A cinematic documentary series that explores the rise and fall of some of the most nefarious and notorious criminals brought to justice by the United States government. From thugs to lethal beauties, outlaws to kingpins, each episode profiles these gangsters and reveals their sinister motives, transgressions and the circumstances that eventually led to their downfall.
The First Kingpin: Juan Raul Garza
Jul 20, 2012
This episode follows the case of Juan Raul Garza, the first drug kingpin. Garza and his gang made millions of dollars running drugs across "Marijuana Boulevard," the Gateway bridge linking Mexico and the U.S. in Brownsville, Texas. He became the first felon targeted for death by the federal government in more than 30 years.
The Ultimate Outlaw: Harry "Taco" Bowman
Jul 27, 2012
Bowman, as international president of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, ordered kidnappings, firebombings, assaults and murders. He joined another exclusive club in 1997, the "FBI Ten Most Wanted" list. Bowman was brought to justice with the help of an informant on the inside of the Outlaw brotherhood.
The Godmother: Griselda Blanco
Aug 14, 2012
Griselda Blanco, "The Godmother," is suspected of scores of murders while transporting cocaine from Colombia to New York, Miami, and Southern California. On the run from the law for over ten years, Blanco was captured in 1985 in Irvine, California. Her trial ended in scandal and she was eventually deported back to Colombia.
The Mayor of Harlem: Alberto 'Alpo' Martinez
Aug 21, 2012
This episode profiles the rise and fall of Albert "Alpo" Martinez, dubbed the Mayor of Harlem. Alpo and two childhood friends, Azie Faison and Rich Porter, would become kings of the inner city in the mid-1980 s. But like the high itself, the cocaine brotherhood did not last. Azie narrowly escaped with his life. Rich Porter would not be so lucky. Alpo would admit to killing his old friend and 13 other murders. He s now serving hard time for his crimes.
Machine Gun Johnny: Johnny Eng
Aug 28, 2012
This episode features the rise and fall of Johnny Eng, one of the most notorious drug traffickers in the history of Manhattan's Chinatown. A one-time informant for the DEA, "Machine Gun Johnny" thought he could snitch on all his rivals to monopolize the heroin trade on the eastern seaboard. The special task force set up by the DEA would chase Eng all the way to Hong Kong. Eventually extradited to the U.S., Eng would hire John Gotti's lawyer to defend him against a prosecutor known as "The Dragon Lady.
King Blood: Luis Felipe
Sep 6, 2012
This episode explores the case of Luis Felipe, also known as "King Blood." From a prison cell, Felipe founded the New York chapter of the Latin Kings street gang. Felipe's own writings would incriminate him as the orchestrator of murders and crimes against his own members. He is now serving a life sentence in solitary confinement.
The Queenpin: Jemeker Thompson
Sep 11, 2012
This episode explores the case of The Queenpin--Jemeker Thompson. Thompson rose to the top of the cocaine trade during the peak of the 1980's crack epidemic in Los Angeles. Thompson's former boyfriend would cooperate with authorities and snitch her out. On the run for two years, she was finally captured in 1993 at her son's 6th grade graduation. Thompson was released from prison in 2005 and is now an evangelical minister.
Anthony Shea and the No-Name Gang
Sep 18, 2012
This episode follows Anthony Shea, one of the most prolific bank and armored truck robbers, and his "no name" gang out of Charlestown, Massachusetts. Responsible for killing two armored truck guards in Hudson, New Hampshire, Shea and his gang garnered the attention of the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force in 1995. Finally captured a year later, they refused to talk, adhering to Charlestown's long running "Code of Silence." Informants would break that code and testify in court to put Shea away for life.
Lethal Beauties: Beltran, Henao, & Garcia
Sep 25, 2012
This episode explores the cases of three Lethal Beauties: Rosalie Garcia, Sandra Beltran, and Beatriz Henao. Garcia, AKA "Shorty," was the head of a deadly heroin ring in the Bronx throughout the 1990's. Henao, a Colombian national, led an ecstasy drug ring out of the Netherlands before moving into the cocaine trade. Sandra Avila Beltran was a Mexican drug cartel leader who took over a crucial role in the smuggling of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and into the U.S. Extradited in 2012, The Queen of the Pacific now faces drug trafficking charges in Miami.
