He kept a stable of flashy cars, but favored a cherried-out 1969 Impala with a vanity license plate that read NORTENO.. Jan 27, 2005. His FBI handlers had been clear: Talk down violence at all costs. Im from up here, I grew up with norteo friends. Two months later, the leaders met again at the Los Robles Lodge in Santa Rosa. But copies were intercepted in Pelican Bay, giving investigators a heads-up about the leadership changes. The unit requires pin-drop silence from its inmates. All you have to do is find out where the motherfucker is, pull up on the side of them., Lizard ended the conversation. When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. Lizard swung his weight around hard. gang's leaders communicated by some form of secret code within the He makes drug deals here, he caps sureos there, he disses cops everywhere, all of it in the name of norteo supremacy. Like all Latino males incarcerated in California for the past three decades, Lizard was forced to choose a gang allegiance once inside prison. But I knew more about Cuete and his family, and he did about mine. When he entered Corcoran State Prison in 1989 for selling cocaine, he joined Nuestra Raza, a recruiting gang for the more esteemed Nuestra Familia. He was a micro-manager. Im not sure you can undo it.. 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. But a year into the case, the governments complaint against Sir Dyno shifted course. Ultimately itll be a jurys role to sort out the truth, but this much everybody can agree on: In 1997 an NF captain named Robert Huerito Gratton was paroled from Pelican Bay State Prison, moved to Modesto, and started a label called North Star Records. That was their fuck-up. Operation Knockout Big Smiley immediately ordered his soldier to enforce gang law back in C-Facility. Zilversmit said the feds were preoccupied with preserving their investigation instead of saving lives. Using confidential informants, investigators said they've Grattons wife was the cousin of a rapper named E-Clips, who at the time was a member of Darkroom Familia. In the aftermath, some of the gang's thousands of Norte-o associates -- street-level soldiers who answer to Nuestra Familia -- stayed loyal to the exiled generals and captains, while others looked to Pelican Bay because the gang's written constitution said its leaders must reside there. In April 2001, FBI agents, along with assistance from 24 local and state agencies, ended Operation Black Widow. In the logic of the Chicano intrastate rivalry, there are norteos and sureos, and even if youre not running with the corner gang, youre still vulnerable to getting whacked by your enemy. While awaiting sentencing for armed robbery, he said, he knifed a member of the Aryan Brotherhood in self-defense. Sir Dyno was born. So far as you can trust anyone in a gang, hed trusted Cuete. He argued with a dealer and ended up firing three bullets at the man as he ran away. Lexipol. At home, Sir Dyno says hes just waiting for the truth to come out, but the phrase emerges like one thats been worn out, a fortification against the harsher truth: He stands to lose everything. In NF, they dont want you to be friends in case you have to do something down the road, Lizard wrote. Gratton sought out Sir Dyno because the rapper had a following, needed to produce a successful CD, and was familiar with music distribution and marketing. Days later, Big Smiley sent Lizard his own wilas, as well as books on Chicano history. How could he go back in with Cuete wanting him dead? Chalk it up as a loss, just let it go, and move on. He was very concerned about his familys safety, his safety. 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. 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. : 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. Address: 318 Harrison Street, Suite 302, Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 879-3700 www.EastBayExpress.com More by Justin Berton Lizard is a Rat new AltWeeklies Award - Feature Story East Bay Express | Justin Berton | 04-21-2008 | Media Tags: media Growing Up Right new 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. If you ever want to talk, call me. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). He and his team of agents tore through Lizards hotel room, looking for evidence to send him back to the clink a bag of pot, a letter to a carnal, a bag of speed. 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All rights reserved. They formed their own gang: Nuestra Familia our family. It was a hell of an audience to keep waiting. The large XIV across his throat represented the fourteenth letter of the alphabet, N, for Norte. He reiterated that he told Martinez clearly: no bloodshed., How could I order the hit? he asked. Frias returned to the bar, gun tucked in his waistband, walked behind Sanchez, and fired a bullet into the base of his skull, killing him. According to an FBI report, Cuete and his cohorts have continued to manage the gang while awaiting transfer to federal prisons from Alameda Countys Santa Rita Jail. He said he knows they may try to find him, but that he will not hide. prison gang are prepared to testify against their top leaders in a "He's trying to regroup these guys. 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. Nineteen-year-old Armando Frias was shooting pool when he recognized the wanted man. Hed began his criminal career as a teenage norteo gang member, pulling off smash-and-grab robberies of jewelry stores. He is also a consultant to a number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in this ever-changing war against gang violence. A small star on his forehead suggested hed killed someone in prison, even though, in truth, he hadnt. Happy was hardcore, with a permanent smile beneath his Fu Manchu mustache. And what had germinated inside the prisons was now blooming all across California. Sir Dyno accepts this rivalry, and its where many of his raps come from. Ramiro Goose Garcia from Stockton complained that the gang wasnt sufficiently exploiting the Central Valley drug market. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). One of those footnotes involves Sir Dyno who, despite his history of gangsta-rap posturing, clearly is not a criminal on a par with his codefendants. On January 24, 2001, at the FBIs prodding, Lizard hosted a junta for local underbosses at a Motel 6 in Tracy. Thousands bought the album in the major record chains like Sam Goody's. If Nuestra Familia invested in meth labs, a network was already in place. His father sold vacuum cleaners; his mother was a housewife. Smiley replied that it was true, but not to worry no one was moving on it. I didnt have a choice, he recalled. He has since repudiated his former gang life, and spends his time writing and speaking to law enforcement gatherings about prison gangs. He suggested that gang members cook our own shit to gain control, saying he could make twenty pounds of raw meth in one batch. 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. Each day, the ranking member might assign a topic to his subordinates; by days end, a 1,500-word written essay was due. He had two daughters to support, and payments from other rap projects were slow coming in. He told them he could go undercover for them. In the eyes of the law, that would make Sir Dyno a real-life gangster. uncovered a hierarchy at Pelican Bay State Prison responsible for In fact, the 31-year-old gangsta rapper, whose real name is David Rocha, wanted nothing more than to distance himself from his codefendants. He always offered to learn more and do more to serve the organization. He complained again that his overhead was too high; he had to charge $3,200 per pound of meth, while his competitors were selling it at $2,600 to $2,800. To test his allegiance, he was ordered to move on his cellmate, Johnny Huero-T Fernandez. The CD had been funded in 1998 from Pelican Bay prison by the top Nuestra Familia general, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba. Released from the Secured Housing Unit in August 1995, Lizard was chiseled and fit as a warrior in heart and mind. If they come for him, he said, he worries only for them, his enemies. Most importantly, he showed a willingness to draw sureo blood. Nato had worked his way up in the ranks from Norteo street thug to membership in the Nuestra Familia prison gang. Not just in rap, but everywhere. I fear no organization. The young guys trying to make their name were always the craziest, just as Lizard once had been. There was also the lean and smooth figure of Gerald Cuete Rubalcaba, the gangs most powerful captain, whose job inside Pelican Bay, a fellow gang member told the feds, was to keister the syndicates constitution in his rectum, along with the master hit list which, by now, read fifty names long. In his interview with FBI agents the next day, Gratton confessed hed concocted the idea for G.U.N. The thought of slashing his cousin made no sense. Its different for her, he said. After several years of upheaval -- stemming largely from the massive federal prosecution called Operation Black Widow -- the top leadership of the Nuestra Familia is once again firmly established. Still, the gang has been dealt a serious wound with Lizards help. Sicc OG. Everyone says they want to rap, says they want to make CDs, but David was really doing it. I was giving them a taste of something they wanted for a long time. As a kid growing up in this small town, David Rocha was a freestyle BMXer who bounced along on one wheel during Fourth of July parades. It looked like they were unhappy with the content of G.U.N., Manson says, and thats why David was indicted for the content of his music. There, Gratton was made a full-fledged Nuestra Familia member. At the end of the day he gets to go home.. When his handlers shook him from his slumber, Lizard felt relieved, not irritated. Even though he was broke and sleeping on friends couches, Sir Dyno felt he was on the cusp of the big time, ready to break. Since his first arrest, hes produced a new CD nearly every month. The following day, Ray Sanchez walked into Caps Saloon, unaware that hed been the discussion of a hit. You can cancel at any time. Even though the project had cash potential tomorrow, Sir Dyno still needed money today. The Apprehension Teams scrutiny proved to be Sir Dynos downfall. At the time of Operation Black Widow, law enforcement officials had estimated that Nuestra Familia was responsible for at least 600 murders in the previous 30 years. After all, race-based prison gang violence dominates Californias prison system, according to a 2002 report from the California State Department of Justice. ', All of the early motions from Gruel and his team of US prosecutors pointed only to Sir Dynos role in making the album. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its not a good thing, said former San Quentin warden Vasquez. A small minority within the gang has not transferred loyalty to Cervantes, Santa Cruz County's Morales said. Lizard himself adamantly denied Zilversmits claims, insisting that he pressed for peace in the case of Sanchez. They were operating a sophisticated shop, gang expert Lewis said. What if you get away with it? 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. But Wino rejected Lizard. On October 27, 1999, a year and a half after he arrived in Modesto, Gratton was pulled over on his way to a carnival in Turlock. The DA was forced to offer Lizard a six-year deal, which he happily accepted. Once paroled, Lizard then served as Nuestra Familias highest-ranking member outside prison. I was a soldier, and a good one.. Quoting the prophet Jeremiah from the Old Testament, Bishop Manuel Cruz, a Cuban emigre himself, passionately said: "Woe to me if I do not care for my people and hear their cries." You dont have a choice. 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. Dyno has since expanded his own label, Darkroom Studios, starred in three independent movies, and penned a fictional autobiography about a gangster named Joaquin who takes up arms for the Zapatistas. 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. 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. Later, when Heltons team arrested an alleged Nuestra Familia member named Vidal Spider Fabela during a traffic stop, they found G.U.N. In September, the final eight defendants pleaded guilty, following the first thirteen members indicted. He could shank n roll, as the prisoners say. Inside, he was greeted by FBI agents. Hes turned his attention to rapping about what he knows, rather than what he fantasizes. Cervantes added that hed already followed the couple to the courthouse. Lizard had made other deals, too. The quickest way to get money back fast would be to release a norteo album. And he had better news: Nuestra Familia pot and speed were piping through Modesto, Stockton, and Sacramento. Still, the accusations put Lizards conduct under scrutiny. Theres nothing to prepare. He was as bright and loyal as they came, so Cuete could trust him.. Lizard said he beat Ruiz to a pulp with his fists, bringing his victim close to death. They didnt care about agendas like that.. According to Lewis, the gang grew from about a thousand members in the late 80s to more than two thousand just six years later. Its not easy.. So Lizard flipped. At the time, Operation Black Widow was just getting under way, and Grattons blueprint to the gangs hierarchy was invaluable. Then he helped the FBI take the gang down. Helton checked out Grattons business licenses, and learned of Sir Dynos involvement through the music distributor. 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. Danny was telling me, But Im not a gang member,' Holguin said. But Lizards exploits show how prison policies adopted to control gangs such as Nuestra Familia may actually have helped them bloom. Once that dried, the correspondent would write another letter in ink on the page, but the recipient knew to hold it up to the light to read the real message. The immediate and constant communication strengthened the gang. All rights reserved. 305. 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. The largest and most feared Latino prison gang was the Sureo-based Mexican Mafia, or La Eme. And frankly, heres a guy whos committed numerous violent crimes, and hes getting a free pass. When the NF trial begins on November 3 jury selection starts this week federal attorneys will use photographs and lyrics from the G.U.N. Lizard prepared to take the stand against Nuestra Familia. Its just the way it is, Sir Dyno says. Despite the governor's complaints, all five are still housed in the same supermax unit. For this outburst, prison administrators shipped Lizard off to Pelican Bay State Prison the last stop for riders. The former leaders include James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernandez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio Tristan, and Tex Marin Hernandez. I see the reality of things now and now that Ive gone through that, theres, like, no glory in it, you know?. Blacks sided with the Black Guerrilla Family or the Five Percenters. 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. Formed their own gang: Nuestra Familia pot and speed were piping through Modesto, Stockton, and move.... Familia may actually have helped them bloom her, discussing their new.. `` he 's trying to regroup these guys once inside prison he said, he a... Fabela during a traffic stop, they found G.U.N gang law back in with Cuete wanting dead... 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