Prison Business Lessons From a Former Drug Kingpin | Owen Hanson DSH #1413

Summary

Digital Social Hour: Prison Business Lessons From a Former Drug Kingpin | Owen Hanson DSH #1413

Release Date: June 22, 2025
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Owen Hanson, formerly known as the "California Kid"—a USC Golden Boy turned international drug kingpin.

---

Introduction: From Glory to the Shadows

In this riveting episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly sits down with Owen Hanson, a figure whose life journey epitomizes the dramatic shift from collegiate athletic success to the perilous world of organized crime. Owen's story is one of high stakes, intense challenges, and ultimate redemption, providing listeners with an unfiltered glimpse into the life of a former drug kingpin navigating the complexities of prison and his path to rehabilitation.

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Early Life and Rise to Power

Owen Hanson’s ascent began at the University of Southern California (USC), where he was part of a powerhouse football team under legendary coach Pete Carroll. Playing alongside notable athletes like Reggie Bush and Clay Matthews, Owen experienced the allure of success and the camaraderie that came with being a part of such a prestigious program.

"I never played football in my life and walked onto one of the greatest football teams of all time in college." [02:00]

Despite his promising start, witnessing his peers secure lucrative contracts ignited a deep-seated desire to match their success, leading Owen down a path of illicit activities.

---

Transition to Organized Crime

Motivated by envy and the desire for financial gain, Owen ventured into illegal bookmaking, initially serving as a bookmaker for professional athletes and celebrities. His operations quickly scaled, attracting the attention of powerful cartels.

"I got this agent from Mexico hit, and he wanted to know who I was. My business ethics were spot on." [03:00]

Owen's meticulous approach and reliability earned him the trust of cartel leaders, marking his deepening involvement in organized crime. This partnership expanded his operations, allowing him to launder money and transport cocaine globally.

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The Downfall: Debt and Betrayal

Owen's empire began to crumble when he accrued a staggering $3.2 million in debt to the cartel. Faced with the grim choice of life or death, he chose to honor his commitments, which only exacerbated his predicament.

"I was like, at least I'm alive, right?" [10:11]

A pivotal moment occurred when one of his runners was assassinated after trying to launder $700,000, revealing the extent of betrayal within his ranks. This betrayal led to an intensified FBI investigation, culminating in Owen's arrest based on encrypted messages and informant testimonies.

"They had a 23-man indictment... people on my case either died or were killed." [12:34]

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Life in Prison: Isolation and Transformation

Entering federal prison, Owen initially struggled with the harsh realities of incarceration. However, he recognized this period as an opportunity for personal growth and rehabilitation.

"My mentality was the judge sent me to prison for a reason... it's my time to sober up." [25:02]

During his time in prison, Owen pursued education, earning a master’s degree and beginning to pen his memoir, "The California Kid." He also embarked on entrepreneurial ventures within the prison walls, famously creating "protein ice cream," which earned him the nickname "the ice cream man."

"I learned to make protein ice cream in prison, and that was my hustle." [15:48]

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Rehabilitation and the Path to Redemption

Owen’s determination to rebuild his life was evident in his disciplined daily routine, which included early mornings, rigorous workouts, and dedicated study. His time in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic further cemented his resolve to emerge stronger.

"I've been parting my ass off at that the last 10 years, and it was like, okay, finally I can recover." [15:01]

Owen credits his faith and the support from his former teammates at USC for helping him navigate the challenges of prison life and maintain a positive outlook toward his future.

---

Reintegration and New Ventures

Upon nearing release, Owen discusses his excitement about reintegrating into society. He aims to leverage his entrepreneurial spirit by launching a health-focused business, encapsulating his transformation from a drug dealer to a legitimate businessman.

"From putting bad things on the streets to now healthy treats. Right. Like, that's my motto." [34:41]

Owen is developing California Ice Protein, a venture inspired by his prison-made protein ice cream, aiming to provide nutritious, on-the-go treats for fitness enthusiasts.

"It's like a protein shake on the stick, dude." [35:22]

---

Reflections on the Drug Trade and Modern Challenges

Throughout the conversation, Owen provides insightful commentary on the evolution of the drug trade, particularly the shift towards fentanyl and the impact of technological advancements like cryptocurrency on money laundering.

"They used to have to send money in the mail... But, yeah, it's a whole new world now." [23:07]

He emphasizes the increased dangers and the relentless pursuit by law enforcement agencies, illustrating the ever-tightening grip on cartel operations.

---

Closing Thoughts: A Story of Resilience

Owen Hanson’s narrative is a testament to the human capacity for change and resilience. From the heights of collegiate sports to the depths of criminal underworlds and the redemptive corridors of prison reform, his journey underscores the profound impact of personal choices and the possibility of reinvention.

"I'm just blessed to be alive." [13:13]

As Owen prepares for his release, his focus remains steadfast on building a legitimate business and sharing his story to inspire others facing similar adversities.

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Notable Quotes

• "I thought, this is it. I'm going to be dead." [10:27]
• "Prison was more peaceful for me, because now it's like, okay, I'm done working." [14:18]
• "I went to the gym or at the office signing books." [31:59]
• "We used to have to send money in the mail. We'd put in comic books." [23:25]

---

Conclusion: Lessons from a Reformed Life

Sean Kelly skillfully navigates the complex and often harrowing experiences shared by Owen Hanson, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the intricate workings of organized crime, the harsh realities of prison life, and the transformative power of redemption. Owen’s story not only entertains but also serves as a profound lesson on the consequences of one’s actions and the enduring hope for a better, lawful future.

---

For those intrigued by Owen Hanson’s remarkable journey from fame to infamy and back to redemption, this episode of Digital Social Hour is a must-listen. Stay tuned for more unfiltered conversations with some of the world's most fascinating and controversial figures.

Transcript

[A]

I've seen him see murders, seen stabbings, seen a guy hang himself, see seen two guys overdose on heroin. Jeez.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

I mean, it's. I think anytime you put a needle in your arm, you don't know what's gonna happen.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I think it was accidental. What was crazy is him and his bunky both did a shot and they both died.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All right, guys, Owen Hansen here, also known as the California kid from USC golden boy to international drug kingpin. Thanks for joining us today, man.

[A]

Thanks for having me, Sean.

[B]

Yeah, what a story.

[A]

Glad to be here.

[B]

High highs and low lows, but here you are now.

[A]

Glad to be alive, right?

[B]

Yeah. You're on back on the come up now, right?

[A]

That's right. Everyone loves to come back.

[B]

You excited for the new chapter?

[A]

I can't wait, man. I'm just, just tasting the freedom, you know, I'm almost there. Three more months and I'll be out of the federal bureau prison halfway house.

[B]

And you had a 255 month sentence, right?

[A]

Yes, it was a battle and it took some finesse and we got here.

[B]

Did you have to serve all the full amount or how did it work?

[A]

No, I got some love in the court and, you know, you'll be able to hear that later on in my, my docu series that's coming out. But it's, it's an amazing, amazing journey. And, you know, the Lord was definitely looking after me.

[B]

Did religion play a major role for you?

[A]

Yeah, you know, the whole time you're wondering, is there a Lord up there? And you know, you're praying every night and then finally that, that, that moment hits where you're like, wow, there. Yeah, there is somebody up there that's looking after me. There's definitely a higher up.

[B]

Yeah, I definitely believe in a higher up and a sense of purpose, right?

[A]

Yes, for sure.

[B]

I love that. Your story began at usc, right? Two times national champ.

[A]

Yeah. Back to back national champs under Pete Carroll. Played with Reggie Bush, Matt Leinert, you know, Mike Williams, the Sean Cody, you name it. Clay Matthews. And what a, what a, what an amazing, amazing time at usc. You know, never playing football in my life and walking onto the. One of the greatest football teams of all time in college.

[B]

Legendary, legendary coach too.

[A]

Legendary Pete Carroll, legend for sure. A player's coach, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And just. He's going to be at the Raiders now and we need, we need him. You guys are lucky, but I think, I think he will do well there. You know, he's, he's older, but he's got it in him.

[B]

Yeah. How did it feel seeing all your teammates go off in the pros, do their things?

[A]

You know, that's where kind of my life took a turn, Right? You know, you're seeing your buddies making millions of dollars, and you're like, how can I compete? And that's where I got into organized crime. I was watching them going 20 million dollar contracts. I'm like, okay, I'm going out to Vegas with them. They're buying bottle service, and I just. I like, I feel like I'm not throwing my. My weight, carrying my weight. And I'm like, you know what? It's time I step it up. And that's when I got into illegal bookmaking and started being a bookie for professional athletes, a list celebrities. And I took it to the next level. And one day, I eventually started taking bets for the cartel. And that's where this thing took a turn.

[B]

Did you know they were the cartel at the time?

[A]

Before, at the time, I didn't know. I was accepting these bets from someone over in Mexico, and I was getting duffel bags of cash dropped off, and I was like, well, this is a really good customer. But I'm telling my sub bookie, you know, keep him happy, give him his 10% free play, and whatever he needs from me, just let me know. Because I treated my business like a concierge service, you know? And that's what he did. This agent that worked for me, which we call a sub bookie, he just kept bringing those bags of cash. And I remember, finally, this. This guy from Mexico hit. And I said, I called the agent. I said, hey, man, you got to pick up this. This cash and pay him early. I want to pay him. Pay him on Monday, because no booking in the business pays on Monday. I said, as soon as he gets there, 8am I want you to pay him. And that's what I did. I paid El Jefe back. He won like 250,000 on a parlay. And come Monday morning, he showed up with the duffel bag and paid this guy, El Jefe. And that's what it took for him to reach out to me. And he wanted to know who I was. I was so prompt, and my business ethics were spot on.

[B]

Yeah. So he gained your respect?

[A]

Yeah, he loved it. He's like, man, I want to do business with this kid. You know, I was 24 years old at the time, but I said, fuck the kid. This. This agent came and brought me an encrypted phone. And he told me, hey, my uncle wants to speak to you. I'm like, your uncle? He goes, yeah, it's my uncle that's been gambling. I said, all right, well what does he want to speak to me about? He goes, I don't know. Here's this encrypted phone and I remember looking at this thing and going, what the fuck am I going to do with this? Right? It had no microphone, no gps, no camera on it. And it's just like a BlackBerry that's used for emails only offshore servers.

[B]

I'm like, wow, so you can't even call or touch?

[A]

Yeah, nothing. It's just an email through a server that goes to his email and there's no communication with anybody else. Wow.

[B]

Yeah, I didn't know phones could be made like that.

[A]

It was high tech. Yeah. There's a company called Phantom secure out of Canada. Damn. Yeah. And they were like $2,000 phones.

[B]

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[A]

Back in the day. Yeah. That's $600 a month service.

[B]

Geez. Yes. I guess you got to stay off the off the grid though, right?

[A]

That's the only way.

[B]

Yeah. So you're going down to Mexico a lot?

[A]

Going down to Mexico. You started, you know, asking me for little favors, right? Drop off a hundred thousand here, drop off quarter million here. And every time I dropped off money, he'd give me 10% on top of it.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah. So I was like, why not? I already, I already got the cash in the U.S. you know, I'm a. One of the biggest bookies in the US So I got cash everywhere. So for me, it's. It's just a phone call away to drop off a hundred grand. And then for him to say, okay, where do you want 110k wired like this, Right. Clockwork, like it's a no brainer. If you can make 10% a day, you're winning.

[B]

Yeah. And he needed someone like you because he couldn't bet in the casinos. They wouldn't allow him.

[A]

Right, that's right. He couldn't even come to the U.S. oh, wow. And you got to remember, he's running, you know, one of the biggest cartels in the world. So he has stash houses that need to be protected. He has people that work for him in the US who can he count on? He can count on me. I'm his payroll service. And for me, it was easy. I'm paying these guys that are working for him, and he's wiring me the money in Costa Rica, where I have my, my sports betting office.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it worked out.

[B]

When did things start going south? Because at one point, you racked up 3.2 million in debt with them, right?

[A]

Yeah, I got in debt 3.2 million with the cartel. What a, what a feeling that was. You're like, oh, okay, what do I do now? You know, do I put a gun in my mouth and give up, or do I pay the guy back? And as an honorable. As an honorable bookmaker, I did the right thing and I paid him back the 3.2.

[B]

So you had the cash on hand?

[A]

No, it took time. He made me go to work for him.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Yeah, I had to work for him, and I had to transport cocaine all over the world for him.

[B]

How did that happen, though? Like, how did he just bets?

[A]

No, I started laundering money for him, and he asked me to launder some money.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I. I reached out to a guy that was in this gambling business that laundered money, you know, professionally through the. The blackjack tables. And I reached out to this guy, Robin Hood, and he says, yeah, I'll. I'll launder the money. Whatever you want me to launder. I'll charge you 25%. Big. So if I gave him a million bucks, he'd give me 750 back, and that was his way of making his. His living. So, you know, I gave him 1.5. And he laundered it perfectly. He took his percentage, and then he laundered it through the blackjack tables, and he got a check at the end, and he'd cash it out in Vegas, and he'd bring me cash. Fast forward, you know, six weeks later, he's asking me if he wanted to launder some more money. So I gave him, at the time, 2.5 million. And he laundered that money, and he ended up losing all of it.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

Yeah. And the same day, one of my runners got picked off with 700,000. Same exact day. So in one day, I lost $3.2 million. And it wasn't my money. It was the cartel's money. So it was a mess, Sean. I'm not gonna lie, man. I was. You know, my life was over, and I said I didn't even lose the money. It's like, you know, it's. It's a scam about lost the money, but. But my face was on the line, and I did the right thing, and I. I met him in Mexico, and I told him what happened. He says, you don't owe me 3.2 million anymore. He goes, you owe me $4 million. I'm charging you interest.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

And I said, you can't argue. At least I'm alive, right? I told myself, I'm. At least these sicarios behind me didn't put a bullet in my head. And I accepted it. And I said, I'll go to work for you. Whatever I need to do to pay you back, because I'm a man of my word.

[B]

Did you walk into that meeting like this might be it?

[A]

That meeting? I thought it was over, right. I popped some Zan and took a couple of bike and took a shot of ghb and I walked across that border in Tijuana and I was like, this is it. I'm going to be dead.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I don't think many people would survive that.

[A]

Most people would just give up.

[B]

Most people wouldn't show up and then get picked off.

[A]

They get picked off and whacked. Yeah. So I had to. I showed my face and it paid off. I'm here today, right?

[B]

Yeah. You think that runner that got caught was tipped off or what do you think happened with that 700 car?

[A]

Yeah, he got tipped off. He got tipped off by the gambler. Actually called the police and said, hey, this guy Owen's got a gun. Can you please check his room? And we had a hotel room, and they came. One of my runners was on the way to the hotel room, and four police stopped him in Australia.

[B]

Shit.

[A]

Picked off the 700K and. And shit hit the fan after that.

[B]

So not only did he scam you of 2.5, he snitched on the 700?

[A]

That's right. 3.2 in one day.

[B]

What happened to that guy?

[A]

Became an FBI informant.

[B]

No way. What?

[A]

Yes, he became an FBI informant in order to save himself. He called the feds and said, I think this guy just laundered all this money for his going to have me killed. He says, I laundered his money through the casinos, and he basically told on the operation how he was doing it. And they told him, okay, well, you're gonna work for us and we're gonna try to take him down. And it took four years to eventually take me down.

[B]

Geez.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So you were fighting that case for a while?

[A]

No, this was on the street. I'm working this four years he's working on the street, trying to bust me with the feds. Oh, so that's how it was. Yeah.

[B]

And did you know that?

[A]

I didn't know the whole time. I'm just trying to pay back this cartel boss.

[B]

Yeah. So was he hitting you up at all?

[A]

Yeah, calling me. Hey, how can I help? I'm gonna launder the money. I'm gonna pay you back whatever I can do to pay you back that money I owe you. Don't worry, I'm gonna get you every Penny let me make a deposit in your bank account. Like I knew something was up because you don't talk on the phone like that, Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You don't say, hey, let me clean some money for you. Right? You go meet me in person and tell me we're not talking about laundering money on the phone. Yeah, that's illegal.

[B]

He was wired.

[A]

Yeah, he was wired.

[B]

So you were moving smart.

[A]

I was trying to move smart. Not smart enough. You can't beat the feds, right?

[B]

When you were finally sentenced, what did they end up catching you with?

[A]

They finally were able to prove that I moved a ton of cocaine to Australia.

[B]

How'd they prove that?

[A]

Just through encrypted messages. Informants, they. They had a lot of people on my case that there was a 23 man indictment. So a lot of people that work for me were able to confirm a lot of numbers. A couple of people on my case ended up dying, killing themselves. Yeah, there's a wild story.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

23 people.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Jeez. You had a big team, huh?

[A]

We had a syndicate.

[B]

Right. Geez, man, what a change from USC football to that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's crazy.

[A]

Who would ever thought, you know, this was the life that I was going to end up taking? But, you know, I came from a son of a construction worker. I never thought in a million years that I would fall down this path. And, yeah, I'm just blessed to be alive.

[B]

Did you like the lifestyle? Did you enjoy it? Were you waking up feeling nice every day?

[A]

Listen, I didn't like the lifestyle. I love the lifestyle, right? It was amazing. You're flying private jets and driving the nicest cars, and you have security that are armed with AK47s. And everywhere you go, you're treated like this. This. This kingpin, right? But at the end of the day, I get out of prison and I realize I don't have to look over my shoulder anymore. And that feeling right there is like the biggest relief when you're doing illegal activity, you know, that one day you're gonna get caught. If you don't get caught, you're gonna kill, right? So. So that was the. The feeling of anxiety that I couldn't stand, like, knowing that I'm breaking the law. And one day I could probably go to federal prison. And that's what happened.

[B]

And you were always on edge.

[A]

Always on edge, always taking Xanax, always drinking, always taking any kind of drug I can to put me at, you know, halfway.

[B]

Were you on edge in prison, too?

[A]

You know, to be honest, prison was more peaceful for me, because now it's like, okay, I'm done working. It was a relief, right? And it was time to rehabilitate. You know, I've been parting my ass off at that the last 10 years, and it was like, okay, finally I can recover. Rehabilitate. I went to school, got my master's degree, end up writing my book, the California Kid, and working on the story of my life. It was one of those things. It was like, okay, this ain't that bad. At least I'm alive still. And when you're in prison, people are like, okay, how do you do it? And people don't realize that the way I did.

[B]

I hope you guys are enjoying the show. Please don't forget to like and subscribe. It helps the show a lot with the algorithm. Thank you.

[A]

Is my mind was not in prison, only my body was in prison. Because I made every day feel like I was out in the real world, work out. In the morning, I'd go to school, I'd had a job, I had a hustle. You know, there was things I did to keep busy. And every night I went to bed at 9 o' clock and I was exhausted. I was like, wow, I made 20 bucks a day. But in prison, that's a lot of money, right? And then eventually I made $100 and then 150. And I just started to learn a business in prison that was basically monetized by selling protein ice cream.

[B]

Protein ice cream.

[A]

Protein ice cream, Yeah. I learned to make protein ice cream in prison, and that was my hustle. And everyone called me the ice cream man.

[B]

How'd you keep it cold in prison?

[A]

So there's this way you keep things cold, and it's with salt, so they don't have refrigeration. So if you have ice, which we can get ice, and if you have salt, you put it in a mop bucket, which is what we use to clean the cells. You throw the ice in the mop bucket and you take your protein shakes and you put it inside the mop bucket with the ice, and then you throw salt on top. And when you shake it for like 15 minutes and let it sit for about four hours, it turns into ice cream.

[B]

Really?

[A]

No one knows? Yeah.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And I discovered it one day on accident. My cellie's like, just throw some salt on in there and it'll keep it colder. And I got back from my workout and turned into ice cream. Like, holy shit. I said, I'm onto something. Right?

[B]

You were the ice cream plug.

[A]

Let's go So I became the ice cream. From cocaine to ice cream, that's just a different product.

[B]

That's cool, man. Did the cartel have your back when you were in prison?

[A]

Yeah. A lot of respect, right? You know, I remember getting there. A lot of people said, mucho gusto, which means white boy. Nice to meet you. I've heard so many things about you. Right. And I remember one. One group of paisas from Sinaloa, they wrote this corrido about me, and it's like a folk song. And that was pretty cool to have a song written about you.

[B]

That's awesome.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Did you get caught up in any cartel wars? Were there beefs going on?

[A]

No, the only time I. I ran into something, my. My boss from. From Mexico had had some beef going on with another cartel in. In Texas. He wanted me, as the businessman, to go pick up a million dollars for him. So I had to fly to Mexico, and I had to fly to Texas, actually, and pick up a million dollars for him on a private plane just because he couldn't pick it up. But, hey, I'm getting 10. Yeah.

[B]

100K right there. And a free flight on a PJ.

[A]

On a PJ.

[B]

I didn't know there was cartels operating in Texas.

[A]

Oh, yeah, they're right on that border.

[B]

Really? Yeah.

[A]

You got to remember, the Z is over there. So it's right on that border of Brownsville, the private airport right there.

[B]

Yeah, I had Ed Calderon on the show.

[A]

Okay. Yeah.

[B]

You know him?

[A]

Yeah, I've heard of him.

[B]

Yeah. Cop in Tijuana.

[A]

Yeah, that's right. Crooked cop.

[B]

Was he crooked?

[A]

I think that's what I heard.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You didn't mention that on the podcast. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's funny, though. I mean, if you think about it, how do you survive as a cop until you want to go?

[A]

You got to be crooked and paid, Right?

[B]

Like, there's no way.

[A]

I remember working with the cartel in Mexico, right. Driving in these. These bulletproof cars, and we get pulled over. It's like, okay, here you go. Let us go. Yeah, yeah. It's just. They love American money.

[B]

Yeah. They got more authority there than they.

[A]

Love that $100 bill.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. That's nuts. Did you like Mexico more or the US at the time?

[A]

Man, I love Mexico. I just like the food. I love the women. I love the. The feeling of power, like, just being able to be driven around in a bulletproof car and have sicarios working for you. Like, you have an entourage. Right. And that power was awesome. But at the End. At the end of the day, you're still worried that you're going to get killed, so I'm glad it's. It's over.

[B]

Yeah. Not a lot of people escape the cartel mod.

[A]

No. Usually you end up dead.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, look at. Look at everyone that. That works for them. They're either. They're dead or in prison.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. The US Is really going after these guys now.

[A]

They got Miles and Bata, Chapo. All Chapo sons.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Cracking the whip. It's crazy.

[B]

I remember seeing Chapo escape a few times.

[A]

Few times when I was a kid. He's a legend for that, man. He. He figured out a way, right?

[B]

Dude, the one.

[A]

The laundry. How was that laundry? Where they put him in the laundry basket and pushed him out.

[B]

Oh, brilliant. Brilliant. And the underground one tunnel. Yes. That's the movie stuff.

[A]

Hey, that's when you know you have a lot of money. Yeah. To be able to pull that off. That was a $30 million tunnel. They did.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Yeah, they had to buy the property next door.

[B]

Holy crap.

[A]

And that tunnel cost 30 million. He came right through that shower vent.

[B]

That's nuts.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

You think they would have been able to get away once he got out? They got him.

[A]

It's hard. He was a ghost, and he wanted to go talk to Sean Penn, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That was just stupid.

[B]

Yeah. Plus, I heard being on the run is just so bad for you mentally. I've had a few guys on the show talk about it.

[A]

I've heard. Yeah, I've heard a couple guys on the run. It just. It puts a toll on you, Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You age.

[B]

Absolutely. You probably got offered some deals to snitch, right?

[A]

Yeah. You. You know, right when you get there, they say you want. You want to go work with us on the street and take down the cartel, and that's when you. You say, okay, you want to kill me and my family? It's not going to happen. Right. We're not. We're not taking down the cartel.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's never going to happen.

[B]

Has someone's turned on the cartel before?

[A]

Yeah. They end up dead. Damn. Chino Antrax, he was a sicario for the. The cartel. He was a hitman. And Chino Anthrax, Six weeks after he got out of prison, he went on house arrest and he ended up missing in. In Mexico.

[B]

That's quick. Six weeks. Yeah.

[A]

Gone.

[B]

Geez. Yeah, they have too many numbers out there. There's just no way to go back to Mexico.

[A]

Soldiers.

[B]

Why would he pick Mexico?

[A]

He thought he was going to a birthday party to celebrate his, one of his family members birthday parties. And he thought he was good. They probably told him, yeah, you're good, don't worry, come down, right? And they said they, they got him and his sister in this BMW X5 and had the whole car shot up.

[B]

Geez, that's nuts. Now, throughout this process, you were addicted to gambling too, right?

[A]

I wasn't addicted. I was a bookie, so I was on the other side, Right. I had a lot of addictive friends, like my boy Matt Boyer. He was addicted, he, but he was a big bookie, he was successful. So, you know, I wouldn't say I was addicted to gambling. I, I like that rush though. I like the feel of having action.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And that's what I live for, action.

[B]

Did you ever have someone just win non stop when they were making bets with you?

[A]

Yeah, I had some wise guys, man. Guys that were, we call sharps, right? Yeah, that. They don't. They don't. You don't. You can't beat them. You guys Was a sharp.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, he had his ups and downs. I wouldn't, eventually I would say, man, I don't want traction, right. We're friends, let's keep it friendly. Right? But I had a guy from Connecticut, Connecticut, Dave. And this dude went 11 for 11 on college, on college basketball. You know how hard that is? And I remember I called this guy, I said, man, I'm paying you your money, but don't ever play on my side again.

[B]

Yeah. Cause if they win, what is it? 54%. They're considered a sharp.

[A]

That's a sharp. Yeah. That's an edge. 54%. That's only that much. But that's considered a wise guy. Is sharp. Damn.

[B]

But those are like super rare, right?

[A]

1%.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, they're, they're very hard to find. There's a lot of copycats, but they're not beating the lines. So when you bet on sports, the lines move and the Sharps bet the line, and then that, that line, whatever that spread is, will move after they bet it because they're that powerful.

[B]

What's the biggest bet you took?

[A]

I took a $250,000 bet during a Super bowl game.

[B]

Damn. All cash.

[A]

It was all cash.

[B]

Were you only cash?

[A]

Cash and carry, man.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

I wish I would have took some crypto back, man. I was sad, man. I would have came out. Everyone's like, didn't you take bets in crypto? I said, man, that was before our era. Yeah, crypto got Big. I remember hearing about it. My manager one time called me, says, hey, this guy wants to pay in crypto. I said, I don't want to take crypto.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

I know nothing about it. It was like a dollar a coin back then.

[B]

Bitcoin.

[A]

Yeah. Could you imagine if I would have took it? You would have stored it away.

[B]

It would have been a billionaire.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because it's 60,000 now.

[A]

It's ridiculous.

[B]

And it used to be 100,000.

[A]

I know. Could you imagine?

[B]

One day it'll be 250.

[A]

Of course I'm watching it. I love the platform. It's amazing.

[B]

I like it for just easiness.

[A]

It's like, you're not going to the bank. You don't have to worry about a wire fee.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's just like, it's done.

[B]

Yeah. For you, it would have been great, because international trades.

[A]

I would have got caught in Australia.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I wouldn't have had to use this money launder.

[B]

You wouldn't even have the shown up. You could have just sent it from your bedroom.

[A]

It would've been awesome.

[B]

Yeah. Would've been a game changer. I bet a lot of drug guys now use it.

[A]

Oh, a hundred percent. No doubt.

[B]

Cause flying cash is dangerous.

[A]

You can't do it, Right. Yeah. You get caught, you're done.

[B]

Yeah. More than 10k, they flag you.

[A]

We used to have to send money in the mail. We'd put in comic books. We did everything, man. We'd buy Euro notes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We'd buy gold. We did it all, man. But. Yeah, it's a whole new world now, right?

[B]

Yeah. How's the drug market these days? You think it's as big as it used to be?

[A]

I think it's bigger.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yeah. You know, I did a lot of research while I was incarcerated, and I read a lot of newspapers. It sounds like this fentanyl has taken over.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's dangerous.

[B]

Yeah. Why are they putting that in. In there?

[A]

It's just an addiction, Right. It's a. To get people hooked. So they keep buying it, but it's. It's killing people. I was with a guy he played for, or he was working for the Anaheim Angels, Eric K. And he got 22 years because he gave some OxyContin to one of the players, a pitcher, and the guy took it and died. And they found out that the OxyContin was laced with fentanyl.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

And they charged this. This. This guy that worked for the program. They gave him 22 years. And, you know, in. In all due respect, they're both doing the drug together. It's not like he, he tried to kill him.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You know?

[B]

Yeah. That's a tricky one because I took it to trial.

[A]

You don't take it to trial.

[B]

Oh, you don't?

[A]

No.

[B]

You always settle.

[A]

You settle. You can't beat the feds if they're taking you to, if they've arrested you, you're. You're going down.

[B]

Yeah, 98% commission, you know about it. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

He got, he got a deal that I think they offered him like five years. He's like, no, I wasn't guilty, man. You take the five years. Now he's in there for 22 years. I was in prison with him in Colorado.

[B]

Oh, man. Plus 22. Plus he spent way more money than he would have if he just settled lawyers.

[A]

He's already, you know, 48 years old. Like, come on, take the five.

[B]

Yeah. How many people did you see mentally destroyed in prison? Like they just gave up on life.

[A]

90.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Just ruined.

[B]

That's high.

[A]

I see the ones that are the most strong are the guys that are in there for life because they know that's their life. They've accepted it and they've moved on and they know they're going to die in there. So they make it their everyday life. They're working out, they've got a job, they just, they go to church. They treat it like they're out in the real world because that's how you have to.

[B]

Yeah, but the guys that were getting like 40 year sentences, they were kind of.

[A]

Some guys break, man, they just fall apart. They're eating soups every day, they're sleeping, they're not taking, you know, they're doing drugs. Like there's a lot of drugs in prison. People don't realize how many drugs are in prison.

[B]

Yeah. What was your mentality going into it?

[A]

My mentality was the judge sent me to prison for a reason. Right. And what are you supposed to do? You're supposed to rehabilitate. So I said, it's my time. It's my time to sober up. My life as a party is finally over and I wanted to come out a stronger mentally and physically.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Than I've ever been. And, and now I come out and I just, I feel good. Every morning I wake up 4:30 and I'm ready to go.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. I go to bed at 9 o' clock, I go to the gym. I work and, you know, I'm here.

[B]

Well done.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Did you have to spend some time in ISO?

[A]

Yeah, you know, I actually, I did during COVID We. We got locked down for literally a year.

[B]

Geez.

[A]

Yeah, well, it was ISO. It turned into ISO. So what? I was in a 6 by 8 cell and everyone got locked down.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We could shower twice a week.

[B]

Geez.

[A]

And they fed us box lunches through the, the tray slot. So it was ISO. Like people are like, oh, that's not ISO. No, that is isolation to its max. It's the same as going to the chute. So for me, it was like, mentally it was, it was hard. And that's when I started to write the book. I said, I gotta do something with myself.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, where did this story start? Let's start writing. And that's where it began, Dude.

[B]

ISO's no joke. They've done a lot of studies on how it destroys the brain.

[A]

Yeah, There's a few people that have showed, I think Mr. Beast or somebody showed. You go in this isolation and just try it for like 11 days, see what happens to you. You're gonna lose your fucking mind.

[B]

People can't stand a few days.

[A]

It's insane.

[B]

There's people that have done years.

[A]

I got a friend that did 12 years in ISO in solitary confinement, shot caller for the Aryan Brothers. Beast, man.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Could you imagine? No, he said he was going nuts in there. Yeah. You can only do so many push ups, right?

[B]

The brain will go crazy, man. Like, the mind is very powerful.

[A]

They try to break you. Yeah, that's for the whole point.

[B]

Yeah. Did you feel like you were broken at a certain point in there during.

[A]

COVID I felt broken, right. And I just kept going, man. It's like, okay, you can only talk to your bunky about so many things, right? You're like, you're getting bored, right? You don't have anything to do. You know, it's this, it's you. You've read every book in, in the whole block. So it gets old and repetitive and I tell people it's like Groundhog Day every day.

[B]

Did you get along with your bunky?

[A]

Yeah, most of them. You know, I've had a couple bunkies that, you know, we bump heads like he's standing up to pee. And if you're, if you're in prison, you sit down to pee because you don't want that spray to hit your bunky when he's sleeping or lying on the bottom bunk. It's right next to the bunk bed.

[B]

Yeah. To respect things.

[A]

Respect.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Any fights?

[A]

I've seen him see murders, seen stabbings, seen a Guy hang himself. See, seen two guys overdose on heroin.

[B]

Jeez. Intentionally or accidental?

[A]

I mean, it's. I think anytime you put a needle in your arm, you don't know what's going to happen. Yeah, but I think it was accidental. What was crazy is him and his bunky both did a shot and they both died.

[B]

Damn. Yeah, so it must have been laced. Probably fentanyl.

[A]

Fentanyl was spreading wild in the prison systems.

[B]

You think it's still like that these days?

[A]

I don't know. You know, it's. It's been about 16 months since I've been there, but I'm sure they're still getting it in.

[B]

Yeah, that's not too long. Yeah, it's probably still going to end, but now you said they're switching to like an electronic system, right?

[A]

Yeah. Inmates now have tablets and they're doing visits through, through the tablets because they don't want to bring the drugs. People are bringing drugs in through the visits, so they want to stop that. And the prisons are trying to change the way people see their, their family with tablets. And it's like an iPad, kind of.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, it must be tempting if you're just bored sitting around all day if you get offered some drugs, like nothing better to do.

[A]

Yeah, I think a lot of people feel that way. It kills time, right? Yeah, you know it. But I knew I was going to prison to get better, get sober, so it didn't cross my mind my new drug was working out, trying to eat as healthy as possible.

[B]

Is that even possible?

[A]

It's hard. I would eat seven mackerel a day.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

People are like, what are mackerel? Mackerel are those things that you fish with, Right. It's bait. It's the cheapest fish that you can buy. It's a dollar a pack. So that's the only way you can afford to eat. If you buy seven mackerel a day, that's like $7.

[B]

Are these the cans or just.

[A]

They're in a packet of foil and you, you drain them, but you, you only can spend 360amonth on food. That's, that's the limit. That's it. That's it. You, you gotta, you know, compartmentalize everything that you eat. And I map out my whole day, like a meal prep. You know, I have my oatmeal in the morning, a couple almonds, an apple, my mackerels, and I just go macro, macro, macro all day long.

[B]

Why do they cap the, the spend on food?

[A]

Because then what happens is Is people start using it to. To gamble, to buy drugs. So they put a cap so people can't, Can't. Can't keep doing that and spending. Like if you had a thousand dollars a month and you could buy a thousand dollars in commissary and use that to buy drugs. Because that's how people buy. That's the currency.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

Is fish or stamps, like postage stamps?

[B]

Yeah. Do you agree with that rule? The 360amonth?

[A]

I mean, I know why they do it, right. They want prison. You don't want to be comfortable in there. They want you to be uncomfortable. So I don't agree with it, but, I mean, I see why they do it.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. From a mindset point of view, it makes sense, right?

[A]

Yeah, absolutely.

[B]

Yeah. Plus, you were a bookie, so you can kind of see how people.

[A]

Yeah. And there's gambling in there too. Right. So if you want to gamble on something, guess what? You're gambling with your commissary. So that stops the gambling. Right. You can only gamble so much.

[B]

Yeah. Or are they playing, like, poker or chess?

[A]

A lot of poker. Some guys gamble for chess, but mostly poker. It's the sports bookies. Gets the lines off the ESPN channel and they put out a ticket.

[B]

So you guys had access to watch that?

[A]

Yeah, ESPN, there's usually about two TVs per race. So the whites got two TVs, the blacks have two TVs, the Mexicans and the Pisces. So everything's segregated in prison, right? Prison politics. But there is a spot to watch sports. Always. Sports is always playing in prison, which is nice for me, coming from being an athlete.

[B]

Yeah, that's cool. You still watch sports these days?

[A]

Not right now. Right now I'm living in the Halfway House. There's 200 inmates and one TV, so it makes it difficult to watch sports.

[B]

Who gets to pick what's on?

[A]

It's whoever gets their first.

[B]

And that's probably not you.

[A]

Definitely not me.

[B]

Even though you're up at 4?

[A]

Yeah, 4:30. They had it closed. They open it up at 6 and by that time I'm out of there.

[B]

At the office, you're at the gym?

[A]

Yeah, at the gym or at the office signing books.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You doing some personal training on the side?

[A]

No, but a lot of people at the gym, like, hey, ask for tips. Everyone supporting the comeback. So I'll get like 100 thrown at me and say, hey, here, buddy, here, help you out. Sometimes I'll train a guy and a couple days a week and he's like, can I work out with you? I'll give you some money. I said, yeah, absolutely. So it's. It's not my. My end result, but it's. It's cool to help. Killed the time, right?

[B]

Yeah. You still keeping up with USC football?

[A]

No, you know, I actually. I got to go to USC about two weeks ago on a pass, and I got to see my. A couple of my old teammates that are coaches now. Mike.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah, that was cool. I got to see Matt Castle, Sean Cody, the old equipment manager, and it was cool to see those guys.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Very supportive for the comeback, and they want to see me do well.

[B]

I didn't know Matt Castle was coaching out there.

[A]

No, he's not. They actually. The equipment manager, Tito, he. He put him on FaceTime. He's like, look who I have here. And he. It was Matt Castle. He's like, oh, yeah.

[B]

My dad was a huge Notre Dame fan.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

We got a rivalry going.

[A]

That's great. Yeah.

[B]

Those games are.

[A]

Remember the Bush push?

[B]

Bush. Bush. That might have been before I started watching.

[A]

So Matt. Matt Leiner got pushed in by. By. By Reggie Bush to score this touchdown. It was the biggest controversy in college football. And after that rule, after that push, they have a new rule that you can't push a guy into the end zone. Really?

[B]

Because of that.

[A]

The Bush push. Famous.

[B]

Yeah. USC was, man, back in the day. They're still good now.

[A]

Yeah, but not like before the Carol eras were where we were.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Top of our game.

[B]

Yeah. He was a beast, man. What's your favorite sport to watch right now?

[A]

Right now? I like watching basketball.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know, I want to go watch LeBron play. I haven't got to see LeBron play. The whole time I was in prison, I was like, I got to get to the Staples center now. It's the crypto. Right. The Crypto Arena. I'm like, I got to see him play. Like, that's.

[B]

Yeah, he's only got another year, maybe.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. So I got to try to get. Get there one of these playoff games.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

See if the halfway house will allow it.

[B]

Yeah. As long as you're back by nine, right?

[A]

Back by nine. But I think these games start at like, 5:30, right?

[B]

Yeah. So I think you might be able to catch one, but they're pricey.

[A]

I gotta have a sponsor, right?

[B]

Yeah, yeah. You gotta start a pod one day.

[A]

Yeah, one day. I think so.

[B]

I think with your connections, I mean, there's just so many celebrities, you know.

[A]

I Want to call it the ice cream shop. The reason being is because my new thing is I. I make protein ice cream and I started this company called California Ice Protein.

[B]

Oh, you're still doing it.

[A]

I'm still doing it. So when I got out, all my friends are like, man, what do you want to do? I said, I want to. I want to tell the story about how I made this in prison and this is my comeback story. I want to.

[B]

From.

[A]

From putting bad things on the streets to now healthy treats. Right. Like, that's like my motto.

[B]

No, that's a great name. Especially since you did in prison, dude. So fitting.

[A]

It's a good hustle and people are like, looking at it like, wow, he went from selling cocaine and making a million dollars a day and now just selling ice cream and making like a dollar off each ice cream. Like, who cares, right? It's just the mentality. I'm a hustler. I'm going to figure out a way to get to that billion dollar valuation.

[B]

You can do it, man. I just saw a video yesterday. This guy made sour strip gummy.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah. He sold it to a Hershey, I think.

[B]

Yeah. 100 million in like three years or three years.

[A]

I want four years. I want a half a billion.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

I'm going big.

[B]

Yeah. As long as you got the eyeballs, you can figure out ways to monetize.

[A]

Yeah, I'm creative.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Figure it out.

[B]

And there's an audience for your. Your crowd.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Prison stories and Dave's killer bread.

[A]

Right. That's a prime example.

[B]

Yeah, I eat that. I didn't know his story, though, of prison.

[A]

15 years. Really? Yeah. That's.

[B]

You got to support a healthy brand. Right.

[A]

It's awesome. They sold. I think they sold for 200 million. But they make a million dollars in bread every day.

[B]

Holy.

[A]

It's value added at $2 billion.

[B]

Damn. Yeah, I do see them everywhere. They're out everywhere. It's a brilliant idea because the bread here sucks.

[A]

Yeah. I thought it was great because there's not much protein ice cream out there.

[B]

And I haven't seen it.

[A]

I put it on a stick, so it's like. It's like you're eating an ice cream bar. And it's. My idea is to put it in every gym and nutrition store. So you just grab and go. It's like a protein shake on the stick, dude.

[B]

I mean, people love ice cream.

[A]

They love ice cream.

[B]

I think that would. That would do well. And you got our mutual friend Bruce to help you out.

[A]

Bruce is helping Bruce is a legend. No pun intended.

[B]

That's a good team, man. What else is next for you, man? Where can people find you, dude?

[A]

Just. Just the California kid getting the book out there. You know, the rumor is they're doing a docu series on me, so I'm hoping that that goes well, if that does happen. And, you know, California Ice protein, that's the comeback story. It's a story of resilience.

[B]

Awesome. We'll link it all below. We'll link the book below. Guys, check it out, and I'll see you next.