Dotsen: Ice just got facial recognition on Russian mafia family member,
Ivan letnov, who landed in L.A. about two hours ago.
All warrants are active, which is why
he hasn't stepped foot on U.S. soil in nearly two years.
Lopez: Which means whatever reason he's here for is important.
Ice have any idea what that might be?
Best guess is an arms shipment.
A week ago, over three dozen Russian ppsh-41 submachine guns
were reported stolen
from the afr's 102nd military base in gyumri.
Those guns do not hit our streets.
Lopez, pull the warrant... I want everybody in tac gear in ten.
All right, basic setup.
The back door opens onto a large living area.
We will cover each other and cross
that open space as quickly as possible.
Once we clear the ground floor,
we take the upstairs rooms one at a time.
There are over 6,000 square feet to clear,
so be on point, people.
There's no margin for error.
Burn it.
(Explosives whooshing, hissing)
What's going on here?
This floor plan's different.
What's with all these small rooms?
Sam: I don't know.
Check 'em all. Back room clear.
Clear.
What the hell is this?
Home makeover: Russian mafia edition.
Right hallway, go.
It's clear.
Kim: What the...? Lubricants? Something's very wrong here.
What the hell is this?
(Girls whimpering)
Lopez: We need some help down here!
Dotsen: Oh, my God.
Call the paramedics.
Call the coroner, too.
(Girl gasps weakly)
She's alive! I need some help!
I need some help!
Kim: What do those numbers mean?
They're delivery dates and prices for the girls.
It's how the Russians run their sex trade. Never seen this
in the states before though.
Their human trafficking operation's
been strictly international.
Till now. They're expanding.
I don't get it... I mean, if you're selling skins,
then why damage the merchandise?
Must have been a beggun, a runner.
Make an example out of them by sawing off their legs
in front of the other girls.
If those dates are right, they shipped 30 girls a week ago.
There were only ten here. Vee, I want you
to talk to the girls at the hospital, see what
they can tell us.
Letnov has a brother, Yuri.
If anyone knows where Ivan's hiding, it'll be him.
♪ Whip, baby, that car I'm driving ♪
♪ Make you feel some type of way... ♪
You know, those Russians like
taking ice baths butt-ass naked.
I'm telling you, I am not wrestling no naked dudes, man.
♪ Some type of way
♪ is it 'cause my homies rich you feel some type of way? ♪
That's letnov's brother Yuri.
All right, I'm gonna need two with me
and two to cover the alley.
Let's roll.
♪ Mr. ceo is what my title say
♪ me and my...
Good day, gentlemen. We're just looking for someone.
You know I can't unsee this, right?
I'm gonna have nightmares about pink asses
for the rest of my life.
Clear.
(Grunts)
(Groaning)
(Grunting)
Cassius! You good?
Green: I'm good!
Boys in the alley, he's coming your way.
Hold it right there, letnov!
Yuri, stop!
Freeze!
Easy!
Easy, Yuri!
It's over, all right?
We don't want you. I want your brother Ivan.
And why would I give him up?
You ain't got nowhere else to run, man.
(Thud)
Sam: You two okay?
Yeah, we're fine. Just a few stitches.
And, yes, black people can swim.
When necessary. (Chuckles)
Did you have any luck with Yuri letnov?
No. It was a dead end.
What happened?
He decided to take a dive off
a five-story building rather than rat his brother out.
Rmf code of honor.
How 'bout you, vee?
Girls aren't talking. Not a word.
Too scared of rmf.
They think we can't protect them.
(Quietly praying in Spanish)
(Lopez continues praying in Spanish)
The girls,
they aren't Russian.
They're from jalisco, Mexico.
A small community of German immigrants
settled there decades ago.
That explains the blonde hair and blue eyes.
(Grunting)
¡Déjame!
(Grunting)
(Shouts, grunts)
No!
Y'all might not hit a girl, but I will knock a bitch out.
(Panting)
I'd like to say thank you to everyone in the community
for your trust, okay? I may be in charge of this bank,
but it's not mine. It's ours.
(Cheering and applause) Together, we're gonna build
a stronger community and brighter future for all of us.
(Cheering and applause)
Okay, I-I'm tired of waiting.
Let's open up some bank accounts.
(Cheering and applause)
Good luck. Thank you, thank you.
Absolutely. Thanks for coming.
Thank you, guys; Thank you. Yeah. Absolutely.
I am so proud of you.
Thank you, baby. A lot of people showed up. I know.
This is good. This is... It's good.
What's the matter, babe? Uh...
It's pops. He shouldn't be here.
Take it easy on him. It's a big day for him, too.
But it's bad for business!
(Tio speaking Spanish)
So far so good.
And yourself?
Dad, what are you... I know, I know.
I shouldn't be here.
What's this?
A dollar.
You know we have a required $100
minimum to open up an account, right?
(Chuckles)
It's one dollar. (Chuckles)
This is what I always wanted for you, Daniel.
You made me so very proud today.
(Clears throat softly)
(Speaking Spanish)
Sí.
Javier: Thank you all for coming.
I know it's not easy with big brother watching
over our shoulders. Look around.
90% of the Los Angeles drug trade
is represented here, and as you all now know,
Los angelicos controls 100% of the fishscale business.
All of it.
You called us here to gloat?
Not to gloat, minnie.
To share.
Javier: Each of you has a network already in existence.
Some much bigger than others. But each one valuable.
I'm willing to let you keep a much bigger cut of the profits
than any of your current suppliers do.
Minnie: So to be clear,
you want us to sell fishscale
for Los angelicos
and give you a kickback? No.
I want you to buy from me,
but to sell for yourselves,
set your own prices... What you do
with the fishscale after that, it's on you.
Man: You want to network.
That's what this is about.
This is about smart business.
Think on this...
It's a win-win for all of us,
and there doesn't have to be any losers.
We know that you've been traveling
back and forth to jalisco.
We spoke to the girls... You promised them
a modeling career in the states.
We offered them a better life.
Green: Better life?
By turning innocent girls into prostitutes?
If you'd ever been to jalisco, officer,
you'd understand that is a better life.
Oh, I've been to jalisco, and I know it well.
You're not seeing jalisco.
When I was six, my father hired a coyote to get our family out.
15 days we traveled through the desert
in hopes of a better life.
My mother died on that trip.
So, yeah...
I do know what people will do to get out.
The babies.
What did you do with the babies?
(Pounds table) Where are the babies, Elena! Huh?
If another girl from jalisco ends up dead,
I will personally put you in the ground.
If another girl from jalisco ends up dead,
I'll be doing this world a favor.
Make no mistake...
You are going to tell us. Is that a threat?
(Grunts)
Now...
If you don't mind, I'd like a tissue,
and my lawyer.
(Latin hip-hop playing)
(Turns off music)
Nothing grows in the dark, Carlos.
Jesus, go.
What are you looking at him for? Go.
(Sighs)
Now, I know you're upset with me, son.
I had to let lavar's son go.
It's not as simple as revenge, Carlos.
You'll see that someday.
No, truth is, even if you busted that kid up...
It wouldn't change a damn thing about my life.
You see, tomorrow, I'm gonna wake up...
And I'm still gonna be in this damn chair.
Nothing you could've done is gonna change that.
No.
I told you...
We were gonna get through this, and we will.
We have found you the best
spinal rehab specialist in California,
and he's gonna do everything he can, so help me God,
to get you out of this damn chair.
(Speaks Spanish)
(Quietly): Yeah.
Good.
Marco.
Come in.
This is Marco pontrelli.
Army medic. Served two tours
in Afghanistan.
That's good.
You're angry.
Anger's a great motivator.
But first you're gonna need to learn how to use it.
Oh, I know how to use my anger.
You just better hope you don't see it firsthand.
Carlos... No, it's okay, Mr. acosta.
Marco: When my doctor told me I'd probably never walk again,
I felt the same way you do... Pissed at the world.
Been looking at your X-ray.
Bullet fragments pressed
against the l-4 and the l-5, but...
No breaks, no severed cord.
What does that mean? What it means is...
means you could still get out of that chair.
I can't promise you're gonna walk again, Carlos,
but if you listen to me, you work your ass off,
man up and trust me,
you just might.
Ryan: Tae, turn up the volume in there.
(Man and Elena speak Spanish)
Nothing.
I told them nothing.
Nothing.
Good.
What's he doing?
We got to get in there right now.
Good-bye, Elena.
(Elena screams) (Stabbing)
Open the door! Open the door!
Hands on your head!
Get on your knees!
Up on your knees, let's go.
Up. Get over here!
(Groans)
(Grunts)
(Groans in pain)
Damn it! (Groans)
(Panting)
What has this got to do with me learning to walk again, eh?
You have to learn to use the chair before you leave it.
You have to relearn to live in your home,
comfortably and happily. You probably
never had to think about getting into bed before.
Or the chair, right?
You just, you kick off your slippers
you dust off your feet and jump in.
I ain't no slipper kind of guy. Fair enough.
Now... when you get into bed,
or the chair... It's a process.
You post up first with your hands...
And then you make your move to the chair...
Or the bed.
You make your move too soon, you're gonna flip
the chair every time. (Panting)
All right, let's go again.
(Carlos gasps)
(Groans)
(Panting)
(Grunts)
(Groans in pain)
Damn it! Oh... Everything
taken for granted... Has to be relearned.
You know how they say you got to crawl before you walk, Carlos?
You have to learn to roll... Before you walk.
(Panting)
What you giving me a drink for, homie?
I didn't make it to that chair.
It's not about making it to the chair, man.
It's about making the effort.
(Quiet laugh)
Sam: We need you to go see Anton.
I can't.
It's too dangerous, captain.
Sam: I wouldn't ask
if there was any other option.
(Door closes)
(Speaks Russian)
(Lock buzzes, latch clicks) Guard: Time's up.
Where are minnie and wheatie?
Not all of you accepted my generosity.
Only you, men with vision, did.
Who's your new comrade,
slotko? Ivan letnov.
He's here from the old country.
He'll be our man on the ground
overseeing our fishscale business.
Good.
You accept our terms.
Yeah, but not the prices.
We both know that our network
reaches further than...
Any one of theirs.
Your fishscale will be sold in New York, Russia, Miami,
Chicago, Prague... And you know why?
Because we have base for our operation everywhere.
None of them can offer you that.
So he gets a better price?
I'm out.
So am I. Idea of being in bed with you
border jumpers makes me sick anyhow.
That's unfortunate, but not unexpected.
In fact, minnie and wheatie felt the same way, too.
(Trunk opens)
This is my final offer.
You can make more money than you ever imagined. Or...
Die broke.
It's your call.
Lourdes said she smelled bleach; She heard barking dogs.
Why would there be barking dogs at a hospital?
Uh, may-maybe pasha's isn't a ob-gyn.
Maybe he's a veterinarian.
It's worth a try. Let's run it.
(Chuckles)
Pasha trotken, veterinarian.
Sam: Nice job, vee.
(Knocking, door opens)
Got a minute? Yeah.
Señor mendoza.
Thank you for allowing me to...
To come in after hours, eh?
Always. We're here to serve. Uh, sit... sit down.
How are eunice and Gilberto?
Uh, that's why I'm here.
There is, uh... (Unzip bag)
$42,252.
He's very lucky to have a grandfather like you.
I was explaining to Mr. mendoza that
since he hasn't declared the money for tax purposes,
we can't accept his deposit
without filing a cash transaction report.
That's correct. Hey, bu-but Danny, um, I'm a gardener.
Most of my life, uh, I was paid less than five dollars an hour.
I-I couldn't afford to pay taxes.
I understand.
Mr. mendoza was hoping we might be able
to make an exception with the paperwork?
Señor mendoza,
I want to help. I do, okay?
But unless you're willing to declare that money,
it's illegal for me to accept it.
There must be, uh, some way around it?
I have to do things by the book,
or all of my other clients could potentially suffer.
I'm truly sorry.
Lo siento. Nelson: These are surveillance photos
taken from the grand opening of Daniel's bank. Can a bank
this size handle the kind of cash we're talking about?
You'd be amazed what a bank this size can handle
when no one's looking. Here's our man.
Captain chapel. Agent Thomas luiz,
aka Billy cabrera.
He's currently working undercover as the loan manager
at Daniel acosta's bank.
Nice to meet you, sir.
Hey.
Uh, agent Nelson and I were just discussing
the enormous influx of cash that Los angelicos can expect
to receive through the sale of fishscale.
We think acosta's gonna try to clean it through your bank.
All due respect, sir, I don't think so.
Look, I know I've only known Daniel a short time,
but everything about this guy tells me he's...
Not the type to break the rules.
Well, he doesn't have to break 'em, he just has to bend 'em.
And you have to find a reason for him to do that.
Yes, sir.
Jesus: You sure this is cool, Carlos?
Don't mean to sound soft, but... I worry about you.
Ain't you supposed to be, like, rehabbing? (Scoffs, laughs)
It's all good, Jesus. All rehab and no fun
makes Carlos dull, you know?
Besides... I ain't seen the homies in a while.
Huh? (Woman whoops) Know what I mean, brother?
Good to see you, homie. Okay.
(Speaking Spanish)
I'm talking about, we got everybody... oh.
(Hooting, whistling) Man: Yeah, yeah.
Yo, who's this?
That's your welcome home gift, carnal.
(Chuckles) Put her down.
Take her for a ride, big c. Yeah.
Yeah, take me for a ride.
Carlos: All right, all right, all right.
(Whooping, whistling)
Lead the way, mama.
♪ Tra tra tranquila ♪
♪ Dale baby que tu eres LA que más Domina ♪
♪ Impresionante demasiado elegante ♪
♪ Vamos a hacerlo ma que brillé como un diamante ♪
♪ Tu estas bien nice vamos a hacerlo twice ♪
You good, papi?
All good.
Mmm...
Everything okay down there?
Yeah. Yeah, you just keep doing what you're doing, mama.
♪ Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow ♪
♪ He he hey hey hey ven acá no pierdas El tiempo ♪
♪ Aprovecha El momento y tranquila ♪
♪ Déjate llevar, échate pa acá ♪
(Exhales)
Don't worry, Carlos. It happens to everyone.
Not to me, it doesn't.
It's gonna be our little secret, okay?
(Soft laugh)
♪ Tra tra tranquila ♪
♪ Dale baby que tu eres LA que más Domina ♪
♪ Mode up, mode up, mode up, mode up, mode up... ♪
You're asking for a warrant on a veterinarian with no priors
and no record whatsoever? I know it's a long shot, but he's our only lead.
Yeah, a lead from a lifer whose name no one'll give me
to confirm the information.
That's good enough for me. Yeah, but it's not for me.
I could get a lot of heat from my boss for requesting it.
Look, just give me the name of the felon
whose tip you're going off of.
If we give up the name of a ci,
he'll never give us another lead.
Look, I know we're asking you to go out on a limb, but they're
young girls and their babies on the line. That's if they're
still out there. And if you're wrong, you're willing to risk
your job on this? I'm going in there with or without a warrant.
I'll get you your warrant.
Go make it right.
Thanks, Jess.
Yeah.
(Dogs barking)
(Lock snaps, clatters)
(Gasps, mug shatters)
Go, go, go, go!
(Dogs continue barking)
(Indistinct shouting)
Put it down! Put the gun down!
Let the woman go!
(Screaming) Put it down!
Let the woman go! Let the woman go!
(Door crashes open, woman screams)
(Shouting)
Weapon down!
(Dotsen shouting in Russian) Get on the ground now!
Now!
(Barking continues)
You cuff him!
(Crying)
(Sobbing, shouting in Russian)
(Screaming) Freeze!
Keep your hands up! Do not move!
(Screaming, sobbing continues)
Hands up.
Where is the doctor?
(Shouting in Russian) Where is the doctor?
He went that way. All right.
Come with me.
Go get the doctor.
(Sobbing, speaking Spanish)
Go find letnov.
(Sobbing continues)
(Dogs barking)
(Grunting)
Pasha trotken, you're under arrest.
(Babies crying)
I'm good here.
Go find letnov.
I need medics back here.
Officer: Roger that.
Letnov, freeze! I've got letnov
in the north hallway to the main entrance.
(Dogs barking)
(Grunting)
(Grunting continues)
He's down, Lopez. He's down, man.
(Panting)
(Coughs, gun clicks)
Why'd you do it?
Why'd you take these girls from jalisco?
You're brown.
You should know these girls better than anyone.
Your precious Mexican girls can keep getting pregnant
and spit out their blond puppies
better than any other breed of bitch.
They're baby-making machines.
Put the gun down, Lopez. He ain't worth it.
Ryan.
(Panting)
Don't do it.
You heard the man, Lopez.
Back off. That's an order.
(Grunting)
(Letnov coughs, gasps)
(Gate squeaks shut)
(Barking)
(Screaming)
(Barking and screaming continue)
(Door bells chime)
So, where we going?
To pay the metas.
The small bag's their rent, carnal.
I know it's not rent.
Why we giving them the big bag?
It's a down payment on our family's freedom.
Carnal...
To get out, we have to pay our way out.
The profits we earn from gaining control of
the fishscale is how we do it.
This... Is our retirement plan, gordo.
Retirement? You're not the type to take up fishing or golf.
You've been swimming in these waters for a long time.
Waters full of tiburones.
And you've always been the biggest shark.
The size of the shark doesn't matter,
if they got one of your children.
I need to get out... For the family.
After Carlos, I can't watch another of mine be eaten alive.
Javier...
This is the only place outside of pátzcuaro
that makes the carnitas tacos the way they're supposed to be.
The key is to marinate it in adovad sauce
for six days. Six days.
Mm-hmm. I know.
This bag is bigger, no?
Sí, it is.
The quicker your return, the quicker my buyout.
Quicker buyout?
You just agreed to make a two-year plan with the metas.
We're expecting $20 million a year into my pocket
from the fishscale business.
I understand your concern,
which is why I'm willing to offer compensation.
You're making me an offer?
(Laughs)
I don't think you're in any position
to be offering me anything, javier.
(Chuckles)
What if I offered $50 million,
but in one year?
Do you think just because
your son Carlos fell and scraped his knee
that you can just walk away from this deal?
I'm not some loan
you took out at a mom and pop bank like Daniel's.
$100 million in 18 months.
Money cleaner than a baby's ass, javier. Hey?
In addition,
you'll hand over all of Los angelicos
and non-fishscale business.
That's, uh, identity theft, narcotics, ebt cards,
as well as all the mule routes and the distribution routes.
My people will take over.
Everything you own will be mine.
You think this through, javier.
Once you say yes,
my bosses will expect you to meet every payment deadline.
No excuses for late payments.
They'll hold you and your family accountable.
Once you shake on this,
the word of God will not undo it.
(Medical monitor beeping)
Hola, lourdes.
(Laughs)
(Fussing) (Laughs)
Gracias.
(Fussing) Gracias. Muchas gracias.
(Fussing)
I just wanted to say thank you.
For what?
For convincing me.
This one did make it right.
It's been a long day.
You up for a drink?
Definitely.
Well, all right.
All right.
Drinks.
Here you go.
(Laughs gently)
You know, I never dated a cop before.
Seriously. Figured having a dad for one was punishment enough.
You know, all the running out on soccer games and dinners.
The missed birthdays... I remember
when he missed my fourth grade easter pageant.
And let me tell you, I played a hell of an easter bunny.
I can see that.
Fluffy tail, buck teeth.
Had your hop down?
I remember when the play ended, I ran off stage
just to see what he thought.
And there was my mom, standing in the wings,
with the same look of apology on her face.
I never understood what he was doing that was more important.
The job... it's a constant pull
of where we want to be and where we need to be.
(Phone chimes)
And where do you want to be right now, Ryan?
(Singing on TV)
(Knocking on door)
(Sighs)
(Door opens)
It's a little early to be crawling in the bottle, man.
Done rehabbing today.
Get the hell out of here.
Something happen you want to talk about?
Why would I talk to you, ese?
You ain't my friend.
And my dad pays you, so that makes you my bitch.
(Sniffles)
I have been exactly where you are.
It helps to talk about it.
Get out. No.
If you're gonna get out of that chair,
you're gonna have to dig deep.
That means dealing with all kinds of pain,
not just physical.
You're gonna have to crawl out of that bottle and man up.
You want me to man up? That's right.
You're right.
(Grunting)
(Blows thudding, grunting)
(Groaning) (Grunting)
(Groaning)
(Pained groaning)
(Groaning)
(Panting)
(Groaning)
That man enough for you, bitch?
Sorry I'm late. I was out.
Javier: I called you last night. Where have you been?
A woman?
(Laughs)
I know that look. No.
You better tell me about her.
No, no, it's nothing. It's just, uh...
Just business.
That's a big smile for "just business."
Hope I get to meet her some day.
Now, do you know who slotko yegenev is?
Yeah.
Local head of rmf.
That's right. He's also my newest partner
in the fishscale pipeline.
His man in L.A., Ivan letnov,
is locked up in county without bail.
Yeah, I know. I put him there.
Heard he's pretty chewed up.
Some dogs had at him?
Nothing he didn't have coming.
Nevertheless...
I need those charges to go away.
I can't do that, javier.
Why is that?
What he did to these girls, their babies.
No.
No one gets to walk away from that.
Slotko and the rmf are my biggest subcontractors
in distributing fishscale.
I need him to be happy.
No.
If Ivan doesn't get out,
we are risking
a significant percentage of our distribution,
and my relationship with slotko.
Your arrest is delaying my ability, our ability,
to get the family out of this.
Nobody wants to see our family get out more than I do.
But if it means letting men like Ivan walk,
I'm willing to wait.
I've done everything you've asked for you, our family.
I need this...
For me.
Captioned by media access group at wgbh access.Wgbh.Org