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Exposure #4
The Officer and the Entrepreneur
A riveting, heartbreaking true short story about an ex–college football star turned soldier, an entrepreneur turned DEA agent, and the internet trap that changed their lives.
When African American football star Kevin Corley led a US Army platoon through the war in Afghanistan, he assumed his loyalty and sacrifice would advance his place in the world. But between deployments, Corley fell in love with a fellow soldier’s wife, and his once-promising future disappeared. His life in wreckage, Corley answered a new call of duty, unaware that he was walking into a ruse orchestrated by one of the government’s most enterprising agents.
The laggard pace of policing at the DEA bored special agent John Leonard, until the former kickboxer and entrepreneur discovered the crime-fighting potential of the internet. By posing online as an underworld figure, Leonard could set elaborate traps for those who were predisposed to crime. But the line between justice and deviance was narrower than Leonard suspected. When he lured Lieutenant Corley into his scheme, he didn’t know how wrong it would go. And Corley had no idea he had so much left to lose.
When African American football star Kevin Corley led a US Army platoon through the war in Afghanistan, he assumed his loyalty and sacrifice would advance his place in the world. But between deployments, Corley fell in love with a fellow soldier’s wife, and his once-promising future disappeared. His life in wreckage, Corley answered a new call of duty, unaware that he was walking into a ruse orchestrated by one of the government’s most enterprising agents.
The laggard pace of policing at the DEA bored special agent John Leonard, until the former kickboxer and entrepreneur discovered the crime-fighting potential of the internet. By posing online as an underworld figure, Leonard could set elaborate traps for those who were predisposed to crime. But the line between justice and deviance was narrower than Leonard suspected. When he lured Lieutenant Corley into his scheme, he didn’t know how wrong it would go. And Corley had no idea he had so much left to lose.
131 pages, ebook
First published November 6, 2018
446 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 23, 2022
This true story is interesting.
By reading this true crime, the reader can tell the author has a clear point of view in the is matter. If you think you’ll just be hearing facts of this case, you’d be kidding yourself.
Put that whole tunnel vision aside and the information you’re able to extract is interesting and you can piece together things for yourself.
Reading this was ok, the audio was not good.
By reading this true crime, the reader can tell the author has a clear point of view in the is matter. If you think you’ll just be hearing facts of this case, you’d be kidding yourself.
Put that whole tunnel vision aside and the information you’re able to extract is interesting and you can piece together things for yourself.
Reading this was ok, the audio was not good.
November 15, 2018
This is a very quick read about an extraordinary case in which an ex-army officer and his so-called gang were busted in Laredo. The book is very short, so details are sometimes minimized, it reads like a long-form magazine essay.
The frustrating thing about this story, is that the DEA essentially entraps, or at best skirts the edge of entrapment a bunch of guys who at best are hardly criminal masterminds, although they obviously know (at least most of them. One of them, Walker, appears to have little to no understanding that they were going to Laredo as part of a planned murder/run drugs scheme), that they are scheming to run drugs, they hardly meet the DEA's allegation of being a criminal gang attempting to run weapons to border cartels. In order to please the "jefe" they buy a couple of guns at a local sporting good store and bring them down with them. This is hardly the stuff of the government's own Fast and Furious operation that went so startlingly bad. [Let's see, was anyone ever indicted for that? No. I guess when the government does it, it's okay.]
Essentially what you have is some down on there luck African-Americans who figure they can make some cash selling marijuana and they stumble into this DEA undercover operation that is supposed to be going after...you know...actual gangs.
It's hard to disagree with the mother of one of the defendants, Kevin Corley. The book reads: "On a near-daily basis Gail Corley asked her husband the same question: Why did those agents take the thing so far when they could’ve been going after real bad guys? They were cowards, she believed. They called all the shots, came up with all the schemes, and took from her son the freedom that he risked his life to protect."
So in this book, the undercover agent came up with the idea of murder for hire, originated the idea of running guns, and when these amateurs were caught in the web of government schemes, they end up going to prison for more than a decade, except the one whom the government itself killed in the arrest takedown when he was shot in the back multiple times when every agent (except supposedly the one out of 12 who actually shot him (who was, by the way, the agent in charge of the arrest) knew that the people being arrested were not armed. It's pretty disgusting, if you ask me.
Oh, and of COURSE the government did not indict the DEA agent who shot the unarmed guy in the back multiple times.
The frustrating thing about this story, is that the DEA essentially entraps, or at best skirts the edge of entrapment a bunch of guys who at best are hardly criminal masterminds, although they obviously know (at least most of them. One of them, Walker, appears to have little to no understanding that they were going to Laredo as part of a planned murder/run drugs scheme), that they are scheming to run drugs, they hardly meet the DEA's allegation of being a criminal gang attempting to run weapons to border cartels. In order to please the "jefe" they buy a couple of guns at a local sporting good store and bring them down with them. This is hardly the stuff of the government's own Fast and Furious operation that went so startlingly bad. [Let's see, was anyone ever indicted for that? No. I guess when the government does it, it's okay.]
Essentially what you have is some down on there luck African-Americans who figure they can make some cash selling marijuana and they stumble into this DEA undercover operation that is supposed to be going after...you know...actual gangs.
It's hard to disagree with the mother of one of the defendants, Kevin Corley. The book reads: "On a near-daily basis Gail Corley asked her husband the same question: Why did those agents take the thing so far when they could’ve been going after real bad guys? They were cowards, she believed. They called all the shots, came up with all the schemes, and took from her son the freedom that he risked his life to protect."
So in this book, the undercover agent came up with the idea of murder for hire, originated the idea of running guns, and when these amateurs were caught in the web of government schemes, they end up going to prison for more than a decade, except the one whom the government itself killed in the arrest takedown when he was shot in the back multiple times when every agent (except supposedly the one out of 12 who actually shot him (who was, by the way, the agent in charge of the arrest) knew that the people being arrested were not armed. It's pretty disgusting, if you ask me.
Oh, and of COURSE the government did not indict the DEA agent who shot the unarmed guy in the back multiple times.
February 21, 2019
Captivating true story
Dan does a tremendous job bringing to light a very thought provoking story. Before reading this story, it was impossible to imagine just how persistent DEA agents are is in getting the outcome that they desire.
Dan does a tremendous job bringing to light a very thought provoking story. Before reading this story, it was impossible to imagine just how persistent DEA agents are is in getting the outcome that they desire.
June 4, 2019
A tale on the horrible truth of far police agencies will go to entrap people so they can have a case. Not only that but the guy who designed the takedown straight up murdered one of these poor guys. Makes me sick.
May 14, 2022
DNF: Pg. 64
This story was too "painful" to continue. Corley was by no means a "victim" in this story, but the lengths to which the FBI & DEA agents went to make sure he was a criminal charged with everything they could find in the book seemed criminal in themselves.
Corley was dumb due to desperation and anger - all because he couldn't keep his hands off another man's wife!
It is an interesting story, but not for me - the more I listened, the more anxious, frustrated, and upset I became.
This story was too "painful" to continue. Corley was by no means a "victim" in this story, but the lengths to which the FBI & DEA agents went to make sure he was a criminal charged with everything they could find in the book seemed criminal in themselves.
Corley was dumb due to desperation and anger - all because he couldn't keep his hands off another man's wife!
It is an interesting story, but not for me - the more I listened, the more anxious, frustrated, and upset I became.
June 10, 2019
This was the last in the Exposure series that I received free through Amazon prime. This was a decent story, but for some reason, the characters/plot just never completely engaged me.
Read
June 27, 2024Audio
May 29, 2019
Great book! As with other great books, I was entertained and inspired. Entertained by the story and characters - felt the same rush I feel while working on a case in real time. Inspired - made me question some of our past and present"best practices", and nudges me toward ensuring my investigation practices reflect true honesty and a genuine pursuit for justice for everyone involved in any case I work on (victims, colleagues, bystander, and those under the Law Enforcement eye).
June 20, 2019
Criminal Intent vs Government Overreach
Thr Kevin Corley case is not a simple one. There is no cut and dry good guy or bad guy. Instead the bad guys dabble in criminality, and the good guys encourage them to do so. This true story left a bad taste in my mouth. This country has its share of criminals that are left unchecked, and yet in this case alot of time and money is spent creating criminals. It's an important expose on so-called entrapment cases.
The author presented his facts without prejudice. He clearly put in a lot of legwork researching the story. In the end, no persuasion is necessary to see the right and the wrong of the situation. There are a lot of lessons to be learned; many people affected by the case had to learn them the hard way. I respect the author going out of his way to shed light on a less publicized case.
Thr Kevin Corley case is not a simple one. There is no cut and dry good guy or bad guy. Instead the bad guys dabble in criminality, and the good guys encourage them to do so. This true story left a bad taste in my mouth. This country has its share of criminals that are left unchecked, and yet in this case alot of time and money is spent creating criminals. It's an important expose on so-called entrapment cases.
The author presented his facts without prejudice. He clearly put in a lot of legwork researching the story. In the end, no persuasion is necessary to see the right and the wrong of the situation. There are a lot of lessons to be learned; many people affected by the case had to learn them the hard way. I respect the author going out of his way to shed light on a less publicized case.
August 22, 2019
Too many similar characters. It was difficult to keep them apart. The entire situation screamed “unconstitutional!” Another story that made me just plain mad.
November 18, 2019
The story of a questionable drug sting. Different readers of this book will be affected in different ways, but they won't forget the people and events any time soon.
December 20, 2018
This story is about an Army officer returned from Afghanistan, court-martialed for adultery, and a disgruntled junior DEA officer who meet online and set up a big drug deal. Their plans end in horrible, disastrous consequences. It reads like a Hollywood movie. It’s thrilling and intriguing. Prima facie, it’s a good read. It’s worth reading, because it is the kind of story that should make you think really hard about the choices people, including you, make. It is an exciting and tragic read.
There are issues with the book, however, that I cannot overlook. I worked for DoD in a civilian capacity over 30 years. The last 8 years, I worked in a legal office. I do not have military service, nor law enforcement service, but working shoulder to shoulder in an environment filled with veterans and hearing our attorneys discuss military and federal personnel law gave me insight the author either lacks, or decided to overlook.
Kevin Corley is court-martialed because he had an affair; Slater minimizes it. He says the couple would not have stayed married, but there is no citation by the cuckolded husband. What we do know is Corley was an officer who had an affair with a woman who’d borne the child of an enlisted soldier, and the affair began while her husband was deployed. Corley’s behavior in life, before this affair started, was apparently quite honest. But not only was he guilty of adultery, after his court-martial, he continued the affair. And that is only the start of his many mistakes. Yet Slater paints him as a nice guy throughout the book. Indeed, a thoughtful man, but what thoughtful man does not try to learn from his mistakes?
Leonard decides in his mid-thirties, which is late in life, to become a DEA agent. He is stationed at Laredo, Texas. Slater discusses the fact that arrests are used as agency metrics, in a manner that can lead the reader to think it would be better if the DEA tracked metrics by convictions instead. But the DEA doesn’t try cases. Like your local police, DEA agents are law enforcement officers, not attorneys. The Department of Justice tries cases after arrest. It’s important to understand this because Leonard is painted as an ambitious agent, and he was. But the metric argument is meaningless, and Slater tells us Leonard is self-motivated to start undercover work. This, too, is a horrible decision, partly due to the unintended consequences that occur in the story, but also because he started his undercover work with no authority whatsoever. He was not at his duty station. He was working outside his regular work schedule. He broke personnel laws. A federal employee cannot work for free, and must be accountable for all work. This can be boiled down to simple liability. If you are working, but not at the right time and place, and you are injured, you could try to file a compensation claim. But you have no standing if you are not assigned or ordered to do what you were doing when you were injured. Slater doesn’t discuss this at all, whether he chose not to or didn’t know himself. But while I was impressed by Leonard’s self-motivation, I was aghast at his behavior as an employee. Still, he managed to pull it off without disciplinary action. In fact, his managers later get in on the drug sting act.
These points are glaring and bothering to me, because in the end, when the inevitable snafu occurs, the reader is led to think rather highly of both these men, and badly of the DEA’s and DOJ’s actions. There are bad actions, but none would happen if one of these men had stopped and stepped back to assess risk-taking. Slater relies on Corley’s and Leonard’s excuses to amplify what are, in truth, some shady moves by both agencies. The end result is a partial truth story, that does not include the after actions of the DEA and DOJ. The devil is in the details that are omitted, by intention or by error. Did Slater intend to lead the reader by making these men sympathetic fellows in the same manner he states the DEA leads otherwise law-abiding citizens into crime?
There are issues with the book, however, that I cannot overlook. I worked for DoD in a civilian capacity over 30 years. The last 8 years, I worked in a legal office. I do not have military service, nor law enforcement service, but working shoulder to shoulder in an environment filled with veterans and hearing our attorneys discuss military and federal personnel law gave me insight the author either lacks, or decided to overlook.
Kevin Corley is court-martialed because he had an affair; Slater minimizes it. He says the couple would not have stayed married, but there is no citation by the cuckolded husband. What we do know is Corley was an officer who had an affair with a woman who’d borne the child of an enlisted soldier, and the affair began while her husband was deployed. Corley’s behavior in life, before this affair started, was apparently quite honest. But not only was he guilty of adultery, after his court-martial, he continued the affair. And that is only the start of his many mistakes. Yet Slater paints him as a nice guy throughout the book. Indeed, a thoughtful man, but what thoughtful man does not try to learn from his mistakes?
Leonard decides in his mid-thirties, which is late in life, to become a DEA agent. He is stationed at Laredo, Texas. Slater discusses the fact that arrests are used as agency metrics, in a manner that can lead the reader to think it would be better if the DEA tracked metrics by convictions instead. But the DEA doesn’t try cases. Like your local police, DEA agents are law enforcement officers, not attorneys. The Department of Justice tries cases after arrest. It’s important to understand this because Leonard is painted as an ambitious agent, and he was. But the metric argument is meaningless, and Slater tells us Leonard is self-motivated to start undercover work. This, too, is a horrible decision, partly due to the unintended consequences that occur in the story, but also because he started his undercover work with no authority whatsoever. He was not at his duty station. He was working outside his regular work schedule. He broke personnel laws. A federal employee cannot work for free, and must be accountable for all work. This can be boiled down to simple liability. If you are working, but not at the right time and place, and you are injured, you could try to file a compensation claim. But you have no standing if you are not assigned or ordered to do what you were doing when you were injured. Slater doesn’t discuss this at all, whether he chose not to or didn’t know himself. But while I was impressed by Leonard’s self-motivation, I was aghast at his behavior as an employee. Still, he managed to pull it off without disciplinary action. In fact, his managers later get in on the drug sting act.
These points are glaring and bothering to me, because in the end, when the inevitable snafu occurs, the reader is led to think rather highly of both these men, and badly of the DEA’s and DOJ’s actions. There are bad actions, but none would happen if one of these men had stopped and stepped back to assess risk-taking. Slater relies on Corley’s and Leonard’s excuses to amplify what are, in truth, some shady moves by both agencies. The end result is a partial truth story, that does not include the after actions of the DEA and DOJ. The devil is in the details that are omitted, by intention or by error. Did Slater intend to lead the reader by making these men sympathetic fellows in the same manner he states the DEA leads otherwise law-abiding citizens into crime?
November 9, 2020
True Story of Corruption Reads More Like a Novel
This engaging storyline highlights the murky world between undercover law enforcement and entrapment at the DEA. This second-longest of the "Exposure Collection" is a fast read that quickly grabs your attention with the many characters who get caught up and persuaded to participate in a drug smuggling venture.
Author Dan Slater's focused storytelling uses recorded transcripts of conversations with actual dialogue segments that liven up the development of this crime story. The story focuses on several "good people" who are enticed into earning some easy money through illegal trafficking scheme.
The most intriguing part of this true account is how both sides of the story are told of people trying to develop their careers while also making poor or bad decisions. Troubling too is how forward and aggressive some enforcement agencies and people can be in recruiting encouraging their sting victims to attempt criminal actions to further their careers by adding additional crimes to enhance the charges made.
For me, there was dishonesty and corruption on both sides, provoking lots of troubling question as the sting operation develops and is implemented with tragic outcomes.
Appreciated how Audible's narration added dramatic life to personalities in dialogue segments, while creating strong rhythm and pacing elements that enhanced my reading experience.
Although I was somewhat skeptical of these themes true life collections, I have enjoyed the strong writing of the various authors this series introduced to me.
I plan to finish up the last two installments of this collection because these short reads are a great diversion, but they are also eye opening and informative.
This engaging storyline highlights the murky world between undercover law enforcement and entrapment at the DEA. This second-longest of the "Exposure Collection" is a fast read that quickly grabs your attention with the many characters who get caught up and persuaded to participate in a drug smuggling venture.
Author Dan Slater's focused storytelling uses recorded transcripts of conversations with actual dialogue segments that liven up the development of this crime story. The story focuses on several "good people" who are enticed into earning some easy money through illegal trafficking scheme.
The most intriguing part of this true account is how both sides of the story are told of people trying to develop their careers while also making poor or bad decisions. Troubling too is how forward and aggressive some enforcement agencies and people can be in recruiting encouraging their sting victims to attempt criminal actions to further their careers by adding additional crimes to enhance the charges made.
For me, there was dishonesty and corruption on both sides, provoking lots of troubling question as the sting operation develops and is implemented with tragic outcomes.
Appreciated how Audible's narration added dramatic life to personalities in dialogue segments, while creating strong rhythm and pacing elements that enhanced my reading experience.
Although I was somewhat skeptical of these themes true life collections, I have enjoyed the strong writing of the various authors this series introduced to me.
I plan to finish up the last two installments of this collection because these short reads are a great diversion, but they are also eye opening and informative.
April 3, 2022
Kevin Corley was a football star turned American soldier. After serving in Afghanistan the officer was court marshalled for having an affair with the wife of an enlisted man. He seeks a bit of marijuana to change his fortune and deal with his trauma. Only this bumps him up against John Leonard. This entrepreneur turned DEA agent of Laredo, Texas, has spent years creating an undercover persona and internet trap. What began as a request for a small amount of street drugs spirals into a conspiracy about arms trafficking, cocaine, and murder for hire, changing the lives of everyone involved.
This one raises some good questions about law enforcement, entrapment, military support network failings, and the US judicial system. Do we really need to wait until someone dies to charge crime? Do we really pretend no one uses the internet for illegal activities? The characters on both sides of the narrative are flawed. Some want accolades, better funding, promotions, and statistical outcomes. Some want easy money, don’t ask questions, spiral down into feelings of entitlement and anger, and drag their loved ones into tragedy. One escalates quickly to deadly force. No one thinks hard about the choices they make. It ends up a murky mess of dishonesty, corruption, and doubt. It’s sad in itself and then disappointing when you imagine how many times this happens. … The piece is okay but can be a bit dry or boring. There are a lot of characters to juggle which can be confusing as they have multiple identities, similar backgrounds, etc. I also wish there was more to the framing (an alternative option, a specific message, that kind of thing).
This one raises some good questions about law enforcement, entrapment, military support network failings, and the US judicial system. Do we really need to wait until someone dies to charge crime? Do we really pretend no one uses the internet for illegal activities? The characters on both sides of the narrative are flawed. Some want accolades, better funding, promotions, and statistical outcomes. Some want easy money, don’t ask questions, spiral down into feelings of entitlement and anger, and drag their loved ones into tragedy. One escalates quickly to deadly force. No one thinks hard about the choices they make. It ends up a murky mess of dishonesty, corruption, and doubt. It’s sad in itself and then disappointing when you imagine how many times this happens. … The piece is okay but can be a bit dry or boring. There are a lot of characters to juggle which can be confusing as they have multiple identities, similar backgrounds, etc. I also wish there was more to the framing (an alternative option, a specific message, that kind of thing).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2019
This is a perfect example of when cheating and being greedy goes wrong. When are people going to learn that get rich quick schemes DO NOT WORK, and also if you see an advertisement for something seedy or along the lines of criminal, stay clear. The detective was genius with how he used the internet to lure and capture those who were willing to be involved in criminal activity. The ex military officer wasn't bright at all. How can a person risk everything for A. someone they don't know and B. for a supposedly drug kingpin from a country that he has never been to. Then this man goes and recruits friends, family and other ex military officers to pull off this supposedly drug and gun run. The entire set up was genius but there were also some pretty dim witted individuals. This was a very interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2020
True Crime filled with Shades of Grey
I got this tale through the Exposure collection - and this one is different.
Most of the Exposure tales show bad guys who are uniquely evil in their own way - just evil.
But this one?
It's a about a good person who made one bad decision, and then let out a few more - but no, the main antagonist is not purely evil.
You find yourself yelling at him to behave, because you like him.
And that makes it difficult at times - but in any case great tale from Dan Slater.
I would recommend this to just about anyone - but be prepared - you will change who you are rooting for with every chapter.
I got this tale through the Exposure collection - and this one is different.
Most of the Exposure tales show bad guys who are uniquely evil in their own way - just evil.
But this one?
It's a about a good person who made one bad decision, and then let out a few more - but no, the main antagonist is not purely evil.
You find yourself yelling at him to behave, because you like him.
And that makes it difficult at times - but in any case great tale from Dan Slater.
I would recommend this to just about anyone - but be prepared - you will change who you are rooting for with every chapter.
February 11, 2019
Conspiracy under the guise of justice
A well detailed composition of what lead to the ultimate imprisonment of a veteran and his 'cohorts'. Supposition is you can't convince an honest person to break the law if the propensity isn't already there. Sadly there were more than two men looking to "cash" in on this bogus scenario. The law was selective in making note of the wrongs deserving punishment. There couldn't be a better example of 'power' given to he who represents the law. A most tragic, well written representation of the disgraceful injustice committed in the name of the law.
A well detailed composition of what lead to the ultimate imprisonment of a veteran and his 'cohorts'. Supposition is you can't convince an honest person to break the law if the propensity isn't already there. Sadly there were more than two men looking to "cash" in on this bogus scenario. The law was selective in making note of the wrongs deserving punishment. There couldn't be a better example of 'power' given to he who represents the law. A most tragic, well written representation of the disgraceful injustice committed in the name of the law.
November 8, 2022
A tragic story of a gung-ho Fed agent using vague and corrupt technical vagaries in the law to fabricate a case against an honorable man. A sad example of what a joke the DEA really is all about. Creating myths to hype their incompetence and wasting taxpayer dollars. Everyone convicted in the case was done so wrongfully and the judge should have tossed it. Sad example of the failure of people to fight the stupidity of sentencing guidelines.
The writer did a good job, but the story is a bad one. And that idiot that pulled the trigger in the warehouse is just that, an idiot. Sad example of the DEA not being held accountable for the incompetence of their own.
The writer did a good job, but the story is a bad one. And that idiot that pulled the trigger in the warehouse is just that, an idiot. Sad example of the DEA not being held accountable for the incompetence of their own.
January 6, 2025
Entrapment
"Why did those agents take the thing so far when they could've been going after REAL bad guys?" You will ask yourself that question throughout this entire well-written story of a reverse sting that targets and entraps African-American men with little or no criminal backgrounds, some of them being vets. DEA agents convert this "hapless band of brothers into the Kevin Corley Organization". Pathetic and a huge waste of agents' time when they could be targeting REAL CRIMINALS. Thank you to the author for bringing yet another case of racial inequity to light. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end.
"Why did those agents take the thing so far when they could've been going after REAL bad guys?" You will ask yourself that question throughout this entire well-written story of a reverse sting that targets and entraps African-American men with little or no criminal backgrounds, some of them being vets. DEA agents convert this "hapless band of brothers into the Kevin Corley Organization". Pathetic and a huge waste of agents' time when they could be targeting REAL CRIMINALS. Thank you to the author for bringing yet another case of racial inequity to light. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end.
January 12, 2020
I hope that true stories like these become required reading in criminal justice courses. The events recounted here - how the reverse sting operations of the DEA in Laredo, Texas, in essence entrapped a group of down-on-their luck African Americans and convicted them with double-digit prison sentences, is sickening and exploitative. These types of operations are unethical and cross the line from justice is supposed to be. I hope that more investigative journalists take up these types of stories.
July 18, 2021
This is the second Amazon Exposure story I have read. Both are basically longreads that seem suited for a magazine but aren’t good enough to qualify. The research does not seem strong and the writing is so-so. This particular story does not engage. There is no one to root for or feel sympathetic towards (perhaps that is the point). If you do make it through (it could be half as long), you should feel some outrage about policing but the writing is too bland to whip up any passion. Supposedly, this is being considered for a tv series…yikes, why oh why?
June 26, 2019
The true story grips you from the beginning as the realistic portal of both the Army officer and the DEA agents are realistic. It leaves the reader questioning the motivation and yes, the practicality of the blurred lines of military regulation AND of incentives for our law enforcement agents. Both systems flaws are contributors in this true story while systemic racism is skirted, it also plays a role.
July 9, 2019
The book is well written and definitely worth the read. Not the author's fault that I marked it three stars. I just couldnt say I loved it. I was very torn on how I felt about the subject matter. Basically "whose side" i was on. I know, I know. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Then why did it make me uncomfortable? Why did I debate the legalities and moralities of the situation? Sorry, I am off track. Read the book. For fans of true stories, you will not be disappointed.
February 6, 2021
Shades of gray in this crime story
The Entrepreneur (a DEA agent) sets up a complex sting operation to nab The Officer, a recently discharged combat vet, in a sting involving drug cartels and murder for hire. What’s different about this nonfiction story is that neither of the main characters is entirely blameless. Is the DEA responsible for entrapping the defendant? Did The Officer’s greed and unemployed status cause him to fall into the trap?
The Entrepreneur (a DEA agent) sets up a complex sting operation to nab The Officer, a recently discharged combat vet, in a sting involving drug cartels and murder for hire. What’s different about this nonfiction story is that neither of the main characters is entirely blameless. Is the DEA responsible for entrapping the defendant? Did The Officer’s greed and unemployed status cause him to fall into the trap?
February 18, 2019
On. Strightforward
Straightforward crime story , sadly, noir. Co..com Joes yield to breed and quick-rich inducements and find themselves in a world of hurt. But, who are the real evil-doers: the SEA agents who manilpulate and induce crime or the manipulated ones? Good presentation on entrapment.
Straightforward crime story , sadly, noir. Co..com Joes yield to breed and quick-rich inducements and find themselves in a world of hurt. But, who are the real evil-doers: the SEA agents who manilpulate and induce crime or the manipulated ones? Good presentation on entrapment.
June 4, 2019
a good book, but there was a lot happening in here so listening to it may not have been the best route to absorb all the details. Felt well researched and I definitely wanted to know the final outcome.
The death of a character was told in detail and was a bit shocking since this is a real story.
The death of a character was told in detail and was a bit shocking since this is a real story.
April 17, 2020
Good, quick, intriguing read
Dramatic read that found me routing for Kevin Corley. Somewhat depressing in the end. I had hoped he would choose his new found love over the lure of crime.
This would definitely make for a dramatic TV series; it has a lot of sub-plots that could be exploited.
Dramatic read that found me routing for Kevin Corley. Somewhat depressing in the end. I had hoped he would choose his new found love over the lure of crime.
This would definitely make for a dramatic TV series; it has a lot of sub-plots that could be exploited.
June 5, 2020
Trumped Up
An interesting view into the use of questionable tactics to coax the downtrodden into trumped up charges for the sake of one’s career aspirations. The Officer and the Entrepreneur exposes at what lengths a federal officer would go to extrapolate and present small-time street as a deep rooted conspirator murder-for-hire plot.
An interesting view into the use of questionable tactics to coax the downtrodden into trumped up charges for the sake of one’s career aspirations. The Officer and the Entrepreneur exposes at what lengths a federal officer would go to extrapolate and present small-time street as a deep rooted conspirator murder-for-hire plot.
May 13, 2024
I'm not sure how I feel about this book
I liked the book for the most part. I think that I was expecting a happy ending in some way that just didn't occur. It felt like something was missing. The story gets you emotionally involved, but the last two pages left me feeling like I missed something.
I liked the book for the most part. I think that I was expecting a happy ending in some way that just didn't occur. It felt like something was missing. The story gets you emotionally involved, but the last two pages left me feeling like I missed something.
December 26, 2018
Couldn't put it down
Couldn't put it down. Organized and easy to follow this complex intertwining of lives. The details paint vivid images in the reader's mind of complicated personalities and personas.
Couldn't put it down. Organized and easy to follow this complex intertwining of lives. The details paint vivid images in the reader's mind of complicated personalities and personas.
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