The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell

At the height of Florida's opioid epidemic, Derik was helping run a massive pill mill operation that brought in as much as $300,000 a day, saw 500 patients daily, and generated an estimated $40 million before the feds shut it down. With dozens of doctors, thousands of customers traveling from across America, and an endless demand for oxycodone, the business became a multimillion-dollar empire operating in plain sight. Derik reveals how doctors were recruited, how patients obtained hundreds of prescription pain pills at a time, and how he once moved 100,000 pills in a deal worth over $1 million. But the money came with consequences. As the FBI closed in, Derik found himself facing federal racketeering charges and a 20-year prison sentence. Derik takes us inside the rise and fall of Florida's notorious pill mill industry, revealing the unbelievable profits, corruption, violence, and chaos behind one of the darkest chapters of America's opioid crisis. He also opens up about his deeply traumatic childhood, the family tragedies that shaped him, and what it took to rebuild his life after prison. From making millions selling prescription opioids to losing everything in federal prison, this is a firsthand account of the American opioid epidemic from someone who helped fuel it. This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Hims! Ready to be him? Visit https://hims.com/connect to get personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair loss, sex, testosterone, and more. Prescription products require an online consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. Individual results may vary. *Based on a survey of Hims customers. See https://hims.com for full details. PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 0:00 - Inside the $40 Million Florida Pill Mill Empire 5:16 - Where Did the Missing $15 Million Go? 12:26 - Running Clinics With 27,000 Patients 19:57 - 45-Second Doctor Visits and Roxy 30s 26:07 - MRI Kickbacks and the Business Behind the Pills 30:06 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims 31:39 - Derek's Childhood and Troubled Family History 38:20 - Childhood Violence and His Father's Arrest 44:52 - Growing Up Around the Mafia 52:32 - A Second Devastating Family Tragedy 59:50 - How Tragedy Tore His Family Apart 1:06:07 - Meeting the George Brothers and Building Houses 1:12:18 - The Steroid Business That Started It All 1:16:24 - This Episode Is Sponsored By PrizePicks 1:18:37 - How Derek Got Into the Pain Clinic Business 1:25:26 - Inside Florida's Wild West of Prescriptions 1:32:47 - Why Florida Became the Pill Mill Capital 1:40:59 - How the FBI First Discovered the Operation 1:47:42 - Recruiting Doctors and Growing the Empire 1:54:53 - Violence, Trouble, and Expanding the Clinic 2:01:24 - The Chaotic Clinic Gets a Police Visit 2:08:30 - Greedy Doctors and Stolen Patients 2:15:17 - Hiring a Doctor Who Sold Drugs From His Trunk 2:22:06 - Big-Time Pill Buyers and Million-Dollar Deals 2:29:05 - The Drug Laws and Who Really Profited 2:36:21 - Why the Federal Government Went After Them 2:42:05 - The Rival Jacksonville Pill Clinic 2:49:04 - A Gunpoint Confrontation Ends in Arrests 2:56:09 - How the Feds Built Their Case 3:03:19 - Cooperating Witnesses and Allegations Against Derek 3:09:31 - The Plea Deal, Prison Sentence, and Life After Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Red Hat was born into a drug empire. His father was a millionaire drug kingpin who allegedly worked with corrupt cops, moved massive quantities of cocaine, and controlled the streets of Texarkana. But after serving time in prison, his father was brutally murdered over $1 million in hidden drug money. Instead of walking away from the criminal underworld, he followed in his father's footsteps. By just 15 years old, he was already selling drugs. By 17, he had his own house, multiple cars, and was making serious money in the streets. Eventually, he built his own drug trafficking operation, moving massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana across Texas and the surrounding states. Red Hat reveals what it was like growing up as the son of a powerful drug kingpin, his father's connections to corrupt police and organized crime, the shocking circumstances surrounding his murder, and how he went on to build a drug empire of his own. From childhood surrounded by drug money and violence to becoming a major trafficker himself, this is a firsthand account of generational crime, betrayal, unimaginable wealth, and the devastating consequences of the drug game. Go Support Red Hat! IG: https://www.instagram.com/on_da_spot725 YouTube: @OnDaSpotInterview Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 0:00 - The Midnight Call That Changed Everything 5:06 - Becoming a Major Weed Supplier 10:16 - Growing Up in a Drug Kingpin's Family 15:22 - My Dad's Secret Partnership With Corrupt Cops 21:22 - Jamaican Drug Dealers Kidnapped My Father 29:34 - From Stealing Rolexes to Federal Prison 34:36 - Getting Into the Drug Game at 15 40:03 - The Money Dispute That Got My Father Killed 46:02 - How I Started Selling Crack 52:13 - My Father's Gambling Addiction and Our Final Goodbye 58:30 - Making Connections in the Drug Business 1:04:20 - Running Multiple Crack Houses and Making Serious Money 1:11:33 - Escaping Police Raids on My Drug Houses 1:18:37 - How I Got a Corrupt Cop on My Side 1:25:49 - The Police Start Closing In on My Operation 1:32:02 - Leaving Crack Behind for the Weed Business 1:38:24 - Meeting My California Drug Connection 1:45:08 - Moving Hundreds of Pounds Across State Lines 1:53:12 - The Traffic Stop That Almost Ended Everything 2:00:37 - The Scare That Made Me Leave the Drug Game 2:06:04 - Lessons From the Streets and Breaking the Cycle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Floss Tha Boss was a notorious 52 Hoover Gangster Crip from Dallas, Texas, who started gangbanging at just 12 years old. By his mid-20s, he was calling the shots for a crew of 30 gang members, making serious money selling crack, robbing drug dealers, and getting into deadly shootouts. But everything changed when a confrontation turned fatal, landing Floss a murder conviction and a 25-year prison sentence. To make matters worse, Floss claims his own defense lawyer was secretly trying to sleep with his wife while representing him in court. In this episode, Floss sits down with Johnny Mitchell to reveal what life was really like inside some of Texas's toughest prisons. From brutal gang politics and prison riots to mandatory fights, corrupt guards, and the underground prison economy, Floss shares unbelievable stories from nearly two decades behind bars. Now a free man pursuing a rap career, Floss reflects on his violent past, how he survived prison, and what it took to turn his life around. Go Support Floss! IG: https://www.instagram.com/floss_thaboss YouTube: @kvpkatsvideoproductions8486 WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE CONNECT? Send us an email explaining your story and why you think you'd be a good fit to [email protected] This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Ridge! One thing to pack, five ways to power! Head to https://ridge.com/connect for Ridge’s Friends & Family Sale, where you can buy two Ridge Power Banks and get a third FREE. Kalshi! Download the Kalshi app and use code MITCHELL to get $10 when you trade $10. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see https://kalshi.com/regulatory Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 0:00 - Floss Tha Boss: From Dallas Crip to Texas Prison 5:16 - Surviving a Drive-By Shooting 11:24 - Robberies and Gang Life in Dallas 17:38 - Leading the Head Busting Committee 23:01 - Robbing an Underground Gambling House 28:05 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Ridge 29:57 - Growing Up Poor in North Dallas 38:22 - The Shooting That Changed His Life Forever 43:42 - On the Run and Turning Himself In 51:49 - His Lawyer Betrayed Him: 25 Years in Prison 56:39 - This Episode Is Sponsored By Kalshi 57:55 - Entering the Texas Prison System 1:04:26 - Prison Politics, Gang Rules, and Hustling 1:10:22 - Becoming a Shot Caller Behind Bars 1:16:27 - Shanks, Fights, and Prison Violence 1:22:19 - Losing His Appeal and Finding God 1:29:58 - Forced Labor and Brutal Texas Prison Conditions 1:35:37 - Corrupt Guards and Racial Divisions in Prison 1:41:10 - Fighting for Parole After 17 Years 1:48:11 - Prison Fights and Almost Losing His Freedom 1:55:54 - Contraband, Dirty Guards, and Prison Money 2:04:05 - Finally Coming Home and Rebuilding His Rap Career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Both of Josh's parents were police officers. He grew up surrounded by law enforcement, riding in patrol cars and spending time at police stations. But instead of following in their footsteps, he became everything they were fighting against — a heroin addict and drug dealer. In this episode, Josh, a former heroin dealer describes growing up in Maple Valley, Washington, an affluent suburban town hiding a deadly underground drug epidemic. After undergoing spinal surgery at just 15 years old, he was prescribed powerful opioids that helped set him on a path toward nearly two decades of addiction and crime. What started with selling weed and cocaine spiraled into prescription pill trafficking, heroin dealing, violent robberies, overdoses, and a criminal underworld where nobody could be trusted. He reveals how he nearly died from a cocaine overdose at 16, narrowly escaped involvement in an armed pharmacy robbery, watched close friends get murdered, and lost more than 30 people to the devastating drug epidemic that consumed his hometown. But after years of injecting heroin and destroying his body, Josh finally reached a breaking point. This is the story of a police officer's son who descended into the criminal underworld, survived a life that killed so many of his friends, and somehow found his way back. Go Support Josh! YouTube: @Joshpellz IG: https://www.instagram.com/sweet_leaf_co WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE CONNECT? Send us an email explaining your story and why you think you'd be a good fit to [email protected] Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 0:00 Meet Josh Pellz: The Suburban Gangster 5:11 How Prescription Pills Flooded the Suburbs 11:34 Growing Up in the Epicenter of the Opioid Crisis 17:53 Overdosing on Cocaine as a Teenager 24:05 The Dark Reality of Heroin Addiction 30:01 Drug Busts, Informants, and Robberies 35:15 A Close Call With the Police 41:57 Betrayal, Murder, and the Drug World 46:57 From Prescription Pills to Black Tar Heroin 54:21 The Long Road to Getting Clean 1:00:03 A Generation Lost to Overdoses 1:05:03 The Fort Bragg Cartel and Big Pharma 1:11:07 A Drug-Fueled Crash and His Cop Father 1:16:03 A Violent Confrontation and Police Trouble 1:21:49 The Deadly Consequences of Suburban Gangster Life 1:27:41 Recovery, Selling Weed, and Getting Robbed 1:33:15 Becoming a Gun Dealer 1:40:27 Building a New Life and Business in Oklahoma 1:45:39 Sweet Leaf, YouTube, and Life After Addiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He worked with the ATF helping federal agents bust drug dealers. Then he became one of Philadelphia's most notorious illegal gun traffickers. In this episode, Johnny sits down with Simon White, a former ATF informant who went on to supply firearms to dangerous drug organizations throughout North Philadelphia, Kensington, and the notorious Badlands. Simon reveals how he went from working alongside federal agents to selling hundreds of illegal firearms to Philly drug gangs. He describes the massive profits, the dangerous criminals he dealt with, and how legitimate gun stores continued selling him weapons despite scrutiny from the ATF. When the feds finally caught up with him, Simon was confronted with an indictment involving 150 guns, while prosecutors believed the actual number could have been closer to 500. But the craziest part came when he went to prison and found himself surrounded by the very criminals he had supplied with guns. Simon opens up about his complicated relationship with the ATF, the betrayal that changed his life, his decision to cooperate with federal investigators, and the devastating consequences of the illegal gun trade. This is an inside look at Philadelphia's criminal underworld from a man who helped arm it. Go Support Simon! Website: https://www.simonwhitespeaks.com/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Quince! Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Cash App! Download Cash App today and make your money work for you. Click here to get started: https://capl.onelink.me #CashAppPartner Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card (https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement), Sutton debit flex card (https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-sutton), and Bancorp debit flex card (https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-bancorp). Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Superpower! Head to https://superpower.com and use code CONNECT at checkout for $50 off your membership. Get 150+ biomarkers tested every year across two tests, plus a personalized health plan and on-demand care team. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 0:00 Meet Simon White: Philadelphia's Gun Runner 5:44 Why Philadelphia's Streets Were So Dangerous 14:25 How Gun Shops Supplied the Illegal Gun Trade 22:43 This Episode Is Sponsored By Quince 24:41 Selling Guns to Philly Drug Bosses 28:21 Gun Violence, Revenge, and the Reality of Murder 34:21 Working as an Undercover Informant for the ATF 39:37 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App 40:23 Betrayed by the Feds: Why Simon Lost Trust 47:37 From ATF Informant to Illegal Gun Dealer 54:09 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower 55:38 The Feds Accuse Him of Selling 500 Guns 1:03:09 Gun Dealers Escape Charges and the Rise of Ghost Guns 1:10:00 Harsh Gun Sentences and Close Calls With Police 1:17:06 Walking Into Prison and Seeing His Former Customers 1:24:44 Gambling, Street Fame, and the Money 1:32:18 How Hollywood Influenced the Illegal Gun Market 1:38:12 Operation Sunrise: The Massive Philly Drug Bust 1:45:13 His Son's Life Sentence and the Cost of Gun Violence 1:52:13 How His Customers Cooperated With Federal Agents 1:58:42 Facing More Prison Time and Protecting His Family 2:04:41 Prison Politics, Accountability, and His Final Message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices