A tattoo revealed in a recent federal plea agreement has sparked renewed scrutiny over the existence of a potential deputy gang at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Lakewood station. Deputy Eric Chase Saavedra, who pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges involving conspiracy with a crypto mogul, admitted in court documents to having a tattoo with the Lakewood station’s unofficial logo—a spade with the number 13 inside it. This disclosure has raised concerns, as the tattoo is reportedly shared by other deputies at the station, leading to lingering questions about the presence of a secretive group or gang within the department.
Saavedra’s plea agreement, filed Thursday, does not explicitly label the group as a deputy gang, but it highlights troubling behaviors, such as a voting process among tattooed deputies to decide who gets the tattoo. “Secrecy and exclusivity are prima facie evidence of gang activity,” said Inspector General Max Huntsman, who has long criticized the LASD for its failure to thoroughly investigate tattooed deputy subgroups. “When the department validates this code of silence, we have repeatedly seen gang-like activity,” Huntsman added.
Saavedra’s criminal activities, which include using law enforcement resources for personal gain, highlight a troubling pattern of corruption and misconduct. Despite these revelations, the LASD has maintained that there is no evidence of a deputy gang at the Lakewood station, a stance that has been questioned by oversight bodies and external investigators.
The controversy surrounding the tattoo is not isolated. Over the years, the LASD has faced multiple allegations of deputy gangs operating within its ranks. Groups like the Executioners, the Banditos, and the Regulators, known for their matching tattoos, have been accused of fostering a culture of violence and intimidation. The LASD has been slow to investigate these allegations, with a 2023 Office of Inspector General (OIG) report criticizing the department’s efforts to address the issue.
The tattooed subgroup at Lakewood first came to light during an investigation into the “Industry station Indians,” a suspected deputy gang linked to a violent altercation between deputies and teenagers. As investigators uncovered more information about these groups, they found that multiple deputies at the Lakewood station bore the spade tattoo. However, a survey conducted by internal affairs investigators in 2022 yielded responses from 64 deputies, with 13% acknowledging awareness of the tattoo but none reporting any gang-related activity at the station. This lack of a thorough investigation was cited as a key failure by the OIG.
Despite these setbacks, the LASD has vowed to continue addressing potential gang activity. Sheriff Robert Luna’s office recently introduced a new anti-gang policy, which bans membership in deputy gangs or hate groups and mandates that all department employees participate in investigations into these matters. “The Sheriff is using and will continue to utilize all available tools, including law enforcement partners, to identify and remove any personnel that are involved in such behavior,” the department said in a statement.
Saavedra, who once worked as a detective in the department’s anti-gang unit, has now been relieved of duty. His involvement in the gang unit while allegedly part of a secretive tattooed subgroup further compounds concerns about the extent of corruption within the LASD. The investigation into the Lakewood tattoo group remains open, and oversight officials continue to call for a more rigorous examination of possible deputy gangs within the department.
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