I Robbed Drug Dealers—Then Spent 5 Years on the Run

Scott Anthony returns to Honor Among Thieves Podcast to recount robbing drug dealers, trafficking cocaine, and spending five years on the run. In episode 102, he joins Nelson Rodriguez Jr. to discuss his early days with Chicago’s Simon City Royals, armed robberies, and cocaine runs between South Florida and Chicago. Scott describes escaping a Georgia traffic stop after police discovered cocaine in his luggage, spending three days in the woods, and the robberies he committed to finance his life as a fugitive. The conversation also explores Scott’s life in Mexico and his personal connections to old-school Mexican cartel figures. He describes friendships with Rafael Caro Quintero and Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, says he was hired as Caro Quintero’s physical trainer before his release from prison, and recalls teaching martial arts to cartel figures and their children. Scott also discusses his Cuban cigar-smuggling years, his experiences in federal custody, and the stories behind his books, Street Raised and Smoke: Confessions of a Cuban Cigar Smuggler. Beyond the money and escapes, Scott opens up about the consequences of street life: friends cooperating with federal authorities, the limits of criminal loyalty, and the danger of doing business with organized crime figures. He recounts collection jobs and gambling-related work for the Chicago mob, including an unsettling conversation about how quickly greed can outweigh friendship. The episode also examines his efforts to leave that life behind, build a legitimate fitness business, and give his children opportunities he never had. Subscribe to Honor Among Thieves Podcast for more true-crime interviews, federal prison stories, organized crime history, drug-trafficking cases, and raw conversations about consequences and redemption. This episode is presented for documentary, journalistic, and educational purposes. It does not promote or glorify illegal drug use, drug trafficking, identity fraud, or other criminal activity. 📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest: 👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest Become an Honor Among Thieves Patreon Member Join The Underworld👇👇👇 https://www.patreon.com/cw/honoramongthieves?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator 👕Honor Among Thieves Merch👇 https://shop.honoramongthievespodcast.com/ 🔗 Links 📸 Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ 📸 Scott Anthony on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scottanthonyog?dlrf=ZnE0ZWl5NXJ1YmUz Get your copy of SMOKE https://a.co/d/001x6Spb Get your copy of Street Raised https://a.co/d/09y8w3pw Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:39 Hiding His Chicago Gang Past 10:12 Robbing Drug Dealers & the Cocaine Trade 16:58 The Bill Clinton Invitation & His FBI File 21:49 Street Raised: Growing Up With the Simon City Royals 28:27 Carlos Lehder: The Colombia Trip & Their Phone Conversation 34:07 Friendships With Caro Quintero & Félix Gallardo 40:47 Living in Mexico: Cities, Cartels & Rural Danger 47:01 Fleeing to Mexico After the Cocaine Bust 53:35 Drug Robberies to Fund Life on the Run 1:00:35 Moving Back to Mexico & Training Cartel Families 1:05:09 Fighting for Bond in Federal Court 1:15:01 A Friend’s Cooperation & the Cost of Loyalty 1:19:11 A Chicago Mobster’s Warning About Greed 1:23:34 Scott Anthony’s Books & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices