1 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:04,625 ♪ 2 00:00:04,625 --> 00:00:06,208 [ Siren wails ] 3 00:00:06,208 --> 00:00:08,917 -Few have what it takes to work undercover, 4 00:00:08,917 --> 00:00:11,208 living in secrecy and constant danger, 5 00:00:11,208 --> 00:00:14,125 unrecognized beyond their tightest circles. 6 00:00:14,125 --> 00:00:17,458 Undercovers put some of the worst criminals behind bars, 7 00:00:17,458 --> 00:00:19,792 but they never get to tell their stories... 8 00:00:19,792 --> 00:00:21,583 until now on... 9 00:00:23,583 --> 00:00:30,750 ♪ 10 00:00:37,583 --> 00:00:41,417 -Undercover detectives need to be vigilant at all times... 11 00:00:47,708 --> 00:00:49,208 ...ultimately alone, 12 00:00:49,208 --> 00:00:51,667 facing the most dangerous criminals on the street. 13 00:00:51,667 --> 00:00:53,250 [ Door latches ] 14 00:00:53,250 --> 00:00:55,292 -[ Speaking indistinctly ] 15 00:00:55,292 --> 00:00:59,042 -For a female undercover, those risks multiply, 16 00:00:59,042 --> 00:01:01,875 putting both body and soul in harm's way. 17 00:01:01,875 --> 00:01:04,625 ♪ 18 00:01:04,625 --> 00:01:06,625 [ Radio chatter ] 19 00:01:16,792 --> 00:01:18,083 [ Horn blares ] 20 00:01:18,083 --> 00:01:23,208 -Looking back on it, um... 21 00:01:23,208 --> 00:01:25,375 I-I-I feel -- I feel... 22 00:01:25,375 --> 00:01:26,625 Ohh. 23 00:01:26,625 --> 00:01:28,375 [ Sighs ] 24 00:01:28,375 --> 00:01:29,667 Hm. 25 00:01:29,667 --> 00:01:31,375 Looking back on it, 26 00:01:31,375 --> 00:01:34,042 I could have lost my life that day. 27 00:01:34,042 --> 00:01:41,708 ♪ 28 00:01:41,708 --> 00:01:45,625 -Plagued by a recent wave of violent crime, 29 00:01:45,625 --> 00:01:47,250 the community of Bedford-Stuyvesant 30 00:01:47,250 --> 00:01:50,083 asked for police action to put a stop to it. 31 00:01:50,083 --> 00:01:52,125 ♪ 32 00:01:52,125 --> 00:01:54,375 -It's a regular city neighborhood. 33 00:01:54,375 --> 00:01:56,083 It's an urban neighborhood where people are working, 34 00:01:56,083 --> 00:01:58,375 and you have crime in the community 35 00:01:58,375 --> 00:02:00,083 and you got people selling guns and drugs. 36 00:02:00,083 --> 00:02:01,417 They're all over the place. 37 00:02:01,417 --> 00:02:03,208 And people were getting frustrated. 38 00:02:03,208 --> 00:02:05,167 You know, the community was getting upset. 39 00:02:05,167 --> 00:02:07,583 You have good people that were just in fear. 40 00:02:07,583 --> 00:02:09,417 The streets were being run by these guys now, 41 00:02:09,417 --> 00:02:11,000 and it was getting out of control, 42 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:12,792 and this now had to be addressed. 43 00:02:12,792 --> 00:02:15,375 -Tyshawn Burgess was the main guy 44 00:02:15,375 --> 00:02:17,750 that ran that area. 45 00:02:17,750 --> 00:02:20,208 ♪ 46 00:02:20,208 --> 00:02:23,292 -These guys were already getting recognition 47 00:02:23,292 --> 00:02:24,708 for just shooting random people -- 48 00:02:24,708 --> 00:02:26,042 just shooting people, and critically wounding, 49 00:02:26,042 --> 00:02:27,583 paralyzing them. 50 00:02:27,583 --> 00:02:29,417 One of the reasons that we focused on Tyshawn 51 00:02:29,417 --> 00:02:31,125 is because he was one of the leaders of the crew 52 00:02:31,125 --> 00:02:33,167 and he was responsible. 53 00:02:33,167 --> 00:02:36,625 -He would purchase guns, sell them, 54 00:02:36,625 --> 00:02:39,708 then he would purchase the drugs with it. 55 00:02:39,708 --> 00:02:42,667 And with the drugs, he can distribute it 56 00:02:42,667 --> 00:02:46,375 through his crew to sell in that neighborhood. 57 00:02:46,375 --> 00:02:51,542 -They were causing chaos, and the gun-suppression team 58 00:02:51,542 --> 00:02:53,375 was brought in to address that condition, 59 00:02:53,375 --> 00:02:55,042 and they also brought in probably 60 00:02:55,042 --> 00:02:57,375 one of the best undercovers to get it done. 61 00:02:58,542 --> 00:03:00,542 -My name is Shaulene Wright. 62 00:03:00,542 --> 00:03:04,333 I've been an undercover detective for 17 years. 63 00:03:04,333 --> 00:03:07,625 I worked in the Gun Violence Suppression Division. 64 00:03:07,625 --> 00:03:11,042 I have two boys. 65 00:03:11,042 --> 00:03:12,792 When my kids were younger, 66 00:03:12,792 --> 00:03:15,542 I didn't want them to know what I did. 67 00:03:15,542 --> 00:03:18,542 They felt that I was just a regular patrol officer 68 00:03:18,542 --> 00:03:21,458 making arrests, answering radio runs, 69 00:03:21,458 --> 00:03:24,292 domestic violence, assaults. 70 00:03:24,292 --> 00:03:27,750 But they didn't know what I did at all. 71 00:03:29,083 --> 00:03:31,958 I used to work midnights in narcotics 72 00:03:31,958 --> 00:03:36,958 because it was a better deal for me with my kids. 73 00:03:36,958 --> 00:03:39,958 So when they would go off to school, 74 00:03:39,958 --> 00:03:41,417 I would be sleeping, 75 00:03:41,417 --> 00:03:43,958 then I'd get up, I'll cook, 76 00:03:43,958 --> 00:03:46,083 and then they'll come home... 77 00:03:46,083 --> 00:03:48,833 I'll put them to bed... 78 00:03:48,833 --> 00:03:53,542 and then I'll go back to work, 79 00:03:53,542 --> 00:03:57,583 walking the streets, you know, trying to buy drugs. 80 00:03:57,583 --> 00:03:58,917 [ Chuckles ] 81 00:03:58,917 --> 00:04:01,625 [ Sniffles ] 82 00:04:01,625 --> 00:04:03,583 ♪ 83 00:04:03,583 --> 00:04:07,417 My disguise -- that's my sons' clothes. 84 00:04:07,417 --> 00:04:09,167 Like, when they grew out of it, 85 00:04:09,167 --> 00:04:10,667 I said, "Hey, let me get your clothes," 86 00:04:10,667 --> 00:04:12,958 and they was like, "What are you getting it for?" 87 00:04:12,958 --> 00:04:16,333 I was like, "Uh, donation." 88 00:04:16,333 --> 00:04:18,458 [ Laughs ] 89 00:04:18,458 --> 00:04:22,042 You know, so, yeah, I don't bring my work clothes home. 90 00:04:22,042 --> 00:04:25,458 I don't even wash it in my own washing machine at home. 91 00:04:25,458 --> 00:04:28,875 [ Laughs ] I leave that in my locker. 92 00:04:33,583 --> 00:04:36,500 It is scary going into apartment buildings, 93 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:38,417 going into apartments. 94 00:04:38,417 --> 00:04:40,542 You don't know what to expect. 95 00:04:40,542 --> 00:04:42,250 [ Indistinct conversation ] 96 00:04:46,375 --> 00:04:50,250 I'm scared of being raped. I'm scared of being killed. 97 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,208 As a female undercover, you don't want to portray yourself 98 00:04:56,208 --> 00:04:57,375 as sexy at all, 99 00:04:57,375 --> 00:04:59,542 because the drug dealers, 100 00:04:59,542 --> 00:05:01,542 they want for you to perform 101 00:05:01,542 --> 00:05:04,750 any form of sexual act on them, 102 00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:07,000 instead of you giving them the money. 103 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,292 You know, they scan you and see what you're about. 104 00:05:10,292 --> 00:05:12,250 That's why the clothing is important, 105 00:05:12,250 --> 00:05:13,667 the lingo is important... 106 00:05:15,833 --> 00:05:17,792 ...you know, and how you interact with them. 107 00:05:22,708 --> 00:05:26,000 You're portraying to be a drug dealer or user. 108 00:05:27,417 --> 00:05:29,042 [ Indistinct conversations ] 109 00:05:29,042 --> 00:05:30,292 [ Laughter ] 110 00:05:37,583 --> 00:05:41,250 So, a user -- usually you don't have straight white teeth. 111 00:05:41,250 --> 00:05:42,458 They have rotted teeth. 112 00:05:42,458 --> 00:05:44,542 So you go to the makeup store 113 00:05:44,542 --> 00:05:47,375 and you get Halloween costume stuff 114 00:05:47,375 --> 00:05:50,417 to put on your teeth to make it discolored. 115 00:05:50,417 --> 00:05:52,875 You know, you just -- You do different things. 116 00:05:52,875 --> 00:05:55,417 -Yo... 117 00:05:55,417 --> 00:05:57,750 -When I had to go up on the 11th floor in a project... 118 00:05:57,750 --> 00:06:01,000 and my field team, all they can do is hear me -- 119 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,625 they can't see me -- 120 00:06:02,625 --> 00:06:05,000 it's just letting them know exactly where I'm at. 121 00:06:08,125 --> 00:06:13,417 -Every time a female gets out of the car, you worry. 122 00:06:13,417 --> 00:06:16,542 You worry about, and you know, what somebody may do. 123 00:06:16,542 --> 00:06:19,250 Shaulene is not a big woman. 124 00:06:19,250 --> 00:06:21,292 If you're out of sight, you're too far. 125 00:06:21,292 --> 00:06:23,500 -I always have my weapon on me. 126 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:27,125 Always have my weapon on me. 127 00:06:27,125 --> 00:06:28,375 ♪ 128 00:06:28,375 --> 00:06:31,000 -[ Speaking indistinctly ] 129 00:06:37,667 --> 00:06:40,583 ♪ 130 00:06:40,583 --> 00:06:42,125 [ Car door closes ] 131 00:06:42,125 --> 00:06:43,708 -My name is Manny Matos. 132 00:06:43,708 --> 00:06:46,458 I was the former undercover coordinator 133 00:06:46,458 --> 00:06:49,875 for the Organized Crime Control Bureau for the NYPD. 134 00:06:49,875 --> 00:06:52,708 I did 34 years with the police department. 135 00:06:52,708 --> 00:06:54,958 -I trust Manny Matos with my life. 136 00:06:56,625 --> 00:07:00,083 Wholeheartedly. Yes. 137 00:07:00,083 --> 00:07:02,083 He is our advocate. 138 00:07:02,083 --> 00:07:04,875 He does everything for us. 139 00:07:04,875 --> 00:07:06,417 He's a great boss. 140 00:07:06,417 --> 00:07:09,250 You call him anytime, and he would answer, 141 00:07:09,250 --> 00:07:11,167 and he would show up to where you're at 142 00:07:11,167 --> 00:07:12,750 and he would handle it. 143 00:07:12,750 --> 00:07:15,792 -Shaulene was brought in because she's one of the best. 144 00:07:15,792 --> 00:07:19,833 She has that ability to convince people who she is. 145 00:07:19,833 --> 00:07:22,083 -My undercover role was Tracy, a drug user. 146 00:07:27,333 --> 00:07:29,667 -She was saying that she was a drug user, 147 00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:33,542 but not just an everyday nickel-and-dime crackhead. 148 00:07:33,542 --> 00:07:35,458 She was somebody that was also buying weight 149 00:07:35,458 --> 00:07:36,875 and distributing the stuff. 150 00:07:36,875 --> 00:07:40,292 -I was pretending that I would gather the money 151 00:07:40,292 --> 00:07:42,042 in the neighborhood I lived in 152 00:07:42,042 --> 00:07:44,625 and then I'll come and buy for everyone else. 153 00:07:44,625 --> 00:07:46,708 -The main reason to bringing in Shaulene 154 00:07:46,708 --> 00:07:49,625 is because we want to be able to buy enough weight 155 00:07:49,625 --> 00:07:52,042 to get a Title III search warrant, 156 00:07:52,042 --> 00:07:54,708 because that's gonna be necessary to go forward 157 00:07:54,708 --> 00:07:56,958 in disassembling this organization. 158 00:07:56,958 --> 00:08:00,542 -To secure a warrant for a Title III wire tap, 159 00:08:00,542 --> 00:08:02,042 Shaulene needs to purchase 160 00:08:02,042 --> 00:08:04,625 a significant amount of drugs from Tyshawn 161 00:08:04,625 --> 00:08:07,042 and gather a trail of audio and video recordings 162 00:08:07,042 --> 00:08:08,708 of the deals. 163 00:08:08,708 --> 00:08:10,958 This warrant would be applied to Tyshawn's phone, 164 00:08:10,958 --> 00:08:13,708 as well as those of over a dozen of his associates. 165 00:08:22,292 --> 00:08:24,125 -She started out with a confidential informant... 166 00:08:31,542 --> 00:08:33,833 ...that led her to Tyshawn. 167 00:08:33,833 --> 00:08:36,458 Once the C.I. already does the introduction 168 00:08:36,458 --> 00:08:38,542 and the subject is comfortable enough 169 00:08:38,542 --> 00:08:39,875 just to deal with the undercover alone, 170 00:08:39,875 --> 00:08:41,875 we call that a wash and we wash out the C.I. 171 00:08:41,875 --> 00:08:43,667 and just deal with the undercover directly 172 00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:44,833 alone with the subject. 173 00:08:44,833 --> 00:08:46,792 That way, you can protect the C.I. 174 00:08:46,792 --> 00:08:48,750 and get them out of the way, and now it's just us. 175 00:09:04,167 --> 00:09:06,000 She made him feel so comfortable 176 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,375 that not only did she buy one eight-ball, 177 00:09:08,375 --> 00:09:11,417 but within a few days, she bought two like nothing. 178 00:09:11,417 --> 00:09:13,583 And when you're new, 179 00:09:13,583 --> 00:09:16,125 you kind of get raised up to the undercover. 180 00:09:16,125 --> 00:09:17,833 He wasn't raised up to her. 181 00:09:17,833 --> 00:09:21,042 So she was great, right from the jump. 182 00:09:29,083 --> 00:09:31,917 And now it's just her developing the case, 183 00:09:31,917 --> 00:09:35,458 getting as much information as we can to the group 184 00:09:35,458 --> 00:09:37,542 so that we can start for prosecution. 185 00:09:51,292 --> 00:09:53,083 It was a regular day. 186 00:10:01,125 --> 00:10:05,167 We tacked up and we went to the set 187 00:10:05,167 --> 00:10:07,292 to purchase from Tyshawn. 188 00:10:07,292 --> 00:10:09,625 ♪ 189 00:10:09,625 --> 00:10:11,708 When I'm in the field, there's a leader car, 190 00:10:11,708 --> 00:10:15,417 which usually have a supervisor in it... 191 00:10:15,417 --> 00:10:18,167 two chase cars, and a tactical car. 192 00:10:18,167 --> 00:10:21,500 And the "ghost" is in separate vehicles. 193 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:25,917 ♪ 194 00:10:25,917 --> 00:10:28,375 -Shaulene's field team needs to keep her in view 195 00:10:28,375 --> 00:10:30,542 but also be far enough away from her 196 00:10:30,542 --> 00:10:33,375 so as not to raise the suspicion of Tyshawn. 197 00:10:33,375 --> 00:10:35,500 -The ghost is there for my safety, 198 00:10:35,500 --> 00:10:37,250 to make sure I don't get killed, 199 00:10:37,250 --> 00:10:39,750 I don't get jumped, I don't get raped, 200 00:10:39,750 --> 00:10:42,208 sexually assaulted in any kind of way. 201 00:10:42,208 --> 00:10:43,875 That's what he's there for. 202 00:10:43,875 --> 00:10:48,875 -Shaulene heads out onto the street to meet with Tyshawn. 203 00:10:55,375 --> 00:10:56,917 -Shaulene zips up her coat, 204 00:10:56,917 --> 00:10:59,500 blocking her camera from recording visuals. 205 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:03,708 The only communication she has with her team now is her audio. 206 00:11:03,708 --> 00:11:06,542 What you are about to see is a visual re-creation... 207 00:11:06,542 --> 00:11:09,333 with the actual audio from this incident. 208 00:11:09,333 --> 00:11:13,000 The voices of active officers have been disguised. 209 00:11:21,542 --> 00:11:23,208 -The ghost alerts Shaulene 210 00:11:23,208 --> 00:11:25,875 to the presence of someone circling around on a bike 211 00:11:25,875 --> 00:11:28,542 near where she plans to do the buy. 212 00:11:28,542 --> 00:11:31,750 -I'm leery. it just was out of the norm. 213 00:11:31,750 --> 00:11:33,917 -When you start seeing other people, there's a concern. 214 00:11:33,917 --> 00:11:35,333 Why is this different today? 215 00:11:35,333 --> 00:11:37,208 It's an indication as to we got to be careful 216 00:11:37,208 --> 00:11:40,708 because, for whatever reason, there's something going on. 217 00:11:40,708 --> 00:11:42,833 -Made me feel like, "What are you up to? 218 00:11:42,833 --> 00:11:46,292 You know, are you gonna rob me or assault me?" 219 00:11:51,250 --> 00:11:53,208 ♪ 220 00:11:53,208 --> 00:11:54,917 -In Brooklyn, New York, 221 00:11:54,917 --> 00:11:56,708 undercover detective Shaulene Wright 222 00:11:56,708 --> 00:11:58,875 takes on a dangerous thug... 223 00:11:58,875 --> 00:12:02,292 and now fears she herself could be his next target. 224 00:12:02,292 --> 00:12:06,125 -Usually when -- when you go to a set, 225 00:12:06,125 --> 00:12:08,917 it's not only focusing on Tyshawn. 226 00:12:08,917 --> 00:12:11,042 It's focusing on what's going on. 227 00:12:11,042 --> 00:12:14,125 And since he's part of a crew, I have to see, you know, 228 00:12:14,125 --> 00:12:17,792 if he's got them set up in certain places, 229 00:12:17,792 --> 00:12:20,542 because sometimes a drug dealer could sell to you 230 00:12:20,542 --> 00:12:22,375 and want their product back. 231 00:12:22,375 --> 00:12:25,458 So I'm making sure that he's not setting up his crew 232 00:12:25,458 --> 00:12:27,458 to rob me when I leave. 233 00:12:27,458 --> 00:12:30,083 ♪ 234 00:12:30,083 --> 00:12:32,958 -The more you're exposed to any group, 235 00:12:32,958 --> 00:12:35,042 of course there's a danger factor. 236 00:12:35,042 --> 00:12:36,917 You know, there's a good possibility 237 00:12:36,917 --> 00:12:38,375 you may become a victim to the same violence 238 00:12:38,375 --> 00:12:40,292 that these guys are constantly doing to each other. 239 00:12:40,292 --> 00:12:44,125 ♪ 240 00:12:51,042 --> 00:12:54,583 -Although Shaulene suspects something may be wrong, 241 00:12:54,583 --> 00:12:58,708 she goes ahead with trying to make her buy from Tyshawn. 242 00:12:58,708 --> 00:13:02,250 -I'm meeting Tyshawn across the street, 243 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:05,042 on Ralph Avenue, from his stash house. 244 00:13:05,042 --> 00:13:08,250 I'm looking in between cars 245 00:13:08,250 --> 00:13:11,542 because I don't know if he had did a tact plan 246 00:13:11,542 --> 00:13:16,208 ahead of time, like we do, you know, to set me up. 247 00:13:16,208 --> 00:13:19,208 Tyshawn came out of the stash house 248 00:13:19,208 --> 00:13:22,208 that he usually come out of. 249 00:13:22,208 --> 00:13:24,250 And he hit me off. 250 00:13:28,458 --> 00:13:30,667 Alright. 251 00:13:30,667 --> 00:13:33,292 [ Speaking indistinctly ] 252 00:13:36,083 --> 00:13:37,792 We had done the deal, 253 00:13:37,792 --> 00:13:39,667 then I started walking down the block. 254 00:13:39,667 --> 00:13:42,667 ♪ 255 00:13:42,667 --> 00:13:45,708 After I do the drug buy with Tyshawn, 256 00:13:45,708 --> 00:13:49,667 I give my "positive" sign, which is verbal. 257 00:13:49,667 --> 00:13:51,125 I said, "All good." 258 00:13:54,833 --> 00:13:57,333 And they know I got done and I'm okay. 259 00:13:57,333 --> 00:14:01,417 I walk back to where the ghost car is set up. 260 00:14:07,625 --> 00:14:09,708 -But on her way back to the car, 261 00:14:09,708 --> 00:14:12,417 Shaulene's ghost becomes concerned. 262 00:14:12,417 --> 00:14:15,708 -My ghost told me Tyshawn was following me. 263 00:14:15,708 --> 00:14:19,458 My heart sunk. It dropped. 264 00:14:19,458 --> 00:14:22,917 I'm thinking Tyshawn, since he's part of a crew, 265 00:14:22,917 --> 00:14:25,125 he's setting up his crew to rob me. 266 00:14:25,125 --> 00:14:27,792 -With Tyshawn following her, 267 00:14:27,792 --> 00:14:30,500 Shaulene cannot get into her ghost's car, 268 00:14:30,500 --> 00:14:32,417 because it could blow her cover. 269 00:14:40,042 --> 00:14:42,542 -I asked what side Tyshawn is on. 270 00:14:42,542 --> 00:14:46,042 I knew that as long as he wasn't behind me, 271 00:14:46,042 --> 00:14:48,625 he couldn't have a clear shot of shooting me. 272 00:14:48,625 --> 00:14:50,917 So, he was on the opposite side. 273 00:14:50,917 --> 00:14:53,042 If he had crossed over to my side, 274 00:14:53,042 --> 00:14:56,458 I could use the cars as cover so I wouldn't be shot. 275 00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:05,333 So, since he's following me, I said, "Let me test it." 276 00:15:05,333 --> 00:15:08,375 So I walked slow. He walked slow. 277 00:15:08,375 --> 00:15:11,958 I walked fast. He picked up his pace. 278 00:15:15,375 --> 00:15:18,208 [ Heavy breathing ] 279 00:15:18,208 --> 00:15:22,958 ♪ 280 00:15:22,958 --> 00:15:26,042 While I'm picking up my pace, my focus was, 281 00:15:26,042 --> 00:15:28,583 "Who's gonna jump out from behind the cars 282 00:15:28,583 --> 00:15:30,292 that's in his crew?" 283 00:15:31,708 --> 00:15:35,542 My ghost -- he's giving play-by-play what's happening. 284 00:15:43,125 --> 00:15:46,917 I found out the field team was relaying to the ghost 285 00:15:46,917 --> 00:15:49,458 that his other guys -- 286 00:15:49,458 --> 00:15:51,667 they're walking in the same direction 287 00:15:51,667 --> 00:15:55,375 towards where Tyshawn is going, trying to box me in. 288 00:15:55,375 --> 00:15:58,750 ♪ 289 00:15:58,750 --> 00:16:01,375 -Shaulene's ghost's concerns escalate 290 00:16:01,375 --> 00:16:04,250 as Tyshawn's crew begins to surround her. 291 00:16:04,250 --> 00:16:07,917 -Your undercover is out there, and these guys are all over. 292 00:16:07,917 --> 00:16:10,833 ♪ 293 00:16:10,833 --> 00:16:13,375 These guys are now looking to corner her, 294 00:16:13,375 --> 00:16:16,500 and they want to see how she's gonna react. 295 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:19,458 Because if she's a cop, she's gonna run to her field team. 296 00:16:23,875 --> 00:16:26,333 -I knew I couldn't go into a store, 297 00:16:26,333 --> 00:16:27,875 'cause they could come into the store. 298 00:16:27,875 --> 00:16:30,208 I couldn't keep walking because Broadway -- 299 00:16:30,208 --> 00:16:32,208 it's a clear shot. 300 00:16:32,208 --> 00:16:33,625 There's no hiding. 301 00:16:33,625 --> 00:16:35,583 I was scared. 302 00:16:35,583 --> 00:16:37,625 ♪ 303 00:16:39,875 --> 00:16:42,750 Knowing how violent Tyshawn is, 304 00:16:42,750 --> 00:16:44,542 I'm afraid he's gonna shoot me. 305 00:16:44,542 --> 00:16:47,375 ♪ 306 00:16:54,542 --> 00:16:56,833 -Working undercover in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, 307 00:16:56,833 --> 00:17:00,083 Detective Shaulene Wright finds herself suddenly on the run. 308 00:17:00,083 --> 00:17:04,000 -Alright. Alright. 309 00:17:08,542 --> 00:17:10,000 [ Sighs ] 310 00:17:15,125 --> 00:17:19,333 -When you're in get-up as a user, you look unkempt. 311 00:17:19,333 --> 00:17:21,167 Hailing a taxi in New York -- 312 00:17:21,167 --> 00:17:23,708 a lot of taxi drivers, they're not going to stop. 313 00:17:23,708 --> 00:17:25,750 -And you know, if you move in, you can burn her 314 00:17:25,750 --> 00:17:27,208 and make this worse. 315 00:17:27,208 --> 00:17:30,292 So you got to leave it up to her. 316 00:17:30,292 --> 00:17:32,292 -Shaulene's ghost had moved out of sight 317 00:17:32,292 --> 00:17:34,208 to protect her cover, 318 00:17:34,208 --> 00:17:37,208 but now she had no idea where he was. 319 00:17:37,208 --> 00:17:38,958 -I was on the phone with him, 320 00:17:38,958 --> 00:17:41,708 and he was trying to guide me to where he was parked at. 321 00:17:41,708 --> 00:17:45,792 And the train came, and I couldn't hear anything. 322 00:17:45,792 --> 00:17:47,292 [ Wheels clacking ] 323 00:18:03,083 --> 00:18:04,125 It's good hearing him 324 00:18:04,125 --> 00:18:05,375 in my ear, telling me 325 00:18:05,375 --> 00:18:07,833 what's going on and play-by-play, 326 00:18:07,833 --> 00:18:10,167 because I knew he had eyes on me. 327 00:18:18,583 --> 00:18:22,208 ♪ 328 00:18:22,208 --> 00:18:24,542 My ghost was ahead of me, 329 00:18:24,542 --> 00:18:26,958 so I was just trying to find him. 330 00:18:26,958 --> 00:18:30,208 ♪ 331 00:18:31,792 --> 00:18:34,375 -With Tyshawn and his crew a block behind her, 332 00:18:34,375 --> 00:18:36,708 Shaulene is able to cut down a side street 333 00:18:36,708 --> 00:18:38,167 to meet up with her ghost. 334 00:18:38,167 --> 00:18:39,708 She could not be sure 335 00:18:39,708 --> 00:18:42,167 if Tyshawn had seen her get into the vehicle. 336 00:18:47,625 --> 00:18:49,750 -When I got in the car, I ducked down. 337 00:18:49,750 --> 00:18:52,208 Whew! 338 00:18:52,208 --> 00:18:55,000 I said, "Go, go, go! He'll see me getting in the car. 339 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,333 So -- If I see you across there, 340 00:18:57,333 --> 00:18:59,250 he's gonna see me getting in the car." 341 00:18:59,250 --> 00:19:01,583 Because I didn't know how far back he was behind me. 342 00:19:01,583 --> 00:19:04,250 I didn't look to see how far he was. 343 00:19:04,250 --> 00:19:06,625 Whew! [ Breathing heavily ] 344 00:19:16,917 --> 00:19:19,000 [ Sighing ] 345 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,667 ♪ 346 00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:25,083 Whew. 347 00:19:25,083 --> 00:19:28,375 After things die down, that's when, you know, 348 00:19:28,375 --> 00:19:31,000 you start shaking and things are playing in your head. 349 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:35,125 And you know, it's like, "I'm glad it went this way, 350 00:19:35,125 --> 00:19:37,625 but it's always the what-if." 351 00:19:48,708 --> 00:19:52,875 -After that intense moment, that concern was enough 352 00:19:52,875 --> 00:19:56,458 to take the time out and let things cool down. 353 00:19:56,458 --> 00:20:00,167 And she insisted on going back to getting it done. 354 00:20:00,167 --> 00:20:03,917 And she did. And she went back to work. 355 00:20:03,917 --> 00:20:05,875 ♪ 356 00:20:05,875 --> 00:20:08,167 [ Telephone ringing ] 357 00:20:12,542 --> 00:20:16,083 -My supervisors, they were worried about me 358 00:20:16,083 --> 00:20:17,667 going back into the field. 359 00:20:17,667 --> 00:20:21,000 And it was up to me to say yes or no, 360 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,208 and I wanted to continue with the case. 361 00:20:23,208 --> 00:20:26,167 So I went back out to complete the case. 362 00:20:33,958 --> 00:20:35,667 It's the chance I took 363 00:20:35,667 --> 00:20:37,833 to go back and continue the case. 364 00:20:37,833 --> 00:20:39,417 It's alright. 365 00:20:39,417 --> 00:20:42,208 Maybe he was having a bad day, he got suspicious. 366 00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:45,500 You're trying to think for him but not in depth, 367 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:50,458 you know, since Tyshawn is a violent guy. 368 00:20:50,458 --> 00:20:53,000 ♪ 369 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:54,583 Hm. 370 00:20:54,583 --> 00:20:58,125 Every day that I step out there to do a case, 371 00:20:58,125 --> 00:21:02,458 it's always -- it feels great to go back home to my family. 372 00:21:02,458 --> 00:21:05,417 -After the incident, Shaulene continued 373 00:21:05,417 --> 00:21:08,833 undercover operations for two additional months. 374 00:21:08,833 --> 00:21:12,542 Her work secured a Title III wire tap on Tyshawn 375 00:21:12,542 --> 00:21:15,417 and over a dozen of his associates. 376 00:21:15,417 --> 00:21:17,833 After nine months of deep undercover, 377 00:21:17,833 --> 00:21:20,375 the 81st District Gun Violence Suppression Division 378 00:21:20,375 --> 00:21:22,542 was able to bring charges that led to the conviction 379 00:21:22,542 --> 00:21:25,292 of all of Tyshawn's crew. 380 00:21:25,292 --> 00:21:29,042 -If it wasn't for her work and the conversations 381 00:21:29,042 --> 00:21:32,208 and the buys with Tyshawn, it wouldn't have happened. 382 00:21:32,208 --> 00:21:33,917 They were able to get all the members 383 00:21:33,917 --> 00:21:36,375 of this crew indicted. 384 00:21:36,375 --> 00:21:38,417 When you dismantle a crew 385 00:21:38,417 --> 00:21:40,333 responsible for the violence that these guys did, 386 00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:41,583 it's a win for the community, 387 00:21:41,583 --> 00:21:43,542 it's a win for the city of New York, 388 00:21:43,542 --> 00:21:45,667 because you know these guys are going away for a long time. 389 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:02,208 In this particular case, you know, thank God, 390 00:22:02,208 --> 00:22:04,708 she's retired and she's out of the game, 391 00:22:04,708 --> 00:22:08,875 but she did a tremendous job and I'm extremely proud of her. 392 00:22:08,875 --> 00:22:12,375 ♪ 393 00:22:12,375 --> 00:22:16,208 -I met my spouse, and she was like, 394 00:22:16,208 --> 00:22:18,875 "You have to stop doing this, 395 00:22:18,875 --> 00:22:23,167 because I want you to be alive, I want you home." 396 00:22:23,167 --> 00:22:27,167 And after that -- [Chuckles] I was like, "Oh, okay!" 397 00:22:27,167 --> 00:22:31,375 I retired June 30, 2020. 398 00:22:31,375 --> 00:22:34,208 My son, who is now in Narcotics, 399 00:22:34,208 --> 00:22:37,208 he found out what I did recently. 400 00:22:37,208 --> 00:22:40,375 And he's 31. [ Laughs ] 401 00:22:40,375 --> 00:22:44,208 He joined the NYPD, and he got my shield number -- 402 00:22:44,208 --> 00:22:46,583 my police-officer shield number. 403 00:22:46,583 --> 00:22:51,167 And I got to pin it on him, which was a great moment. 404 00:22:51,167 --> 00:23:00,667 ♪ 405 00:23:00,667 --> 00:23:05,208 -In this next case, we travel to Seffner, Florida, 406 00:23:05,208 --> 00:23:08,542 where undercover special agents Scott Perala and Nellie Waterman 407 00:23:08,542 --> 00:23:11,125 work together to bring down 408 00:23:11,125 --> 00:23:14,667 drug and arms dealer Emir Peron -- 409 00:23:14,667 --> 00:23:17,375 a case that seems routine at first... 410 00:23:17,375 --> 00:23:20,583 but takes a series of dangerous turns. 411 00:23:20,583 --> 00:23:22,708 ♪ 412 00:23:22,708 --> 00:23:24,375 -I never really had him figured out. 413 00:23:24,375 --> 00:23:28,542 There was always a sense of danger with him. 414 00:23:28,542 --> 00:23:30,583 I would describe him as a very peculiar individual. 415 00:23:31,417 --> 00:23:33,208 He wasn't your average 416 00:23:33,208 --> 00:23:35,625 gun-and-drugs-dealing kind of fella. 417 00:23:35,625 --> 00:23:37,875 -He was a likable guy. He really was. 418 00:23:37,875 --> 00:23:41,667 Peron came off to me as kind of a nice guy. 419 00:23:41,667 --> 00:23:43,208 He's got a good heart. 420 00:23:43,208 --> 00:23:44,958 At times, he would look out for us. 421 00:23:44,958 --> 00:23:46,583 He had our backs. 422 00:23:46,583 --> 00:23:49,458 But he was also a criminal 423 00:23:49,458 --> 00:23:52,208 and he was putting dangerous drugs 424 00:23:52,208 --> 00:23:54,750 into the hands of his customers. 425 00:23:54,750 --> 00:23:57,667 Just goes to show that even criminals have their kids 426 00:23:57,667 --> 00:23:59,917 and they love their families, but they are out there 427 00:23:59,917 --> 00:24:02,375 committing crimes and endangering their children 428 00:24:02,375 --> 00:24:04,917 and everybody else by committing these acts. 429 00:24:04,917 --> 00:24:08,417 ♪ 430 00:24:13,042 --> 00:24:15,667 ♪ 431 00:24:20,875 --> 00:24:22,208 -Emir Peron -- 432 00:24:22,208 --> 00:24:23,333 he came to the attention through 433 00:24:23,333 --> 00:24:24,708 an ATF confidential informant 434 00:24:24,708 --> 00:24:26,792 who was assisting our agency 435 00:24:26,792 --> 00:24:30,417 and who had met Mr. Peron through a Facebook contact. 436 00:24:30,417 --> 00:24:35,458 ♪ 437 00:24:35,458 --> 00:24:40,625 ♪ 438 00:24:40,625 --> 00:24:43,750 Part of the Facebook contact included Mr. Peron 439 00:24:43,750 --> 00:24:45,917 publishing photographs of him selling a pistol 440 00:24:45,917 --> 00:24:47,958 that appeared to have a silencer. 441 00:24:47,958 --> 00:24:56,208 ♪ 442 00:24:56,208 --> 00:24:58,750 When he showed that picture to the informant via Facebook, 443 00:24:58,750 --> 00:25:02,250 the informant made arrangements to have someone related to her 444 00:25:02,250 --> 00:25:04,208 attempt to purchase that firearm, 445 00:25:04,208 --> 00:25:07,708 which turned out to be myself as an ATF undercover agent. 446 00:25:07,708 --> 00:25:12,042 ♪ 447 00:25:12,042 --> 00:25:14,917 My name is Scott Perala, and I was a special agent 448 00:25:14,917 --> 00:25:17,208 with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 449 00:25:17,208 --> 00:25:18,625 for almost 30 years. 450 00:25:18,625 --> 00:25:20,417 I was working undercover for approximately 451 00:25:20,417 --> 00:25:22,875 20 of the 30 years I worked for ATF. 452 00:25:22,875 --> 00:25:25,333 I kind of wore my hair about shoulder-length, 453 00:25:25,333 --> 00:25:27,875 had access to undercover motorcycles, 454 00:25:27,875 --> 00:25:29,708 so I kind of portrayed myself as being involved 455 00:25:29,708 --> 00:25:32,333 in kind of outlaw motorcycle world. 456 00:25:32,333 --> 00:25:36,042 ♪ 457 00:25:36,042 --> 00:25:39,208 -Special agent Scott Perala assumed that Emir Peron 458 00:25:39,208 --> 00:25:41,958 was a low-level seller of guns and methamphetamine 459 00:25:41,958 --> 00:25:44,875 and hoped to meet and make a routine buy. 460 00:25:44,875 --> 00:25:47,208 -We had the informant make telephone contact 461 00:25:47,208 --> 00:25:48,708 with Mr. Peron 462 00:25:48,708 --> 00:25:51,417 and arrange a meeting at a truck stop. 463 00:25:51,417 --> 00:25:54,042 [ Indistinct conversation ] 464 00:26:04,625 --> 00:26:06,875 And then, uh, we agreed to step outside 465 00:26:06,875 --> 00:26:08,875 and talk at Mr. Peron's vehicle, 466 00:26:08,875 --> 00:26:10,667 which was parked at the gas pumps. 467 00:26:20,167 --> 00:26:23,208 The goal was to purchase a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine 468 00:26:23,208 --> 00:26:27,875 and that pistol with the silencer from Mr. Peron. 469 00:26:27,875 --> 00:26:30,583 When you walk into a gun deal, there's inherent danger. 470 00:26:30,583 --> 00:26:32,125 They know you have the money, 471 00:26:32,125 --> 00:26:34,042 and they have potentially a loaded firearm. 472 00:26:34,042 --> 00:26:35,708 And they could just demand your money. 473 00:26:35,708 --> 00:26:38,083 You just don't always know their intentions. 474 00:26:42,083 --> 00:26:44,375 He's got a towel that's over a long gun, 475 00:26:44,375 --> 00:26:48,833 which turns out to be an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. 476 00:26:58,625 --> 00:27:00,792 And then he also displays to me this pistol 477 00:27:00,792 --> 00:27:02,625 with what appears to be a silencer, 478 00:27:02,625 --> 00:27:04,500 but what is actually a flash suppressor. 479 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:12,250 ♪ 480 00:27:30,042 --> 00:27:33,292 Mr. Peron advises he just sold 3 ounces of methamphetamine. 481 00:27:33,292 --> 00:27:35,625 That's a considerable amount of methamphetamine. 482 00:27:35,625 --> 00:27:37,042 Clearly, he has access 483 00:27:37,042 --> 00:27:39,250 to larger quantities of methamphetamine. 484 00:27:39,250 --> 00:27:41,583 He has to essentially re-up, 485 00:27:41,583 --> 00:27:42,875 get some more methamphetamine for us. 486 00:27:51,083 --> 00:27:53,208 I was very interested in Mr. Peron. 487 00:27:53,208 --> 00:27:54,625 Well? 488 00:27:58,125 --> 00:28:00,042 We immediately schedule a second meet 489 00:28:00,042 --> 00:28:02,542 so that I could purchase a quantity of methamphetamine 490 00:28:02,542 --> 00:28:05,083 and the rifle that he'd already displayed. 491 00:28:05,083 --> 00:28:06,875 We agree to meet, 492 00:28:06,875 --> 00:28:08,750 and we agree to meet at the same location. 493 00:28:08,750 --> 00:28:13,667 Based on what he told us, there was more to his operation, 494 00:28:13,667 --> 00:28:15,208 so we knew we had somebody 495 00:28:15,208 --> 00:28:19,375 who was in the drug game at a decent level. 496 00:28:19,375 --> 00:28:21,500 So, on the second meeting, 497 00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:23,667 I arrive at the same parking lot. 498 00:28:23,667 --> 00:28:25,667 There are other ATF surveillance vehicles 499 00:28:25,667 --> 00:28:27,208 in the parking lot, watching. 500 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,750 Mr. Peron finally arrives in the same pickup truck 501 00:28:34,750 --> 00:28:36,875 that he had been in during the first meeting. 502 00:28:36,875 --> 00:28:39,292 I notice in his vehicle immediately 503 00:28:39,292 --> 00:28:41,333 that there's a young child in his car. 504 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:46,875 That, right off the bat, 505 00:28:46,875 --> 00:28:49,000 heightens the level of danger in the situation. 506 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,958 I'm a father. I have children. 507 00:28:50,958 --> 00:28:53,375 You know, it's never okay for somebody to bring a child 508 00:28:53,375 --> 00:28:55,875 to a drug deal or a gun deal. 509 00:28:55,875 --> 00:28:57,750 You want this thing to come off 510 00:28:57,750 --> 00:28:59,875 just like any other business transaction, 511 00:28:59,875 --> 00:29:02,625 and nobody wants any kind of deal to go south 512 00:29:02,625 --> 00:29:04,125 or there to be any kind of assault 513 00:29:04,125 --> 00:29:06,292 that's gonna involve a child in the middle of it. 514 00:29:06,292 --> 00:29:10,250 ♪ 515 00:29:16,375 --> 00:29:18,167 -In Seffner, Florida, undercover agent Scott Perala 516 00:29:18,167 --> 00:29:20,083 encounters a dangerous complication 517 00:29:20,083 --> 00:29:22,417 in his drug-and-gun deal with Emir Peron. 518 00:29:22,417 --> 00:29:24,458 -I just want to make it clear to the cover team members 519 00:29:24,458 --> 00:29:25,875 that there's a child there, 520 00:29:25,875 --> 00:29:27,208 in case they can't see it or something, 521 00:29:27,208 --> 00:29:29,708 So I make a comment immediately over my wire. 522 00:29:34,042 --> 00:29:36,875 -To bring a child to a drug deal in a truck stop, 523 00:29:36,875 --> 00:29:40,292 it's unfathomable. 524 00:29:40,292 --> 00:29:43,292 Anytime a child is brought into one of these situations, 525 00:29:43,292 --> 00:29:44,917 it really gets me. 526 00:29:44,917 --> 00:29:46,792 He's standing there in a truck stop 527 00:29:46,792 --> 00:29:49,667 with an active drug/gun deal going on, 528 00:29:49,667 --> 00:29:51,417 and he turns to this little kid, 529 00:29:51,417 --> 00:29:53,500 and you can see him hand him, like, a carrot or a Cheeto 530 00:29:53,500 --> 00:29:56,083 or something, and this little boy is feeding him 531 00:29:56,083 --> 00:29:59,417 while he turns back to Special Agent Perala 532 00:29:59,417 --> 00:30:02,000 and conducts this deal. 533 00:30:10,125 --> 00:30:13,083 And he has no idea what's going on, of course. 534 00:30:13,083 --> 00:30:16,000 He's just taking a ride with his dad. 535 00:30:21,042 --> 00:30:22,792 If something goes down, 536 00:30:22,792 --> 00:30:24,875 that's one of our first priorities, 537 00:30:24,875 --> 00:30:28,042 is getting that innocent child out of that situation. 538 00:30:28,042 --> 00:30:31,625 But Special Agent Perala has a natural ability 539 00:30:31,625 --> 00:30:34,292 to put people at ease when he's dealing with them. 540 00:30:34,292 --> 00:30:37,875 He's very calm. He's smooth. He just talks to people. 541 00:30:37,875 --> 00:30:39,167 It doesn't matter who it is, 542 00:30:39,167 --> 00:30:41,333 he talks to them like they're his friend. 543 00:30:41,333 --> 00:30:44,333 -I buy a semiautomatic assault rifle from Peron, 544 00:30:44,333 --> 00:30:46,542 the same one he had shown me on the very first deal. 545 00:30:46,542 --> 00:30:48,958 And I bought a quantity of about a half an ounce 546 00:30:48,958 --> 00:30:50,833 of crystal methamphetamine. 547 00:30:50,833 --> 00:30:54,542 -Perala successfully concludes the sale 548 00:30:54,542 --> 00:30:57,958 without any friction or violence. 549 00:30:57,958 --> 00:31:00,708 -And we made arrangements for future purchases 550 00:31:00,708 --> 00:31:03,083 of more methamphetamine and more firearms. 551 00:31:06,083 --> 00:31:08,125 ♪ 552 00:31:08,125 --> 00:31:10,125 Once you get past that second deal, 553 00:31:10,125 --> 00:31:13,167 there's definitely a sense of relief. 554 00:31:13,167 --> 00:31:16,750 After this deal, I'm feeling more confident with Mr. Peron 555 00:31:16,750 --> 00:31:18,542 but still a little wary 556 00:31:18,542 --> 00:31:23,250 about whether he has bought into who I am. 557 00:31:23,250 --> 00:31:25,208 We decided to continue the investigation so that 558 00:31:25,208 --> 00:31:27,542 we can try to purchase larger quantities of methamphetamine 559 00:31:27,542 --> 00:31:31,375 and to meet who his other co-conspirators might be. 560 00:31:31,375 --> 00:31:33,625 ♪ 561 00:31:33,625 --> 00:31:36,167 -Peron insists that their next buy 562 00:31:36,167 --> 00:31:38,083 be conducted on his compound, 563 00:31:38,083 --> 00:31:41,042 which creates a vulnerable situation for Agent Perala. 564 00:31:41,042 --> 00:31:44,208 -There's a lot of unknowns 565 00:31:44,208 --> 00:31:46,208 when you're going into that type of scenario. 566 00:31:46,208 --> 00:31:49,042 As we pulled onto his dirt driveway, 567 00:31:49,042 --> 00:31:50,917 there's, like, a cattle gate at the beginning 568 00:31:50,917 --> 00:31:53,208 and then you drive down this long driveway. 569 00:31:53,208 --> 00:31:55,417 He lived in the double-wide. 570 00:32:05,708 --> 00:32:08,167 -Perala brings Agent Nellie Waterman 571 00:32:08,167 --> 00:32:10,042 as part of his cover team. 572 00:32:10,042 --> 00:32:12,042 She waits in the car on the property, 573 00:32:12,042 --> 00:32:14,875 while the rest of the team remains further away. 574 00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:23,833 -We begin to walk up into his house. 575 00:32:23,833 --> 00:32:29,625 -I'm sitting in the car, and I'm just looking around 360 -- 576 00:32:29,625 --> 00:32:31,500 looking in the mirrors, I'm keeping my eyes peeled, 577 00:32:31,500 --> 00:32:33,667 seeing if anybody's coming through the woods. 578 00:32:33,667 --> 00:32:35,917 Time slows down. 579 00:32:41,708 --> 00:32:43,542 -He's describing his property to me. 580 00:32:43,542 --> 00:32:46,375 He's very proud of the work that he's finished on his house. 581 00:32:46,375 --> 00:32:48,292 Because I never really had him figured out, 582 00:32:48,292 --> 00:32:51,875 there was always a sense of danger with him. 583 00:32:51,875 --> 00:32:55,083 We begin discussing large quantities of methamphetamine. 584 00:33:07,792 --> 00:33:09,375 Although Mr. Peron is kind of quirky, 585 00:33:09,375 --> 00:33:11,542 he also seems pretty sophisticated, 586 00:33:11,542 --> 00:33:14,417 and so it is the kind of suspect that you're concerned 587 00:33:14,417 --> 00:33:17,417 about them asking deeper questions to try to figure out 588 00:33:17,417 --> 00:33:20,542 whether you're associated with law enforcement or not. 589 00:33:20,542 --> 00:33:22,583 We go into the other half of the trailer. 590 00:33:22,583 --> 00:33:24,500 He gets two firearms for me. 591 00:33:24,500 --> 00:33:28,250 During that exchange, he kind of has this distrust. 592 00:33:47,917 --> 00:33:50,500 In that moment, I became very concerned 593 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:53,042 because we're on his property, he's got a gun on him. 594 00:33:53,042 --> 00:33:55,625 The cover team is a good distance away. 595 00:33:55,625 --> 00:33:59,625 So it's important that I step up my undercover role 596 00:33:59,625 --> 00:34:01,250 and get past this with him. 597 00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:06,917 I tell him, "Hey, we don't have to do the drug-deal part. 598 00:34:06,917 --> 00:34:08,417 'Cause we don't have to do it. 599 00:34:08,417 --> 00:34:10,417 If that's how you feel about it." 600 00:34:23,958 --> 00:34:25,500 We go out to the shed outside, where he removed 601 00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:27,458 some bricks and blocks where he's got some 602 00:34:27,458 --> 00:34:29,000 methamphetamine hidden in there, 603 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:30,542 along with some prescription pills. 604 00:34:33,458 --> 00:34:35,458 He goes ahead and sells me those pills. 605 00:34:35,458 --> 00:34:38,250 And then he says, "I can get you some more 606 00:34:38,250 --> 00:34:41,667 from my direct source in Plant City, Florida. 607 00:34:41,667 --> 00:34:43,708 If you wanna go there now, I'll take you." 608 00:34:50,208 --> 00:34:52,875 -Perala gets the break he needs when Peron offers 609 00:34:52,875 --> 00:34:57,417 to take him directly to his methamphetamine source. 610 00:34:57,417 --> 00:34:59,375 -I was introduced as his girlfriend 611 00:34:59,375 --> 00:35:01,833 into a role as an undercover. 612 00:35:01,833 --> 00:35:04,917 -She was a very good undercover. Very good undercover. 613 00:35:04,917 --> 00:35:07,000 Very smooth, very calm under pressure. 614 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,208 Very smart thinking on her feet. 615 00:35:09,208 --> 00:35:12,167 We leave his residence, and we began to drive 616 00:35:12,167 --> 00:35:14,833 to this unknown location in Plant City. 617 00:35:16,083 --> 00:35:18,208 He brings a pistol with him. 618 00:35:32,792 --> 00:35:34,417 -[ Laughs ] 619 00:35:34,417 --> 00:35:36,958 -A few minutes into the drive, 620 00:35:36,958 --> 00:35:39,500 Peron sees something that disturbs him. 621 00:35:43,583 --> 00:35:47,250 -Mr. Peron tells us that he sees what he believes to be 622 00:35:47,250 --> 00:35:51,125 law enforcement in a van following us. 623 00:35:51,125 --> 00:35:52,958 In fact, it is law enforcement in the van. 624 00:35:52,958 --> 00:35:54,625 It's our cover team. 625 00:36:06,375 --> 00:36:08,333 ♪ 626 00:36:08,333 --> 00:36:10,542 As soon as he identifies the van, 627 00:36:10,542 --> 00:36:12,250 I'm thinking this may be it. 628 00:36:12,250 --> 00:36:14,875 Is he gonna accuse myself and Nellie directly 629 00:36:14,875 --> 00:36:16,375 of being law enforcement? 630 00:36:16,375 --> 00:36:18,708 We could be calling in a help signal right now. 631 00:36:18,708 --> 00:36:21,542 ♪ 632 00:36:27,250 --> 00:36:28,500 -Agent Perala's case, and life, may be on the line 633 00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:30,792 when armed drug dealer Emir Peron spots 634 00:36:30,792 --> 00:36:33,208 the undercover surveillance van following them. 635 00:36:33,208 --> 00:36:35,208 -As soon as he identifies the van, 636 00:36:35,208 --> 00:36:36,875 Nellie immediately starts texting the cover team, 637 00:36:36,875 --> 00:36:37,958 letting them know. 638 00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:40,583 Nerves are definitely in play. 639 00:36:40,583 --> 00:36:42,375 Thoughts are racing through your mind. 640 00:36:42,375 --> 00:36:44,625 You're doing your best to put information out 641 00:36:44,625 --> 00:36:47,292 to make it not appear that that van 642 00:36:47,292 --> 00:36:49,292 is directly associated with you. 643 00:37:01,375 --> 00:37:03,917 The surveillance team has to disengage to some degree. 644 00:37:03,917 --> 00:37:06,542 They need to stay around, but they gotta disengage. 645 00:37:06,542 --> 00:37:09,500 But ultimately through a series of right-hand turns 646 00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:12,708 in a neighborhood, we happen upon the van a second time. 647 00:37:55,125 --> 00:37:57,333 He leaves the gun on the back seat. 648 00:38:01,792 --> 00:38:04,333 He pulls it off the backseat, sticks it in his waistband. 649 00:38:12,583 --> 00:38:16,042 -Mr. Peron was asking for the drugs back. 650 00:38:16,042 --> 00:38:19,583 He's worried that we're gonna get caught up in something. 651 00:38:19,583 --> 00:38:22,458 The fact that he was willing to take all that stuff with him 652 00:38:22,458 --> 00:38:24,458 so that we didn't get in trouble 653 00:38:24,458 --> 00:38:27,542 was kind of something that we didn't usually see. 654 00:38:30,458 --> 00:38:31,833 I immediately stepped up 655 00:38:31,833 --> 00:38:33,375 and said, "No, no. I'll take care of that." 656 00:38:39,583 --> 00:38:42,292 -And that was like a pro right there. 657 00:38:49,083 --> 00:38:52,583 -After that day, Peron was spooked... 658 00:38:52,583 --> 00:38:55,292 and things began to change. 659 00:38:55,292 --> 00:38:57,333 -So, after this deal, Mr. Peron 660 00:38:57,333 --> 00:38:59,083 wasn't always getting right back to me, 661 00:38:59,083 --> 00:39:00,542 so there was some concern 662 00:39:00,542 --> 00:39:02,708 whether or not he was becoming wary. 663 00:39:02,708 --> 00:39:05,000 I'm directed to get in contact and see 664 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,292 if I can get him away from the property 665 00:39:07,292 --> 00:39:08,708 so that he can be arrested somewhere else 666 00:39:08,708 --> 00:39:12,208 and not in his house where he has access to firearms. 667 00:39:12,208 --> 00:39:14,625 I make contact with Mr. Peron. 668 00:39:14,625 --> 00:39:16,625 I said, "Hey, let's go to breakfast 669 00:39:16,625 --> 00:39:19,125 at a nearby restaurant and discuss some business." 670 00:39:19,125 --> 00:39:21,583 And we drive to his residence. 671 00:39:21,583 --> 00:39:23,542 -[ Speaking indistinctly ] 672 00:39:23,542 --> 00:39:26,708 -Mr. Peron says, "Let me get my firearm." 673 00:39:28,083 --> 00:39:30,000 And then we begin to make a drive 674 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:33,583 to a very well-planned arrest of Mr. Peron. 675 00:39:42,542 --> 00:39:44,542 And as we're driving, we're being followed 676 00:39:44,542 --> 00:39:47,375 by at least six ATF cover vehicles 677 00:39:47,375 --> 00:39:50,667 all the way from his residence to the restaurant, 678 00:39:50,667 --> 00:39:53,542 where there's an additional arrest team 679 00:39:53,542 --> 00:39:55,542 standing by in a van, 680 00:39:55,542 --> 00:39:57,958 preparing to make the final arrest of Peron. 681 00:39:57,958 --> 00:40:00,333 As we're driving there, 682 00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:02,042 I know I have to get Nellie out of the car. 683 00:40:02,042 --> 00:40:04,792 -We don't have bulletproof vests on when we're doing undercover. 684 00:40:04,792 --> 00:40:07,833 The goal was to get me out of the vehicle 685 00:40:07,833 --> 00:40:11,042 so that I'm one last person the ATF takedown team 686 00:40:11,042 --> 00:40:13,792 has to rescue or worry about. 687 00:40:13,792 --> 00:40:15,708 -I drive up around the building, 688 00:40:15,708 --> 00:40:17,708 and as I come around the parking spot, 689 00:40:17,708 --> 00:40:20,875 he starts to question our relationship 690 00:40:20,875 --> 00:40:22,375 and how he knows me. 691 00:40:51,042 --> 00:40:53,708 He's starting to define it, run it through a sieve, 692 00:40:53,708 --> 00:40:55,458 and go, "Hey, you know what? 693 00:40:55,458 --> 00:40:58,375 I know you through a person who uses heroin. 694 00:40:58,375 --> 00:41:00,667 Like, in Daytona Beach. Through somebody else." 695 00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:07,875 I know he's armed with a gun, 696 00:41:07,875 --> 00:41:09,542 and last thing I want is a confrontation 697 00:41:09,542 --> 00:41:12,333 when I pull in the parking spot now by myself. 698 00:41:12,333 --> 00:41:14,375 My job at this point 699 00:41:14,375 --> 00:41:16,375 is to safely get him out of that vehicle, 700 00:41:16,375 --> 00:41:18,042 get him to the back of my vehicle, 701 00:41:18,042 --> 00:41:20,917 and distract him from looking behind him at the cover team. 702 00:41:20,917 --> 00:41:23,458 That means he needs to look into the back compartment 703 00:41:23,458 --> 00:41:25,500 of my vehicle at something, right? 704 00:41:25,500 --> 00:41:27,042 I needed something to draw his attention. 705 00:41:27,042 --> 00:41:29,708 I told him I had $10,000 to look at. 706 00:41:29,708 --> 00:41:31,833 He wasn't interested. 707 00:41:45,542 --> 00:41:47,000 I knew he was interested in firearms, 708 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,042 so I said, "Hey, have you ever seen an H&K pistol?" 709 00:41:50,042 --> 00:41:51,458 And he said, "No." 710 00:41:51,458 --> 00:41:53,583 And I said, "Well, come here and look." 711 00:41:59,667 --> 00:42:01,375 You know, one of the important things about distracting him 712 00:42:01,375 --> 00:42:02,958 is he's armed with a gun, 713 00:42:02,958 --> 00:42:04,875 so if he sees this cover team coming, 714 00:42:04,875 --> 00:42:06,833 he could decide to pull that gun. 715 00:42:11,375 --> 00:42:12,833 Eventually he comes around 716 00:42:12,833 --> 00:42:14,417 and sticks his head in the back of my car, 717 00:42:14,417 --> 00:42:17,500 and I'm pretending to dig for a handgun that's not there. 718 00:42:24,042 --> 00:42:27,000 I was whisked away in the opposite direction. 719 00:42:28,792 --> 00:42:30,375 I didn't see him again. 720 00:42:30,375 --> 00:42:37,958 ♪ 721 00:42:37,958 --> 00:42:45,208 ♪ 722 00:42:45,208 --> 00:42:47,708 I don't think you have to be necessarily a bad guy 723 00:42:47,708 --> 00:42:49,708 to meet with bad guys, and I think 724 00:42:49,708 --> 00:42:52,375 you can be empathetic of every person out there, 725 00:42:52,375 --> 00:42:54,167 even some of the worst of the worst. 726 00:42:54,167 --> 00:42:58,708 It's just a unique experience to deal with them as themselves, 727 00:42:58,708 --> 00:43:00,292 versus arresting them 728 00:43:00,292 --> 00:43:01,792 and then interviewing them at the police station. 729 00:43:01,792 --> 00:43:03,583 Hold on. Let me shut the car off. 730 00:43:03,583 --> 00:43:06,833 Uh, what do you got for the time? 731 00:43:06,833 --> 00:43:09,667 -12:31. -12:31. 12:31.