Police surmise that the order was responsible for many of the shootings in Salinas in 2007, which increased by 50 percent over 2006 levels. 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. 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.. 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. It wasnt worth it to me anymore., Yet the claim that the rapper was blissfully unaware of Grattons gang connections doesnt pass the sniff test for law-enforcement guys like Jared Lewis. who joined the FBI and other agencies in an investigation of street One day two months ago, federal agents arrived at her home, and she was swept into the program. And in every fashion when necessity called for it, I wanted the NF hierarchy to recognize my loyalty and dedication to NF. All those guys didnt want to see me up there. 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. 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. For penance, Cuete was allegedly ordered to write an essay on the consequences of being a gossip. But witnesses corralled by police later refused to work with the district attorney. It gives you something to do. 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. But paid parking could return, in some form, this year, as the city works to pu. He suggested that gang members cook our own shit to gain control, saying he could make twenty pounds of raw meth in one batch. What they will do within the federal prison remains to be seen, but investigators said stabbings have increased and communication with the outside has been established through cell phones smuggled into prison. 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. He was very concerned about his familys safety, his safety. The DA was forced to offer Lizard a six-year deal, which he happily accepted. After they wade through all of the evidence, jurors will then be asked to turn their attention to David Rocha. Its founding fathers adopted the phrase Blood in, blood out, and wrote a fifty-page constitution setting out the organizations bylaws. He rapped about how much money hed make, how famous hed get, how many women he could tag, how many people hed shoot. He reiterated that he told Martinez clearly: no bloodshed., How could I order the hit? he asked. Sir Dyno had only been to jail once, following his drug arrest. There was also the lean and smooth figure of Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, the gang's most powerful captain, whose job inside Pelican Bay, a fellow gang member told the feds, was to "keister" the. Then Lizard got lucky. Lizard is disappointed that he never got his moment on the witness stand. was drawing the attention its makers craved, and then some. The images leave no doubt the rapper supports norteos. He used rap to vent about what every other twenty-year-old male stuck in a small town vents about: how fucked-up life is. On one slow-burn track, Sir Dyno raps in a stoned vibrato: Today when I got up I knew it was a good day/Got on my red shirt, Dickies, and Im on my way., After the initial press run, Gratton restocked stores with an additional 1,000 CDs. He always offered to learn more and do more to serve the organization. But at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. Big Smiley immediately ordered his soldier to enforce gang law back in C-Facility. Lizard also sent Crazy Girl a decoding list, known in FBI documents as The Salutation Code. In each letter he wrote, the greeting unlocked a key to the rest of the letter. Every day we prepared for war., Lizard speaks about his gang membership with such conviction and authority that one law enforcement official jokingly compared his oratory skills to those of Fidel Castro. In the weeks leading up to Lizards arrest, Kayln Santiagos apartment had been stormed by FBI agents. Zilversmit represents Armando Suave Heredia, a gang member arrested for ordering a successful hit on Salinas heroin dealer Ray Sanchez. Nuestra Familia prestige is now generational, passed from father to son, uncle to nephew. What if you get away with it? And what had germinated inside the prisons was now blooming all across California. The idea was that rap music could unite and galvanize young Norteo soldiers across the state, and it did. He was arrested by investigator Tim Helton for selling and transporting meth. Rudy Del Real and Rudolfo Quilon complete the order. Up to that point, Lizard had identified himself as a Sureo, but only when pressed. 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. He is also a consultant to a number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in this ever-changing war against gang violence. The former leaders include James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernandez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio Tristan, and Tex Marin Hernandez. After Gratton ratted out his fellow gang members one by one, offering a list of 350 names, he was moved into the federal Witness Relocation Program. One of the gangs living legends had recently been paroled. That wasnt what I signed up for.. None of these other [Nuestra Familia members] have a thing to say about [Sir Dyno], Manson says. Despite the governor's complaints, all five are still housed in the same supermax unit. He said he felt no jitters, nor did he question his loyalties to the brothers he was betraying. Its as sensible as that East Coast-West Coast thing. He did not return letters seeking comment for this article. In 2004, when the prison gang's top five leaders were transferred from California to a federal supermaximum prison in Florence, Colo., a struggle for the gang's top positions brewed in Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, the Nuestra Familia's traditional headquarters. Not with NF.. Eager to shore up his status in Nuestra Familia, Lizard said, he soon stabbed Sureo Rudolpho Castillo in the throat, nearly killing him. 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." Finally, he was going to San Francisco to testify. Hes convinced hell get off scot-free. Prison gang members set to testify against Nuestra Familia leaders. The immediate and constant communication strengthened the gang. Theyre trying to say that when I met Robert Gratton I started selling drugs for him, and to finance the G.U.N. By the time Dyno got to the specially constructed federal courtroom, he was fifteen minutes behind schedule. Everybody knows that. By now, rumors were swirling that G.U.N. And there was ghosting a letter: using a Q-Tip to swab milk or urine to write out orders on a piece of paper. You wont catch me slipping. Investigators ended Operation Black Widow in June of 2001. Copyright 2023 On the back cover, he stands next to Gratton, flashing XIV signs. He said that after he drove away from a successful arms sale in the South Bay, at which he wore a wire, one of his underbosses called to warn him he was being tailed by a suspicious car, which Lizard knew was the investigator. I was doing it as a smokescreen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lizards letters were sent to code breakers at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He folded up the missive, stuck it to a piece of gum, and dangled it into Smileys cell using a thread of elastic hed plucked from his waistband. It sold, and he knew why. When the five were transferred out of California, Gov. Daniel Lizard Hernandez was awakened by an FBI agent at 4 a.m. a few weeks ago. Lizard recalled feeling nothing in the aftermath of the hit. Back among the general prison population, Lizard reported to his ranking captain, Gerald Cuete Rubalcaba, one of the gangs most revered members. Not only does Rocha appear on the cover of the CD wearing the norteo colors (red), reads one motion, but he is seen giving gang signs for the norteos. Lizard initially followed his script and pushed for peace, according to the transcripts. "There's family members still loyal to the guys in the fed," he said, referring to the exiled former generals and captains in Colorado. Therefore, David is an NF member or associate. Lizard said he shook the tail, but later needed to prove he was clean. In sealed court documents, Lizards primary FBI handler claimed that he was duped by his informant. But Wino rejected Lizard. I said, Yeah, I could rap like that, whatever. Gratton had been deployed by his bosses to run the gangs Zapatista crew, which operated in the Modesto, Tracy, and Turlock areas. But a year into the case, the governments complaint against Sir Dyno shifted course. Former leaders include James "Tibbs" Morado, Joseph "Pinky" Hernndez, Gerald "Cuete" Rubalcaba, Cornelio Tristn and Tex Marn Hernndez. Under federal law, its rather easy to be declared a coconspirator in a RICO case. [Robert Gratton] will testify that these messages on Rochas CD is further proof of the projects connection to the Nuestra Familia., In Mansons view, the government was also arguing that a persons identification as norteo equated to a claim of membership in Nuestra Familia. Lizard said that whenever brothers were allowed into the law library, they used sign language to swap information, trade intelligence reports, and even assign homework. Meanwhile, Daniel Lizard Hernandez is just one step away from his own day of reckoning, and from possibly reentering the outside world. The boss reminded Gratton that the money belonged to the gang, and demanded more deposits into Nuestra Familia bank accounts. He said he knows they may try to find him, but that he will not hide. Crazy Girl translated the letters and passed them along to gang members on the outside. OUR PUBLICATIONSCannabis ChronicleEast BayGilroy DispatchGood Times Santa CruzHollister Free LanceKing City RustlerMarin Pacific SunMetro Silicon ValleyMorgan Hill TimesNorth Bay BohemianPress BannerSalinas Valley TribuneSouth ValleyWatsonville Pajaronian, ADVERTISINGAdvertiseLegal NoticesObituariesSponsored ContentWriting An ObituarySubmit an Obituary, COMPANY INFOJob OpportunitiesPrivacy Policy. 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