Max Mermelstein is dead

I got word a couple weeks ago that Max Mermelstein, the government's most important witness against the Medellin Cartel, a key government witness at Gen. Manuel Noriega's trial, and the man who snitched on Cocaine Cowboys Jon Roberts and Mickey Munday, was in poor health with only weeks to live.

He died last Friday in Louisville, Kentucky, his body ravaged by bone, liver and lung cancer.

Jeff Leen, the former Miami Herald reporter whose book Kings of Cocaine was one of the main inspirations for us making Cocaine Cowboys, has an obituary for Max on the Washington Post site.

Jeff's book led me to Max's book, The Man Who Made it Snow, which in turn led us to Jon Roberts and Mickey Munday.

We had tried to interview Max for Cocaine Cowboys.  I had found out that he was living in Sarasota, Florida.  Sgt. Al Singleton of the Miami Dade Police Department arranged for us to speak on the phone on twice in late 2003.  Max had just testified against Fabio Ochoa in federal court in Miami earlier that year and didn't seem eager to talk to me, so eventually I gave up.  The documentary came out, and I always wondered if Max had seen it and what he thought.

Comments

[jack]

what did jon and mickey say? when does clubland come out?

[Cool_C]

I wish he would have contributed his personal account to CC after all he is a snitch but what are you gonna do...

[stephcoop]

I'm looking for you Eric or Brett. If you see this please contact me. Stephanie

[j hurd]

Im glad that bitch ass busta died a painful death. He is a snitch who destroyed other peoples life to save his own after he did his dirt. Good riddance to that snitch ass piece of garbage

[RochelleDesiree]

Stephanie, I am Max's abandoned daughter, PLEASE try to contact me.as soon as you can or read this message. Thanks.