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Ratsnakes : cheating death by living a lie: inside the explosive world of ATF's undercover agents and how we changed the game  Cover Image Book Book

Ratsnakes : cheating death by living a lie: inside the explosive world of ATF's undercover agents and how we changed the game / Vincent A. Cefalu.

Cefalu, Vincent A., (author.).

Summary:

RatSnakes are rarely, if ever, visible to the public they move among and risk their lives to protect. In fact, thanks to their cover personas, they're often assumed to be members of the clandestine criminal world they investigate. Real-life undercover work is a far cry from the sexy, candy-colored world you've seen in Hollywood movies. Only those strong and clever enough get inside and survive. Vincent A. Cefalu would know. He spent 30 years as an ATF undercover operative, in assignments ranging from the Symbionese Liberation Army to Asian organized crime. He has infiltrated notorious outlaw motorcycle gangs as well as splinter groups of the Ku Klux Klan, and in RatSnakes he provides a transparent look at the organization and the operatives with whom he risked his life. Part field guide, part heart-pounding thrill-ride, Cefalu takes readers on a tour of what it's like to confront death on a daily basis. En route, he gives us a look at the on-the-job techniques of kicking in doors, orchestrating street theater to ensnare criminals, and making high-stakes gun buys. His irreverent, explicit stories from the inside are a mix of danger and unexpected hilarity that will have readers laughing one minute and then biting their nails when things break bad. Immersive and brutal, RatSnakes offers an in-depth and eye-opening look into the lives of an elite group of men and women who volunteer to do things most couldn't and wouldn't stomach. Civilians with common sense and good judgment run from danger, while RatSnakes sprint toward it-smiling.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781946885968
  • ISBN: 1946885967
  • Physical Description: 319 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: Dallas, TX : BenBella Books, Inc., [2019]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Introduction: to know them is to love them. or not -- Wired for speed -- T-men -- Acting school with sand gnats -- Creme de la creme -- Snake code -- Out of the cage -- Freedom -- "Oh, shit" moments -- More with less -- Executive douche bags -- Have gun, will travel -- Cold knocks -- IA -- 5150s -- Hollywood on crack -- Dysfunksional -- The cost of doing America's business -- A special place in heaven -- Encore: smokin' and jokin'.
Subject: Cefalu, Vincent A.
United States. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms > Officials and employees > Biography.
Law enforcement > United States > Biography.

Available copies

  • 2 of 2 copies available at Missouri Evergreen. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Crawford County.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 2 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Crawford County Library-Steelville 363.20 CEF (Text) 33431000588770 Adult Non-Fiction Available -

Syndetic Solutions - Table of Contents for ISBN Number 9781946885968
RatSnakes : Cheating Death by Living a Lie: Inside the Explosive World of ATF's Undercover Agents and How We Changed the Game
RatSnakes : Cheating Death by Living a Lie: Inside the Explosive World of ATF's Undercover Agents and How We Changed the Game
by Cefalu, Vincent A.
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Table of Contents

RatSnakes : Cheating Death by Living a Lie: Inside the Explosive World of ATF's Undercover Agents and How We Changed the Game

SectionSection DescriptionPage Number
Foreword   James Ross Lightfootp. xi
Disclaimp. xv
Introduction: To Know Them Is to Love Them. Or Notp. 1
Chapter 1Wired for Speedp. 17
Chapter 2T-Menp. 25
Chapter 3Acting School with Sand Gnatsp. 33
Chapter 4Crème de la Crèmep. 49
Chapter 5Snake Codep. 69
Chapter 6Out of the Cagep. 85
Chapter 7Freedomp. 97
Chapter 8"Oh, Shit" Momentsp. 117
Chapter 9More with Lessp. 137
Chapter 10Executive Douchebagsp. 163
Chapter 11I Have Gun, Will Travelp. 185
Chapter 12Cold Knocksp. 203
Chapter 13IAp. 225
Chapter 145150sp. 241
Chapter 15Hollywood on Crackp. 251
Chapter 16Dysfunksionalp. 265
Chapter 17The Cost of Doing America's Businessp. 281
Chapter 18A Special Place in Heavenp. 295
Encore: Smokin' and Jokin'p. 303
Glossaryp. 311
Acknowledgmentsp. 317
About the Authorp. 319

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