Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Hilary Hernandez
Former Bronx high school dean Israel Garcia’s family says he is a loving father figure who turned his life around.
His students say he was an encouraging mentor who helped them understand that coming from a rough neighborhood doesn’t stop you from achieving something more.
The federal government says he’s the kingpin in a gang-led drug conspiracy—a Maserati-driving criminal who orchestrated drug sales on his old block, and that his day job was a convenient cover story.