Jon Roberts
Encyclopedia
Jon Pernell Roberts is a noted drug trafficker who operated in the Miami area and was an associate of Colombia
's Medellín Cartel
during the growth phase in cocaine trafficking, 1975-1985. After his arrest, he was able to avoid a lengthy prison sentence by becoming a cooperating witness and pro-active informant for the federal government. He is the co-author with Evan Wright
of American Desperado
.
. After being apprehended by police for kidnapping
, Roberts was given an opportunity to expunge his record with military service. Roberts claims to have served with the 101st Airborne for four years in Vietnam
. He received injuries during the war that required a metal plate to be attached to his skull. After working for members of the New York Mafia
as a club manager and restaurateur, he moved to Miami to distance himself from business partners he believed were targeted by rival criminals.
increased, Jon found his Cuba
n suppliers unable to meet his demand. Through Jon's girlfriend, he met Mickey Munday. Munday was a trafficker who introduced Jon to Medellín agent Rafael "Rafa" Cardona Salazar. At first, Mickey was apprehensive of Jon who had driven up in a black Mercedes Benz, which Mickey described as having "drug dealer written all over it." He also stated that Jon's flashy car and flamboyant lifestyle made Jon look like "someone I wanted nothing to do with."
Nevertheless, Jon and Mickey began working under the supervision of Max Mermelstein
who had an agreement with Rafael Cardona to manage the transportation of cocaine from Colombia to Miami. He then oversaw the delivery of the loads to cartel safe houses in the Miami area. Jon was able to increase his monthly cocaine business through this direct connection. Max and Mickey established the routes for trips to Colombia, using boats, tow truck companies, safe houses, and air strips, thereby setting up an effective transportation route for the cartel. Roberts claims to have made approximately $100 million USD, dealing cocaine during this period. He spent $50 million of that money on his extravagant lifestyle.
trafficker who gave information to the DEA
in return for a lighter sentence. This trafficker was busted along with John DeLorean during a 25 kilo cocaine sting. Max then turned state's witness against the Medellín Cartel and supplied information that lead to the dismemberment of Medellín in Miami. On the morning of September 20, 1986, a little over a year after Mermelstein's arrest, the DEA (in conjunction with local and federal authorities) raided sites across Florida
used to store and transport cocaine by Munday and Roberts. Roberts was arrested and then went on the run becoming a fugitive living in Colombia and other parts of the world. He was later apprehended and became a cooperating witness and pro-active informant for the federal government.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
's Medellín Cartel
Medellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
during the growth phase in cocaine trafficking, 1975-1985. After his arrest, he was able to avoid a lengthy prison sentence by becoming a cooperating witness and pro-active informant for the federal government. He is the co-author with Evan Wright
Evan Wright
Evan Wright is an American writer, journalist, author and television writer and producer. He has reported extensively on subcultures for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. His latest work is American Desperado, a book he co-wrote with Jon Roberts, who was featured in the documentary the Cocaine...
of American Desperado
American Desperado
American Desperado is a 2011 book written by journalist Evan Wright and Jon Roberts, a subject of the 2006 documentary Cocaine Cowboys.-Publisher's Book Description:...
.
Early life
Roberts was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After being apprehended by police for kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, Roberts was given an opportunity to expunge his record with military service. Roberts claims to have served with the 101st Airborne for four years in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He received injuries during the war that required a metal plate to be attached to his skull. After working for members of the New York Mafia
American Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
as a club manager and restaurateur, he moved to Miami to distance himself from business partners he believed were targeted by rival criminals.
Introduction to Cartel
As demand for cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
increased, Jon found his Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n suppliers unable to meet his demand. Through Jon's girlfriend, he met Mickey Munday. Munday was a trafficker who introduced Jon to Medellín agent Rafael "Rafa" Cardona Salazar. At first, Mickey was apprehensive of Jon who had driven up in a black Mercedes Benz, which Mickey described as having "drug dealer written all over it." He also stated that Jon's flashy car and flamboyant lifestyle made Jon look like "someone I wanted nothing to do with."
Nevertheless, Jon and Mickey began working under the supervision of Max Mermelstein
Max Mermelstein
Max Mermelstein was a drug smuggler for the Medellín Cartel in the late 70's and early 80's, who later became a key informant against the organization. In the words of James P...
who had an agreement with Rafael Cardona to manage the transportation of cocaine from Colombia to Miami. He then oversaw the delivery of the loads to cartel safe houses in the Miami area. Jon was able to increase his monthly cocaine business through this direct connection. Max and Mickey established the routes for trips to Colombia, using boats, tow truck companies, safe houses, and air strips, thereby setting up an effective transportation route for the cartel. Roberts claims to have made approximately $100 million USD, dealing cocaine during this period. He spent $50 million of that money on his extravagant lifestyle.
Downfall
Mermelstein acted as high level trafficker working under cartel member, Rafael Cardona Salazar and with the Munday transportation group. He was apprehended in 1985 by Miami Police as a multi-kilo dealer. Mermelstein was implicated by a CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
trafficker who gave information to the DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
in return for a lighter sentence. This trafficker was busted along with John DeLorean during a 25 kilo cocaine sting. Max then turned state's witness against the Medellín Cartel and supplied information that lead to the dismemberment of Medellín in Miami. On the morning of September 20, 1986, a little over a year after Mermelstein's arrest, the DEA (in conjunction with local and federal authorities) raided sites across Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
used to store and transport cocaine by Munday and Roberts. Roberts was arrested and then went on the run becoming a fugitive living in Colombia and other parts of the world. He was later apprehended and became a cooperating witness and pro-active informant for the federal government.