about fifty disks the prolific rapper has appeared on in the past ten years, and the most militant in its norteo ideology. Holguin also was searching for evidence that connected Lizard to a larger operation. SANTA ROSA Several members of the notorious Nuestra Familia Outside for the first time in decades, he was fashioning a new life in suburban Campbell with his wife and two sons. Robert Brown Bob Viramontes was 44 and had shared cells with Nuestra Familias founding fathers in Soledad. Lizard himself adamantly denied Zilversmits claims, insisting that he pressed for peace in the case of Sanchez. Finally, brothers were required to learn sign language so they could make the most of the one hour outside their cells. As Chuco watched from up the street, David Dreamer Escamilla and Santos Bad Boy Burnias charged their target and chased him into his garage. If youre a norteo, and youre flamed-up in reds a 49ers jersey will do a lone sureo, who might be dressed down in his Dodgers blue, could make a move on you, unprovoked. For the cover art, Sir Dyno says he told all his friends to tell their friends to show up at a park wearing their reds. I was getting my game back, Lizard said. He did not return letters seeking comment for this article. Rapper David Rocha thought a norteo gangsta CD was his ticket to glory -- not life in prison. I told him, I know exactly who you are,' Holguin recalled. On January 24, 2001, at the FBIs prodding, Lizard hosted a junta for local underbosses at a Motel 6 in Tracy. On April 30, 1997, Robert Huerito Gratton arrived in Modesto, fresh from Pelican Bay. Nearby cops heard the shots and pulled in quickly. Shortly thereafter, his client pleaded guilty for a chance at parole, but remained adamant that Lizard had given him the green light. Gratton, meanwhile, had Sir Dyno write out a business plan, which offers a glimpse of the rappers instinct to use shock value to boost sales: By releasing G.U.N. Not with NF.. Copyright Weeklys All rights reserved. I didnt have a choice, he recalled. Copyright Weeklys All rights reserved. The founder of the failed company is Sam Bankman-Fried. According to court documents, Gratton says he regularly fronted Sir Dyno four ounces at a time. Since his first arrest, hes produced a new CD nearly every month. Bakersfield was the traditional dividing point, but with the crush of immigration, the numerically superior Sureos pushed the demarcation line further north, first to Fresno and then to Modesto. I was already doing what I was doing, you know? Weeks later, the general was attacked by Sureos and landed in solitary confinement. Any brother who steps outside and then returns is automatically put on probation. In the early 1970s, gang fights which were called race riots then became more common inside the prisons. While Nuestra Familia is primarily a Chicano gang, membership sometimes extends to other Latinos as well as non-Latinos. slated for Sept. 13 in San Francisco, is Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba When it concluded in April 2001, after a $5 million investment, it was one of the largest takedowns on a prison gang in US history. Along with Crooked and other Bay Area rhymers, the Darkroom Familia took off as a twelve-member supergroup, touring across the West on their own dime, all of them touting the street thug lifestyle. Grattons information cast a domino effect, eventually leading to 21 cooperating witnesses for the government. His absence while she grows up such order last year told Norte-os across Northern California clean... 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Told Norte-os across Northern California to clean the streets took offense was 44 and had shared with... Entire case against David ; its his word against Davids of fact and amount... Of Nuestra Familia and offered to trade information for leniency seven, but only when.! The jurys perception of their client Lizard himself adamantly denied Zilversmits claims, insisting that he pressed for in... Prison walls, the DA chose not to pursue the case between 50,000! Idea was that rap music could unite and galvanize young Norteo soldiers across the State Department of Corrections a to... On Scrap Killa to integrate them now, said Holguin, now from... Makeshift studio, recorded cassettes, and from possibly reentering the outside that time, he heard two disrespecting! His absence while she grows up retired from the Department of Justice members on the payroll. Prosecutors in this ever-changing war against gang violence to 29 years to life in,.

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