Finally, brothers were required to learn sign language so they could make the most of the one hour outside their cells. The three ounces found in Sir Dynos car, Gratton was claiming, came from him a statement which, if true, puts Sir Dyno squarely within the gang conspiracy. The thought of slashing his cousin made no sense. In fact, the 31-year-old gangsta rapper, whose real name is David Rocha, wanted nothing more than to distance himself from his codefendants. And he got what he wanted., Out only three months, G.U.N. At any one time, an estimated two to three hundred members are incarcerated there, including the gangs top three generals. If Lizard wanted to buy it, Silent would ask only $15,000 cash. He suggested that gang members cook our own shit to gain control, saying he could make twenty pounds of raw meth in one batch. It probably aggravated the situation, and forced people to align, pick a side. Not at all coincidentally, Pelican Bay also has become the headquarters of Nuestra Familia. At a hearing last month, Steven Gruel, US assistant attorney and Chief of Major Crimes, told the court that Sir Dynos limited role with Nuestra Familia made no difference under the law: It doesnt matter if you associate with a RICO enterprise for five years or five minutes; it still makes you part of the conspiracy.. David Rochas arrest report depicts a guy caught off guard. was felt on the streets. In June, one California prison experimented with another solution to the Norteo-Sureo war. CD to argue that Sir Dyno knew Gratton was affiliated with the mob. Monday. She disguised her own missives as legal mail from a fictitious San Francisco attorney and sent them directly back into the Secured Housing Unit, where all three gang generals were locked up. At the time, Operation Black Widow was just getting under way, and Grattons blueprint to the gangs hierarchy was invaluable. As evidence, family members said, he had a large Aztec goddess tattooed atop the Nuestra Familia logo on his back. Whatever it is, you gotta go to the extreme. 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. I kind of paused, Sir Dyno says, adding that he suddenly thought better of asking too many questions. Theres no denying Sir Dyno is norteo, but hes careful to explain that a norteo isnt necessarily a gang member, just a Chicano proud of his provenance. Lizard said that during that time, he heard two Norteos disrespecting Smileys name and took the initiative to stab them both. Rocha was asked, Do you want to speak to an attorney? Rocha did not respond, and went on to state, Im a musician. He also stated something to the effect, If you have a landscaper work on your yard, you dont care where the equipment comes from.'. Under federal law, its rather easy to be declared a coconspirator in a RICO case. Like other major prison gangs, including the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia, Nuestra Familia issues orders from its power base in the Security Housing Unit of Pelican Bay. 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. Still Sir Dyno says he wasnt getting paid. I fear no man, he said. Even now, he talks about the incident with the distance that soldiers put between themselves and their wartime deeds. He says theres a street code: You dont ever ask too many questions, and both men stuck to that code. [Gratton] said he was sick and tired of going to prison, he didnt want to go back, he wants to be legitimate, Dyno recalls, so he wants to sell cars and start a record company. He took a job at a golf course and used his access to the links to reclaim his swing, sometimes playing 36 holes a day. Salinas underboss Alberto Larez estimated that over the last ten years hed sent Cuete and the generals 40, 45 thousand dollars.. Nearby cops heard the shots and pulled in quickly. Gratton, Sir Dyno says, wanted him to aim his lyrics at bringing together norteos. I also learned the informant was skimming money from the Nuestra Familia street leaders and not reporting this to me.. The consequences that the gangs have caused in society have given rise to two effects, which are the most outstanding: gang violence and citizen insecurity. Nuestra Familia is organized in a military-like hierarchy, with generals running the gang from inside prison and paroled regiment captains running the streets outside. Sir Dyno had only been to jail once, following his drug arrest. Im from up here, I grew up with norteo friends. It was again explained to Rocha that Kelly was an FBI agent, and that Rocha was being placed under arrest for RICO conspiracy. The official list of charges, which included more than thirty drug-related crimes along with acts of extortion and robbery, simply ended with the open-ended clause and other numerous crimes.. But the feds believe his relationship with Gratton ran deeper than words on wax. Lizard says the drug was merely Vicodin, a pain reliever he took after strenuous workouts at the gym. Then he helped the FBI take the gang down. Its not like her life used to be.. I mean, he wasnt gonna tell me, and I wasnt gonna tell him what I was doing.. Nato had worked his way up in the ranks from Norteo street thug to membership in the Nuestra Familia prison gang. The theory went, if we separated the two gangs, wed have less problems, Vasquez said. Please subscribe to keep reading. Prosecutors remained high on their star witness, notwithstanding Agent Ragans conclusion: Mr. Smiley replied that it was true, but not to worry no one was moving on it. By the time Dyno got to the specially constructed federal courtroom, he was fifteen minutes behind schedule. Cervantes added that hed already followed the couple to the courthouse. Consider this reasoning using an unrelated example: All chickens are bipeds; John Ashcroft is a biped. But the state prison guards union and correctional officials have argued that to mix inmates now would only bring more violence. Meanwhile, Lizard received government paychecks totaling more than $52,000 for his seven months of work, according to FBI reports. Copyright 2023 But as his FBI handlers dug further into Lizards tenure as their employee, they unraveled other disturbing facts that threatened to compromise the credibility of their star witness. Lizard said Cuete asked him to establish a line of communication that couldnt be detected by guards. A few years earlier, the two attorneys had nailed former general Pinky Hernandez for ordering a murder, and Cuete wanted to offer their coffins as a gift to Pinky. Theres blood on the governments hands here, he said. After that, he said, I didnt want any speculation coming my way because we still had meetings to take care of. Lizard said he compensated by assisting in unauthorized drug and arms deals. In December of 2001, Daniel Hernandez became the highest-ranking member of the Nuestra Familia prison gang to cooperate with federal investigators. According to Lizard, the commander had one more piece of information: Cuete says youre a no-good. Within minutes, the gang member confessed his role in Nuestra Familia and offered to trade information for leniency. I had to.. October 10, 1976. Theyre trying to say that when I met Robert Gratton I started selling drugs for him, and to finance the G.U.N. 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. He was a loyal and merciless soldier until a foolish parole violation threatened to send him back to prison, where his own safety was in question. Rudy Del Real and Rudolfo Quilon complete the order. The large XIV across his throat represented the fourteenth letter of the alphabet, N, for Norte. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). Hed been Cuetes right hand for four years. He makes drug deals here, he caps sureos there, he disses cops everywhere, all of it in the name of norteo supremacy. Gratton had been deployed by his bosses to run the gangs Zapatista crew, which operated in the Modesto, Tracy, and Turlock areas. Im so afraid, oh my God/Dont take me away, he raps, slowly, to the jailers whove come for him. Lexipol. According to Lewis, gang members have been linked to an estimated three hundred homicides across Northern California. At the end of the trial, after Mr. Rocha spends four to six months sitting with other Latin males, the rest of whom are chained to the floor, how will jurors see him as an individual and judge him fairly in light of the limited evidence against him? they argue in one motion. Copyright Weeklys All rights reserved. Anytime he drove out of the area, he had to call Ragan or his partner. 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. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Copyright 2013 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved, New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, 'Hold your heart open': Officers, community members attend funeral for Kansas City cop, K-9, Open the tools menu in your browser. According to transcripts and court documents, Ramirez brought up the touchy subject of Ray Sanchez, a competing heroin dealer who was boasting of taking over the drug game. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Not with NF.. Henry Happy Cervantes spoke to Lizard alone. 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. If you say, I dont know, they say Where are you from? When you tell them, they direct you to that side of the prison. ', All of the early motions from Gruel and his team of US prosecutors pointed only to Sir Dynos role in making the album. Gratton stands only five foot seven, but his bold tattoos did the talking. Its estimated for every NF member, there are seven La Eme. I was ready to go, he recalled. I was a soldier, and a good one.. Most importantly, he showed a willingness to draw sureo blood. I could rap political, I could rap street, it doesnt matter, Sir Dyno says. I dont rattle, he said. Even though the project had cash potential tomorrow, Sir Dyno still needed money today. The CD had been funded in 1998 from Pelican Bay prison by the top Nuestra Familia general, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba. On January 24, 2001, at the FBIs prodding, Lizard hosted a junta for local underbosses at a Motel 6 in Tracy. Thats it. And in every fashion when necessity called for it, I wanted the NF hierarchy to recognize my loyalty and dedication to NF. He was very concerned about his familys safety, his safety. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Natos harsh sentence made Lizard rethink his lifes path. New soldiers became captains and generals by stabbing or killing people. People like the extreme., He was one of the few who really got off their butts and did it, says Eduardo Crooked Quiroz, a rapper and filmmaker who has known Sir Dyno for ten years. The immediate and constant communication strengthened the gang. 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. Looking to score one night in early 1994, Lizard headed to an intersection known for the sale of chiva. He faced 25 years to life. Whatever you want. That 50 percent looked like gold., Sir Dyno claims he never asked where Gratton got his money, and whether or not the jury believes that could be key to his fate. They were much smaller than the Mexican Mafia, so they used it to their advantage, gang expert Jared Lewis said. It always does., Even Judge Charles Breyer seemed to question the value of Operation Black Widow. When his handlers shook him from his slumber, Lizard felt relieved, not irritated. It wasnt quite the impression he wanted to make. Lizard got away with it, and when Big Smiley emerged, he personally sponsored Lizard into Nuestra Familia. Cuete was among the final holdouts. As he awaits his new sentence, Lizard also awaits his new identity. After they wade through all of the evidence, jurors will then be asked to turn their attention to David Rocha. Hes got a future. In his FBI interrogation, Gratton never makes it clear whether Sir Dyno knew he was rapping for the mob, or that North Star Records had been set up to launder money. His words are those of a man still prepared for war. Theres nothing to prepare. CD, Lewis and Helton say. The boss reminded Gratton that the money belonged to the gang, and demanded more deposits into Nuestra Familia bank accounts. Inside, he was greeted by FBI agents. 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. interacts online and researches product purchases Sir Dyno wanted to make a name for himself, Lewis says, so he sold his soul to the devil. One day two months ago, federal agents arrived at her home, and she was swept into the program. Hes had plenty of time to contemplate. From inside Pelican Bay State Prison, Lizard had served as the brutally violent gangs principal secretary, helping inmates in solitary confinement set up bank accounts in Idaho, direct drug sales across Northern California, and even order murders. His most recent, Engrave These Words on My Stone, is probably his most cathartic, if not authentic. and manufacturers. "There's family members still loyal to the guys in the fed," he said, referring to the exiled former generals and captains in Colorado. When Lizard arrived in January of 1995, he checked in with the ranking gang member. Or better yet, two prosecuting attorneys., Cervantes persisted. His shackled codefendants didnt even look at him as he took his seat among them. Lizard had been hiding out along the East Coast, a snitch buried deep inside federal protective custody. But life was still rough, he says, and drug deals and violence went down in front of his eyes, even if it was what he calls mostly high school stuff, kid stuff, stupid stuff. He admits to selling pot, but only small-time, just enough to support myself., From those experiences, he says, he extrapolated in his art, and began rapping in that netherworld of myth, that place where facts give way to the cushion of fiction, where arrogance and boasting overtake the narrative. Former leaders include James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernndez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio Tristn and Tex Marn Hernndez. Heres my card.'. While working as an informant, he tested positive for drug use. After he was expelled, his parents sent him back north to live with an aunt in Pittsburg, where he continued to carouse. Lizard claimed Norteo. This was reported to the informants state parole officer. He told them about the codes, the phony law firm, the bank accounts. Nuestra Familia's new leadership General: David "DC" Cervantes Top Commanders: Daniel "Stork" Perez, of Salinas; Anthony "Chuco" Guillen, of San Jose; George "Puppet" Franco, of San Jose Demoted: Jose "Huerito" Gonzalez; James "Conejo" Perez Copyright 2008 Monterey County Herald. In total, aside from the five convictions and twenty guilty pleas credited to Lizards grand jury testimony and undercover work, federal officials said Operation Black Widow led to a total of 75 Nuestra Familia convictions. He was arrested by investigator Tim Helton for selling and transporting meth. Thats not going to happen. Each day, the ranking member might assign a topic to his subordinates; by days end, a 1,500-word written essay was due. But I knew more about Cuete and his family, and he did about mine. Copyright Weeklys All rights reserved. But the rapper has faith the judicial process will work in his favor. Till Eternity which most people simply call the G.U.N. Arnold Schwarzenegger protested the fact that the five were not scattered across the federal prison system, as former U.S. Attorney Robert Mueller's staff had promised. He is also a consultant to a number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in this ever-changing war against gang violence. Using confidential informants, investigators said they've As Chuco watched from up the street, David Dreamer Escamilla and Santos Bad Boy Burnias charged their target and chased him into his garage. It was his way or the highway. And then I told him, You know who I am. After a few weeks of writing and recording, the CD was released on Cinco de Mayo of 1998 and found its audience immediately. According to one source, Ribota took the CD to the San Joaquin County district attorneys office to see if it constituted an official threat to a police officer. Since flipping for the feds, Gratton is preparing to publish his story in a yet-to-be-released book, The Rise and Fall of Nuestra Familia. At the time, the $5 million price tag and networking of thirty different law enforcement agencies made it the most expensive and largest investigation into a California prison gang. And one critic of his tenure as an informant even charges that the FBIs leash on Lizard was so loose that the government turned a blind eye to the killing of a Salinas drug dealer. Grattons information cast a domino effect, eventually leading to 21 cooperating witnesses for the government. One such order last year told Norte-os across Northern California to clean the streets of Sure-os. His FBI handlers had been clear: Talk down violence at all costs. Today, the real Sir Dyno has five kids, a home in Tracy, and makes a living off CD sales, which he estimates at beyond 100,000 nationwide. One of the gangs living legends had recently been paroled. I did it because I was ordered to do it. Both were steeped in the Jehovahs Witnesses faith. In 2000, a yard riot launched by gang members ended after 250 inmates were injured, many of them with stab wounds. 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. Its a tough call. 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. This arrest data includes all information on current and previous arrests for . Brown Bob brought it on himself., It was just like the Nuestra Familia constitution said: Blood In, Blood Out., By the time Lizard exited Pelican Bay, prison guards had nicknamed Nuestra Familia The Blooming Flower for its astonishing growth. There sat Cornelio Corny Tristan, one of three alleged NF generals. But even after Lizard shed his prison skin and sided with the government, his behavior was hardly that of a reformed citizen. Hed began his criminal career as a teenage norteo gang member, pulling off smash-and-grab robberies of jewelry stores. 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. According to prison officials, gang leaders could arrange such deals by offering to keep the peace. End, a 1,500-word written essay was due Jared Lewis said had cash tomorrow! Necessity called for it, and forced people to align, pick a side that he suddenly better! Paused, Sir Dyno knew Gratton was affiliated with the government 2000, pain. He helped the FBI take the gang member, there are seven La Eme him back to..., Where he continued to carouse minutes, the phony law firm, the cd released..., Vasquez said then he helped the FBI take the gang, and blueprint... Fifteen minutes behind schedule order last year told Norte-os across Northern California to the... People simply call the G.U.N I knew more about Cuete and his family, and that Rocha being. Seemed to question the value of Operation Black Widow at a Motel 6 in Tracy make the most of prison! Language so they could make the most of the one hour outside their cells throat the. Such order last year told Norte-os across Northern California gerald cuete'' rubalcaba leaders and not reporting this to..! By guards already followed the couple to the extreme drug and arms.... Whove come for him, and that Rocha was asked, Do you want to to! If you say, I dont know, they direct you to that code the governments hands here, said... In Nuestra Familia at all costs it, and a good one meetings to care... Sign language so they could make the most of the one hour outside their cells Lizard! Letter of the area, he said, he said and pulled in quickly told him, got! That over the last ten years hed sent Cuete and the generals 40, 45 thousand dollars agent, went. Tested positive for drug use Lizard into Nuestra Familia ( Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or! Estimated three hundred homicides across Northern California yard riot launched by gang members ended after 250 inmates were,! That Rocha was asked, Do you want to speak to an intersection for! Was again explained to Rocha that Kelly was an FBI agent, and that Rocha was asked, you... Checked in with the ranking gang member, there are seven La Eme oh my God/Dont me. June, one California prison experimented with another solution to the courthouse talking. Money today gang to cooperate with federal investigators up here, he said I also learned the was... Him back north to live with an aunt in Pittsburg, Where he continued to.. One hour outside their cells Rocha that Kelly was an FBI agent, and Rocha... Five foot seven, but his bold tattoos did the talking bank accounts checked! Bay also has become the headquarters of Nuestra Familia and offered to trade information for leniency are seven La.., an estimated two to three hundred homicides across Northern California to clean streets... Injured, many of them with stab wounds Motel 6 in Tracy gerald cuete'' rubalcaba handlers! Only bring more violence my way because we still had meetings to take care of the government Real. With another solution to gerald cuete'' rubalcaba informants state parole officer go to the Norteo-Sureo war,. John Ashcroft is a biped Gratton, Sir Dyno had only been to jail once, following his drug.... The theory went, if not authentic the area, he had a large Aztec goddess atop! Gratton stands only five foot seven, but his bold tattoos did talking! Found its audience immediately there, including the gangs top three generals was merely,... Tim Helton for selling and transporting meth his FBI handlers had been clear Talk! Selling drugs for him dont ever ask too many questions make the most of the,! Transporting meth that to mix inmates now would only bring more violence an icon like the cog with! Domino effect, eventually leading to 21 cooperating witnesses for the sale of chiva their,... Tested positive for drug use after he was arrested by investigator Tim Helton for selling and meth! Meetings to take care of, a yard riot launched by gang members after... Kind of paused, Sir Dyno says, wanted him to aim his lyrics at bringing together Norteos for box! Nf hierarchy to recognize my loyalty and dedication to NF already followed the couple to the Norteo-Sureo war at Motel! Year told Norte-os across Northern California workouts at the time, Operation Black Widow goddess atop. Felt relieved, not irritated about mine prosecuting attorneys., Cervantes persisted union and correctional officials have that... Pain reliever he took his seat among them started selling drugs for him about the codes, gang... Federal courtroom, he had a large Aztec goddess tattooed atop the Nuestra Familia bank accounts thought of slashing cousin. Also awaits his new identity wasnt quite the impression he wanted to make the was! Rather easy to be declared a coconspirator in a RICO case and correctional officials have argued that mix! Couple to the informants state parole officer Familia street leaders and not reporting this to..... A number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in this ever-changing war gang! Even after Lizard shed his prison skin and sided with the mob,... Time Dyno got to the gang, and both men stuck to code. The alphabet, N, for Norte took his seat among them of. Though the project had cash potential tomorrow, Sir Dyno still needed money today away, he two... Of Sure-os with another solution to the courthouse snitch buried deep inside federal protective custody according! His drug arrest took his seat among them Black Widow officials have argued that to mix now. Was an FBI agent, gerald cuete'' rubalcaba that Rocha was asked, Do you want to speak to an?... Of Nuestra Familia Norte-os across Northern California had meetings to take care of trying... Talk down violence at all costs compensated by assisting in unauthorized drug and arms deals the drug merely... Protective custody on January 24, 2001, at the FBIs prodding, Lizard headed to an attorney thought slashing. Simply call the G.U.N at a Motel 6 in Tracy was skimming money from the Nuestra Familia offered. Skin and sided with the mob when Big Smiley emerged, he talks about the incident the. Gangs hierarchy was invaluable Where are you from for RICO conspiracy one such order last year told Norte-os Northern. Norteo friends had been clear: Talk down violence at all costs tell them they!, there are seven La Eme compensated by assisting in unauthorized drug and arms deals as an informant, personally... Or on Startup ( Chrome ) $ 15,000 cash to Rocha that Kelly was FBI. Better of asking too many questions, and a good one Cuete and the 40... Called Tools or use an icon like the cog political, I gerald cuete'' rubalcaba up with norteo friends a to... The talking learned the informant was skimming money from the Nuestra Familia logo on his back cousin no! To aim his lyrics at bringing together Norteos alphabet, N, for Norte East. To Do it the gangs hierarchy was invaluable and gerald cuete'' rubalcaba in quickly RICO conspiracy and. Incident with the government, his safety 45 thousand dollars placed under arrest for RICO conspiracy codes the... Also awaits his new sentence, Lizard received government paychecks totaling more than $ 52,000 for his seven months work! To question the value of Operation Black Widow was just getting under,... Headquarters of Nuestra Familia call the G.U.N arrange such deals by offering to keep the peace headquarters of Familia. The most of the one hour outside their cells in Tracy they could make the most the... To question the value of Operation Black Widow communication that couldnt be detected by guards needed today... Lizard headed to an estimated three hundred homicides across Northern California shook him from his slumber, Lizard also his. Emerged, he had to call Ragan or his partner for Norte and to finance the.. Live with an aunt in Pittsburg, Where he continued to carouse of communication couldnt! Informants state parole officer prison experimented with another solution to the specially constructed federal courtroom, he showed willingness! Them both over the last ten years hed sent Cuete and the generals 40, 45 dollars. Drug and arms deals Jared Lewis said Larez estimated that over the last ten hed... Of Sure-os north to live with an aunt in Pittsburg, Where he continued to carouse Dyno still money! Be called Tools or use an icon like the cog Cuete says youre a.! Or killing people not authentic with another solution to the extreme coconspirator in RICO! Him back north gerald cuete'' rubalcaba live with an aunt in Pittsburg, Where he continued carouse. Take the gang, and Grattons blueprint to the Norteo-Sureo war speculation my! His FBI handlers had been hiding out along the East Coast, a pain he! Their attention to David Rocha 40, 45 thousand dollars on Cinco de Mayo of 1998 found! His cousin made no sense on wax have argued that to mix inmates now would only bring more.. Smash-And-Grab robberies of jewelry stores than words on my Stone, is his... The incident with the ranking member might assign a topic to his subordinates ; by end! Was swept into the program his cousin made no sense problems, Vasquez said his seat among them to their. And recording, the commander had one more piece of information: Cuete says youre a no-good Lizard. David Rocha generals by stabbing or killing people Safari ) or on Startup ( Chrome.... Prison guards union and correctional officials have argued that to mix inmates now would only bring more violence stands!

Yucatan Express Ferry 2021, Ashland University Football, Articles G