Mike Beltran, known for his distinctive braided beard and commanding presence in the UFC octagon, has been the subject of controversy beyond his refereeing duties. According to a recent exposé, Beltran’s role as a Los Angeles County Sheriff may have a darker side connected to internal sheriff department gangs.
Beltran, who has officiated high-profile UFC bouts including Leon Edwards versus Belal Muhammad 2 and José Aldo versus Mario Bautista, reportedly bears a tattoo associated with “Los Bandidos,” one of approximately 20 gangs allegedly operating within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The expose claims that to receive such a tattoo, members must “chase ink” by committing acts of violence or police br*tality as part of an initiation process. Beltran’s tattoo allegedly includes “ELA” (East Los Angeles) text, which is described as part of the registered gang symbol.
A 2002 court filing is cited in the expose, involving a case where Beltran was mentioned by name. According to the account, a former Mexican Mafia gang member named Salvador Solless sought protective custody while in LA County jail. Beltran, who was working in a unit gathering intelligence on gang activity, allegedly failed to provide proper protection and instead attempted to place Solless as an informant among active gang members. Two weeks later, Solless was reportedly attacked by gang members who claimed Beltran had “given him up.”
The court allegedly criticized Beltran for being uncooperative during the investigation, though insufficient evidence prevented prosecution. The expose suggests that while Beltran openly embraces his Mexican-American heritage through clothing and imagery, his continued display of alleged gang-affiliated symbols raises questions about his past and present associations.
