Complex sentence: Smith was the clandestine protector of two rival criminal families, the Herricks and the Kafesjians, in the 1930s and in 1942 he murdered José Diaz in the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder case.
Split into simpler sentences: Smith was the clandestine protector of two rival criminal families, the Herricks and the Kafesjians, in the 1930s. In 1942 he murdered José Diaz in the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder case.