society be likened to a gang within the los angeles county sheriff s department. accused by other deputies of harassment and beatings and more. the fbi is now reportedly investigating the inner workings of the so-called banditos. chief correspondent jonathan hunt has more from the west coast newsroom. jonathan? good evening, shannon. when we contacted the fbi to ask about this investigation, they said, as per policy cover they can either confirm or deny it is happening. but we do know for sure a group of sheriff s deputies in march filed a legal claim that accuses sheriff s officials for failing to deal with a hostile work environment in the east l.a. sheriff station. the deputy s attorneys saying at the time the atmosphere was tense and violent at the station, and had led to the deputies fearing attack by their fellow officers more than by criminals in the streets. the officers clearly were victims of a gang within the sheriff s department known as
the banditos. that the sheriff s department routinely hired gang members who then targeted and terrorized young latino deputies. they gang members brand themselves with matching tattoos have a skeleton wearing a simple arrow and bandolier and carrying a pistol. as seen here and a picture provided to fox news by a source familiar with the legal claim. on september 28th last year, according to that claim, a group of deputies, all members of the banditos, surrounded and beat several other nongang member deputies, including one who was nearly strangled to death as he was choked more than once and punched in the face by the gang. and another who was savagely attacked by the gang and assaulted, sucker punched, and knocked unconscious, then jumped on while he was unconscious on the ground. the claim also alleges that the banditos gang deliberately endangers other officers by
endangers other officers by feeling for instance to provide backup to non-gangs members during potentially dangerous calls. the four deputies involved in the alleged beating of fellow offices last september were placed on paid administrative leave, charges not being filed at this point. the case is still under review by the district attorney s office. shannon: thank you very much. how dangerous are the so-called banditos? let s bring in an attorney for the deputies who have filed a legal claim against this group? vincent miller, great to have you with us. the more i read about these allegations, i was stunned, i don t think people think this goes on in law enforcement, maybe i am naïve but one of the
society be likened to a gang within the los angeles county sheriff s tattooed deputies, members of a secret society likened to a gang in the sheriff department accused by other deputies of harassment and beatings and more. the fbi reportedly investigating the inner workings of the so-called banditos. reporter: when we contacted the fbi to ask about this as per policy they cannot confirm or deny it is happening but we do know for sure group of sheriffs deputies in march filed a legal claim accusing sheriffs officials of failing to deal with a hostile work environment in the east la sheriff station, the deputies attorney saying at the time the atmosphere was tense and violent at the station and had, quote, led to the deputies fearing attack by their fellow officers more than by criminals in the street.
failing, for instance, to provide backup to nongang members during potentially dangerous calls. the four deputies involved in the alleged beating of fellow officers last september were placed on paid administrative leave. charges have not been filed at this point. the case is still under review by the district attorney s office here. shannon? shannon: jonathan, thank you very much. so how dangerous are these so-called banditos? like spring an attorney for the deputies who have filed a legal claim against this group. vincent miller joins us now. vincent, great to have you with us. thank you, shannon. nice to be here. shannon: the more he read about these allegations, i was stunned, i don t think people think that this goes on within law enforcement. maybe i am naive. but one of the anonymous members talked to the los angeles times and this is way they describe it, we get called a gang within the badge.