Meet WildBlue Author of THE REAL MR. BIG: How a Colombian Refugee Became the United Kingdom’s Most Notorious Cocaine Kingpin and BAD HENRY: The Murderous Rampage of ‘The Taco Bell Strangler’
"Ron could run any intelligence agency in the world.”
—Lew Diaz, former undercover DEA agent
"Ike Atkinson, is the real deal, and not the stuff of Hollywood legend. The author delivers an eminently readable book about a genuine Mr. Big who knows that no fictional makeover is required for his compelling story – the truth is more than enough.”
—Steve Morris, former Publisher, New Criminologist
"Sergeant Smack is meticulously researched and its prodding for the truth by author Ron Chepesiuk makes it an excellent non-fiction crime story. Along with a compelling history of Ike Atkinson’s life and criminal career in drug smuggling, the author has managed to put the truth to numerous falsehoods contained in the major movie, American Gangster, about the life of Frank Lucas.”
—Jack Toal, retired DEA agent who worked the investigation of Frank Lucas
"As a 25-year veteran of the DEA, I congratulate Ron on setting the record straight on the true story of American Gangster. By interviewing former DEA agents, drug kingpins and reviewing public documents Ron has accurately captured the roles of the gangsters and the investigative strategy implemented by DEA which led to dismantling of this complex international heroin organization. This is a “must read” for anyone interested in a “true” story of the chess game between the international drug kingpins of the 70s and the DEA agents that took them down.”
—Lew Rice, former DEA Special Agent in Charge and author of DEA Special Agent: My Life on the Front Line
"Finally, the real story. I've waited 40 years for this book.”
—Marc Levin, Director of the documentary, “Mr. Untouchable”
"Ron Chepesiuk has gone from publishing the Black gangster classics, Gangsters of Harlem and Black Gangsters of Chicago, to crafting Sergeant Smack, an astonishing masterpiece.”
—David “Pop” Whetstone, Owner, Black Star Music and Video
"Sergeant Smack forcefully debunks the urban legend of Black family groups smuggling heroin from Southeast Asia in the bodies of dead GI soldiers while recounting the colorful saga of the authentic American gangster. Highly recommended.”
—Gary Taylor, journalist and author of the award-winning true crime memoir, Luggage by Kroger
“Ron Chepesiuk is one of the premier true crime investigative journalists, and he proves it with this new book. Sergeant Smack is a great story and brilliantly written. The book shows that fact can be entering than fiction”
—Jason Brooks, director of the documentary, Kingpins (the story of Freddie Myers)
Author Ron Chepesiuk
Ron Chepesiuk is an optioned screenwriter, documentary producer and the award-winning author of more than 40 books. His books include BLACK CAESAR: The Rise and Disappearance of Frank Matthews, Kingpin, SERGEANT SMACK: The Legendary Life and Times of Ike Atkinson, and his Band of Brothers, GANGSTERS OF HARLAM, BLACK GANGSTER OF CHICAGO, and NARCOS INC: The Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel.
He is a former professor and head of the Archives at Winthrop University in South Carolina. He is a two-time Fulbright Scholar to Indonesia and Bangladesh and a former instructor in UCLA's Extension Journalism Department. His articles, which number in the thousands, have appeared in such publications as FHM, USA Today, Black Enterprise, Woman's World, Modern Maturity, New York Times Syndicate, Toronto Star, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, among others. His documentary on Frank Matthews, legendary drug Kingpin, which he produced and directed, won the Silver Doc award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival. Four of his screenplays are currently in development for feature movies and four of his books have been optioned for movies. His script DEATH FENCES was the grand winner of the Amsterdam, Holland-based 2019 New Visions International film Festival.
As an expert in crime history, he is a consultant to the Gangland TV series and has been interviewed on numerous TV programs, including Discovery, NBC Dateline, History, Biography, ID, Reelz, Black Entertainment Television, Starz, and TV 1. As a journalist, Ron has reported from more than thirty-five countries, including Cuba, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Kenya, Hong Kong, and Nepal, and his 16, 000 plus interviews include such luminaries as Gerry Adams, Yasser Arafat, John Kerry, Evander Holyfield, Jimmy Carter, Andy McDow, Abbie Hoffman, a former president of Nicaragua, and three former presidents and two vice presidents of Colombia, South America.
In addition, Ron is radio host of CRIME BEAT Radio Show. The Crime Beat show has been on the air since January 2011 and has listeners in 160 plus countries. Guests have included Robert Kennedy, Jr., Henry Hill, Noam Chomsky, George Jung, Joe Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco), F. Lee Bailey and Chris Kyle, American sniper
VISIT: ronchepesiuk.com/index.htm
CONTACT: Dan Pearson 347- 245-7952
