Metromix: Riding High
The narrator of ‘Cocaine Cowboys 2′ discusses his drug-dealing past and the whereabouts of the real-life Michael Corleone
By John Hood
Special to Metromix
In 2006, Miami filmmakers Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman released “Cocaine Cowboys,” a bullet-riddled chronicle of the days when South Florida was under the thumb—and the gun—of the drug trade. Directed by Corben and co-produced by Spellman, who together run the production company Rakontur, the daring documentary recounted what it was like when the region was awash in blood and money. Now, the Rakontur boys are back with a sequel that’s every bit as violent and captivating as its predecessor.
Released this week on DVD, “Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin’ With the Godmother” highlights the cold, hard life of Griselda Blanco, the billionaire cocaine queenpin some people consider responsible for establishing the drug trade in the United States. As ruthless as she was rich, the Colombian-born Blanco killed at will, and somehow managed not to get herself murdered along the way.
The film is narrated by Charles Cosby, an upwardly mobile Oakland, Calif., crack dealer who parlayed a jailhouse affair with The Godmother into a multimillion-dollar drug business so robust it earned him a central spot in her life. Although Blanco’s exploits are the focus of “Cocaine Cowboys 2,” the brash, bold and articulate Cosby steals the show.
City Link Metromix.com interviewed the former gangster last week before the movie’s premiere in Miami Beach.
How come you’re not dead?
I’m not dead because I knew when to hold my cards [and] I knew when to fold my cards. I also saw all the pitfalls that were gobbling up other drug dealers, so I let their demise—for lack of a better word—be my guide. If they did their thing a certain way and they failed at it, I made sure I steered clear of that.
So you learned from their experience?
Exactly.
You were taking over the drug trade anyway, no?
That’s right.
How much money did you make all told?
I probably made $200 million working for Griselda Blanco. … The most I ever had at one time? I don’t know, somewhere in the neighborhood of $25 million, $20 million.
Did you stash some of that away?
Oh, yeah. Of course. I live better than most celebrities—and I’m retired.
Do you think The Godmother is still alive?
Oh, yeah, Griselda Blanco’s alive. In fact, I was with her son Michael Corleone [Sepulveda] an hour ago and he was on the phone with her, right here in the parking lot.
Corleone is here in Miami?
Yeah, he actually has been living in Miami for six years now.
He’s friends with the Rakontur guys, right? Did he hook you up with them?
Oh, no. I actually just got [back] in touch with Michael Corleone three weeks ago.
You hadn’t seen him in how long?
Seven, eight, nine years … long time.
How then, did you get hooked up with Rakontur?
I was doing research for my book about my experiences with Griselda Blanco and I came across a Web site and there was a photograph of me and [her], and beneath the photograph was a copyright symbol. I knew just looking at the picture that it was from my personal collection. So I called the guys at Magnolia [Home Entertainment, a film-distribution company] and was like, “You guys have my picture on your Web site … and I’ve got the negatives to prove it.”
They said I had to talk to the filmmakers from Miami, so I left my number and about five minutes later, I received a phone call from Alfred Spellman. He said, “Charles Cosby, we know all about your story. While we were doing research for ‘Cocaine Cowboys,’ homicide detective Al Singleton told us [all about] you and Griselda Blanco and we were going to get in contact with you. But since ‘Cocaine Cowboys’ is already finished, why don’t you fly to Miami and we’ll do special features. And once the DVD drops, we’ll do a full documentary with Griselda Blanco and yourself.”
Did you finish the book?
Actually, the book is being rewritten by Mark Ebner, an investigative journalist.
How much of your narration in “Cocaine Cowboys 2″ is scripted?
Actually, zero percent is scripted.
Zero?
Yeah, before we sat down to do the interview … I said, “Billy, I don’t want to know your next question, I don’t want to know any questions, I want to be spontaneous. You ask the questions and I’m just going to answer off the top of my head,” which I did.
How long was the interview?
The sit-down interview was 12 hours over two days—straight, no bathroom breaks, no nothing. The drive-around was maybe 10 hours in one day.
You have a pretty good memory. You must not have been doing your product.
I’ve never used drugs, never drank a beer, never smoked a cigarette.
So I guess you’re not going to join me for a cocktail when this is done?
We can share some Cokes.
Funny.
Tags: charles cosby, cocaine cowboys 2, Griselda Blanco, interview, Michael Corleone