The film tells a fictionalized version of the McFarland High School cross-country teams 1987 race to victory. McFarland, USA Movie Photos and Stills | Fandango 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. 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. The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. 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. 95814, Telephone:(916) 554-2700 The 44-year-old Damacio Diaz was a 17-year veteran of the department. Official websites use .gov Photo by RON PHILLIPS -- From left, Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran), Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar), Damacio Diaz (Michael Aguero), Danny Diaz (Ramiro Rodriguez), Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner . Jamie White. She was the one who drove them to the fields at 5 a.m., where they picked fruit right up until the school bell rang, and then again in the afternoons after school. 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. Imagine a movie being made about your small town. 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. Damacio Diaz; 2015; Related news. He's a former 20-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department and was . For each one of them, it was adifferent lesson. 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! Follow these guys to see where they are headed next! The 44-year-old Damacio Diaz was a 17-year veteran of the department Associated Press. "The embarrassment is just going to keep growing over this," Laura Harth, the campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told Newsweek. Remembering 1987: McFarland Fact vs. Fiction - California MileSplit 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. A true crime thriller we made set in Kevin McCarthys district. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to . Diaz was one of the real-life members of the team. var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase, McFarland USA runner gets prison for corruption as police detective. Where is Damacio Diaz Now? 'Killing County' on Hulu Explores His - MSN Actor 59 Credits. 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. Trek to the big screen: the real 1987 McFarland, USA runners share Killing County is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 3. 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. 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. According to the plea agreement, Diaz also filed a joint income tax return for the calendar year 2012 that falsely reported total income of $168,485 and did not include additional income of at least $97,900. 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. 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. 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. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015.
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