LOS ANGELES – Two Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputies have been indicted on federal civil rights charges for allegedly using excessive force against an inmate and falsifying reports to cover up the incident.
The indictment charges Joey Aguiar, 26, and Mariano Ramirez, 38, with conspiring to violate civil rights and deprivation of rights under color of law that caused bodily injury. Aguiar is also charged with falsification of records for submitting a report that falsely stated the victim-inmate had attempted to head butt him and violently kicked at him.
According to the indictment, Aguiar and Ramirez allegedly used force against the victim, identified as ‘BP,’ during an incident in the Men’s Central Jail on February 11, 2009. While the victim was handcuffed and secured with a ‘waist chain,’ the deputies allegedly punched and kicked the victim before using pepper spray on him.
The indictment states that the defendants also struck the victim with a flashlight. Soon after the attack, the deputies allegedly wrote false reports designed to cover up the illegal use of force. Those bogus reports formed the basis of a referral to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal prosecution of the victim.
Each of the charges carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge of falsification of records carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is ongoing and is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Previously, 18 current and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies were indicted on various corruption and civil rights offenses. All of those previously charged have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial later this year.
RELATED: Arkansas Cops Beat Man on the Ground: Feds File Charges
RELATED: Florida Man Brinson Charged in Cocaine, Meth Bust
Related Federal Cases
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Ta and Srinivasan Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Fentanyl Pushing Empire · Colorado
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · Washington
- Amgen Inc. $71M Settlement · Washington
- Seattle Jail Riddled with Rights Violations · Mississippi
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News