American Desperado (37 page)

Jon’s loyal and murderous bodyguard Bryan Carrera moonlit as the popular professional wrestler named The Thing.
JON ROBERTS

Griselda Blanco’s gang murdered as many as one hundred people while moving thousands of kilos of cocaine. Jon helped her hide out when the Cartel turned on her. JON ROBERTS

When Jon owned Mephisto Stables, many of his horses made it to the winner’s circle, as Best Game did at Tampa Bay Downs in 1982. JON ROBERTS

Meyer Lansky, the legendary Jewish gangster, whom Jon met with in 1977 to obtain permission to murder his stepson.
SHARK BLUE

Jon’s longtime girlfriend Toni Moon was the poster girl for the Ryan O’Neal movie
So Fine
. Jon and Toni later reenacted the photo with Jon in the place of O’Neal.
BILLY CORBEN

Jon’s mugshot taken after his arrest in the 1986 cocaine bust that unravelled his empire. JON ROBERTS

The only known published photo of Enrique “Ricky” Prado, whom Jon knew as an underworld enforcer but who later became a highly decorated CIA officer. MIKE FISTEN

Barry Seal was a former commercial airline pilot hired by Jon to fly cocaine and later weapons. When he turned snitch, Jon helped the Cartel murder him.
MDPD FILE

Detective Mike Fisten, a lead investigator on the organized-crime squad, tracked Jon in the mid-1980s, when Jon was known to the police only as the “Bearded Gringo.”
MIKE FISTEN

Jon enjoying his pool at his home in Hollywood, Florida.
EVAN WRIGHT

Jon walking his beloved dogs Sassy and Shooter near his Hollywood, Florida, home.
EVAN WRIGHT

Jon’s wife, Noemi, shortly after they met in 2003. JON ROBERTS

Jon with his son, Julian, and his sister, Judy. JON ROBERTS