Jackpot
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viii “As it turned out”: Dialogue in the prologue is taken from transcripts of a plea hearing in June 2008 and a sentencing hearing in August 2008 in United States of America vs. Ashley Brunson. These transcripts and court filings also provided details of Ashley Brunson’s life abroad and of his 2007 arrest. The author attended the sentencing hearing as well.
xi “Barry, here he goes”: interview with anonymous source.
Part I: The Gentlemen Smugglers
Chapter One
4 “Oh yeah, them boys”: interview with Barry Foy, February 2008.
4 “We’d never do”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
7 Riley had first visited: details of Riley’s upbringing come from interviews with Les Riley in July 2010 and Roy Riley in May 2010.
9 “Y’all have any luck?”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
10 “I got the key”: interview with anonymous source.
10 “We thought he could”: interview with anonymous source.
10 ”He could tell his crew …”: interview with Tommy Liles, June 2008.
11 “If you got one thousand pounds …”: interview with Ken Smith, July 2010.
11 “We’ll be right back”: details of Barry Foy’s youth were learned during interviews with Foy from 2008 to 2010.
11 “Started me down the road”: interview with Barry Foy, February 2008.
12 “Some people are blessed”: ibid.
12 “Right then … I knew”: ibid.
13 “Halt, I’m going to shoot”: ibid.
13 “Some name they gave me”: ibid.
13 The favorable treatment: Columbia Record May 26, 1983.
14 “this case was postponed”: ibid.
14 “We said, ‘Well fuck’ ”: interview with Barry Foy, February 2008.
14 “He’s all happy”: ibid.
14 By comparison, that same year; Southeastern Missourian, March 23, 1971.
15 “I hope to God”: interview with Barry Foy, February 2008.
15 “You left me here, man”: ibid.
16 “I was afraid”: ibid.
16 “Stopped dead in the water”: ibid.
17 “It looked so out”: ibid.
17 In celebration, someone danced: e-mail from Jan Liafsha, May 2008.
17 “Sticks? … You gotta take”: interview with anonymous source.
18 “I was upset with him”: interview with Ken Smith, July 2010.
19 “You and your fucking lists”: ibid.
19 “That’s the time of year”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
20 ”Barry kept holding”: interview with Ken Smith, July 2010.
20 “We basically relied”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
21 “We smuggling reefer, motherfucker”: interview with Tommy Liles, June 2008.
21 “Far out”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
22 “We got a little bit more”: interview with anonymous source.
22 “Oh shit. That’s a fucking bale”: interview with Barry Foy.
Chapter Two
24 “He walked in”: interview with Buddy Ray “Fish Ray” Griffin Jr., July 2009.
25 “I was loving on her, man”: interview with Barry Foy.
25 “We were young and simple in life”: e-mail from Jan Liafsha, May 2008.
26 “When Jan got mad”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
26 “What’s so fucking funny”: interview with Ken Smith, July 2010.
26 “an importer of tropical plants”: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
27 “If you guys are up to”: interview with anonymous source.
28 During Foy’s first trip: details of Foy and Byers’ trip are from interviews with Barry Foy.
29 “That’s their culture”: interview with Mike Abell, February 2010.
29 “Fuck. Nooooo”: interview with Bob Roche, February 2010.
30 “Where’s Barry? Where’s Barry, mon?”: interview with anonymous source.
31 “People involved heavily”: e-mail from Jim Mittica, July 2009.
32 “Our (purchase) costs”: testimony of Julian Pernell in United States of America v. Barry Joseph Foy, et al.
32 “When Florida got warm”: interview with Barry Foy, 2009.
34 “I had some in McClellanville”: testimony of Julian Pernell in United States of America v. Barry Joseph Foy, et al.
35 “He was an alcoholic”: transcript of interview of Bob Byers conducted by lawyer Gedney Howe.
35 After a 1962 arrest: Bob Byers’s criminal record is listed in a federal pre-sentence investigation report.
36 “I had a pretty”: interview of Bob Byers by lawyer Gedney Howe (date unknown).
37 In 1972, according to Byers’s: affidavit by Mike Abell, April 1984.
37 Roche remembers even more debauchery: these memories of Bob Byers were gathered in separate interviews of Bob Roche, Mike Abell, and Bob Bauer, all in February 2010.
39 He was the “sweetest”: interview with Liz Kennedy, February 2008.
39 “You’ve had enough”: ibid.
39 “Barry … business is business”: interview with anonymous source.
39 In response to complaints: Hughson, p. 22.
40 The appearance of Blackbeard: Butler, p. 31.
40 In 1718, Blackbeard blockaded Charleston: Butler, p. 37.
40 Rumrunners had a short heyday: Willoughby, p. 3.
40 In April 1861: Cochran, p. 13.
41 In 1862, for example: Cochran, p. 36.
41 The cotton bales: Hobart-Hampden, p. 27.
41 Meat, for example: details on the cargoes of blockade-runners can be found in Cochran, pp. 47–50.
42 “During the Confederate years”: Cochran, p. 62.
42 “In Bermuda these men”: Horner, p. 101.
43 “That was the best pussy”: interview with Oliver Mayfield, July 2008.
43 “It must be borne”: Hobart-Hampden, p. 2.
44 “Hunting, pig sticking”: Taylor, p. 49.
44 “Pussy wasn’t even fun”: interview with Oliver Mayfield, July 2008.
45 “Needless to say”: e-mail from Harold Stein, April 2008.
45 “There was always the undercurrent”: interview with Lionel Lofton and Wells Dickson, June 2008.
45 The Customs Patrol office: interview with Mike Bell, May 2008.
46 “Most of the time”: interview with Chuck Pittard, April 2008.
47 There they’d park along: descriptions of rumrunners’ tactics are taken from Willoughby, p. 61.
47 “Beaufort County with its hundreds”: McTeer, p. 5.
47 Billboards along coastal highway: interview with Mike Bell, May 2008.
48 Wary of being compromised: ibid.
48 Pernell and Toombs had met: testimony of Barry Toombs in United States of America v. Barry Joseph Foy, et al.
48 He was busted in 1972: testimony of Julian Pernell in United States of America v. Barry Joseph Foy, et al.
48 Toombs marveled at Pernell’s ability: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
49 “You get an adrenaline rush”: ibid.
50 “All that was so unorganized”: interview with Billy Graham, June 2008.
Chapter Three
51 They purchased a thirty-five-foot: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
51 “no further north than Charleston”: ibid.
52 “Developer Charles Fraser: www.seapines.com.
53 “Hilton Head had the Montessori schools”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
53 “This was the biggest mistake”: letter from Les Riley to Judge Falcon Hawkins (date unknown).
54 “Lee always had a smile”: details of Lee Harvey’s childhood were learned in an interview with Tom Harvey and Mike Harvey in May 2010.
55 All the girls at the University: interview with Cameron Currie, May 2007.
55 As Lee was finishing college: interview with Tom Harvey and Mike Harvey, May 2010.
55 “I’d wish to God”: ibid.
5
5 “Things like that”: ibid.
55 After graduating from the University: University of South Carolina, Office of Media Relations.
55 His graduate schooling would be interrupted: Washington Post, November 16, 1974.
56 “He was gone”: interview with an anonymous source.
56 “He was a good guy”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
56 “I’ve got people”: ibid.
57 “He’ll be right back”: interview with Tom Harvey and Mike Harvey, May 2010.
57 “Oh my god”: ibid.
58 “He was a charmer”: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
58 “No ambush was ever”: details of this bust were gleaned from the appeals court opinion in United States of America v. Donald George Maskeny, et al.
59 “They’re gonna give me”: interview with anonymous source.
59 In 1978, eleven states: Bertram, p. 96.
60 “As for that tag”: letter from Skip Sanders to author, March 25, 2008.
60 Among the men unshaken: biographical details for Christy Campbell were learned during an interview with Campbell in December 2007.
60 “bragging about how South Carolinians”: affidavit prepared by Barry Toombs in support of the United States’ request for extradition of Les Riley, May 1983.
60 Riley was happy: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
61 “Christy was Lee’s boy”: interview with anonymous source.
61 In November 1978: details of the Coast Guard’s seizure of the Love Affair are detailed in the testimony of U.S. Coast Guard Commander Thomas Braithewaite and Lieutenant Brian O’Keefe in hearings for United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
Chapter Four
62 “The first one”: letter from Skip Sanders to author, March 7, 2008.
63 “see there. this is why”: letter from Skip Sanders to author, June 8, 2009.
64 “How fast you going”: interview with Barry Foy, July 2008.
64 For Bob “The Boss” Byers: interview with Bob Roche, February 2010.
65 “It’s hard to tell”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
65 Foy was going to make: interview with anonymous source.
65 In 1976, Foy was blamed: testimony of Barry Toombs in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
65 They told him to “buzz off ”: testimony of Julian Pernell in United States of America v. Barry Joseph Foy, et al.
65 “Foy was burning his bridges”: testimony of Barry Toombs in United States of America v. Barry Joseph Foy, et al.
65 Among Foy’s new friends: Foy described his introduction to Tom Rhoad in an interview in February 2008.
66 His girlfriend lay bound: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
66 He had also been spied: ibid.
66 Rhoad’s buddies joked: interview with Kenny Thomas, June 2008.
67 When Rhoad had an apartment: interview with Barry Foy, April 2008.
67 Les Riley knew Rhoad: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
67 “He had this massive Presidential”: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
67 “One night partying”: letter from Skip Sanders to author, March 7, 2008.
68 “It ain’t no fun”: interview with Buddy “Fish Ray” Ray Griffin Jr., July 2009.
68 “Tom Rhoad—number eleven”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
68 DDOA, or Drug Dealers of America: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
68 Jamison recalls walking: ibid.
69 “Did your mom die”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
70 “It is a crisis”: Miller Center of Public Affairs, http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3402.
71 “Remember, every bale”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
72 When he was honorably discharged: U.S. Army.
72 “Working hard doesn’t mean”: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
73 As a rule, Les Riley: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
73 One wonders … Nancy Reagan: www.hopajetworldwide.com/hop.asp.
73 “Hey Willie, I’ve got a problem”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
74 “If it fucks, flies”: ibid.
74 “Ooh, don’t throw us …” interview with anonymous source.
74 “It didn’t take long”: interview with Maura Mooney, December 2007.
75 “Sue asked me”: ibid.
75 “St. Barts is a tiny”: Flippo, 36.
76 “As I was coming in”: letter from Freddy Fillingham to author, May 18, 2008.
77 Among the successful ventures: federal indictment of Barry Joseph Foy, et al., District of South Carolina (83-165).
77 Riley and Harvey were: federal indictment of Robert Leslie Riley, District of South Carolina, (83-166).
78 … using a sledgehammer: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
79 Once, Butler and Riley constructed: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
80 Property up and down: indictments of Foy and Riley.
Chapter Five
81 Cold seafood, booze, and Valium: descriptions of the Second Life’s voyage were obtained from interviews with Chris Campbell, Kenny O’Day, and anonymous sources, as well as the testimony of Campbell and O’Day in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
81 “One happy ship of crazies”: interview with anonymous source.
81 “It was no longer”: interview with Christy Campbell, May 2008.
82 Among the world sailing community: www.volvooceanrace.com.
83 While the civil war: Traboulsi, p. 234 and Mackey, p. 229.
83 The obvious implication: interview with anonymous source.
84 In an odd but kind gesture: interview with Christy Campbell, May 2008.
86 “Who’s got her”: interview with anonymous source.
86 One slow-going day … the crew devised: ibid.
88 “One of three or four”: www.volvooceanrace.com.
88 “You can’t hit him”: interview with Christy Campbell, May 2008.
88 “I had one bullet”: ibid.
89 “He was a pretty nice”: testimony of Christy Campbell in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
89 “This has been two months”: ibid.
89 Campbell’s arrival and phone calls: descriptions of unloading the hashish and simultaneous boat chase were obtained from testimony of men present that night in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al. and from interviews with some of these same men, including those noted below.
90 “He was going like a madman”: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
91 “That’s when things:” testimony of Kenny O’Day in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
91 “I’m going to go out”: testimony of Walter Baxter in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
92 “I don’t like that”: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
92 “John, don’t get crazy, don’t get crazy”: ibid.
93 “Pull it back”: ibid.
93 “I thought you had two suspects”: testimony of Tommy Simmons in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
94 “He was incorrigible”: interview with John Zwerling, February 2008.
Chapter Six
96 “You can get out”: interview with anonymous source.
96 “We gotta pull over”: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
96 “You’re caught up”: ibid.
97 “That was when Frank met drugs”: interview with Tommy Liles, June 2008.
97 “You know, some people say”: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
97 Harvey allegedly jeopardized ventures: Lee Harvey’s excessive and dangerous drug use was mentioned by a multitude of smugglers who knew him well, including Les Riley, Barry Toombs, Bob Bauer, and others. While Lee Harvey’s brothers Tom and Michael downplay the severity of his drug use, others say he
nearly died a number of times from overdoses.
97 “But the little people”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
98 “I was with Lee a lot”: interview with Tom Harvey and Michael Harvey, May 2010.
98 “… let her possess you”: from John Jamison’s previously unpublished poem “All Honey Isn’t Sweet.”
99 Foy was fun: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
99 “No wonder you can”: ibid.
99 “Y’all are partners”: ibid.
99 “Les had a big”: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
100 “Lee Harvey had problems paying”: testimony of Frank Steele during United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
100 keep their wallet close: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
100 “To me, that was a slap”: interview with John Jamison, June 2008.
101 One smuggler labels Harvey: these descriptions of Harvey’s alleged payment problems were from interviews with two separate anonymous sources.
101 “He picked me up”: testimony of Steve Ravenel in United States of America v. Robert Leslie Riley, et al.
101 “This is what Les and Lee”: interview with Bob Bauer, February 2010.
101 When men would come to Riley: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
102 “Barry, one thing they teach”: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
102 “People were looking”: interview with Les Riley, July 2010.
103 “Sometimes Lee Harvey”: interview with Barry Toombs, May 2010.
104 Arriving on the island: IRS investigator David Forbes recalled his professional experience, early forays onto Hilton Head Island, and tips about Les Riley during interviews in November 2007.
104 “You need to look into Les Riley”: ibid.
105 The year before … a DC-3 airplane: Hilton Head Island Packet, February 7, 1980.
105 One of Heyward’s corporations: federal appeals court decision in United States of America v. Heyward.
106 “At one time”: Hilton Head Island Packet, January 12, 1982.
106 “Something funny”: interview with David Forbes, November 2007.
107 Here, too .. was the county courthouse: courthouse file in the South Carolina Room of the Beaufort County Library, Beaufort branch.