American Desperado cover art

American Desperado

My Life as a Cocaine Cowboy

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American Desperado

By: Jon Roberts, Evan Wright
Narrated by: Christina Rooney, Erik Davies, Johnathan McClain, Kimberley Farr, Kirby Heyborne, Mark Bramhall, Mark Deakins, Steve Kramer
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About this listen

American Desperado is possibly the most jaw-dropping, event-filled, adrenaline-soaked criminal autobiography ever written. Like a real-life Scarface Jon was born into the upper levels of the Gambino crime family and witnessed his first murder at age seven. He became a one-man juvenile crime wave before joining an assassination squad in Vietnam. He returned to New York at age 20 to become one of the city's top nightclub promoters, then journeyed to Miami where he became the de facto transportation chief of the Medellin Cartel, and along with a tech-wizard partner, created some of the most sophisticated smuggling technologies ever. With a hulking 6'6" bodyguard always at his side, and a rural fortress protected by mortars, tear-gas cannons, and a gold-fanged attack dog, Roberts was brutally effective at what he did. To law enforcement, he was known as the "Bearded Gringo," a spectre they could never touch. To United States senators and CIA officials, he was "the guy who can get things done". He eventually formed a clandestine alliance with the US government and in the end found personal late-life redemption.

©2011 Jon Roberts and Evan Wright (P)2011 Random House AudioGo LTD True Crime Crime Exciting Mafia Espionage New York Magic Users
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hands down the best audio book ive listened to, un-believable story! narrators do a fantastic job. a must read!

A MUST READ

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A fantastic book which kept me coming back from start to finish. Tracking the numerous and varied periods in his life from Mafia to Cocaine Cowboy and the amazing people he met along the way. The different readers also help to keep things exciting.

Very engaging and interesting

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Amazing story!!
Brutal descriprions, awesome scene setting and all very true. highly recommended for those who love a true drama.

Great story!! Gritty, well written and brutal.

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insane story. will definetly read again. john riccobono lived the hifg life. he is sn OG

wow

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My favourite true crime story to date. I hoped it would last even longer. What a journey!

absolute cracker of a book

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the narrative was on point, the story was sensational, there was so much detail, highly recommend

great book

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Couldn't stop listening to this amazing story. A real eye opener on American crime and corruption.

superb

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Really interesting book to listen to. It moves effortlessly through the very different stages of his life, with just the right level of detail to keep you coming back to hear what's next. Strangely likeable character due to his frankness, almost remorse and occasional humorous comment.Yet equally easy to dislike due to his extremely violent, inhumane approach to managing any given problem. I definitely recommend listening to this book but note it's probably not for the squeamish or faint of heart... This book would make a great movie!

really good book but a little gruesome in parts

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Couldn't turn it off, an absolute brutal but amazing story. I didn't want it to end

Awesome!! <br />

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it is good read. well worth taking the time. main character is slightly unbelievable at times

interesting read

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