In DeLorean's Shadow: The Drug Trial of the Century by the Sole Surviving Defendant

by Stephen L. Arrington, Dominique Sérafini (Illustrator), Margery Spielman (Illustrator)

The John Z. DeLorean Case, was recognized worldwide by international newspapers and news outlets as, “The Drug Trial of the Century.” It still owns that headline four decades later. The ramifications of the DeLorean trial led to a tsunami of criminal prosecutions that tore through the cocaine cartels and vast criminal underworld in a series of massive arrests. It resulted in the seizures of mega millions of dollars and the confiscation of planes, yachts, mansions, exotic cars and more. It led to the arrest of Manuel Noriega (ex-President of Panama), the Ochoa Brothers, Pablo Escobar, and to the murder of Barry Seal and the incarceration of many dozens of smugglers, murders, and drug dealers.

John Z. DeLorean was found innocent by the jury, yet the case was a blockbuster success for the FBI, DEA, DOJ and the Colombian Government.

As the sole surviving defendant, I know the many untold enigmas of the case, I have the secret FBI, DOJ and DeLorean Files that validate what I write about. For a period, John DeLorean and I merged our defenses. His hope was that I would fight the case in a jury trial so he could learn what the government had against him.

A renowned DeLorean Historian and the founder of the DeLorean Museum authenticated my files. I never released the thousands of pages in my files in detail for fear of reprisal. However, almost all of the players have died. For the first time, I am sharing excerpts from these files in this book and tying their relevance to the untold secrets and mysteries of the United States Government’s conspiracy to takedown John Z DeLorean, a titan of the automotive industry. The case commanded the full attention of the highest levels of the FBI, DEA, CIA, IRS, DOJ, Attorney General’s Office, Interpol, Number 10 Downing Street, and Ronald Reagan’s White House.


Few knew that the case involved Pablo Escobar, who wanted to buy an initial $100,000,000 stake in DMC. Nor that he intended to invest hundreds of millions more to turn it into a platform for funneling vast amounts of cocaine into the European Continent.

The defendants were John Z. DeLorean, creator of the DeLorean Motor Car, Morgan Hetrick, a Texas Maverick who claimed to be the #1 cocaine smuggler on the West Coast, and myself, a Vietnam vet, navy bomb disposal frogman, pilot, and the author of this book.

I pled guilty and only testified against myself. In prison, I made a commitment of faith that opened a path to incredible adventures and to a "Hope that never Surrenders."

This is a true story written in the intensity of the moment. It contains real depictions of the criminal underworld and of life inside prison walls. This story may be disconcerting to some yet is necessary to convey the magnitude of where choices can lead those who would dance the criminal waltz. As an international motivational speaker and writer, I tried to share this work in a way that would be acceptable for teens.

Prepare to take a wild journey into darkness, and then to discover the wonderful gift of a spiritual commitment in the darkness of prison. I would come out a changed man and just two years later, watch in amazement as my childhood dream morphed into this ex-inmate's reality as a chief diver and expedition leader for Captain Jacques Yves Cousteau and his son, Jean-Michel Cousteau.

This is a work about my, “Hope in Jesus Christ that never surrenders.” I do not preach my commitment but rather let the facts speak for themselves. This book is most commonly described as a lifechanging. We all need hope in our lives.

In January 2017, Stephen Arrington received a full and unconditional Presidential Pardon by President Obama, in recognition of his worldwide work with youth as a motivational and drug education speaker and writer.

Genres: Nonfiction

372 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2016

Reviews

[Alice Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book for parents and young people to read about making good choices. Steve had a 14 year career as a Navy Seal in idyllic Hawaii and blew it by selling marijuana. He was blessed with an honorable discharge when he was told that he would get a dishonorable discharge. Steve was discharged From the Navy at Treasure Island outside of San Francisco, California. He went begrudging back to college on the GI bill and worked part time at a low wage in a scuba diving shop selling scuba gear.
He is approached by Morgan Hetrick, a rich man to work his business at a top salary of $50,000 a year. Did he ask himself why Hetrick would offer him so much money? So Steve accepts the job believing that Hetrick thought of Steve as a son. With a gun to his head, Steve agrees to fly a plane to the Columbian cartel in Columbia. The cartel hangout is a dirty, drunken, drug ridden altogether nasty place. Morgan Hetrick is a top kingpin in the Colombian drug cartel, which automatically makes Steve part of it.
Steve wants out but when he mentions it a gun is held to his head. Steve is driving a car full of drugs when he is arrested by the FBI. Prison is a ending to Hetrick and the drug cartel. When Steve goes to court whom should he meet but John Z Delorean whom is a celebrity because of his Delorean car company and his marriage to the beautiful Cristina Ferrare, the top model in the United States. Steve pleads guilty and becomes the fall guy In the Delorean Drug Scandal the Drug trial of the Century.
Steve is sentenced to prison and is sent to an unsanitary, dirty, paint peeling prison seeing blood, fights, murder and drug deals right in the prison. Steve finds God as his savior and God works with Steve to make better choices. But he still has a rough road to travel but this time with God as his partner. I recommend this book to those of any age who love adventure but want to make better choices. Steve almost was killed many times. This is a word painted well written book.

[Tom Crist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting and fascinating memoir of Stephen Arrington. The book could definitely use the keen eye of a professional editor. The many misspellings and punctuation errors were distracting for someone attuned to that sort of thing. The book is not really about Delorean or the drug trial at all. It’s a memoir and redemption story about an interesting man. Worth a read if you are in to that sort of thing.

[Dawn Thornsberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely could not put it down!!! What an inspiration of how to turn your life into something amazing from nothing. Thank you for sharing your life with the world.
Page 316 “Am Arlington Minute” spoke to my heart!!!