LOS ANGELES (CN) - White racist gangs operate at the highest levels of Los Angeles County's Sheriff's Department, threatened the lives of deputies who exposed it and branded them as "race traitors" and "snitches," two deputies claim in court.
Deputies Michael Rathbun and James Sexton sued Los Angeles County, Sheriff Leroy Baca, Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, Lt. Greg Thompson and "Detective Perkins," in Federal Court.
They seek damages for retaliation, constitutional violations, malicious prosecution, conspiracy, harassment and other charges.
The 39-page complaint makes alarming allegations, including that the Sheriff's Department hid an inmate from the FBI, that Thompson and Tanaka covered up an incident involving a skinhead deputy, and that Sheriff Baca blew off the threats to his deputies and was indifferent to the corruption.
Rathbun and Sexton claim they worked in an intelligence unit known as Operation Safe Jails (OSJ), using jail informants to help prevent gang violence and crime in America's largest local jail system.
Though Lt. Thompson and Undersheriff Tanaka oversaw the intelligence unit, they are members of a racist cop gang, the Vikings, according to the complaint.
"On or about August 2011, Lt. Thompson ordered Rathbun, Sexton, and other members of OSJ to transfer and hide a specific inmate, 'Anthony Brown.' Rathbun and Sexton learned that the inmate was being hidden from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On information and belief, the order to hide Anthony Brown came from Sheriff Baca and Undersheriff Tanaka in an effort to obstruct a federal
investigation," the complaint states.
Anthony Brown is an FBI informant who reported on abuse in county jails, the Los Angeles Times reported in August 2012.
In a subhead to the Aug. 27 story, the Times wrote: "Anthony Brown, the FBI informant who reported on abuse within L.A. County jails, is serving 423 years to life for armed robbery and has a history of making unfounded allegations about police."
In their complaint, Rathbun and Sexton claim: "Increasingly, Thompson ordered OSJ to engage in activities meant to 'keep the FBI out of the jails.' In fact, discussions were held about wiring interview rooms when FBI agents or informants were present. On information and belief, Thompson was carrying out the directives of Sheriff Baca and Undersheriff Tanaka."
Rathbun says he was "stunned" by what happened next: "On or about February 2012, an informant told Rathbun and Sexton that Deputy Joseph Britton, who was assigned to Men's Central Jail, was engaged in illegal behavior in association with a powerful white gang member (while on duty and using his powers as a law enforcement official), who was in charge of illicit activity at MCJ. Rathbun and Sexton provided a confidential intelligence memorandum to Lt. Thompson. Moreover, Rathbun had the powerful white gang member moved to high-powered housing," the complaint states.
It continues: "On the same day, Sexton provided Thompson with an analogous memorandum about another prison official, Remington Orr, and improper association with a prison gang.
"A few days later, Rathbun followed up with Lt. Thompson about the memorandum.
Thompson informed Rathbun that he showed the memorandum to Deputy Britton and inquired whether the allegations were true.