Presenting Gone South Season 4

Summary

Rotten Mango Podcast Episode Summary: "Gone South Season 4"

Release Date: November 21, 2024

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Introduction

In the latest episode of Rotten Mango, titled "Gone South Season 4," hosts Stephanie Soo and Ramble delve into a gripping true crime narrative centered around Daryl Smith, a sophisticated methamphetamine manufacturer operating south of the Mason-Dixon Line. This episode offers a detailed exploration of the DEA's investigative efforts to track and dismantle Smith's lucrative drug enterprise. Through vivid storytelling and insightful commentary, the hosts illuminate the complexities of modern drug trafficking and the psychological profile of those involved in such illicit activities.

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Methamphetamine Production: From P2P to Pseudoephedrine Reduction

The episode begins with an in-depth explanation of methamphetamine manufacturing methods, providing listeners with essential background information.

Terry explains:

"In the 1990s, the most popular way to manufacture methamphetamine was the pseudoephedrine reduction method. Basically, this involved getting your hands on a lot of over-the-counter cold medicine like Sudafed, crushing up the pills and mixing the powder with a solvent to isolate the pseudoephedrine inside. You then reduced it with chemicals like iodine or red phosphorus. In just a few hours you had methamphetamine."
[00:32]

Terry contrasts this with the earlier P2P method:

"Before pseudoephedrine came into fashion, meth cooks were limited to what's known as the P2P method. P2P stands for phenyl 2 propanone. It was the main precursor chemical used to manufacture meth..."
[00:32]

This technical foundation sets the stage for understanding the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating meth production.

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The DEA Investigation: Tracking Daryl Smith

The narrative shifts to the DEA's surveillance operations aimed at identifying and apprehending Daryl Smith.

Steve Peterson recounts:

"That's a lot of freaking ether. You've got to be making huge quantities to buy ether in that quantity, you know what I mean?"
[01:50]

As the investigation progresses, Terry details the strategic move to monitor Smith:

"...DEA got permission to drop a tracking device, or what Steve calls a beeper, into one of the drums before Daryl picked them up."
[02:17]

Steve describes the early tracking technology:

"I call it a beeper because this is before we had GPS. So this thing just emitted a signal, a beep... it's almost as if we were in the Fred Flintstone days, judging from today's technology."
[02:17]

This reflection highlights the technological limitations and the innovative methods employed by the DEA at the time.

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Surveillance Operations: Observing Daryl Smith

The hosts discuss the meticulous surveillance tactics used to monitor Smith's activities.

Steve Peterson explains the initial observation:

"He appeared very paranoid because he was constantly looking around. He just looked like an average guy, just some schmo, you know, he wasn't intimidating, he wasn't threatening looking."
[03:15]

Terry adds context to Smith's behavior:

"When Daryl pulled away, Steve and the other agents followed... He's making somewhat of a circuitous route and he ends up at a mini warehouse... and he drove away."
[02:50]

This section underscores the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the DEA agents and Smith, emphasizing his cautious maneuvers to evade detection.

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Profiling Daryl Smith: Beyond the Stereotype

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing Smith's unconventional profile for a meth manufacturer.

Steve Peterson challenges typical stereotypes:

"No. So normally your typical manufacturer is like this broken down, skinny, old, no tooth idiot who doesn't really understand chemistry... But when we learned about his background and he's got a medical degree... who is he working for?"
[04:44]

Terry further explores the discrepancy:

"Is it fair to ask like what a more typical meth manufacturer would have looked like at that time? Like it's not a medical student?"
[04:44]

This contrast between Smith's affluent lifestyle and the usual image of meth cooks raises intriguing questions about the diversity of individuals involved in drug manufacturing.

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Financial Investigation: Unraveling Smith's Finances

The DEA's financial probe into Smith's income sources reveals critical insights.

Steve Peterson narrates:

"So we were able to see that he was claiming a large amount of income as a professional gambler. He played poker... he was gambling in England. He gambled in Vegas a lot."
[05:40]

Terry examines the financial inconsistencies:

"By watching the nail salon and realizing how many customers showed up during the day, you would go, man, this guy's only had like 10 customers a week. This doesn't justify depositing $50,000 in cash from the nail salon."
[07:10]

This investigation highlights the challenges in tracking illicit income when it is disguised through legitimate businesses and personal endeavors like gambling.

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The Confrontation: A Risky Undercover Operation

The climax of the episode details a daring undercover operation by Steve Peterson to gather direct evidence against Smith.

Steve recounts the tense encounter:

"I just stuck the beeper on the underside of the van. When I look over and here's these two legs standing next to me at the van... He puts it reverse, and he backs out of parking spot. I just hang on to the drive shaft... and he drives right over me."
[07:54 - 08:42]

This harrowing experience exemplifies the personal risks law enforcement officers take to uphold justice and the unpredictable nature of undercover operations.

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Insights and Reflections

Throughout the episode, Rotten Mango provides profound insights into the intricacies of criminal investigations and the psychological underpinnings of criminals who defy conventional profiles. The hosts emphasize the importance of adaptability and vigilance in law enforcement, especially when dealing with sophisticated individuals like Daryl Smith.

Steve Peterson muses on his experience:

"It's like me cooking. I don't know how to make spaghetti sauce, but I know if I put tomatoes in a pot and smoosh them... It's not going to taste like Olive Garden, but at least it's something."
[05:20 - 05:22]

This analogy underscores the necessity of understanding foundational skills while recognizing the limitations and strengths of those involved in criminal activities.

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Conclusion

"Gone South Season 4" offers a compelling narrative that blends technical details with human elements, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the DEA's pursuit of Daryl Smith. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Rotten Mango sheds light on the complexities of modern drug trafficking and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to combat it.

For those intrigued by the darker facets of human nature and the relentless pursuit of justice, this episode serves as a riveting installment in the Rotten Mango series.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Steve Peterson:
  "That's a lot of freaking ether. You've got to be making huge quantities to buy ether in that quantity, you know what I mean?"
  [01:50]

• Steve Peterson:
  "But when we learned about his background and he's got a medical degree, he's a graduate from medical school, and he's making meth, of course, the first thing comes to mind is who is he working for?"
  [05:22]

• Steve Peterson:
  "It's like me cooking. I don't know how to make spaghetti sauce, but I know if I put tomatoes in a pot and smoosh them... It's not going to taste like Olive Garden, but at least it's something."
  [05:20 - 05:22]

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Further Listening

For the full experience and additional episodes of "Gone South," tune in to the Rotten Mango podcast available on all major streaming platforms.

Transcript

[Steve Peterson]

Ramble.

[Jed Lipinski]

Hi everyone. Gone south, the award winning true crime documentary podcast series is back now with new episodes weekly. Tune in every week as writer and host Jed Lipinski shares a different story about one of the most interesting crimes that took place below the Mason Dixon Line. Usually told by the person who committed the crime, the person who solved it, or both, Gone south not only sheds fascinating insights into the criminal mind, but also into human nature. Enjoy this Preview.

[Terry]

In the 1990s, the most popular way to manufacture methamphetamine was the pseudoephedrine reduction method. Basically, this involved getting your hands on a lot of over the counter cold medicine like Sudafed, crushing up the pills and mixing the powder with a solvent to isolate the pseudoephedrine inside. You then reduced it with chemicals like iodine or red phosphorus. In just a few hours you had methamphetamine. But before pseudoephedrine came into fashion, meth cooks were limited to what's known as the P2Pmethod. P2P stands for phenyl 2 propanone. It was the main precursor chemical used to manufacture meth. Meth cooks, whether they were making it in a lab or a bathtub, mixed P2P with other precursor chemicals to make the drug. As meth gained popularity in the late 70s though, phenyl 2 propanone was classified as a controlled substance and the common precursors like ether were tightly restricted, chemical companies started reporting suspicious orders to the DEA. So in 1983, when a chemical manufacturer in New Jersey learned that an individual in Atlanta with no apparent connection to a laboratory or institution had just placed an order for 15 drums of ether, they immediately contacted the DEA. That's how Steve Peterson learned about it.

[Steve Peterson]

That's a lot of freaking ether. You've got to be making huge quantities to buy ether in that quantity, you know what I mean?

[Terry]

Not long after Steve joined the storefront, his team spoke with the ether manufacturer in New Jersey. They learned that Daryl was due to pick up all 15 drums from an Atlanta distributor in a few weeks time. So DEA got permission to drop a tracking device, or what Steve calls a beeper, into one of the drums before Daryl picked them up.

[Steve Peterson]

I call it a beeper because this is before we had gps. So this thing just emitted a signal, a beep. And you had to be line of sight in order to receive the beep. And you looked at it on a little screen and it kind of looked like Pac Man. You know, you followed the little dots and if you were traveling, you would follow the little dots as okay, well you Must be turning left because the dots are turning left. Looking back now, it's almost as if we were in the Fred Flintstone days, judging from today's technology. But back then, this is all cutting edge stuff.

[Terry]

On the day Darryl arrived at the distributor, Steve's partner Terry was inside the warehouse posing as an employee. Steve and other agents were parked outside in unmarked vehicles. A small single engine Cessna owned by the DEA circled high above, monitoring Darryl's movements. Steve watched Darryl pull up in a cargo van and load all 15 drums. Even at a distance, he could tell Darryl was nervous.

[Steve Peterson]

He appeared very paranoid because he was constantly looking around. He just looked like an average guy, just some schmo, you know, he wasn't intimidating, he wasn't threatening looking.

[Terry]

When Daryl pulled away, Steve and the other agents followed.

[Steve Peterson]

And we follow him all around the city of Atlanta. He's driving all this different way. I assume he's looking to see if he's picked up surveillance or if anybody's following him. He's making somewhat of a circuitous route and he ends up at a mini warehouse, a mini storage facility, and he rented maybe a 20 by 30 space and he put all 1555 gallon drums in that space, closed the door, put a lock on it, and he drove away.

[Terry]

Steve and his team followed Darrell to a big house on a sprawling 10 acre lot in Roswell, an affluent suburb of Atlanta with manicured lawns and pristine homes. Sitting in the driveway were a Rolls Royce, a Mercedes, a Porsche and a Cadillac.

[Steve Peterson]

He had Harley Davidson motorcycles, he had boats. I mean, he had all kinds of toys. All kinds of toys.

[Terry]

Steve hadn't been with DEA for long, but he knew enough to know that most meth cooks didn't live this way. They usually lived in rundown homes in remote or rural areas where the smell produced by the chemicals was less noticeable. And Daryl Smith didn't fit the profile of your typical meth cook. And is it fair to ask like what a more typical meth manufacturer would have looked like at that time? Like it's not a medical student?

[Steve Peterson]

No. So normally your typical manufacturer is like this broken down, skinny, old, no tooth idiot who doesn't really understand chemistry, but understands if you mix A and B, you're going to get C. They don't really understand the chemical breakdowns. They don't really understand the chemistry behind it. They just. It's like me cooking. I don't know how to make spaghetti sauce, but I know if I put tomatoes in a pot and smoosh them and I add a few more Other things I can get, something I can live with. It's not going to taste like Olive Garden, but at least it's something.

[Terry]

Yeah.

[Steve Peterson]

You know what I mean?

[Terry]

Exactly.

[Steve Peterson]

But when we learned about his background and he's got a medical degree, he's a graduate from medical school, and he's making meth, of course, the first thing comes to mind is who is he working for?

[Terry]

Back at the office, Steve filed a court order to look at Daryl's tax returns. He wanted to see how Daryl claimed to be making money.

[Steve Peterson]

So we were able to see that he was claiming a large amount of income as a professional gambler. He played poker. I know he went to London a lot. He went and gambled in England. He gambled in Vegas a lot.

[Terry]

So Steve and some agents in Las Vegas started reaching out to casinos. They learned that Daryl was well known on the local gambling circuit.

[Steve Peterson]

The casinos keep impeccable records as to who are the winners and losers. So they know. So we were learning that Darrell was. He was a gambler, big gambler, but he wasn't a big winner. Occasionally he'd win a couple hundred thousand, but more often than not, he would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time. And the casinos loved him because he was putting a lot of money in them.

[Terry]

Darryl wasn't affording his lifestyle through gambling. So Steve ran a search to see if Darrell or his wife owned or operated any businesses that would account for the home, the cars and the boats.

[Steve Peterson]

We found out that between he and his wife, they ran and owned a nail salon just a few miles from his house up in Roswell. So she had a nail salon that she ran. So when we didn't have things going on at the store, I would oftentimes just go pocket the nail salon in the parking lot. And I would just sit on the nail salon and watch to see how many people would come and go. And by watching the nail salon and realizing how many customers showed up during the day, you would go, man, this guy's only had like 10 customers a week. This doesn't justify depositing $50,000 in cash from the nail salon. That doesn't make sense.

[Terry]

By this point, it seemed obvious to Steve and Terry that Daryl was involved in the drug trade. But the only evidence they had was that industrial sized order of Ethereum. They hadn't seen him manufacture methamphetamine. They also didn't know where the lab site was or if one even existed. One afternoon, Steve was staking out the nail salon when he saw Darryl pull up. He was Driving the same cargo van he'd used to pick up the barrels of ether months earlier.

[Steve Peterson]

So we have not seen this van. This van has been missing. It's not been at his house. We've never seen it at his house. We didn't know where he kept it. But the van shows up. And so I was like, holy crap, the van's here. And I'm by myself sitting in a park lot.

[Terry]

When Daryl and his wife left to grab lunch, Steve crawled under the van with a beeper.

[Steve Peterson]

I think I had just stuck the beeper on the underside of the van. When I look over and here's these two legs standing next to me at the van. And then the van door opens, and it's Daryl getting in. So now I'm, like, frozen under the van, trying not to move, hoping he's not going to, you know, look underneath the van. But he gets in van starts it up. I'm underneath there, and I'm thinking, holy crap, what am I gonna do now? He puts it reverse, and he backs out of parking spot. And as he does this, I just hang on to the drive shaft, and it just. I kind of pull myself up, suspend myself under the van, and he kind of drags me backwards. And then when he puts it in drive to go forward, I just let go and kind of suck it up a little bit, and he drives right over me. As soon as he drove off, I jumped up, got my car, and we started following him.

[Terry]

This time, Steve followed Daryl to a different house, one he'd never seen before. This one was small in a rural area, tucked away in a cul de sac. To the untrained eye, this house was totally normal and an unlikely place for a meth lab. But by now, Terry had learned that when it came to Daryl Smith, appearances could be deceiving.

[Jed Lipinski]

For full episodes, follow Gone south an Odyssey original podcast, available now on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.