Christian Carmona grew up in Medellín’s infamous Barrio Antioquia—an area known for prostitution, gambling, and later, cocaine. In this episode, Christian tells the inside story of a Colombian cocaine dynasty that quietly expanded from Medellín to Miami… and even Portland, Oregon. Raised “Americanized” in the suburbs, Christian didn’t learn the truth about his father’s criminal enterprise until federal agents came crashing down in 1991—taking both of his parents at once. From cartel-era Miami strategies (stash houses, mules, low-profile living) to family-wide trafficking ties and the chaos of the early 90s, Christian lays out how the business really worked behind the scenes. The story gets even wilder when Christian later gets pulled back into the orbit of his father’s old associates—working at a bank where traffickers allegedly used safety deposit boxes to stash cash and kilos. A setup, a sting, and years of court delays later, Christian describes spending nearly four years incarcerated while prosecutors tried to force him to cooperate. This is a raw conversation about family, loyalty, survival, and redemption—plus how Christian found faith and wrote his book Zeal while locked up. 📚 Zeal by Christian Carmona is available now (English & Spanish). https://www.zealnovel.com/ Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Growing up in Medellín’s Barrio Antioquia

04:08 The neighborhood’s history: red-light district → narco hub

09:29 Why Miami was the move (and how mules worked)

16:11 Living “middle class” while running a cocaine operation

20:47 Why Portland, Oregon became a new market

38:08 1991 indictment & parents arrested

51:02 Bank job, safety deposit boxes, and old ties resurfacing

58:22 The setup, DEA sting, and arrest

1:10:49 Four years jailed while prosecutors pushed cooperation

1:34:19 Faith, forgiveness, and writing Zeal

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In this jaw-dropping episode , we sit down with George Day — one of the most prolific yet largely unknown drug kingpins in American history.

Raised in Washington, DC, George was literally born into the drug trade. By age six, he was traveling across the border with his father, helping smuggle hundreds of pounds of marijuana hidden inside a Winnebago. As he grew older, his life spiraled deeper into the underworld — from trimming weed in Mexico to handling massive cash pickups and negotiating with Colombian suppliers before he was even a teenager.

After his father’s sudden death, George found himself — at just 11 years old — sitting on a multimillion-dollar drug ledger, forced to navigate dangerous debts, cartel relationships, and violent street politics. What followed was the rise of a cocaine empire that eventually stretched across all 50 states… and ultimately led to a life sentence plus 90 years in federal prison.

This is Part 1 of an unbelievable story about family, survival, crime, and the realities of growing up inside America’s drug economy.

👇 In this episode you’ll hear:

• Smuggling weed across the border as a child

• Meeting cartel figures and learning the trade firsthand

• Finding millions owed after his father’s death

• Negotiating with Colombian traffickers at age 11

• How the foundation of a nationwide empire was built

Subscribe for Part 2 — where George reveals how his empire exploded nationwide and what led to his downfall.

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

AVA! Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app, and when you join using MY promo code CONNECT20, you’ll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice.

HIMS! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect

NIC NAC! Go to http://nicnac.com/johnny and use code Johnny for 20% off, or use the store locator to find Nic Nacs near you.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Growing Up in the Game 03:10 Family Roots & Father's Early Hustle 07:20 Boxing, DC Life & Father’s Construction Business 14:55 Smuggling Routes: From Jamaica to DC21:02 This Episode Is Sponsored By Ava 22:37 Business Fronts and Money Laundering 32:15 Legendary Kingpins: Rafel, George, and the Connect39:15 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims and Nic Nac 42:08 Losing His Father: The Aftermath 54:38 Thrust Into the Family Business at 11 01:03:17 Taking Over & Protecting the Operation 01:15:20 Building the Empire: The Coke Pipeline 01:35:25 Massive Operations: Real Estate & Money Moves 01:44:47 International Transport: Planes, Lanes & Corrupt Customs 01:59:08 Scaling Up: 500 Kilos, Money Laundering & Distribution 02:11:46 Retirement, 9/11, & the End of an Era 02:14:52 The Game Changes: Security Tightens 02:22:46 The Legacy, Staying Low, & Part 2 Tease

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40 years inside the Hells Angels. Federal murder conspiracy charges. Bombings, informants, and a courtroom showdown with the U.S. government. In this raw, unfiltered interview, longtime Ventura Hells Angels leader George Christie tells the inside story of outlaw biker life — from the brotherhood and early motorcycle culture to violent club wars, federal investigations, and the high-stakes legal battles that nearly destroyed his life. He reveals what it was really like to: • Rise through the ranks of a legendary 1% motorcycle club • Survive assassination attempts and clubhouse bombings • Face multiple federal prosecutions — and beat them • Navigate informants, undercover operations, and government pressure • Witness the evolution of biker culture from brotherhood to organized crime conflicts This is a rare, firsthand account of one of America’s most controversial subcultures — told by someone who lived it for decades. Go Support George! Website: https://www.georgechristie.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/georgechristiejr/ YouTube:  @GeorgeGusChristie  Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Meet George Christie: Outlaw Legend

02:00 Early Days & Biker Culture Origins

06:00 Joining the Hell's Angels

10:00 Brotherhood, Bikes, and Old School Rules

14:00 Outlaw Clubs: From Bonding to Violence

21:00 Criminal Elements & Club Evolution

26:00 Club Wars, Prison, and Peace Efforts

33:00 Bombings, Feds, and Surviving the System

38:00 Government Tactics and Lawfare

45:00 Murder Conspiracy Case and Beating the Feds

55:00 Life After the Big Trial

01:03:00 Entrepreneurship, Fame, and More Heat

01:09:00 Running Ventura & The Power of Reputation

01:13:00 Dealing with Informants and Police

01:19:00 Courtroom Battles, Sons of Anarchy, and Pop Culture

01:29:00 Club Exit, Reflections & Writing the Story

01:34:00 Modern Times, Legacy & Final Thoughts

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In this episode Houston legend Mike D — the man many call the original King of Lean — unpacks the true story behind codeine culture in the American South. Before “lean” was a mainstream rap flex… before double cups and purple memes… there was a street-level hustle that changed Houston forever. Mike D breaks down how promethazine with codeine went from a quiet substitute for heroin to a full-blown cultural phenomenon — influencing DJ Screw, the Screwed Up Click, and icons like Pimp C, Bun B, and Lil Wayne. What started as something passed around on the corner turned into an underground empire moving thousands of dollars a day — long before law enforcement even understood what was happening. In this interview, we cover: * How Mike D became Houston’s go-to supplier * The birth of “drank” culture inside DJ Screw’s house * The economics of the codeine black market * Street wars between Houston neighborhoods * Texas prison brutality and plantation-style incarceration * The real story behind Pimp C’s death * Addiction, droughts, and what happens when supply dries up * How music and drugs fed off each other to build a movement This isn’t just a drug story. It’s a story about culture, capitalism, addiction, loyalty, betrayal — and how one underground market reshaped Southern hip-hop forever. From Astroworld fights to state prison bids… from Mercedes at 16 to moving cases of syrup… Mike D tells it all. Go Support Mike! YouTube:  @1on1wMikeDpodcast  Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Introduction & Mike D's Beginnings 01:20 Early Hustle, Music & Street Life 07:16 Houston's Hood Culture & Neighborhood Conflicts 17:51 Inside State Prison and Houston's Rap Legends 19:35 This Episode Is Sponsored By CashApp 21:12 Pimp C, UGK & Houston's Musical Roots 27:47 The Origins of Lean & Houston's Drug Culture 32:12 Spreading Lean Culture, The Detail Shop, and DJ Screw 38:42 This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp 39:52 The Screw House, Houston Rap Scene & Lean Epidemic 45:50 Market Growth, Addiction & Codeine Business Expands 52:44 Scarcity, Turf Wars & Million Dollar Moves 59:42 The California Connection & Smuggling Lean 01:10:32 Law Enforcement, Risks, and Hustle Tactics 01:17:12 Market Collapse, Addiction, and the Opioid Shift 01:29:30 The Bust, Downfall & Lessons from the Game 01:42:43 Legacy, Chopped & Screwed, and the Codeine Cowboy 01:46:42 Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Mike D

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In this raw and unforgettable episode, Virginia street legend Pretty Tony sits down to tell his life story — from being introduced to crack at a young age, to becoming one of the most prolific cocaine cooks in Virginia history, to growing up alongside future rap superstars like Pharrell and the Clipse.

Pretty Tony breaks down how he perfected the infamous “mix” that made him the go-to hood chemist, what it was like cooking bricks in kitchens for kingpin-level dealers, and how violence, robberies, torture, and street politics shaped his reality as a teenager. He also shares near-death experiences, including being shot in the face, wild encounters with rip crews, and seeing close friends and family fall to the game.

This episode dives deep into:

-Learning to cook crack at a young age

-Becoming the neighborhood “hood chef”

-Growing up with Pharrell, Pusha T, and Malice

-Virginia’s hidden kingpin era

-Drug droughts, cartel-style tactics, and street economics

-Surviving shootouts, robberies, and betrayal

A brutally honest look at the streets, the music, and the thin line between fame and prison.

Go Support Tony!

Book: https://a.co/d/036MGUqH

Merch: https://shop.app/m/w53xak0gbe

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

Prizepicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

Rocket Money! Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://rocketmoney.com/connect

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 From the Trap House: Pretty Tony's Origins

06:35 Family Ties & Street Influence

13:33 Virginia’s Crack Era: The Rise of the Street Game

21:05 This Episode Is Sponsored By PrizePicks

22:01 Family, Cousins, and Murderers

32:39 The Art of Cooking: Becoming the Hood Chef

40:03 Mastering the Mix: Cracking the Recipe

45:00 The Music Connection

47:24 This Episode Is Sponsored By Rocket Money

48:33 Links to Pharrell, Clipse, and the Scene

53:32 Hustling & Robbery Crews – The Risk and Respect

01:03:21 Rising Profits and Street Networking

01:16:31 High Stakes: Plug Connections & Expanding Operations

01:31:22 Caught in the Crosshairs: The Deadly Setup

01:46:09 Surviving the Hit: Aftermath and Transformation

01:55:00 Getting Out the Game & The Virginia Scene

02:01:47 Legacies, The Music Stardom, and Moving On

02:04:27 Reflecting on Regret, Survival & The Future

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Gary Dodson — better known as “Bumper” — tells the uncensored story of his transformation from a violent white supremacist skinhead and federal prison gang member to a man who ultimately walked away from hate and extremism.

Raised in a chaotic, drug-filled household in rural California, Bumper gravitated toward gangs, violence, and racist ideology at a young age. What began as rebellion turned into full-blown immersion in neo-Nazi skinhead culture, leading to robberies, stabbings, riots, and eventually a federal hate-crime and arson case tied to Molotov cocktails.

Bumper spent over a decade inside some of the most dangerous level-four federal prisons in the United States, including USP McCreary and USP Victorville, where racial politics, stabbings, and brutal “smash-outs” were a daily reality.

In this interview, he breaks down:

• How he was recruited into the skinhead movement

• The inner politics of white supremacist prison gangs

• The psychology behind hate, identity, and belonging

• What daily life is really like in violent federal penitentiaries

• How he slowly abandoned racist ideology

• What finally made him choose a different path

This is a raw, unfiltered look inside extremist subcultures, prison survival, and the possibility of change.

Go Support Gary!

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garydodson7

Podcast: @YardDownProductions

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Superpower! Head to Superpower.com and use code CONNECT at checkout for $20 off your membership. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpod Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect Ava! Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app, and when you join using MY promo code CONNECT20, you’ll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice.

00:00 Bumper's Violent Origins and Early Life 06:00 Growing Up in Racist Small-Town California 12:00 Troubled Childhood and Family Chaos 14:49 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower 18:04 First Criminal Experiences & Juvenile Hall 22:00 Introduction to Gang Life and Becoming a Skinhead 32:00 The Skinhead Subculture: Beliefs and Identity 33:24 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims 35:57 Life of Crime: Robbery, Fights, and Violence 51:00 First Prison Stint: Rules, Riots, and Violence 52:12 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims 54:05 Reentry to Society, Skinhead Crew, and Ongoing Crime 01:13:00 Federal Hate Crime Case: From State to Feds 01:23:00 Violence, Betrayals, and Prison Politics 01:33:00 Federal Time: Maximum Security, Survival, and Chaos 01:42:00 Addiction, Hustles, and Race Dynamics Behind Bars 01:50:00 The Reality of Violence in Prison Life

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In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Pimpin Ken, a former high-level pimp from Chicago and Milwaukee, breaks down the psychology, power dynamics, and realities of the pimping game during its peak in the 1970s–1990s.

Ken speaks candidly about how he entered the life as a teenager, the culture of pimping that existed at the time, and how manipulation, control, and desensitization became central to survival. He explains the difference between street-level track work and higher-end strip club and VIP hustles, detailing how money was really made — and why most people misunderstand the game entirely.

This interview also dives deep into:

-The psychology behind control, power, and influence

-How pimping was normalized in certain eras and communities

-The role of trauma, abandonment, and emotional conditioning

-Why he avoided violence and relied on manipulation instead

-The evolution from street hustling to sophisticated financial setups

-His thoughts on relationships, marriage, masculinity, and power

-How prison, reading, and reflection changed his perspective

This is not a glamorization — it’s a firsthand account of a brutal system, told by someone who lived it and survived it.

Support Ken

Books: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/PimpinKen7?srsltid=AfmBOoocrftoIFbUynb_2YpRlVnI7TyfLbkZk6L55Hq6d821w17fi1K5

Audio Book: https://www.audible.com/pd/Pimpology-Audiobook/B0196WKYU8?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Hip Hop Fraternity: https://www.pimpinken.net/

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

The Wellness Company! Power up with RECHARGE! Click https://twc.health/connect and use code CONNECT for 10% Off + Free Shipping on every order 🇺🇸.

Rocket Money! Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://rocketmoney.com/connect

Cash App! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Cash App Green, overdraft coverage, borrow, cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

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00:00 Introducing Pimping Ken & His Legacy

02:18 Origins: Hustling in Chicago

06:01 Juvenile Crime & Early Lessons

09:08 Transition to Milwaukee & First Schemes

13:16 Entering the Pimp Game

16:46 The Milwaukee Pimping Culture

20:25 Psychological of Pimping

21:24 This Episode Is Sponsored By The Wellness Company

22:58 Breaking Tricks – The Strip Club Game

28:39 How Pimping & Payments Really Work

33:01 Scaling Up: From Pimping to Business

38:42 Managing Multiple Women

39:48 Manage YOUR Money With Rocket Money

41:27 Pimping, Power & Mind Games

49:54 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App

51:22 From The Streets to Legendary Status

56:15 Trauma, Environment & Why People Pimp

01:02:03 Book Deals, Rap Fame & Legal Hustle

01:10:54 Major Deals, Royalties & Real Business

01:17:41 Education, Self-Help & Writing Approach

01:26:01 Life After Pimping – Giving Back

01:32:31 Fatherhood, Relationships & Change

01:38:46 Financial Success: Pimp Game vs. Legal Life

01:44:00 Stepping Into Mainstream Business & Media

01:48:02 Building the Hip-Hop Fraternity & Future Plans

01:50:02 Final Reflections & Where to Find Ken

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In this episode, a former drug trafficker "Fernando" breaks down how crystal meth from Mexico’s most violent region flooded small-town America — and how he lived at the center of it.

Raised in a multi-generation trafficking family tied to Michoacán, Fernando reveals how meth labs in Mexico, tight-knit immigrant networks, and overlooked U.S. towns created one of the most devastating drug pipelines in modern history. From burying cash in the ground to moving hundreds of pounds before age 20, this is an unfiltered look at the business, culture, and consequences of the meth trade.

Fernando discusses:

-Why Michoacán became the epicenter of crystal meth

-How cartel families expand into small U.S. towns

-The economics of meth vs cocaine

-Gambling, narco culture, and “front” businesses

-How federal cases are quietly built for years

-Life inside federal prison and the cost to family

-Why leaving the game is harder than entering it

This episode is raw, detailed, and brutally honest — a firsthand account of how an entire system operates in plain sight.

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

The Wellness Company! Visit twc.health/connect to get American Made Ivermectin. Order your 6-month supply today and use code CONNECT for $30 Off + FREE shipping. USA Residents only 🇺🇸

Ava! Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app , and when you join using MY promo code CONNECT20, you’ll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice.

Betterhelp! You can’t step into a lighter version of yourself without leaving behind what’s been weighing you down. Therapy can help you clear space. Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/connect.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

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00:00 How Michoacán Meth Changed Everything

02:14 Meet Fernando: Family History in Trafficking

07:11 Michoacán's Cartel Culture and Drug Routes

10:49 Growing Up in a Narco Family in the US

15:36 This Episode Is Sponsored By The Wellness Company

17:15 Why Michoacanos Move to the US Drug Market

24:08 Volleyball, Gambling & Community: The Social Side

30:09 This Episode Is Sponsored By Ava

32:24 Drug Dealing, Customers, and Cutting Product

42:09 Transitioning from Cocaine to Meth

47:41This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp

49:04 How the Meth Market Works

53:19 Cooking, Stretching, and Selling Meth

01:00:13 Family Roles, Buried Money, and Prison

01:10:05 Life in Prison and Staying Connected

01:21:03 Getting Busted & Prosecuted

01:31:36 Culture, Resourcefulness, and Prison Life

01:41:00 Reflections, The Present & Trying to Go Legit

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In this episode, Johnny sits down with Luis “Spider” Gutierrez, a longtime Northern California gang figure and former leader within the Norteño structure, to tell one of the most intense and unfiltered prison stories ever shared on the podcast.

Raised in Salinas, California—one of the most gang-impacted cities in the state—Spider was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to decades in California’s most violent Level IV prison yards. What followed was nearly 20 years of nonstop war behind the walls: mass riots, stabbings, political power struggles, and surviving situations most inmates don’t live to talk about.

Spider breaks down:

-What it’s really like to enter prison already marked for war

-How Northern California gang politics actually function on the yards

-100-man riots, organized violence, and surviving multiple gunshot wounds

-The reality of loyalty, reputation, and respect inside high-security prisons

-Why he never dropped out—and how he eventually made it home alive

This is not a glamorized story. It’s raw, graphic, and brutally honest—told by someone who lived every second of it and is still dealing with the aftermath today.

Go Support Spider!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/level4fitnessnorcal/

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/CONNECT

Mando! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code MITCHELL at Mandopodcast.com/MITCHELL! #mandopod

PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Intro: Meet Spider - Notorious Prisoner

02:30 Life in Salinas: Growing Up in the Gang Epicenter

10:00 From Athlete to Gangster: What Drew Me to the Streets

14:30 Joining and Rising in Nuestra Familia

19:00 Attempted Murders and Sentencing: My Case

25:30 This Episode Is Sponsored By HIMS!

27:27 Walking Into War: Reception to First Riots

32:00 Yard Wars & Violence: Surviving and Fighting in Prison

39:30 Seven Years of War: Northern Politics & Respect

49:00 Major Riot: 4 Against 100+ and Getting Shot

52:24 This Episode Is Sponsored By Mando and PrizePicks!

55:10 Cell Phone, Smuggling & Making Money Inside

01:07:00 Staff Relations: Manipulating and Networking with COs

01:15:30 Contraband Hustles: Drugs, Phones & Profits

01:22:00 Running Salinas Valley: Power, Status & More Riots

01:33:00 Stabbings, Politics & Staying Alive

01:44:30 Infamy and Respect: Becoming the Northern Spartan

01:53:00 Stabbing My Cellmate: The Story Behind It

02:09:00 Hole, SHU, and Working the Politics

02:18:00 The End of the Stretch: Getting Released & Reflections

02:26:00 Aftermath: Returning Home, Living Free, and Closing Thoughts

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OG Gigavelli is a certified Miami original — born into violence, shaped by the streets, and forged in some of the most brutal prisons in America. OG breaks down a side of Miami history almost never discussed: the Black and Islander underworld that operated alongside — and often beneath — the Cocaine Cowboys era. From Liberty City and Brownsville to federal penitentiaries and near-death prison riots, this is a raw, unfiltered account of survival, crime, and eventual transformation OG came up during the wild 80s and 90s, where robbery was second nature, violence was currency, and the streets raised kids faster than families ever could. He details: -Seeing dead bodies as a child in Miami -Carjackings and robberies in broad daylight -The structure of Miami’s Black drug economy before it was ever “professionalized” elsewhere -Stabbings, race wars, and near-fatal ambushes inside state and federal prison -How Islam and time forced him to confront who he had become This isn’t glorification — it’s documentation. A firsthand account of a world most people only know through movies like Scarface or Cocaine Cowboys, told by someone who actually lived it. Go Support OG! YouTube:  @WhatTheyDoPodcast305  Book: https://a.co/d/2iiDBlo IG: https://www.instagram.com/og_gigaveli TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gigaveli Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 OG Gigavelli's Violent Origins & Miami Streets 05:36 Life in the Miami Hood & Early Hustle 12:00 Structure of Miami Drug Trade 19:03 Island Influence & Culture in Miami Crime 26:27 Transition to Robbery & Early Trouble 33:03 Juvenile Prison: Survival & Violence 40:28 Rising in Street Hierarchy & Prison Politics 45:06 State Prison: Robbing from Inside 53:34 Confrontations, Transfers, & Release 01:01:01 Struggles with Release & Cycle of Incarceration 01:06:34 Running a Trap and Chasing Fast Money 01:13:53 CM: The Harshest Lockdown in Florida Prisons 01:19:21 Post-Prison Hustling & Out-of-Town Moves 01:27:32 The Ecstasy Era & Big Hustles in Tennessee 01:34:08 Getting Caught: Counterfeit Money & Fed Indictment 01:41:58 21 Years in the Feds & Road to Redemption 01:46:11 OG Gigavelli's Books, Podcast & New Message 01:52:39 Miami Legacy, Final Reflections & Sign-Off

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In this explosive episode of The Connect, Johnny sits down with Danesa White, better known as Bella Barcode — a former Oakland hustler who built a multi-million-dollar fraud and jewelry embezzlement operation before the age of 21.

Raised in the heart of the Bay Area hustle, Danesa breaks down how she went from boosting clothes as a teenager to running sophisticated bank fraud, credit card approval schemes, and high-end jewelry thefts across all 50 states. At her peak, she was clearing hundreds of thousands of dollars a day, selling stolen diamonds, watches, and luxury goods to NFL players and major drug dealers — all while living a jet-set lifestyle that included Dubai, Miami, New York, and beyond.

-In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Bella Barcode explains:

-How early-2000s bank and credit card fraud actually worked

-How jewelry stores could be forced into approving six-figure purchases

-The psychology of confidence, misdirection, and playing the role

-The moment everything collapsed — arrests, probation violations, and a federal case

-Serving 7 years in federal prison and what women’s prison is really like

-Why she finally chose to tell her story — and the price that came with it

Today, Danesa has turned her life around and is inspiring others through her autobiography Recidivism: Beauty Before Bars, proving that survival, accountability, and redemption are possible — even after losing everything.

This is one of the most detailed breakdowns of white-collar street crime ever told on the podcast — and a powerful cautionary tale about how fast money can disappear just as quickly as it comes.

Go Support Danesa!

Website: https://www.itsbellabarcode.com/

Book: https://a.co/d/ajXBp6y

IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsbellabarcode_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bellabarcode

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bella.barcode

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

Rocket Money! Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://rocketmoney.com/connect today.

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Intro & Guest Overview 01:27 Life in Oakland & Family Background 03:35 First Hustles and Growing Up 07:46 Mastering the Bank Fraud Game 13:30 Taking the Hustle Nationwide 20:36 Scaling Up: Diamonds & High-End Stores 25:00 Inside the Diamond Game 34:24 Living Large: Lifestyle & Risks 36:33 Today's Sponsors 39:26 Making Mistakes & Legal Scrapes 43:00 Jewelry Licks & Giant Scores 50:54 How the Scam Actually Worked 55:00 The Downfall: Getting Caught 01:02:08 Federal Prison & Doing Time 01:13:01 Coming Home: Reentry & Building Again 01:18:45 Personal Growth & Female Bosses 01:24:48 Redemption: New Career & Book 01:28:01 Reflections & Life Lessons

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