Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization [Mass Market Paperback]

Jerry Speziale (Author), Mark Seal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

In this true story, career policeman Jerry Speziale chronicles his fast-living years as one of the youngest recruits for the US Drug Enforcement Administration's task force - an odyssey of undercover intrigue, Colombian kingpins, amazing take-downs and nerve-jangling narrow escapes.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An original member of the DEA's legendary Group 93, which was founded in 1990 to target the drug cartels based in Cali, Colombia, Speziale has an amazing life story to tell, and in a breathless narrative, he (with freelance writer Seal) nails the high points of his 20-year-long career. From his troubled youth in New Jersey through his incarnation as the suave "Geraldo Bartone" to infiltrate the Cali gangs, to a final bout with career burnout, Speziale provides a detailed insider look at the tough life of undercover cops and the relentless pressure of a job in which the "only way to bust the cartel is to become part of it." As Speziale is schooled in the ways of a drug lord by a confidential informant-who later tries to double-cross him-the authors show just how easy and dangerous it is to go to Guatemala, build an airstrip, set up a business and begin to do large drug deals for the Cali cartel. Unfortunately, the book is written in a faux tough-guy style, reminiscent of old Miami Vice episodes. Speziale has lived an interesting life, but phrases like "I felt that roller-coaster ride ratcheting up another level" don't raise his tale beyond that of a B-movie.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Exciting and authentic! A great book. -- Joe Pistone

Speziale has an amazing life story to tell, and nails the high points of his 20-year-long career. -- Publishers Weekly

This harrowing autobiography provides a fascinating peek into a subculture few of us have ever seen before. -- Washington Post --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle Books (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786015616
• ISBN-13: 978-0786015610
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,459,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > General
  • #70 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Criminals
  • #83 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Crime & Criminals > Criminology

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone who is interested in the war on drugs, May 11, 2003

By 

Darin Zaborski (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without a Badge: Undercover in (Hardcover)

From what seems like real danger in the begining while acting like a low life junkie ends up later looking like childs play. Later Mr. Bartone goes deep undercover and goes on to con and collect several thousand dollars in cash and drugs from key members of the Cali Cartel. Even though the situations that Speziale gets himself into are very dangerous you often find yourself laughing because he always finds a way to pin the drug bust on someone other than himself and even having the nerve to ask for retribution for his losses. Along the way he meets up with and learns from an interesting character named Paul Lir Alaxander who is as mysterious as he is savy when it comes to understanding the drug business. The book reads like a novel but the story is anything but fiction. If anyone takes the time to read this book it will be one of thier best reads ever.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This cop turned author really eanred his pay., May 9, 2007

By 

Lance B. Hillsinger (San Luis Obispo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a very compelling book. It is the true story of NYPD undercover officer on "loan" to the DEA. This cop turned author, literally wrote the book on wiretaps. He risked his life to make major drug busts. However, by pursuing the Columbia drug cartels so aggressively, he also risked the lives of many innocent (and some not so innocent)others. He does not hide this fact in his book and he should be applauded for his honesty.

If you, read a "true crime" book only now and again -- buy this book. If you read "true crime" regularly this will be one of your all-time favorites.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Veteran of Reagan's "War on Drugs.", March 19, 2009

By 

B. Wolinsky "Ben's Reviews" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without a Badge: Undercover in (Hardcover)

Jerry Speziale is a talented operative and his accomplishments in busting big-time drug smugglers can't be doubted. But the book put me off because of the tone. Speziale is really full of himself and has a massive ego. He seems more interested in trying to flash his bravado than in protecting the public. He did make great strides in worming his way into the workings of the Colombian drug cartels, but I wonder what it was worth. When you bust a major drug smuggling ring, another one will take its place. As long as there's a market for drugs, there will be people interested in smuggling them. As long as a country (like Colombia) is poor and has a high birthrate, there will be no shortage of criminals who will kill for pennies.