Sergeant Smack: The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and His Band of Brothers ebook

by Ron Chepesiuk

Ron Chepesiuk Leaders and Notable People English

Sergeant Atkinson was not the subject of this investigation, but two other members of the ring were, one of which . I'd never heard of Ike Atkinson or his band of brothers before happening upon this book

Sergeant Atkinson was not the subject of this investigation, but two other members of the ring were, one of which was wearing an Army sergeant's rank and insignia. This individual was not in the Army, and apparently never had been. I'd never heard of Ike Atkinson or his band of brothers before happening upon this book. It closed the loop on some things that I sort of knew but really didn't know about a now dead friend of mine. He came back from a tour in Nam addicted to heroin and I often wondered how he supported the habit on a GI's salary.

Sergeant Smack chronicles the story of North Carolina's Leslie "Ike" Atkinson, an adventurer, gambler and one of . history's most original gangsters.

Sergeant Smack chronicles the story of North Carolina's Leslie Ike. Sergeant Smack chronicles the story of North Carolina's Leslie "Ike" Atkinson, an adventurer, gambler and one of .

In his 2010 book, Sergeant Smack, Ron Chepesiuk offers a biography of the aforementioned Ike Atkinson. Authors and Affiliations.

The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and His Band of Brothers.

Sergeant Smack : The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and His Band of Brothers. Under the cover of the Vietnam War and through the use of the . military infrastructure, Atkinson masterminded an enterprising group of family members and former African American GIs that the DEA identified as one of history's ten top drug trafficking rings.

Smack: The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and His Band of Brothers by Ron Chepesiuk. Since its publication, Sergeant Smack has been honored by nine book award competitions. 'The American Gangster' movie is a fairy tale told by Hollywood," Chepesiuk said. It should have been produced by Walt Disney. Sergeant Smack has also been optioned for a movie, which is currently in development

An excerpt from Ron Chepesiuk’s new book, Sergeant Smack, The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson. Kingpin, and his Band of Brothers. ww. keatkinsonkingpin.

An excerpt from Ron Chepesiuk’s new book, Sergeant Smack, The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson. December 9, 1972-Itwas to be a routine flight, one of dozens the retired . Army Master Sergeant had taken since 1966 when he first arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. Along with a compelling history of Ike Atkinson’s life and criminal career in drug smuggling, the author has managed to put the truth to numerous falsehoods contained in the major movie about the life of Frank Lucas, American Gangster. Jack Toal, retired DEA agent who worked the investigation of Frank Lucas.

Sergeant Smack chronicles the story of North Carolina's Leslie "Ike" Atkinson, an adventurer, gambler and one of U.S. history's most original gangsters. Under the cover of the Vietnam War and through the use of the U.S. military infrastructure, Atkinson masterminded an enterprising group of family members and former African American GIs that the DEA identified as one of history's ten top drug trafficking rings. Ike's organization moved heroin from Thailand to North Carolina and beyond. According to law enforcement sources, 1,000 pounds is a conservative estimate of the amount of heroin the ring transported annually from Bangkok, Thailand, through U.S. military bases, into the U.S. during its period of operation from 1968 to 1975. That amount translates to about $400 million worth of illegal drug sales during that period. Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Ike Atkinson is a charismatic former U.S. Army Master Sergeant, career drug smuggler, scam artist, card shark and doting family man whom law enforcement nick-named Sergeant Smack. He was never known to carry a gun, and today many retired law enforcement officials who had put him in jail refer to him as a "gentleman." Sergeant Smack's criminal activities sparked the creation of a special DEA unit code named CENTAC 9, which conducted an intensive three-year investigation across three continents. Sergeant Smack was elusive, but the discovery of his palm print on a kilo of heroin finally took him down. In 1987, Ike tried to revive his drug ring from Otisville Federal Penitentiary, but the Feds discovered the plot and set up a sting. The events that follow seem like the narrative for a Robert Ludlum novel. Atkinson was convicted again and nine years added to his sentence. Ike was released from prison in 2006 after serving a 31-year jail sentence. Atkinson's story is controversial because his ring has been accused of smuggling heroin to the U.S. in the coffins and/or cadavers of dead American GIs. As this book shows, the accusation is completely false. The recent movie, "American Gangster," which depicted the criminal career of Frank Lucas, distorted Atkinson's historical role in the international drug trade. Sergeant Smack exposes the lies about the Ike Atkinson-Frank Lucas relationship and documents how Ike, not Lucas, pioneered the Asian heroin connection. "Drug kingpin Ike Atkinson, is the real deal, and not the stuff of Hollywood legend. The author delivers an eminently readable book about a genuine Mr Big who knows that no fictional makeover is required for his compelling story - the truth is more than enough." -Steve Morris, Publisher, New Criminologist "Sergeant Smack is meticulously researched and its prodding for the truth by author Ron Chepesiuk makes it an excellent non-fiction crime story. Along with a compelling history of Ike Atkinson's life and criminal career in drug smuggling, the author has managed to put the truth to numerous falsehoods contained in the major movie, American Gangster, about the life of Frank Lucas." -Jack Toal, retired DEA agent who worked the investigation of Frank Lucas "Finally, the real story. I've waited 40 years for this book." -Marc Levin, Director of the documentary, "Mr. Untouchable" "Ron Chepesiuk has gone from publishing the Black gangster classics, Gangsters of Harlem and Black Gangsters of Chicago, to crafting Sergeant Smack, an astonishing masterpiece." -David "Pop" Whetstone, Owner, Black Star Music and Video "Sergeant Smack forcefully debunks the urban legend of Black family groups smuggling heroin from Southeast Asia in the bodies of dead GI soldiers while recounting the colorful saga of the authentic American gangster. Highly recommended." -Gary Taylor, journalist and author of the award-winning true crime memoir, Luggage by Kroger.

Anaginn

A very good book. Well researched and well written. I think he finally puts to bed, the rumors of smuggling herion in the bodies of GIs. The author doesn't just refute the rumors, he dedicates a chapter to go over all the possibilies. The reader will come to the same conclusion; it was just impossible. One of the main reasons is too many people would have to had a hand in it one way or another for it to succede on a large scale. There is no way with that many people involved, it would have been kept quiet. I have been a true crime reader for 40 years and the primary reason most dealers, gangsters or any major criminal gets caught is thru talk. There is a reason for the saying "loose lips, sink ships".

Kanal

An insightful and eventful read that chronicles the story of Ike Atkinson, the man who Frank Lucas from American Gangster fame stole part of his myth defining drug lord lore from. Ike Atkinson was the man who pioneered the Asian heroin connection and used his military contacts to move the heroin to the states. Frank Lucas vaguely mentions Ike in his articles, movie and book but through Ron Chepesiuk's careful research we find out the real deal. Chepesiuk crafts a carefully told and mesmerizing tale that will leave readers in awe. This real but harrowing saga is just one of many that Chepesiuk has covered in the black gangster genre. If you like books like this or films like American Gangster and magazines like Don Diva and F.E.D.S. make sure to check out the rest of Chepesiuk's titles like Gangsters of Harlem, Gangsters of Miami and Queenpins.

SING

The first book that I have bought and couldn't even force myself to finish. But then again, maybe I did because it's so repetetive. It reminds me of my high school days when I had to write a 500 word essay and would just keep writing the same thing over and over again but in different places

This book might have some value of "history" or entertainment to a very limited amount of people that served in the Army during the late 60's& were heavily involved in the drug shipping/seling business, but that limits it to about 50-60 people or less. I think that it was poorly written, incomplete and just plain boring.

Sorry, but that's how I felt.

HelloBoB:D

I have been researching this drug ring for many years, but I did not know what the members were really like. Ron has brought them to life. Some of the detail that he provided finally made this whole subject make sense.

For example, when Sergeant Atkinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant and got into trouble playing poker with enlisted guys, he was demoted to a rank lower than the enlisted grade he had to begin with. Chances are that if he had been white, he probably would have been "reamed" by a colonel and that would have been the end of it. Almost all "mustangs," that is prior enlisted, screw up like that.

Although the playing field is a little more even in the military, it still is harder on black males. It is possible that Atkinson would have not gotten into the drug smuggling business if incidents like the above had not happened. When the rules don't work for you, you tend to role the dice, and I believe that that is exactly what Atkinson did. He started taking big chances to make it big.

Although Ron did an excellent job of researching his subject, I believe he could have done better on the "heroin smuggled in bodies" chapter. I was the Air Force staff sergeant that he was talking about at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. I can assure you that I did not make that case up. It is a matter of record. An investigation did take place concerning the smuggling of heroin in the bodies of Killed-In-Action at Kadena Air Base in December, 1972.

Sergeant Atkinson was not the subject of this investigation, but two other members of the ring were, one of which was wearing an Army sergeant's rank and insignia. This individual was not in the Army, and apparently never had been. Further, he was on forged, official orders from the 5th Army hospital in Thailand as a courier for human remains that were reported to have contained heroin. He was also wearing insignia indicating that he as a member of this unit. The outcome of this investigation was, to my knowledge, not make public and evidence in the case disappeared out of U.S. registered mail on its way to court.

It appeared to me that Ron was just a little too anxious to couch this whole incident as an absurdity and declare the "Case closed." Ron was too quick to point out small errors and question the entire credibility of investigators and witnesses. He also insinuated that some involved wanted to hype this incident to sell books. I for one want to know what happened over 38 years ago. I did not dream this incident up. I do, however, appreciate the light that Ron has shed on this. That is why I gave him five stars. He earned it!

He does not, however, have the right to discredit competent people and declare the case closed. It is not closed and will not be until we find out what actually happened, and there is evidence that something DID happen. There was sworn testimony from an investigator of indications that heroin was being smuggled in bodies in the Captain Jeffery MacDonald (Fatal Vision) case. What interested me in that case was that the name cited was the same name as the suspect in the above case that happened in Okinawa two years later. Was this a coincidence?

Ron has stated that inferences about smuggling heroin in bodies have caused harm to Leslie Atkinson and I am sure it has. My take on this is that Mr. Atkinson has been punished enough and it serves no purpose to punish him unfairly. He got into more than enough trouble all by himself. I do not recall any evidence that Mr. Atkinson was involved in anything to do with the above. Further, he has never been charged with anything to do with heroin smuggling using bodies, so the presumption of innocence should apply to this case in regards to Mr. Atkinson and I wish him the best.

Overall, great job Ron, and the book is an excellent read!

Ydely

Ron, I just finished Sergeant Smack. I could not put it down, read it in 3 days and I have limited time. What a well written book, I loved it! An interesting note the Dr. Jeffrey McDonald murder of years ago reference. I remember reading that book decades ago.
Ike was really a brilliant dummy. What a waste of a life. Did he like prison? After watching the hour long interview on YouTube and hearing his intelligence it makes you wonder why he wasted all those talents he had, could have been a great and legal business man.
Also makes light of how stupid Hollywood is and their untrue fictional movies that people think are true "American Gangster" stinks.
Thanks for the great read.
I recommend this to anyone.

Capella

An interesting book written by a Journalist with an apparent knowledge of the drug traffic in central Kentucky. I found it very interesting and a good read. The author relayed intimate knowledge of the modus operanti of multiple traffickers in my old home state. As a retired DEA SA, I was taken aback that our agents in that area were unaware of this activity going on under their noses.

Madis

I'd never heard of Ike Atkinson or his band of brothers before happening upon this book. It closed the loop on some things that I sort of knew but really didn't know about a now dead friend of mine. He came back from a tour in Nam addicted to heroin and I often wondered how he supported the habit on a GI's salary. Hm...

As a Vietnam Vet love this book, Good Buy and read it in 2 day"s