American Desperado
My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset
-
- $14.99
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
The true story of super-criminal Jon Roberts, star of the documentary Cocaine Cowboys.
American Desperado is Roberts’ no-holds-barred account of being born into Mafia royalty, witnessing his first murder at the age of seven, becoming a hunter-assassin in Vietnam, returning to New York to become--at age 22--one of the city’s leading nightclub impresarios, then journeying to Miami where in a few short years he would rise to become the Medellin Cartel’s most effective smuggler.
But that’s just half the tale.
The roster of Roberts’ friends and acquaintances reads like a Who’s Who of the latter half of the 20th century and includes everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Richard Pryor, and O.J. Simpson to Carlo Gambino, Meyer Lansky, and Manuel Noriega.
Nothing if not colorful, Roberts surrounded himself with beautiful women, drove his souped-up street car at a top speed of 180 miles per hour, shared his bed with a 200-pound cougar, and employed a 6”6” professional wrestler called “The Thing” as his bodyguard. Ultimately, Roberts became so powerful that he attracted the attention of the Republican Party’s leadership, was wooed by them, and even was co-opted by the CIA for which he carried out its secret agenda.
Scrupulously documented and relentlessly propulsive, this collaboration between a bloodhound journalist and one of the most audacious criminals ever is like no other crime book you’ve ever read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jon Roberts was perhaps the most infamous and powerful man in the United States at one time, but most people have never even heard of him. In this fascinating and scrupulously detailed account, Roberts's life from his days as head of the drug cartel in Florida to his time as an assassin in Vietnam is for the first time revealed to the world. This gripping audio edition is read by a large, gifted cast of narrators, including Mark Bramhall as Roberts, Erik Davies, Mark Deakins, Kirby Heyborne, Thomas Vincent Kelly, and Jonathan McClain. Bramhall's standout performance is stern and composed, well capturing Roberts's cool exterior. When an audiobook is this good, listening becomes a compulsive act. A Crown hardcover.
Customer Reviews
Very good read
I recommend this to anyone familiar or curious about the drug trade in Miami in the late 70's and 80's. I only wish I could continue reading and researching stories from this time. Outstanding book. Jon although a cruel person can really captivate an audience with his stories. Evan wright is an incredible author and recounts the words of others perfectly in his books.
Amazing read
I watched the cocaine Cowboys doco many years ago and fell in love with the story and drama. I was always very keen to hear Jon's side of the tale. So when I found this book I got to reading right away. The pages flowed with the same speed and amazing stories that filled the doco. Don't get me wrong if you have seen the films then this is familiar territory. However you do get an amazing back story to some jaw dropping moments in some balls out moments. I have to say though, the sheer gravity of this book is amazing and the implications are unbelievable. If you want to see an "evil" man at work than you have the right book.