Honor Among Thieves Podcast

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Lonnie Jones on instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterlife20/ Lyle Jones on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jonesjr.lyle/ Ever seen "New Jack City" starring Wesley Snipes? Well meet two men who lived that movie in real life. This is Lonnie and Lyle Jones. Now typically when people hear Connecticut, they think of rich white people that live in one giant suburb just outside New York City. The Jones Brothers will introduce you to a whole other side of Connecticut that contradicts everything you would ever think that place is. Bridgeport, the poorest city in the state and home to the most notorious projects in New England, the PT Barnum Housing Projects. This is where our story begins. From humble beginnings, to building a $100,000 a day drug empire that spanned an entire city. Ultimately, this ends in both of them getting life sentences in prison.... How are they out today? Watch the full podcast and find out. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 1:59 Bridgeport, NOT rich white Connecticut 15:20 Lyle Finds The Streets 23:50 Lonnie Gets In The Game 37:40 Lyle Gets Back in The Game With Lonnie 50:49 The Feds Are Coming 1:02:10 Brothers Go To Prison And Go To Trial 1:16:06 Serving Life Sentences 1:35:00 Reunited after 20 years 1:40:40 Redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Jerry Ormond on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/universalartsfitness/ Nelson sits down with Jeremiah Ormond, an Irish-American kid from Stafford, Connecticut, whose life took a sharp turn from promising hockey star to convicted felon. Growing up surrounded by a crew that lived on the edge—fighting, stealing, and constantly in trouble—Jeremiah shares how one bad decision led to another, until a single violent incident changed everything. After stepping into a fight to defend a friend, Jerry delivered a brutal stomp that nearly cost another kid his life. That moment landed him in court—alongside 30 of his friends facing charges the same day—and eventually behind bars for a one-year prison bid that exposed him to the brutal realities of life inside: fights, stabbings, and death in the yard. Raw, unfiltered, and brutally honest, Jeremiah opens up about the path that led him into the system—and what he saw while he was in it. This episode is a deep dive into how fast life can spiral, and how thin the line really is between freedom and a cage. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:58 Connecticut Is The Hood 8:10 Growing Up Irish And Around Violence 16:40 The Beginning of Crime 22:47 The Assault & Getting Arrested 35:44 Going to Prison 44:11 Officially In Prison 52:45 Seeing A Dead Body In Prison 58:30 How Races Interact In Prison 1:03:20 Getting Into A Prison Fight 1:10:38 Coming Home 1:21:50 Surrounded By Death 1:27:03 Redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jorge Valdes on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drjorgeluisvaldes/ Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Nelson Rodriguez Jr. reunites with Jorge Valdes, the original architect of the U.S. cocaine trade and a central figure in Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami. While Part One told the story of his meteoric rise and fall, this episode picks up in 1984, right after Jorge is released from prison—and builds his drug empire all over again. But one night, a moment with his young daughter sparks a radical change of heart, and Jorge walks away from millions in cocaine profits—overnight. Just a few years into living a better life, the federal government comes back, this time taking everything: $66 million in assets gone in just 15 minutes of signing paperwork. Out of prison again in 1996, Jorge’s transformation begins for real. While earning his PhD behind bars, he emerges as a new man—becoming an assistant professor teaching Greek, finding love, reuniting with his children, and building a cleaning business from scratch that would eventually become an 8-figure success story. Today, Jorge lives retired in Orlando, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and man of faith. This is not just a story of crime—it’s a story of grace, grit, and redemption. Don’t miss one of the most unbelievable second acts ever told. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 01:06 1984: Escobar, Ochoa, & Dicky Lynn 13:04 Jorge Walks Away From The Cocaine Business 20:21 Going Back To Prison And Losing Everything 27:44 Starting Over: PHD, Marriage, & The New Business 36:58 Miguel Velez: The Man Who Killed Barry Seal 46:15 Jorge’s Take On The Modern Day War On Drugs 56:11 Redemption of Cocaine Cowboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Jorge Valdes on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drjorgeluisvaldes/ Nelson sits down with none other than Dr. Jorge Valdes, the man credited with bringing cocaine into the United States and one of the central figures behind the infamous Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami docuseries. In the late 1970s, Jorge Valdes helped architect the billion-dollar cocaine pipeline that forever changed Miami and American drug culture. A former U.S. government employee turned drug lord, Valdes shares the chilling truths behind building a drug empire, what life was like at the top of the underworld, and ultimately, what led to his transformation. From private jets and briefcases of cash to prison cells and redemption, this episode dives deep into one of the most fascinating criminal evolutions of our time. You won't want to miss this firsthand account of the man who once sat at the throne of the cocaine trade. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 4:25 The Reality of The Narco Life 14:09 Coming From Cuba 27:31 The Federal Reserve Bank 37:08 Finding The Cocaine Trade 48:51 Crossing The Line: Money Laundering & The Cocaine Business 57:16 Becoming Manny’s Right hand 1:10:38 “Cocaine Cowboys” 1:23:29 Sal Magluta & Willy Falcon 1:30:17 The Bolivian Connection & Tortured In Panama 1:44:10 Charged With The Largest Drug Conspiracy In American History 1:52:45 What Prison Is Like For A Drug lord 2:01:00 Getting Out from Prison In 1984 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Alysia Smith on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/allie.say.what/ Nelson Rodriguez Jr. welcomes Alysia Smith, a survivor with a powerful story of chaos, survival, and redemption. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio—a city plagued by gangs, biker wars, and rampant violence—Allie knew from a young age that the streets could swallow her whole. When neighbors were caught up in a major federal fentanyl bust, she made the bold decision to escape, relocating to Tallahassee, Florida in search of a better life. But running from Akron didn’t heal the scars. Battling depression, benzodiazepine and alcohol abuse became her way of coping—until one fateful visit back to Ohio changed everything. A night out with friends at a strip club spiraled out of control when Allie was falsely accused of stealing a stripper's purse. What followed was a 24-hour whirlwind trial, shocking revelations about the accuser’s six fake identities, and a devastating prison sentence that landed Allie behind bars in Ohio, surrounded by some of the state’s most dangerous women. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 3:38 Akron, Ohio: Murder & Gangs 10:07 Growing Up In Akron 16:30 Crazy Work Environments 22:25 Catching The Assault Case 27:01 Getting In A Fight With A Stripper 32:25 Bailed Out: The Case Starts 37:30 Going To Trial 41:15 Sent To Jail 46:39 Dayton Prison 50:06 The Daddy Killers 54:48 Cell Mate Wants To Smash 57:33 Filing For Parole/Riding In The Patty Wagon 1:02:06 Finally Out 1:04:26 Redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Devin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/devindon22/ Nelson sits down with Devin Donovan, a man whose life reads like a gritty crime drama—but whose journey is all too real. Born just outside of Boston into a world surrounded by addiction and criminality, Devin was raised in the shadow of a father who was a habitual offender and addict, and a mother who eventually fled to Australia to escape the chaos. Influenced by street life and mobster movies like Goodfellas, Devin spiraled into a world of drugs and violence as a teen. When his father died at just 18, it pushed him past the edge into overdose and criminal activity. But karma dealt a cruel twist—he was arrested for a breaking and entering he didn’t even commit, landing him in the prison system anyway. After getting sober and attending NA meetings daily for 18 months, Devin tried to change—but relapsed hard, not once but twice. It wasn’t until the birth of his twin daughters that everything finally shifted. Now walking the path of true sobriety and redemption, Devin shares his raw, unfiltered story of what it really takes to rebuild your life from rock bottom. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 1:30 The Lace up Podcast 4:06 Devin’s Story 9:01 Having Addicts As Parents 14:01 First Time Devin Gets Arrested 20:10 Catching His Case and Going To Prison 27:21 Drugs In Prison 30:20 Doing Time & Recidivism 38:59 Getting Out & Relapsing 45:11 Relapsing Again 49:45 Redemption 51:42 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Kyle on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/federalprisontips/ Kyle on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@federalprisontips Nelson sits down with Kyle Sandler, the man behind the viral TikTok page @federalprisontips and the internet’s #1 source for all things federal prison. Known today as a trusted consultant who’s helped thousands of inmates and their families navigate the federal system, Kyle’s story begins in a much different place. Adopted as a child—an Asian kid raised by Jewish parents in Baltimore—Kyle got his first taste of legal heat as a teenage DJ nearly caught in a payola investigation. He pivoted and became a tech entrepreneur, founding the first Android blog and eventually selling it for $10 million. But success spiraled out of control when he raised too much investor capital, unknowingly violating federal securities laws and ultimately turning his operation into a Ponzi scheme. After receiving a target letter from the FBI, Kyle became a fugitive—until his eventual arrest and sentencing to 8 years in federal prison. From prison camps to lows and even a medium-security facility, Kyle’s time inside was anything but average. He reinvented himself as the go-to jailhouse lawyer, offering legal help and gaining the respect of inmates and staff alike. Today, he's made it his mission to educate others and bring transparency to the federal prison system through his viral content and consulting firm, Federal Prison Tips. This episode is packed with lessons, legal insights, and a jaw-dropping redemption story. We even talk about some of the most popular cases in the federal system today like, Diddy and Luigi Mangione and we get Kyle's thoughts on what's going to happen Don’t miss it. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:45 The Prison Content World 5:34 Kyle’s Story 13:15 Raising Money Becomes Breaking Federal law 18:20 FBI Finally Catches Kyle 23:30 Coming Out As Gay In Prison/Origins of Scamming 29:50 Surprise… Your Going Home 35:06 R. Kelly/DIddy’s Case/Big Meech 42:10 Becoming The Prison Avenger 48:00 Federal Prison Tips 55:30 Redemption 59:08 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Locked In with Ian Bick https://www.youtube.com/@ianbickCT Mr. Michael Bick on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stfcatering/ In this powerful and emotional episode, I sit down with Michael Bick, father of Ian Bick—host of Locked In with Ian Bick—to hear the untold side of what families endure when a loved one is indicted by the federal government. Michael opens up about the emotional chaos that surrounded Ian’s indictment and prison sentence, and the painful reality of being targeted himself by the FBI during the investigation. From being interrogated and having his words twisted in an attempt to build a case against his own son, to watching his family navigate one of the darkest chapters of their lives, Mr. Bick shares what it's really like when the system doesn’t just prosecute an individual—but pulls the entire family through the fire. This episode is a must-listen for anyone impacted by the justice system. Michael offers honest advice to families facing a similar fate and reminds us that when love is real, hardship only makes it stronger. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 1:50 Mr. Bick’s Story 4:09 Becoming Ian Bick’s Father 7:42 Ian Bick’ Night Club Business 13:07 Ian Starts Getting In Trouble 19:51 Ian Gets Arrested 24:00 Ian Violates Bond And To Prison 28:15 Ian’s Prison Stint 31:20 Ian Gets Released 36:20 Ian Goes Viral 41:20 Mr. Bick’s Advice To Other Families Going Through This 45:13 Redemption 50:57 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Locked In with Ian Bick https://www.youtube.com/@ianbickCT Ian Bick on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/ Ian Bick joins the podcast to share his unbelievable journey from federal prison to podcasting success. At just 19 years old, Ian was sentenced to time in the federal system for wire fraud. He walks us through every gritty detail of his incarceration—from six brutal months in solitary confinement, to surviving the chaos of Ft. Dix, and finally reaching a federal prison camp before being released. But the story doesn’t end there. Ian opens up about rebuilding his life from the ground up—starting as a low-level employee at Whole Foods, eventually working his way up to a six-figure job, only to quit it all and risk $30,000 on credit cards to launch his podcast. That risk, paired with relentless drive, landed him in the spotlight with an HBO Max docuseries and one of the most talked-about true crime podcasts in the space. Chapters 0:00 Intro 5:21 Ian Goes To prison 9:53 Getting Sent To A REAL Prison: Fort Dix 13:01 C.O. Rats: Getting Transferred 18:15 The Camp & Getting Home 24:16 Whole Foods, The HBO Doc & Starting A Podcast 30:22 Taking The Risk 35:01 Ian Bick Today 42:54 Ian Bick’s Redemption 44:52 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Inside True Crime with Matt Cox on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@InsideTrueCrime Matt Cox on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/insidetruecrime/ In this raw and emotional two-hour episode, I sit down with Matt Cox, once one of America’s most notorious con men, to dive deep into his redemption story like never before. Known for orchestrating a $40 million mortgage fraud scheme and landing on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, Matt takes us through the highs of his criminal empire, the shocking reality of getting caught, and the years he spent behind bars. But this isn’t just another crime story—this is about redemption. Matt opens up about the pain, regret, and lessons learned from his past, breaking down in tears multiple times as he reflects on his journey. From a life of deception to becoming a respected true crime podcaster and author, this conversation is unlike anything you’ve heard before. This is Matt Cox, unfiltered. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:45 The 7.5 Hour Podcast 4:34 When Matt Cox Was Fresh Out… 15:01 Matt’s First Podcast Appearance 21:00 10 Million Views Later 34:18 The Fairy Godmother 44:45 Starting The Podcast 52:47 Getting A 2nd Chance 1:02:00 When Matt Started Getting Lucky 1:19:55 Back to how the podcast started 1:28:01 Best Podcast Stories of Inside True Crime 1:41:12 How Did Matt Cox Decide To Change? 1:53:59 Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janel Baez on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/officialjanelbaez/Nelson Rodriguez Jr. on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/In this special first episode of Honor Among Thieves, the tables are turned as Miami-based journalist Janel Baez interviews the usual host, Nelson Rodriguez Jr., uncovering his story in raw detail like never before.For two hours, Nelson takes us deep into his past—his childhood, the influence of his stepfather, an infamous Miami underworld figure, and the moment greed pulled him into a $7 million health insurance fraud scheme. He reveals the highs of fast money and power, the shocking moment the FBI came knocking, and the hard realities of federal prison.Now free and determined to build something meaningful, Nelson shares his vision for Honor Among Thieves and what’s to come. This is the unfiltered, untold story of crime, consequence, and redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices