The James Bondesque Mafia Spies Plot To Kill Castro With A Poison Cigar

The James Bondesque Mafia Spies Plot To Kill Castro With A Poison Cigar

Author: Robert Riggs April 8, 2025 Duration: 33:13

The story sounds like something straight out of a spy thriller. 

A plot by America’s most feared criminal syndicate and its most secretive intelligence agency to assassinate a foreign leader using poison cigars and other James Bond-inspired schemes. 

But this isn’t fiction. This is the true story of how the CIA joined forces with Mafia hitmen to assassinate Fidel Castro.

The revelations with ties to the Watergate scandal in the 1970s have fueled conspiracy theories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

In this episode of True Crime Reporter®, I sit down with fellow investigative reporter Thomas Maier, whose book Mafia Spies pulls back the curtain on a chilling chapter of American history. 

Together, we trace how the mob lost its Cuban gambling empire after Castro’s revolution and how, in Cold War fear, U.S. intelligence agents turned its gangsters to eliminate Castro.

Maier says the challenge of his investigation was figuring how out to tell a story in which everyone lies. 

Here’s a link to the cast of characters in the episode.


PLEASE SUPPORT MY WORK


Click here to purchase my “Texas Crime Stories” audiobook. It downloads into your podcast app.

Click here to purchase the Paperback & Kindle editions on Amazon.


Schedule me to speak at your social meeting or corporate event.

My presentation, “Evil Walks Among Us,” features stories about serial killers and notorious criminals and personal safety tips.


Step into the storied halls of the Texas Prison Museum and uncover the gripping tales of infamous inmates, daring escapes, and the history of justice in the Lone Star State.


GET YOUR EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT PROMO CODES

41% Off Cozy Earth Sheets, Pajamas and More

20% Off Eric Javits Designer Hats Worn by True Crime TV Detectives

20% Off HyperNatural Men’s Polo Shirts

15% Off TONA Activewear Designer Gym Leggings

15% Off STAND+ Comfort Shoes For Extended Standing

10% Off AKILA Sunglasses and Eyewear



Robert Riggs has spent decades as an investigative reporter, and in True Crime Reporter, he applies that relentless, document-driven approach to the stories that haunt us. This isn't just a retelling of grim headlines; it's a meticulous walk through active case files, historical injustices, and the societal undercurrents that allow crime to flourish. Each episode feels like you're sitting across from Riggs as he lays out his notes, connecting dots between evidence, witness accounts, and the often-overlooked details that change a narrative. You'll hear the tension in the pursuit of truth, the weight of unresolved questions, and the quiet impact on communities and families left in the wake of violence. The podcast moves beyond the sensational to examine the cultural and systemic factors at play, offering a sober, deeply researched perspective. Listen for long-form narratives that build like a detective's board, where every piece of audio, every interview, and every document serves a purpose. It’s for those who want to understand the 'why' and the 'how' as much as the 'who,' presented with the clarity and authority of a seasoned journalist who knows the terrain. This is a journey into real stories, handled with the care they demand, and it naturally becomes an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of human behavior, justice, and the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Reporter
Podcast Episodes
Hard Time In Hell Among Texas Most Dangerous Prisoners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:27
In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the high walls and razor wire into the dark corners of the largest prison system in the world. David Stacks, a former Texas prison warden with 30 years of frontline experienc…
Echoes of Evil: Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff 25 Years Later. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:59
This episode marks a somber milestone. The 25th anniversary of the execution of Kenneth Allen McDuff – a name that chills the soul of the men and women in law enforcement who hunted him down – and the families of his vic…
The John Dillinger Enigma: Did The FBI Really Kill Public Enemy #1? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:35
During the Great Depression, Newsreels about John Dillinger, the first gangster declared Public Enemy #1, drew cheers from movie audiences across America and hisses when pictures of J. Edgar Hoover appeared on screen. Cr…
No Justice for A Texas Cowboy: A $750 Million Elder Abuse Tragedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:06
Investigative Reporter Stephen Michaud, among the nation’s best, spent six years unraveling how an iconic ranch was taken from a dying Texas Cowboy. It’s a sprawling Texas ranch near the border with Mexico where the bigg…
Flipping Off Angry Drivers Can Get You Killed On US Highways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:57
Road rage violence shatters records on US Highways. Experts say a perfect storm of post-pandemic anger and violent criminals out of jail due to liberal bail practices has set off a wave of deadly road rage shootings. Cap…
NCIS Confidential: Solving Real-Life Cold Cases To Catch Killers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:40
Former NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy established the first federal cold case homicide unit. Starting in 1986 with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Kennedy investigated crimes involving sailors and marine…
NCIS From Evidence to Arrest: Analyzing Murder Cases Step by Step [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:38
If you are a fan of the NCIS television drama, you are in for a treat. My guest is homicide investigator Joe Kennedy, a former Special Agent for the real-life NCIS. NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy Teaching Police In The P…