Rafael Pérez (police officer)
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| Rafael Antonio Pérez | |
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| Born | 1967(Age 40) Puerto Rico |
|---|---|
| Education | Marines |
| Occupation | Police Officer |
Rafael Pérez is the central figure in the LAPD Rampart Scandal. He was involved in the coverup of a $722,000 bank robbery, shot and framed Javier Ovando, and stole and resold at least $800,000 of cocaine from LAPD evidence lockers.[1] He is accused of being a member of the Los Angeles gang the Bloods and murdering rapper Notorious B.I.G. at the behest of Suge Knight of Death Row Records.[2] When Pérez was finally arrested, he implicated 70 other Rampart officers in misconduct, from bad shootings to drinking beer on the job. 106 LAPD arrests were overturned based on Pérez's testimony.[3]
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[edit] Early years
Rafael Antonio Pérez was born in Puerto Rico in 1967 and moved to the United States as a young boy. After several moves, he was raised by his mother in Philadelphia. According to his lawyer, Winston Kevin McKesson, Pérez' remembers standing on a street corner as a child, watching drug dealers and dreaming of one day being the cop to arrest them.
Pérez graduated high school in 1985 and joined the Marines. He was hired by the LAPD in 1989.[4]
[edit] Joining LAPD Rampart CRASH Division
After serving on routine patrol duties, Pérez was transferred to a narcotics unit. In 1995 he was transferred to Rampart CRASH, a tough anti-gang unit given a long leash by the LAPD. Pérez gained a reputation as a tough and effective officer, valued for his fluency in Spanish and his knowledge of the inner workings of gangs. According to fellow CRASH officer Ethan Cohan, officers would bet on which team would find a gun on a gang member each night. Cohan is quoted as saying, "Pérez always won. I just thought, this guy is really good."[4]
[edit] Timeline of criminal activities
Pérez and his partner Nino Durden famously shot and framed an unarmed gang member Javier Ovando. Ovando, who was left paralyzed, was sentenced to 23 years in prison based on the officers' testimony.
On August 25, 1998, Pérez, at age 31 a nine-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department was arrested for stealing six pounds of cocaine from a department property room. The cocaine was estimated to be worth $800,000 on the street.[4]
[edit] Criminal charges
[edit] February 2000
In February 2000, Pérez was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing 8 pounds of cocaine from an LAPD evidence locker. At his sentencing, Pérez read a statement in which he said, "I cheated on my wife. I cheated on my employer, and I cheated on all of you, the people of Los Angeles." The text of his statement can be found at PBS.org.
[edit] July 24, 2001 release
On July 24, 2001 -- Pérez was released from prison and placed on parole.
[edit] December 17, 2001 -- federal charges
Pérez pled guilty to new charges resulting from the shooting of Javier Ovando. He was charged with conspiracy to violate Ovando's civil rights, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He went on to serve time in Federal prison.
[edit] October 31, 2006 felony count
On October 31, 2006, Pérez pleaded no contest to a felony count of perjury before the Torrance Superior Court.
Pérez, who legally changed his name to Ray Lopez, was arrested in July by Department of Motor Vehicles investigators while visiting his federal parole officer in Inglewood. Pérez pleaded no contest to lying in his application for a California driver’s license on June 30, 2005.
Pérez was sentenced to three years probation and 300 hours of community service.[5]
[edit] Ongoing investigation into the murder of The Notorious B.I.G.
On April 16, 2007 relatives of rapper The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls/Christopher Wallace, filed a wrongful death suit against the city of Los Angeles, Rafael Pérez and his partner Nino Durden, seeking unspecified general, compensatory and punitive monetary damages. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Wallace's mother, his widow, and his two children.
The lawsuit states that Pérez, Nino Durden, their partner David Mack, and "certain unknown persons" murdered Christopher Wallace. The rapper was shot to death on March 9, 1997, as he left a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The lawsuit states the killing was committed "in a very efficient, organized and professional manner, suggesting that a high degree of coordination and planning preceded his murder." It further states that Pérez admitted to the LAPD that he and David Mack "conspired to murder, and participated in the murder of Christopher Wallace." Both Pérez and Nino Durden were on duty the night of March 9.
Wallace's murder is believed to have been in retaliation for the murder of Tupac Shakur. Tupac Shakur was a member of Death Row Records, run by Marion "Suge" Knight. Knight is known to have hired off-duty Rampart cops such as Kevin Gaines who was shot to death by fellow Rampart officer Frank Lyga on March 18, 1997. Knight, who grew up in Compton, is well known for his ties to the Bloods. Following his arrest, detectives found several photos of Rafael Pérez flashing Blood gang signs. The connection between Pérez and the murder of Christopher Wallace has long been a source of speculation by the LAPD.
The current wrongful death lawsuit states that Pérez was a member of "a violent street gang associated with Death Row Records."[2] and he shot 2pac
[edit] Notes
| Notable Accused Officers | Victims | Coverup and Investigation | Gang Involvement | Other elements |
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