Russell Protentis

Photograph with my book taken with Republican Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance.

Flight of the Westwind recommendation by NYT Best Selling Author Howie Carr

Selected Works

nonfiction

The latest release from JEBWizard Publishing, The Flight of the Westwind by Russ Protentis. Russ takes you inside the investigations of some of the largest cocaine cartels in the world giving the reader a unique perspective of the frustrations, dangers, and politics of the war on drugs. Don’t take our word for it. Take the word of NYT Best Selling author Howie Carr recommending this book. “Flight of the Westwind is a fascinating memoir of one of the most decorated agent’s career in federal law enforcement—from the cocaine madness of the Miami Vice-Whitey Bulger era all the way to the War on Terror. Highly Recommended” — HOWIE CARR, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR.

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In 1976, Protentis began his career in federal law enforcement with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and in 1982 transferred to the US Customs Service Office of Investigations, which after 9/11 merged with the US Immigration and Naturalization Service to become US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During his tenure at US Customs Office of Investigations, he became a renowned expert in air smuggling investigations. Between 1988 and 1991 he cultivated several high-level informants and airplane pilots who infiltrated both the Medellin and Cali, Colombia Cocaine Cartels. During that period, Protentis conducted numerous air smuggling investigations of historic proportions which resulted in the arrest of more than 30 individuals including key leaders of both cartels, the largest seizures of cocaine from a private aircraft in US Customs Service history, the confiscation of in excess of 10,000 pounds of cocaine and four million dollars cash and in excess of 10 million dollars in assets including a Westwind 1 jet aircraft. The successful air smuggling investigation captioned in this book was the first ever initiated by the US Customs Service north of Florida. Also, during the same time period, Protentis, cultivated and directed an informant who penetrated a marijuana smuggling organization, resulting in the arrest of 11 individuals and the seizure of a fishing vessel enroute from Colombia and 20,000 lbs. of marijuana and one million dollars in cash and assets.

In 1999, Protentis worked as the undercover agent on an investigation involving Chinese Nationals which led to the federal arrest and convictions of two Chinese Nationals who were attempting to export missile technology to China. This investigation received international acclaim due to the fact that the US Secretary of State was in negotiations with the Chinese Government to amend a treaty on Weapons Technology exchange between the US and China. In 2000, Protentis, was the case agent and undercover operative who conducted an undercover meeting in Europe with Iranian Military Officials which resulted in thwarting their attempt to procure military equipment from the United States.

While with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and post 9/11 terrorist attacks, participated in investigative operations at FBI Twin Towers Command Post. In addition, worked in an undercover capacity on an International Arms Export investigation of a Pakistani military agent attempting to procure missile technology from the US to be sold to Al Qaeda terrorists which lead to his conviction and deportation from the US.

While assigned to the US Secret Service, Protentis protected six current or former US Presidents and provide security at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.