No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angel

Description: No Angel by Nils Johnson-Shelton, Jay Dobyns From Dobyns, the first federal agent to infiltrate the inner circle of the outlaw Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, comes the inside story of the 21-month operation that almost cost him his family, his sanity, and his life. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description From the first federal agent to infiltrate the inner circle of the outlaw Hells Angels Motorcycle Club comes the inside story of the 21-month operation that almost cost him his family, his sanity, and his life. Getting shot in the chest as a rookie agent, bartering for machine guns, throttling down the highway at 100 mph, and responding to a full-scale, bloody riot between the Hells Angels and their rivals, the Mongols—these are just a few of the high-adrenaline experiences Dobyns recounts in this action-packed, hard-to-imagine-but-true story. Dobyns leaves no stone of his harrowing journey unturned. At runs and clubhouses, between rides and riots, Dobyns befriends bad-ass bikers, meth-fueled "old ladies," gun fetishists, psycho-killer ex-cons, and even some of the "Filthy Few"--the elite of the Hells Angels whove committed extreme violence on behalf of their club. Eventually, at parties staged behind heavily armed security, he meets legendary club members such as Chuck Zito, Johnny Angel, and the godfather of all bikers, Ralph "Sonny" Barger. To blend in with them, he gets full-arm ink; to win their respect, he vows to prove himself a stone-cold killer. Hardest of all is leading a double life, which has him torn between his devotion to his wife and children, and his pledge to become the first federal agent ever to be "fully patched" into the Angels near-impregnable ranks. His act is so convincing that he comes within a hairsbreadth of losing himself. Eventually, he realizes that just as hes been infiltrating the Hells Angels, they ve been infiltrating him. And just as theyre not all bad, hes not all good. Reminiscent of Donnie Brascos uncovering of the true Mafia, this is an eye-opening portrait of the world of bikers--the most in-depth since Hunter Thompsons seminal work—one that fully describes the seductive lure criminal camaraderie has for men who would otherwise be powerless outsiders. Here is all the nihilism, hate, and intimidation, but also the freedom—and, yes, brotherhood—of the only truly American form of organized crime. Back Cover Explore the American West with the people who settled it! In 1805, when William Clark first spotted the Pacific Ocean-highlighting the famous Lewis and Clark expedition across the continent-it marked the beginning of a massive westward movement that lasted through the century. Westward Expansion provides a rare glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of pioneering Americans as they followed Lewis and Clarks lead, risking their lives to explore, farm, seek their fortunes, and establish communities in what had been considered a vast wilderness. Through rich primary sources, youll find yourself living and working alongside the brave men and women who came to typify the American West, including pioneers from the eastern states, from Europe, and from Asia; Native Americans defending their homeland; freed slaves searching to carve their own destinies out of Americas wilderness; prospectors searching for gold and silver; and many other colorful characters. From Daniel Boones account of first exploring Old Kentucky to Chief Josephs explanation of why he would no longer fight against the U. S. Army, Westward Expansion presents a wealth of period documents, including diaries, letters, articles, advertisements, speeches, and more, from both famous figures and ordinary citizens. Find out how all of these American voices working together helped make this country what it is today. Author Biography JAY DOBYNS is a highly decorated agent who worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) for more than twenty years. For his work on Operation Black Biscuit, he was awarded the ATF Distinguished Service Medal and also a prestigious Top Cops award from the National Association of Police Officers. Find him online at JayDobyns.com. NILS JOHNSON-SHELTON, unlike Jay Dobyns, has never been a cop and cant even ride a motorcycle. This is his first book. Review "Compulsively page-turning. The true story of Jay Dobyns, all-American dad and undercover cop running and gunning with the most dangerous outlaws in the USA. A high-velocity trip into a frightening American underworld told in rapid-fire, hard-boiled prose." —Evan Wright, author of the national bestseller Generation Kill"No Angel pushes narrative nonfiction to new limits…If you wondered whether the bravura writing of Truman Capote and Hunter S. Thompson has a legacy, look no further. Dobyns leads us into the wacky, white world of the Hells Angels, and with empathy and precision forces us to admit that bikers are all-too human."—Sudhir Venkatesh, author of Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets"Jay Dobyns is a hero. Out of a sense of duty, he closed his eyes and made a journey into Hell. For two years he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but thankfully, he lived to tell this riveting story. Highly recommended!" —William "Billy" Queen, Special Agent ATF, Ret. and New York Times bestselling author of Under and Alone"A wild ride to the dark side. Jay Dobyns roars through the gritty underworld of organized crime that you never see in TV cop shows or read in the newspaper. He reveals the true, violent face of outlaw bikers—but also the tortured souls of the undercover cops who dare to infiltrate them."—Julian Sher, co-author Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers Global Crime Empire "No Angel is an absolutely amazing account of one mans willingness to go above and beyond. Jay Dobyns, his team and those like them live life on the edge in an environment most can only imagine. This book provides a rare opportunity to share in the intensity, feel the adrenaline rush, smell the fear, and admire true courage and dedication."—Michael Durant, author of the New York Times bestseller In the Company of Heroes "Unprecedented and unputdownable…Most people reading this book would assume that it must be a novel since no human being could possibly be involved in so much action. However, this is the true story of a very special covert ATF agent who over decades immersed himself in the most violent and criminal culture known to law enforcement. Even as a former US Army Special Forces Operator and Police SWAT team leader, I found myself in awe of his death-defying exploits."—Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States"Ask yourself this question: would you put your life on the line for a cause? Jay Dobyns did. This book lets you experience some of the most dangerous activities of the best known biker gang in the world. Jay Dobyns brought honor to the ATF and is a true American hero."—T.J. Leyden, author of Skinhead Confessions Review Quote "Compulsively page-turning. The true story of Jay Dobyns, all-American dad and undercover cop running and gunning with the most dangerous outlaws in the USA. A high-velocity trip into a frightening American underworld told in rapid-fire, hard-boiled prose." Evan Wright, author of the national bestseller Generation Kill " No Angel pushes narrative nonfiction to new limits...If you wondered whether the bravura writing of Truman Capote and Hunter S. Thompson has a legacy, look no further. Dobyns leads us into the wacky, white world of the Hells Angels, and with empathy and precision forces us to admit that bikers are all-too human." Sudhir Venkatesh, author of Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets "Jay Dobyns is a hero. Out of a sense of duty, he closed his eyes and made a journey into Hell. For two years he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but thankfully, he lived to tell this riveting story. Highly recommended!" William "Billy" Queen, Special Agent ATF, Ret. and New York Times bestselling author of Under and Alone "A wild ride to the dark side. Jay Dobyns roars through the gritty underworld of organized crime that you never see in TV cop shows or read in the newspaper. He reveals the true, violent face of outlaw bikers but also the tortured souls of the undercover cops who dare to infiltrate them." Julian Sher, co-author Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers Global Crime Empire " No Angel is an absolutely amazing account of one mans willingness to go above and beyond. Jay Dobyns, his team and those like them live life on the edge in an environment most can only imagine. This book provides a rare opportunity to share in the intensity, feel the adrenaline rush, smell the fear, and admire true courage and dedication." Michael Durant, author of the New York Times bestseller In theCompany of Heroes " Unprecedented and unputdownable...Most people reading this book would assume that it must be a novel since no human being could possibly be involved in so much action. However, this is the true story of a very special covert ATF agent who over decades immersed himself in the most violent and criminal culture known to law enforcement. Even as a former US Army Special Forces Operator and Police SWAT team leader, I found myself in awe of his death-defying exploits." Dr.Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States "Ask yourself this question: would you put your life on the line for a cause? Jay Dobyns did. This book lets you experience some of the most dangerous activities of the best known biker gang in the world. Jay Dobyns brought honor to the ATF and is a true American hero." T.J. Leyden, author of Skinhead Confessions From the Hardcover edition. Excerpt from Book Part 1 Chapter 1 Birdcalls JUNE 25 AND 26, 2003 Timmy leaned casually against the rear fender of my black Mercury Cougar, a cell phone on his ear and a smile on his face. The bastard wastypically calm. Twelve months Id been his partner, in and out of harmsway, both together and alone, and the guy never looked stressed. Hewas as self- possessed as a rooster in a hen house--my polar opposite. I paced in front of him, rehearsing what I was going to tell our Hells Angels brothers. I shook the last smoke out of a pack of Newports. "Shit." I lit the cigarette, crumpled the pack, and threw it to the ground. It was 10:00 a.m. and Id already emptied the first pack of the carton Id bought that morning. Timmy said into his phone, "I love you too honey cake. I should be home soon." Hed been saying things like that going on five minutes. I stared at him and said, "The fuck, stud? Come on." Timmy put a finger in the air and continued on the phone. "OK. Gotta run. Love you guys. OK. See you tonight." He snapped his phone closed. "Whats the drama, Bird? We got this." "Oh, you know. Nothing really." I pointed at the guy lying facedown at our feet. "Just that if they dont buy it, then well end up like this asshole." There, in a shallow desert ditch, was a gray- haired Caucasian male, his head split to the white meat. A pile of brains had oozed to the ground where Timmy had put Jobys .380. Blood droplets, sprayed into the sand and dirt, made small, dark constellations. His blue jeans were splattered with purple, quarter- sized splotches. His wrists and ankles were bound with duct tape, his hands were limp. It was already over 100 degrees and the promise of coagulated blood and exposed matter had begun to attract flies. He wore a black leather jacket whose top rocker, that curved cloth patch that spanned the shoulder blades, read mongols. I asked, "You think hes dead?" Timmy said, "Dude looks deadern disco. Shit, those look like his brains in the dirt." Timmy leaned in closer. "Yeah, Id say hes pretty dead." He spat a stream of phlegm into the brush beyond the grave. "Dude, no fucking around here. We go home and show the boys we killed a Mongol, then we better be dead- nuts sure it doesnt look like hes coming back." Timmy smiled. "Relax, Bird, we got this. Like Lionel Richie said, were easy like Sunday mornin." And then he started to sing. Badly: Why in the world would anybody put chains on me? Ive paid my dues to make it. Everybody wants me to be what they want me to be. Im not happy when I try to fake it! Ooh, Thats why Im easy. Yeah. Im easy like Sunday mornin. I smiled and said, "Youre right, youre right. And even if you arent, I dont see how it matters. Weve come too far." He thought about that for a second. "Yeah, we have." We threw a couple shovels of dirt on our corpse and took some pictures. We relieved him of his Mongol jacket, stuffing it in a FedEx box. We got in the car and headed home, to Phoenix. Timmy drove. I made some phone calls. I lit a cigarette and waited for someone to pick up at the clubhouse. Inhale. Hold it in. Click. The voice said, "Skull Valley." I said, "Bobby, its Bird." "Bird. What the fuck?" "Teddy there?" "Not now, no." Bobby Reinstras voice was humorless and empty. "Were on our way back." "We who?" Inhale. Hold it in. I said, "Me and Timmy." "No Pops?" "No Pops. He stayed down in Mexico." "So Pops is gone." I heard him light a cigarette-- hed only started smoking again since hed met me. "Yeah, dude." "Wow." Bobby smoked. Inhaled. Held it in. I said, "We should probably talk about this later, dont you think?" He snapped out of it. "Yeah. Yeah, of course. Whenll you be back?" "Soon. Ill call when were back in the valley." "OK. Get home safe." "We will. Dont worry. Ill see you tomorrow." "OK. Later." "Later." I flipped my cell shut and turned to Timmy. I said, "He bit it. Popss death should work to our advantage." Timmy barely nodded. He was probably thinking about his wife and kids. Above all else, Timmy was decent. I looked past him. The asphalt and brown California pines, the late- afternoon grid of Phoenix, Arizona, moved beyond him like a sunset movie backdrop. The next afternoon, JJ, Timmy, and I chowed at a Pizza Hut. We hadnt seen Bobby or any of the other boys yet. We wanted their tension to build. JJs phone rang. She looked at the ID, then at me. I shrugged, stuffed a pepperoni slice in my mouth, and nodded. She flipped open. "Hello?" She grinned. "Hi, Bobby. No, I havent heard from him. You have? When? Whatd he say? He said what?! Bobby, what the fuck do you mean? Pops is-- Pops is dead? " She lowered her voice and choked out the words with a frightened stutter. "Bobby, youre scaring me! I dont know what the fucks going on. All I know is a FedEx box came to the house this morning. It was sent from Nogales, Mexico." She pulled the phone away from her ear and placed a slice of roasted green pepper in her mouth. She sipped more iced tea. "No way, Bobby! Im not opening shit. No. Forget it. Not until Bird gets back." JJs fear was convincing and effective. Our plan seemed to be working. I leaned into the leather banquette. We werent your average- looking cops-- we werent even your average- looking undercover cops-- and we painted quite a picture. Timmy and I were bald, muscular, and covered in tattoos. JJ was cute, buxom, and focused. My eyes were blue and always lit up, Timmys brown and wise, JJs green and eager. Each of my long, bony fingers was armored with silver rings depicting things like skulls and talons and lightning bolts. My long, straggly goatee was haphazardly twisted into a ragged braid. JJ and I wore white wife- beater tank tops and Timmy wore a black, sleeveless T- shirt that said skull valley--graveyard crew over the heart. I wore green camo cargo pants and flip- flops, and they wore jeans and riding boots. We each openly carried at least one firearm. Arizonas open- carry, so there you go. JJ continued. "No way, Bobby. Im not coming over there with the box. Im waiting till Bird gets home. All right. All right. Bye." She hung up. She turned back to us and asked sarcastically, "So, honey, when can I expect you?" I grinned and said, "Any time, now. Any time." "OK! Cant wait!" We laughed and finished our lunch. Wed been running ragged for months and were in the homestretch. With any luck, Timmy and I were about to become full- patch Hells Angels, and JJ was about to become a real- life HA old lady With any luck. Details ISBN0307405869 Author Jay Dobyns Short Title NO ANGEL Language English ISBN-10 0307405869 ISBN-13 9780307405869 Media Book Format Paperback Year 2010 Subtitle My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2010-02-02 NZ Release Date 2010-02-02 US Release Date 2010-02-02 UK Release Date 2010-02-02 Pages 352 Publisher Random House USA Inc Publication Date 2010-02-02 Imprint Random House Inc DEWEY 364.10660979 Illustrations 8-PAGE 4-COLOR INSERT Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 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