American Desperado

American Desperado recounts the life story of Jon Roberts, a notorious drug trafficker who became one of America's most successful cocaine smugglers during the 1980s Miami drug trade. The book is co-written by journalist Evan Wright, who conducted extensive interviews with Roberts before his death in 2011. The narrative traces Roberts' path from his early days in New York's criminal underground through his evolution into a key figure in the Medellín Cartel's U.S. operations. Roberts' direct involvement in organized crime, military service in Vietnam, and eventual rise in the cocaine trade forms the core of this biographical account. The book presents Roberts' story through his own words and Wright's reporting, incorporating additional sources and fact-checking to verify or challenge Roberts' claims. Multiple perspectives from law enforcement officials, criminal associates, and other figures from Roberts' past contribute to the documentation of his criminal career. This biography explores themes of morality, power, and the dark side of the American Dream, offering an unvarnished view into how organized crime operated during a transformative period in U.S. history.

Readers describe this as a raw, unflinching look into organized crime through Jon Roberts' first-hand accounts. Many note the book reads like a movie script, with detailed stories about Roberts' time in Vietnam, organized crime operations, and cocaine trafficking. Readers appreciated: - The level of detail in Roberts' recollections - The co-author's fact-checking and verification of claims - The insight into cartel operations and law enforcement - The straightforward, unapologetic writing style Common criticisms: - Roberts comes across as sociopathic and unlikeable - Some readers found the violence gratuitous - Questions about the truthfulness of certain claims - Repetitive storytelling in parts Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,800+ ratings) One reader noted: "Like watching a car crash in slow motion - horrifying but impossible to look away from." Multiple reviewers mentioned feeling conflicted about enjoying a book written by someone who committed serious crimes.

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🔹 Jon Roberts, the book's subject, helped smuggle an estimated $2 billion worth of cocaine into the US during the 1980s before becoming an informant and being featured in the documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" 🔹 Co-author Evan Wright spent hundreds of hours interviewing Roberts while he was dying of cancer, capturing stories that had never been told before, including Roberts' work with the CIA and his connection to the JFK assassination 🔹 The book reveals that Roberts (born John Riccobono) was the son of a Sicilian Mafia enforcer and witnessed his first murder at age seven when his father killed a man in their kitchen 🔹 Despite his criminal past, Roberts briefly worked as a technical advisor on the film "Miami Vice" and helped coordinate stunts for action sequences 🔹 After entering witness protection, Roberts managed a successful nightclub in Miami Beach and dated numerous celebrities, including a well-known supermodel, while maintaining connections to both law enforcement and organized crime