Atkinson Ike - Sergeant Smack: the legendary life 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

By Ron Chepesiuk

Strategic Media, Inc.

Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Thunder Bay, Canada

Copyright 2010 by Ron Chepesiuk

All Rights Reserved

Published by Strategic Media Inc.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electronic photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

Requests for permission should be directed to strategicmediabooks@gmail.com, or mailed to Strategic Media Inc., 782 Wofford St., Rock Hill Sc 29730.

13-digit ISBN 978-0-984-2333-1-1

10-digit ISBN 0-984-2333-1-8

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SERGEANT SMACK

Ron Chepesiuk is one of the premiere true crime investigative journalists, and he proves it with this new book. Sergeant Smack is a great story and brilliantly written. The book shows that fact can be more entering than fiction.

Jason Brooks, director of the documentary, Kingpins (the story of Freddie Myers)

Sergeant Smack is meticulously researched, and Chepesiuks prodding for the truth makes it an excellent non-fiction crime story. Along with a compelling history of Ike Atkinsons 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 is a riveting account of little known but legendary drug kingpin Ike Atkinson. In his latest book, Chepesiuk has once again used his investigative journalist skills to unearth the true story behind the Atkinson drug band and to dispel the many myths that have been purported by the media and Hollywood regarding the Asian-American heroin trade. Using exclusive interviews with Atkinson himself, as well as numerous agents who investigated him, Chepesiuk takes the reader inside the mind of a drug trafficker as he establishes his empire.

David Weeks, author of Death at the Ballpark: A Comprehensive Study of Game-Related Fatalities of Players, Other Personnel and Spectators in Amateur and Professional Baseball, 1862-200

As a 25-year veteran of the DEA, I congratulate Ron on setting the record straight on the true story of the American Gangster. By interviewing former DEA agents, drug kingpins and reviewing public documents, Ron has accurately captured the role of the gangsters and the investigative strategy implemented by the DEA that led to the dismantling of this complex international heroin organization. This is a must read for anyone interested in the true story of the chess game between the international drug kingpin the 1970s and the DEA agents who took him down.

Lew Rice, former DEA Special Agent in Charge and author of DEA Special Agent: My Life on the Front Line

Table of Contents

What They Say About Sergeant Smack

Cast of Characters

Strange Encounters of a Cadaver Kind

The Formative Years

In the Army

Bangkok Calling

Switching Gears

The Investigation Begins

Busted in the Big Apple

The Denver Connection

The Nail in the Coffin

American Gangster Revisited

New Kid on the Block

Going Postal

The Teakwood Connection

The Sting

Takedown

Behind Bars

What Goes Around

Revival

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Selected Bibliography

About The Author

For Magdalena, my wife, my love and my inspiration

Crime is no more easily hidden than in a crowd.

Anonymous

CAST OF CHARACTERS

KINGPIN

Leslie Ike Atkinson Charismatic retired U.S. Army Sergeant, gambler, adventurer and leader of an African-American drug trafficking organization that, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) assessments, evolved into a $400 million heroin smuggling organization. Ike was a partner of William Herman Jackson and was responsible for smuggling heroin from Thailand to the U.S. and for its wholesale distribution within the country. Ike took over the entire operation after the arrest of partner Jackson in 1972. The media and law enforcement dubbed Atkinson Sergeant Smack.

PARTNERS

William Herman Jackson Nicknamed Jack, Jackson was Atkinsons U.S. Army buddy and partner in crime who talked Atkinson into moving to Bangkok in the late 1960s. Jack established Jacks American Star Bar in Bangkok, Thailand, and with Ike, he launched the heroin smuggling empire that became the largest Asian-U.S. heroin connection ever uncovered. Jackson was busted in Denver in 1972.

Luchai Rubiwat A Thai-Chinese businessman who was a partner in Jacks American Star Bar in Bangkok, Thailand, and a close drug trafficking partner of Atkinson and his associates. Luchai became responsible for obtaining drugs for Atkinson after Herman Jacksons arrest. Luchai was arrested in an undercover sting in San Francisco.

James Warren Smedley An ex-U.S. Army soldier, Ikes buddy, a key member of Ikes drug trafficking organization and partner and manager of Jacks American Star Bar.

BAND OF BROTHERS

Berlin Gambler and hustler who operated in Europe. Real name unknown.

Pratt Benthall Ikes New Jersey-based friend and drug trafficker.

Dan Burch Professional gambler and drug dealer from Dayton, Ohio, who taught Ike how to sew false bottom into AWOL bags so they could hide heroin.

Lorenzo Bowers A Federal prisoner serving a life-term who befriended Ike in prison.

Leon Ellis Master woodworker from North Carolina who came to Bangkok to help build false bottoms into teakwood furniture so they could hide heroin.

Herman Lee Gaillard Nicknamed Peter Rabbit, Galliard, from La Grange, North Carolina, was a member of Ikes organization.

Andrew Price Half brother of William Herman Jackson and a key operative within the Atkinson drug ring in Bangkok.

Rudolph Valentino Jennings A Bangkok-based operative for Sergeant Smacks heroin ring who came to Bangkok and was responsible for fitting the false bottoms of AWOL bags for heroin shipments.

Robert Johnson Retired U.S. airman from Greensboro North Carolina, whom Ike considered one of the biggest hustlers in Europe. Johnson later moved to Bangkok.

John Roy a gambler and hustler who was the only white member of Ikes Band of Brothers.

Ed Russell Gambler and hustler who became friends with Ike in Europe.

Joe Stasi Soldier in La Cosa Nostra who became good friends with Ike while they served time together in various prisons.

Ellis Sutton North Carolina native, drug dealer and Ikes friend and associate with whom Ike had an ambivalent relationship.

Thomas Southerland Ikes friend whom Ike considered to be like a son and who worked for Ikes organization.

Eddie Wooten Ikes friend and major drug trafficker from Washington, DC, who used the U.S. military base at Okinawa, Japan, as a base to transport heroin to U.S.

FAMILY

Atha Atkinson Ikes second wife.

Dallas Atkinson One of Ikes three older brothers.

Edward Atkinson One of Ikes three older brothers.

Ezzell Atkinson One of Ikes three older brothers.

Helen Atkinson Ikes first wife.

Jimmy Atkinson Ikes nephew and son of Dallas.

Juanita Atkinson Wife of Dallas Atkinson.

Larry Atkinson Ikes nephew and Dallass son who introduced Ike to Frank Lucas.

Linda Atkinson Married to Larry Atkinson.

Pearl Parks Atkinson Ikes sister who lived in NY.

Philip Wade Atkinson Ikes nephew and Edwards son.

ASSOCIATES

Samuel Arrante Civilian prison employee at Otisville Federal Penitentiary whom Ike recruited to smuggle letters out of the prison.