Warning. This podcast contains explicit language and details acts of violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

There is a long-standing urban legend in Los Angeles County.

The sheriff's department is the biggest gang on the streets.

I'm not talking about a metaphor for police violence.

I'm talking about a real gang.

Members have matching tattoos.

They get together and have meetings about the different crimes that they will get up to,

stealing from people, brutally beating them, and even killing them.

But this gang is even worse.

They've got a badge, unlimited resources paid for by taxpayers, and the blessing of the courts

and local government.

And it's all true.

My name is Cerise Castle, and I'm a local L.A. reporter. I grew up out here, and I've

been curious about deputy gangs since I was a kid. I heard stories about them from my older brother,

teachers, and kids at school. It never made sense to me that the people with badges who warned me

about dangerous neighborhood gangs and went after people

I knew for just associating with them were actually part of their own powerful criminal organization.

A few journalists before me, like Sabrina Steele, Anne-Marie O'Connor, Tina Daunt, and Maya Lau,

uncovered stories confirming that these gangs existed,

but they only scratched the surface.

I thought about deputy gangs for years.

...