Honor Among Thieves Podcast

In this powerful episode of Honor Among Thieves, Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with Craig Dean, a man who was sentenced to life without parole at just 17 years old after a tragic incident left an innocent 11-year-old girl paralyzed. Growing up in the streets of Miami during the height of the crack epidemic, Craig was pulled into a life of crime at an early age—surrounded by drugs, violence, and survival instincts that shaped his path. By his teenage years, he was already deeply embedded in the drug trade, making thousands of dollars a week and operating in one of the most dangerous environments in the country. But everything changed after a robbery retaliation led to a shooting that would alter multiple lives forever. Craig was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars—entering one of the harshest prison systems in America. Inside Florida state prison, Craig faced extreme violence, survival challenges, and the brutal realities of incarceration. From navigating dangerous prison politics to witnessing firsthand the dark side of prison life, his story reveals what truly happens behind the walls. After more than two decades in prison, something unbelievable happened. The very victim in Craig’s case publicly forgave him—even advocating for his release. This moment sparked a chain of events that led to a major legal breakthrough, including a Supreme Court decision that ultimately gave Craig a second chance at life. Now free after serving over 20 years, Craig shares how he rebuilt his life from nothing—earning his CDL, becoming a truck driver, and dedicating himself to giving back to the community and mentoring others to avoid the same path. This is more than a true crime story—it's a powerful example of redemption, forgiveness, and transformation. Chapters 0:00 Intro 4:15 Overtown Miami – Crack Epidemic & Drug War (90s) 11:13 How Craig Dean Entered the Drug Game 19:55 The Crime That Led to a Life Sentence 25:20 Sentenced to Life Without Parole at 17 31:00 First Night in Florida State Prison 35:38 Prison Predators – Inside Florida State Prison 45:29 20 Years Into a Life Sentence (Prison Reality) 52:14 Pro Bono Lawyers Fight His Life Sentence Case 56:04 Victim Forgives Him on National TV 1:03:01 Released From Prison After Life Sentence (Miracle Case) 1:09:01 Redemption After 20 Years in Prison 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Craig on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chicoboss81/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Honor Among Thieves Podcast, we bring you the final installment of the Miami Kingpins series featuring James “Boss Man” Sawyer, the real life Manny Ray — the right-hand man and enforcer for Big Ike (Isaac Hicks) during the height of Miami’s cocaine era. In this episode, Boss Man takes us deep inside the streets of 1980s Miami, where drug empires were built overnight and millions of dollars moved through the city every single week. From growing up in Liberty City, to entering the streets at just 9 years old, to eventually running large-scale operations under Big Ike, this is a story of power, loyalty, and survival. Boss Man reveals how the operation scaled to: 27 active drug spots running 24/7 across Miami Generating $7,000+ per night at the lowest-level spot Moving 50–60 kilos of cocaine at a time during peak operations He also breaks down what it meant to be an enforcer in one of Miami’s most feared organizations, handling debt collection, managing crews, and maintaining control during one of the most dangerous eras in U.S. history. 💥 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE: The rise of Big Ike’s drug empire in Miami How Boss Man became the right-hand man and enforcer The reality of running multi-million dollar street operations Inside the 1980s cocaine boom and Miami crime scene The moment the feds offered him $10,000/month to cooperate — and why he refused High-speed chases, federal surveillance, and getting taken down The mindset required to survive 31 years in prison 🎯 WHY THIS STORY MATTERS This episode is more than just a story — it’s a firsthand account of one of the most impactful eras in American true crime history. From the streets of Miami to the federal prison system, Boss Man’s journey highlights: The rise and fall of drug trafficking empires The reality behind organized crime in the 80s The long-term consequences of the street life Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Boss Man, Big Ike & 31 Years in Prison 07:30 – Growing Up in Liberty City & Entering the Streets at 9 16:30 – Violence Young: Jamaicans, Guns & Surviving at 13 25:30 – Juvenile Jail & Life on the 10th Floor 34:30 – Miami Before the Boom: Riots, Chaos & the Streets 43:30 – Meeting Big Ike & Becoming His Right-Hand Man 52:00 – Drug Empire: 27 Spots, Millions & The Federal Takedown 1:00:50 – Redemption and Life Today 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Boss Man on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bossmanjsawyer/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Honor Among Thieves Podcast, host Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with legendary Miami drug kingpin Bo Dilley, one of the most infamous figures from the 1980s cocaine era when Miami became the center of the global drug trade. Bo Dilley shares his unbelievable story of growing up in the streets of Miami during the 1970s and witnessing the transition from heroin to cocaine, when cocaine quickly became the most profitable drug on the streets. From hustling as a kid to being fronted five kilos of cocaine by a Colombian supplier, Bo Dilley explains how he built a massive drug operation that was moving multiple kilos of cocaine every day across Miami. As the cocaine business exploded, Bo Dilley describes the scale of money moving through the streets, explaining how dealers could make tens of thousands of dollars per day and how the drug trade grew into a national network with buyers flying into Miami from across the country. But the drug game was only part of the story. Bo Dilley also talks about his legendary high-stakes gambling lifestyle, flying to Las Vegas on private jets and betting hundreds of thousands of dollars at casinos like Caesars Palace and the Horseshoe. He shares stories about winning millions, losing fortunes, and the adrenaline of gambling massive sums of money in Vegas. The conversation then turns to the consequences of the lifestyle. Bo Dilley explains how he was eventually charged with federal conspiracy charges, received a life sentence, and spent over 30 years in federal prison before eventually being released after changes to federal sentencing laws. Bo Dilley also shares powerful stories from inside the federal prison system, including riots, violence, gambling behind bars, and how prison changes a man after decades of incarceration. This is a rare and raw firsthand account from someone who lived through the Miami cocaine era, the rise of drug kingpins, the world of high-stakes gambling, and the reality of federal prison. If you're interested in true crime, Miami drug wars, cocaine trafficking, gambling culture, and prison stories, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. Key Topics Covered • Growing up in Miami’s streets during the 1970s • The transition in the underground drug market in the 1970s and 1980s • How Bo Dilley was fronted five kilos that launched his empire • The economics of the Miami cocaine trade • Moving kilos and building a national drug network • High-stakes Las Vegas gambling and million-dollar bets • The dangers of the life and corruption in the streets • Bo Dilley’s life sentence and 30 years in federal prison • Prison riots, violence, and surviving decades behind bars Chapters 0:00 – Introduction to Miami Kingpin Bo Dilley 2:09 – Bo Dilley’s Story: Growing Up in 1970s Miami 9:01 – The Rise of the Miami Cocaine Era in the Late 1970s 12:55 – The 5 Key Deal That Started Bo Dilley’s Empire 20:15 – Making Millions in the Miami Drug Trade 28:01 – Bo Dilley’s War With Crooked Miami Police 32:55 – When Crack Hit the Streets 37:01 – The Legend of Big Ike in the Miami Drug Game 40:41 – Bo Dilley’s High-Stakes Las Vegas Gambling Life 50:44 – The Beginning of the End of a Miami Kingpin 1:00:15 – Bo Dilley’s 30 Years in Federal Prison 1:10:38 – Life After Prison: Bo Dilley’s Redemption Story 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Bo Dilly on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegreatbodilley/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this explosive episode of Honor Among Thieves, Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with Convertible Burt, one of the most infamous figures from Miami’s street history. Known as a Miami kingpin from Liberty City, Burt built a powerful drug empire during one of the most dangerous eras in the city’s history. Growing up on 15th Avenue in Liberty City, a street once considered one of the most active drug corridors in the United States, Burt was exposed to hustlers, pimps, and organized crime from a young age — an environment that ultimately shaped the path of his life. Burt explains how he transitioned from a promising high-school athlete and wrestling champion to becoming a major player in Miami’s underground economy. After early arrests and time behind bars as a teenager, he returned to the streets and began organizing drug operations across multiple neighborhoods including Liberty City, Opa-locka, and Little Haiti, eventually running several 24-hour trap houses simultaneously and generating thousands of dollars per day. The streets would eventually give him the nickname “Convertible Burt” after he became known for driving luxury convertible cars while operating his expanding operation. As the heat from police task forces intensified in Miami, Burt made a bold move to Atlanta during the late 1980s, where he became part of the infamous “Miami Boys” era, a period when Miami drug crews expanded their operations into other major U.S. cities. He describes the strategy behind building a drug network in a new city, recruiting crews, securing territory, and surviving violent turf wars with local dealers. This episode is a rare first-hand account of Miami’s golden era of street hustlers, the rise of organized drug operations in the 1980s, and the realities of federal prison that followed. After decades behind bars — serving nearly 24 years in federal prison — Convertible Burt reflects on the choices that led him there and how he’s now focused on giving back through media projects and community work. If you’re interested in true crime, Miami drug history, federal prison stories, cartel-era drug trafficking, and the real stories behind America’s most notorious street legends, this episode delivers an unfiltered look at a world few people ever see. Chapters 0:00 Intro – Miami Kingpin Convertible Burt Interview 5:49 15th Avenue Liberty City – One of America’s Most Notorious Drug Streets 14:20 Convertible Burt Enters Miami’s Drug Game 23:54 The Graveyard Projects – Miami’s Drug Dealing Gold Mine 30:44 Structuring the Operation – How Burt Organized His Drug Empire 38:01 Running 5 Trap Houses 24/7 Across Miami 43:51 Why Convertible Burt Took His Drug Operation to Atlanta 48:11 Entering Atlanta – How the “Miami Boys” Set Up Shop 1:01:39 Leaving Miami Behind to Build an Atlanta Drug Empire 1:05:09 Convertible Burt’s Friendship With Mike Tyson 1:14:25 Redemption – Life After Federal Prison 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Convertible Burt on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theworldfamousconvertibleburt4/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of Honor Among Thieves, Miami’s “Lone Wolf” Ulysses breaks down what it was really like surviving West Coast federal prison politics, navigating California gangland yards, and doing time inside Lompoc federal Prison after running multi-state drug operations between Miami and Los Angeles. From buying cartel-connected product at “border price” in California to witnessing the racial politics of West Coast prison systems, this episode dives deep into: The difference between the Miami drug game vs. LA cartel supply chains How federal prison politics operate on the West Coast The reality of racial riots inside California prisons Life at Lompoc Federal Prison (medium → low → camp) Oklahoma transfer center (Con Air transport process explained) Prison gangs, paperwork checks, and yard politics Drugs inside federal prison (more than the streets?) CARES Act release during COVID Prosecutorial pressure & cooperation deals Inside stories involving high-profile Colombian traffickers The politics behind federal sentencing Ulysses explains how he survived a 120 month sentence in the federal system without cooperating, how prison structures differ between East Coast and West Coast yards, and why California politics are considered some of the most serious in the Bureau of Prisons. If you want real insight into how the federal system operates — from indictment to Con Air transport to yard politics — this episode delivers. Chapters 00:00 – Miami vs LA Drug Game 08:12 – Early Drug Life & Addiction at 12 Years Old 17:05 – Life Before TSA: Moving Product Pre-9/11 24:26 – Federal Indictment & Con Air Transfer to Oklahoma 32:40 – Lompoc Federal Prison: West Coast Prison Politics 41:07 – Medium → Low → Camp: Federal Prison Differences 44:20 – CARES Act Release & Life After Federal Prison 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Ulysses on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dakingsmia305/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this explosive episode of Honor Among Thieves, Ulysses Guevara-Ocana breaks down his journey from a teenage cocaine dealer in Miami’s Sweetwater and Little Havana to becoming a wholesale cartel plug operating between Florida, California, Chicago, and beyond. Born to a Cuban father from the Mariel boatlift and a Mexican mother from Michoacán, Ulysses grew up inside the cocaine era that shaped 80s and 90s Miami. From breaking down bricks of “fish scale” cocaine for massive profit to dealing directly with Mexican cartel suppliers, he reveals how federal prison ultimately ended a multi-state drug operation that once generated six figures a month. This is a raw, unfiltered true crime story about cartel connections, federal indictments, meth trafficking, and redemption after prison. 🚨 In This Episode, We Discuss: Growing up in Miami’s cocaine era with family ties to the drug trade Selling fish scale cocaine in middle school during the late 90s Breaking down a kilo for $50K–$60K profit during peak Miami prices Corruption, Miami Beach police raids, and beating early drug charges Transitioning from retail street dealing to wholesale distribution Moving to California and cutting out the middleman at the border Working directly with Mexican cartel suppliers at ranch meetings Nationwide distribution from Los Angelesto Chicago to Miami The economics of cocaine trafficking vs. meth trafficking How a long-time acquaintance secretly working as a federal informant led to indictment Facing federal prison and serving time for meth distribution Why drug money isn’t “easy money” — and the reality behind the illusion Life after prison, trucking, and rebuilding from scratch Ulysses’ story is more than a cartel plug narrative — it’s a cautionary tale about the illusion of fast money, the inevitability of federal investigations, and the cost of long-term street loyalty. From six-figure months moving weight across state lines to sitting in federal prison, this episode exposes the real consequences behind the glamorized drug kingpin lifestyle. If you’re interested in true crime, federal prison stories, cartel operations, drug trafficking economics, and redemption after incarceration — this is an episode you cannot miss. Chapters 0:00 Intro – From Miami Fish Scale to Mexican Cartel Plug 3:00 Growing Up During Miami’s Cocaine Era (Cuban & Mexican Roots) 10:00 Middle School Drug Dealing & Juvenile Arrests 15:30 Cocaine Addiction, Rehab & Choosing the Street Life 20:00 Breaking Down a Kilo – Cocaine Profit Explained 26:00 First Major Drug Arrest in Miami Beach 37:30 Leaving Miami & Moving to California 41:20 Meeting Mexican Cartel Suppliers & Border Connections 49:20 Six-Figure Months in the Wholesale Drug Game 51:30 The Federal Informant Who Built the Case 1:05:00 Federal Indictment, Prison Time 1:33:50 Redemption And Life Today 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Ulysses on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dakingsmia305/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this explosive true crime exclusive, Blake Rossi sits down on Honor Among Thieves just days before entering federal prison. Known as an American cartel queenpin, Blake reveals how she rose from a troubled childhood to becoming a high-level cocaine distributor with direct access to a Mexican cartel boss — just two degrees away from the top of a powerful organization. From moving 10 kilos of cocaine at a time to navigating cartel meetings in Mexico, Blake details the real hierarchy, the profits, the paranoia, and the adrenaline that fueled her rise. Blake opens up about building her own Midwest distribution network, transitioning from weed and pill mills to large-scale cocaine trafficking, and how she ultimately cut out the middleman to work directly with cartel leadership. She explains the structure of cartel operations, narco convoys in Mexico, police escorts, insider betrayals, and how Homeland Security ultimately built a case against her after years of operating undetected. This is a raw look inside the American side of international drug trafficking — without Hollywood filters. Now facing prison time, Blake reflects on greed, survival mode, loyalty, motherhood, and redemption. This episode breaks down cartel politics, drug smuggling, federal investigations, custody battles, and the moment everything collapsed. If you’re interested in true crime stories, cartel documentaries, female kingpins, federal indictments, and real-life drug trafficking confessions — this episode delivers it all. Chapters 0:00 Intro 3:26 Juvenile Detention, Running Away & Early Crime 20:11 Stripping at 18 & Becoming a Drug Courier 35:01 From Courier to Major Drug Trafficker 48:21 Controlling Kentucky’s Prescription Pill Black Market 57:01 Leaving the Drug Game & Becoming a Teacher in California 1:05:01 Returning to Kentucky & Entering the Cocaine Trade 1:12:49 Working Directly with a Mexican Cartel Leader 1:39:09 Federal Indictment, Homeland Security & The Arrest 1:57:41 Prison, Reflection & Redemption 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Blake on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/queenofdiamonds_333/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Honor Among Thieves, we sit down with Mike Mazursky — a pen name used to protect the identity of a retired professional armed robber whose real-life story reads like a true crime thriller. Mike was indicted in Israel for five major heists, including bank robberies, jewelry store hits, and cash exchange operations, but his criminal career stretches far beyond what the courts ever proved. Born in the Soviet Union, Mike escaped Russia with his parents and grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he became obsessed at a young age with one goal: robbing a bank. By age 18, Mike began meticulously planning a bank robbery in New York — a plan that took three years to execute. When he finally pulled it off and got away clean, he realized the rush wasn’t what he expected. That realization sent him down a darker, more calculated path: researching countries, prison systems, sentencing laws, and citizenship loopholes to determine where he could operate with the lowest long-term risk. That research led him to Israel. Using his Jewish ancestry to gain citizenship, Mike entered Israel believing the legal system and sentencing structure made it the most favorable environment for high-risk heists. After a brief stint in military prison and subsequent release, he launched into a years-long heist spree, committing robberies across the country — only five of which ever resulted in indictments. But the story doesn’t stop with the crimes. Mike gives a rare, firsthand account of the Israeli prison system, exposing how Russian inmates, Jewish inmates, and Arab inmates operate within a complex and rigid power structure. He breaks down the Russian “Thieves Code”, an infamous underground criminal ideology, and explains how shot callers, hierarchy, and prison politics truly function behind the walls. This episode dives deep into: International armed robbery Bank heists and professional criminal planning Israeli federal prison culture Russian organized crime ideology The global “Thieves Code” subculture Prison hierarchy and shot callers Crime, punishment, and redemption This is not Hollywood. This is real-life international crime, told by the man who lived it. 🔔 Subscribe to Honor Among Thieves for real stories from the underworld — told by the people who survived it. Chapters 0:00 – Introduction: Inside the Mind of a Professional International Thief 2:15 – Escaping Soviet Russia: Immigration, Survival & Crime Roots 13:25 – Mike’s First Heist: Planning and Executing a Bank Robbery in America 26:01 – Moving to Israel: Citizenship, Military Service & Criminal Opportunity 39:22 – The Bank Job & Jewelry Store Heist: High-Risk Robberies in Israel 48:27 – The Cash Exchange Heist: Guilt, Pressure & Cracks in the Armor 1:01:40 – Back to the Life: The Dye Pack Job & The Robbery That Got Him Caught 1:14:01 – Arrested in Israel: Prison Intake, Charges & Reality Setting In 1:21:34 – The Thieves’ Code: Inside the Russian Criminal Prison Subculture 1:37:00 – Who Runs Israeli Prison: Russian, Jewish & Arab Power Structures 1:57:28 – Redemption: Life After Crime and Prison 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Mike on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theyoungmanandthegun/ Get Your Copy of "Once Upon A Time In Tel Aviv" https://a.co/d/05xghKUP 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this unforgettable episode of Honor Among Thieves, host Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with Scott Anthony, a man whose real-life story reads like a crime thriller—but every word is true. Scott Anthony reveals how he ran a Chicago street gang at just 14 years old, rising fast in a world of violence, money, and power. What started on the streets escalated into major drug trafficking, eventually landing Scott on the run as an international fugitive after being caught in Georgia with a trunk full of kilos. Rather than surrender, Scott fled to Mexico, where he lived on the run—until federal authorities caught up with him. He was ultimately extradited and sentenced to 8 years in federal prison, where survival, discipline, and adaptation became daily necessities. But Scott’s story doesn’t end behind bars. After serving his federal sentence, Scott emerged into the free world and entered an entirely different underground—becoming the most prolific Cuban cigar smuggler of the 1990s. During the height of the U.S. embargo, Scott dominated the illegal Cuban cigar trade, supplying elite clients and celebrities, including Michael Jordan. For four years, Scott controlled the market, building a reputation as a legendary cigar dealer before eventually retiring from the Cuban cigar smuggling game at the top. In this episode, Scott breaks down: How a teenager ends up running a Chicago gang Life as a fugitive in Mexico What federal prison really does to your mindset The inner workings of the Cuban cigar black market Supplying elite clients during the embargo era Knowing when to walk away at the top This is not a glamorized crime story. It’s a firsthand account of ambition, consequences, survival, and reinvention—told by someone who lived every chapter. If you’re interested in true crime podcasts, federal prison stories, international fugitives, drug trafficking cases, Cuban cigar smuggling, or criminal underworld history, this episode is essential listening. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:52 The Life of a Cuban Cigar Smuggler (Inside the Black Market) 9:51 1970s Chicago: Running the Simon City Royals Gang at 14 21:01 Trying to Leave the Streets Behind (Early Turning Point) 33:45 The Big Time: Robbing Drug Dealers & Escalating Crime 46:05 1987 Fugitive Life: On the Run from Federal Charges 55:01 Discovering Cuban Cigars: The Hustle That Changed Everything 1:08:51 Going to the Source: Building a Cigar Connection in Havana 1:18:24 Trinidad Cigars & the Rise of a Smuggling Empire 1:25:20 Walking Away from Cigar Smuggling at the Top 1:30:52 Redemption And Life Today 1:36:19 Outro 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Scott Anthony on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scottanthonyog/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Honor Among Thieves, Keithan Hunter, also known as OG Gigaveli, delivers a raw, unfiltered account of growing up in Miami during one of the most violent and chaotic periods in the city’s history. OG Gigaveli came of age in the late 1970s and 1980s, as Miami was rocked by the McDuffie riots, the Mariel Boatlift, and the explosive rise of crack cocaine in America’s inner cities. Raised in extreme poverty, survival came first. What began as petty theft as a child quickly escalated into armed robberies as a teenager, targeting tourists at red lights across Miami. A robbery gone wrong—where shots were fired by both sides—lands Gigaveli in jail, where he is introduced to the infamous 10th floor juvenile unit at Miami-Dade County Jail. According to G, if you could survive that unit, you could survive any prison in the country. After his release, Gigaveli returned to the streets, this time attempting to lower his risk by committing robberies without firearms. That decision didn’t save him. A second robbery case involving a high-speed police chase resulted in a mandatory seven-year sentence in Florida state prison. Upon release, G made a pivotal shift—leaving robbery behind and entering the drug trade, believing it to be a more “honest” and sustainable hustle. He relocated to Tennessee, where he became a major player, trafficking everything from pills to powder cocaine across state lines. His final downfall came in the form of a major federal indictment involving narcotics and counterfeit money, sending him to federal prison for 16 years. In this powerful episode, OG Gigaveli breaks down: Life in Miami during the crack era The brutal reality of juvenile jail in the 1980s Robbery culture, prison survival, and street hierarchy The transition from state prison to federal time Lessons learned from decades inside the system 🎙️ About Honor Among Thieves Honor Among Thieves is a true crime podcast featuring reformed criminals, former gang members, ex-federal inmates, law enforcement, and victims, offering firsthand insight into organized crime, prison life, drug trafficking, and the criminal underworld. Chapters 0:00 – Intro | OG Gigaveli’s Rise & Fall in Miami’s Streets 6:01 – Growing Up in Liberty City, Miami | Poverty, Crime & Survival 24:45 – First Arrest: Armed Robbery & Juvenile Prison in Miami-Dade 38:11 – Released From Jail | Returning to the Streets of Miami 46:45 – Second Robbery Case | Sentenced to 7 Years in Florida State Prison 1:09:10 – Out of Prison Again | Leaving Florida & Entering the Drug Game 1:24:45 – The Federal Case | Drugs, Counterfeit Money & the Feds 1:36:50 – Redemption | Life After Prison & Lessons From the Streets 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 OG Gigaveli on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/og_gigaveli/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ 🧠 Federal Prison Resources https://federalprisontips.com/honor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this explosive episode of Honor Among Thieves, host Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with Aaron Peila, a man at the center of a massive federal RICO kingpin case involving over 60,000 oxycodone pills, $3 million in money laundering, and one of the most notorious prisons in the United States — USP Victorville. Aaron was indicted federally while already serving state time in Nevada for a felon-in-possession firearm case. What followed was a 12-year federal sentence and a direct transfer to USP Victorville, widely regarded as the most dangerous federal prison yard in the country. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Aaron breaks down what life is really like inside Victorville — from constant lockdowns and racial politics, to the gang structure, yard rules, and the brutal reality of having to “put in work” just to survive. Aaron explains how he was selected as the shot caller for the independent white inmates, what that responsibility actually means, and the deadly consequences that come with leadership inside a high-security federal prison. The episode reaches its most intense moment when Aaron directly confronts Nelson about cooperation, forcing a real-time, honest conversation about snitching, survival, accountability, and redemption. Nelson addresses his past head-on, explaining his side of the story in a moment rarely seen in the true-crime podcast space. This episode is not glorification — it’s contrast. A firsthand look at how RICO laws, conspiracy charges, and the federal prison system destroy lives long after the sentence is handed down. If you’re interested in true crime, federal prison, RICO cases, drug trafficking, organized crime, and what really happens after the indictment — this is an episode you can’t miss. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Introduction | From RICO Kingpin Case to USP Victorville 3:01 – Childhood of Crime & the Road to the Streets 14:25 – Opiates, Drug Trafficking & Moving to Las Vegas 23:05 – Catching a Federal Case | How the Feds Build RICO Charges 28:45 – Indicted While in Prison | Facing Federal Charges Behind Bars 38:01 – Inside USP Victorville | Life on the Most Dangerous Federal Yard 45:04 – Becoming a Shot Caller | Prison Politics & “Putting in Work” 57:16 – Release From Federal Prison | Life After a 12-Year Sentence 1:01:10 – Aaron Confronts Nelson About Cooperation | The Snitching Conversation 1:08:59 – Federal Mind Games | How Prosecutors Pressure Defendants 1:15:53 – Is All Cooperation the Same? | Gray Areas of Snitching 1:23:34 – Redemption, Accountability & Moving Forward After Prison 🎙️ About Honor Among Thieves Honor Among Thieves is a true crime podcast featuring reformed criminals, former gang members, ex-federal inmates, law enforcement, and victims, offering firsthand insight into organized crime, prison life, drug trafficking, and the criminal underworld. 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Aaron on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aaronpeila/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ 🧠 Federal Prison Resources https://federalprisontips.com/honor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Honor Among Thieves, host Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with Gio Martini, a former Bureau of Prisons correctional officer who worked at USP Victorville, widely considered one of the most violent and notorious federal prisons in the United States. Gio delivers a rare, firsthand account of what it’s really like working inside a high-security federal penitentiary, where some of the oldest and most powerful prison gangs in America operate. From daily prison operations to gang politics, inmate control, and staff survival, this episode exposes the brutal reality behind the walls of USP Victorville. Before becoming a correctional officer, Gio grew up in Victorville, California, surrounded by violence, addiction, and instability. He opens up about his struggles with substance abuse, his time in the military, and how being discharged shaped the path that eventually led him into the federal prison system as a BOP officer. Once inside USP Victorville, Gio witnessed the inner workings of a prison infamous for gang dominance, inmate-on-inmate violence, racial politics, and extreme security measures. He breaks down: How gangs operate inside a federal penitentiary Which gangs controlled USP Victorville How correctional officers maintain order The psychological toll on staff What inmates and officers face on a daily basis This conversation offers an unfiltered look into federal prison life, told from the perspective of someone who wore the uniform and worked the tiers. This episode of Honor Among Thieves pulls back the curtain on the federal prison system, exposing the reality of incarceration, gang power, and survival from a correctional officer’s perspective. Whether you’re interested in true crime, prison documentaries, organized crime, or the Bureau of Prisons, this episode delivers rare insight you won’t hear anywhere else. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Inside USP Victorville: A CO Tells the Truth 4:50 – “Shot Caller” Explained: How Power Really Works in Prison 16:15 – Victorville, California: A Violent City Built to Fail 30:22 – Joining the Army: Discipline, Violence, and Survival 47:07 – From the Military to ICE: Life After Discharge 56:59 – Becoming a Federal Prison Guard (BOP Reality) 1:04:49 – Inside USP Victorville: The Most Notorious Federal Prison 1:30:10 – Prison Gangs at Victorville: Who Really Runs the Yard 1:38:14 – Redemption: Leaving the Life Behind 🎙️ About Honor Among Thieves Honor Among Thieves is a true crime podcast featuring reformed criminals, former gang members, ex-federal inmates, law enforcement, and victims, offering firsthand insight into organized crime, prison life, drug trafficking, and the criminal underworld. 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Gio Martini on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/giothelegend89/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ 🧠 Federal Prison Resources https://federalprisontips.com/honor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Honor Among Thieves, host Nelson Rodriguez sits down with Ali “Zoe” Adam, founding member of the Zoe Pound gang, one of the most notorious Haitian organized crime groups in Miami history. This raw, first-person interview details the rise of Zoe Pound, the criminal power struggles in Carol City and Little Haiti, and the federal investigation that ultimately brought the organization down. Ali “Zoe” Adam recounts immigrating from Haiti to Miami in 1984, growing up in Carol City, and being mentored by legendary Miami street figure Kenneth “Boobie” Williams. Under Boobie’s guidance, Ali learned the structure, discipline, and mechanics behind organized street power. When Boobie was federally indicted in the 1990s, a massive power vacuum opened in Miami — leading Ali to found Zoe Pound, a Haitian street organization that quickly expanded its influence. The conversation dives deep into: -The formation of the Zoe Pound gang -Robberies at the Port of Miami -Building a multi-million-dollar cocaine trafficking operation -Colombian cartel connections routed through Haiti -Moving thousands of kilos per month -The 2007 federal indictment that ended the empire This episode offers one of the most detailed insider accounts ever told about Zoe Pound, Miami organized crime, Haitian gangs, drug trafficking, and federal law enforcement investigations. Nothing is glorified — this is a real breakdown of how criminal empires are built, expanded, and destroyed. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Intro: Inside the Rise of Zoe Pound 2:58 – From Haiti to Miami (1984): Growing Up in Carol City 20:53 – Kenneth “Boobie” Williams: Miami Street Legend & Mentor 34:40 – Founding Zoe Pound: Building a Haitian Street Organization 43:38 – Boobie Gets Indicted: The Power Vacuum Begins 59:31 – The Haiti Plug: Cocaine Trafficking Pipeline 1:12:38 – Federal Indictment: The Fall of Zoe Pound 1:27:20 – Redemption: Life After the Streets 🎙️ About Honor Among Thieves Honor Among Thieves is a true crime podcast featuring reformed criminals, former gang members, ex-federal inmates, law enforcement, and victims, offering firsthand insight into organized crime, prison life, drug trafficking, and the criminal underworld. 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Ali “Zoe” Adam on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chipblackboyzoe/ 💎 Sponsors Gus Villa Jewelry Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ 🧠 Federal Prison Resources https://federalprisontips.com/honor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be the next guest on Honor Among Thieves Podcast 👇👇👇 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Sgt Bert "Maverick" Gonzalez on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sgt.maverick/ This week on Honor Among Thieves, Nelson sits down with retired Miami-Dade Police Sergeant Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez for a raw, firsthand account of policing Miami during the most violent era in the city’s history. From the early days of joining the force to surviving the chaos of the 1980s cocaine wars, Sgt. Gonzalez takes listeners inside a time when Miami’s streets resembled a battlefield and every shift could be your last. Gonzalez breaks down what it was really like working for Metro-Dade PD during the height of cartel violence, police corruption, and nonstop bloodshed. He details the internal politics of law enforcement, the power struggles between Colombian and Cuban drug organizations, and the moral gray areas cops were forced to navigate just to survive. Through real cases, including a brutal 1987 home invasion gone wrong, this episode exposes the reality behind the headlines — and how that era permanently shaped Miami and everyone who lived through it. This episode of Honor Among Thieves is a rare, unfiltered look at one of the darkest and most dangerous periods in American law enforcement history. Sgt. Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez doesn’t glamorize the violence — he exposes it. From survival and corruption to accountability and redemption, this conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in true crime, policing, the cocaine era, and the real cost of America’s war on drugs. Episode Chapters 0:00 Intro – Surviving Miami’s Most Violent Era 1:39 Becoming a Miami Cop in the 1980s 18:28 Inside Metro-Dade PD During the Cocaine Wars 26:48 Miami in the 80s: When the Streets Became a Warzone 33:54 Police Corruption in 1980s Miami 46:27 Colombians vs Cubans: The Cocaine Power Struggle 55:01 1987 Home Invasion Gone Wrong – Robbing the Wrong Drug House 1:06:41 The Cocaine Era Ends – Miami After the War 1:18:28 Redemption After the Streets Mention You Heard About Federal Prison Tips On Honor Among Thieves Podcast 👇👇👇 https://federalprisontips.com/honor/ Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices