I Was a Vice Lord From Compton — Then Spent 22 Years in Mississippi's Worst Prison | Diaz Aguilar

Diaz Aguilar grew up in Compton California raised by a single mother who struggled with addiction — and when the streets filled the gap the Vice Lords became his family. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, he shares how a trip to Chicago pulled him into the Vice Lords, how a trip to Mississippi ended with a manslaughter charge for something he says he did not do, and what losing at trial and being sentenced to 20 years in Mississippi's most brutal maximum security prison actually felt like for a Vice Lord from Compton who knew he was innocent. He opens up about the prison politics inside Mississippi's worst facility, what life as a Vice Lord inside those walls actually required of him, and what 22 years of wrongful incarceration really does to a person before they find a way to keep going. _____________________________________________ #wrongfulconviction #TrueCrime #prison _____________________________________________ Connect with Diaz Aguilar:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diaz_santiago_55?igsh=MTZvMWkxM2U4MDB6dA== _____________________________________________ Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZYDGM5J?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_apan_dp_Y0MGDT0AZRAAQKJ14QC9&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_apan_dp_Y0MGDT0AZRAAQKJ14QC9&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_apan_dp_Y0MGDT0AZRAAQKJ14QC9&bestFormat=true&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaccY68BMUhqLOhGfqVyG5b0jFGHckUvPBwgIetA_Sm_iCFscImzCEQEJWavmA_aem_mhRhsWedJChoBH70P-GvTA&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ig ____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Diaz Aguilar's Story 00:18 Growing Up in Compton 01:41 Mother's Addiction & Early Hardships 03:59 Friendships & Finding Family 05:04 Reflections on Mother-Son Relationship 07:36 Childhood Trouble & Gang Influence 09:01 Neighborhood Gangs and Associations 10:03 Joining the Vice Lords 13:13 Gang Symbolism & Identity 14:55 Dreams, Aspirations, and Early Outlook 16:18 School Life and Influential Teacher 17:52 Writing Inspiration & Starting a Book 21:02 Adoption, Family Changes & Moving to Mississippi 25:31 Troubled Adoption and Feeling Isolated 28:44 Mississippi: New Beginnings and Trouble 31:31 The Incident: Manslaughter Charge 38:12 Court, Trial, and Sentencing 43:03 Life in Mississippi State Penitentiary 50:12 Gang Dynamics and Prison Politics 01:00:19 Economics of Prison: Protection and Extortion 01:08:45 Adapting and Surviving in Prison 01:13:15 Solitary Confinement and Mental Health 01:17:51 Struggles for Justice & Maintaining Innocence 01:23:00 Life After Release: Reentry Challenges 01:24:47 Relationships, Intimacy & PTSD  01:26:34 Making Peace and Coping with Trauma 01:33:32 Thoughts on Gang Life Now 01:34:12 Wisdom Gained: Reflections on Life 01:35:50 Life Today: Work, Books & New Beginnings 01:38:40 Closing Thoughts & Farewell _____________________________________________  To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka