The Cornbread Mafia

A Homegrown Syndicate's Code of Silence and the Biggest Marijuana Bust in American History

De: James Higdon

Narrado por: Paul Boehmer

In the summer of 1987, Johnny Boone set out to grow and harvest one of the greatest outdoor marijuana crops in modern times. In doing so, he set into motion a series of events that defined him and his associatesas the largest homegrown marijuana syndicate in American history, also known as the Cornbread Mafia.

Author James Higdon - whose relationship with Johnny Boone, currently a federal fugitive, made him the first journalist subpoenaed underthe Obama administration - takes listeners back to the 1970s and ‘80s and the clash between federal and local law enforcement and a band of Kentucky farmers with moonshine and pride in their bloodlines. By 1989 the task force assigned to take down men like Johnny Boone had arrested 69 men and 1 woman from busts on 29 farms in 10 states, and seized 200 tons of pot.

Of the 70 individuals arrested, none talked. How it all went down is a tale of Mafia-style storylines emanating from the Bluegrass State, and populated by Vietnam veterans and weed-loving characters caught up in Tarantino-level violence and heart-breaking altruism. Accompanied by a backdrop of rock-and-roll and rhythm-and-blues, this work of dogged investigative journalism and history is told by Higdon in action-packed, colorful, and riveting detail.

©2012 James Higdon the Third (P)2012 Tantor

A Perfect Book For Guys!

What did you love best about The Cornbread Mafia?

I really enjoyed how this book delved into the deep history of the state of KY, and how this culture has evolved over time. It really gets you wondering where Johnny Boone is, and exactly how he has used this culture to escape the law.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cornbread Mafia?

The most memorable moment for me is the part where the group had stolen GE products for the local Hospital because they thought that any good catholic should not have to pay for things when perfectly good products are just sitting in a warehouse. This made me laugh out loud.

Which character – as performed by Paul Boehmer – was your favorite?

All of these characters play an important role within the "Cornbread Mafia". Many were happy go lucky people who did not seem to think what they were doing was wrong on any level. I'm not sure who I liked the most, but I did enjoy parts of all personalities in each character. The support this group gave each other was remarkable, but there criminal activity and actions were astonishing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could not stop listening to this book. I was intrigued by the culture and activity of those portrayed within the story. Every free moment was spent listening to this book. It is one I could see myself reading over and over because it is so interesting.

Any additional comments?

I have talked about this book to anybody who would listen.

Well-researched

Just really, really great. If the drug war interests you, this book will give you insight it might be hard to find elsewhere. Give it a listen.

Wow

Very well written and performed. Would love to hear more from this combination. Will listen to again.

True story. Jimmy was not the best reader.

I knew several of these people. Everything in the story is factual. It is an interesting story, but I believe that Joe Keith Bickett's books may be better. Subsequently, it was worth the credit.

Great Book!

From Kentucky and yes the people in the mountains and country, Don’t like the law and will never snitch on anyone and for sure not their neighbors and friends!

Good Story line but overkill on statistics

If you could sum up The Cornbread Mafia in three words, what would they be?

Good Old Boys

Which character – as performed by Paul Boehmer – was your favorite?

Johny Boone

Any additional comments?

The story line was good overall. However, I was becoming highly annoyed by the "numbers & statistics". Instead of saying there were 1,313,107 bottles of booze, or $417,411.32 whatever, would have been better saying about 1.3 million or $417 thousand. Sounds petty, but there were SO many instances of numbers like this that it became annoying, overwhelming, and hard to follow when your driving along listening to the book.

I really did like the book, and am glad that Johny Boone is still out there growing pot somewhere. Hope they never catch him.

Very interesting story that spans generations.

Great story full of interesting tidbits of information from Nixon creating the DEA to Regans mad drug war. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Eye opening!

This is a great history lesson for anybody that is from Kentucky. I lived in Marion Co for a year where a lot of this went on but I wasn’t from there so I didn’t know any of these guys. I was connected to a family that did know these guys that grew up in Marion Co. I actually did know a few lawyers mentioned. I never knew any of this stuff even existed until a few years ago lol. This was a great book and I learned a lot from reading it. I believe anybody that reads this book will really enjoy this book especially if you’re from Ky.

Not at all what I was hoping for

I live in Louisville so I have heard of the Cornbread Mafia and couldn’t wait to hear this book I know of some of the places in the book and in fact my dad and brother had one the same lawyers mentioned in the book so that was kind of cool but other then that to me this book had way to much stuff that was just added to stretch out the story I mean it starts out talking about the 1700’s i wanted to hear about the Cornbread Mafia not the 1700’s and a lot of the other stuff that was added was just to hard for me to keep up with my mind just keep wondering how is this going to tie into the story an more often then not for it never did this should have been a 4hr audiobook I was very Disappointed

The best stories are the true ones

Tells the story of a unique place with plenty of characters to spare. I live in Washington county kentucky and know many of the families involved. End prohibition now!

Great book, the narrator could be better. Cadence doesn’t fit the people or the story. Folks around here pronounce Lebanon as “Lebnin” not the country of Lebanon. That drove me crazy but other than that great listen.