Víctor Marin best know as “el Indio” because of his distinctive physical traits that
make him proud of his heritage. Showing off his tattoo of a redskin Indian on his
right arm.

Not many people know his real name, and he loves that!

He was born in Palmira, Valle del Cauca a hot city in the South Pacific region of Colombia.  He comes from a middle class family, His mother a nurse at a local
hospital and his father a well know family doctor. “ El Indio” was the youngest
of three boys. He was always rude, with a strong character and very
impertinent.

Even though he came from a calm and very hard working family, he would always
Had a special curiosity to socialize with the underworld.  In his teens he would participate in gang activity and would be arrested for petty crimes.  He has always
Found seduction in the adrenalin that is generated by risk.

His parents dreamed of him becoming a professional, but he only lived to party, womanize, dance salsa, drink and do what ever drug he could get his hands on.

His sex appeal is defined by his looks, a flashy dresser and extravagantly loud he loves to show off in front of girls and call their attention.  He always dated models and
and very beautiful upper-class women.  He would always give them expensive gifts and
made sure to convince them of his wealth… although many times he was really
broke, he always found a way to buy love doing what ever he had to do go get what he
wanted.

A slick talker, he would always convince investors to pump money into whatever business he would make up. By results of his wrong doings and to protect himself from an angry partner he takes off
to the United States.

When he arrives in New York he contacts a childhood friend and he begins his career in
the drug trafficking business.

Finding himself having fun in the big apple partying at clubs like “Juan Pachanga” El Indio meets El Calvo as the old saying goes, “Birds of the feather flock together”.

Orlando Restrepo “Tato” the short name his friends and family use to call him. This young “Paisa” was born in Envigado, Antioquia (Colombia)

His only family is his mother, Anita, who is his entire life. She’s been mother and father for him. She doesn’t make much money washing and ironing other people’s clothes, that’s why Orlando since he was five years old works in whatever he can to help her… cleaning barns near his home, as a delivery guy for Don Lucho’s convenience store, washing cars, or when he’s lucky… packing groceries at the supermarket.
Orlando is a hard worker kid for whom no task is too difficult if it’s worth the bread for his table.

His only memories of his father are painful; he used to abuse his mother physically. After having lost everything gambling, he would come home drunk and not only break their scarce belongings on his way, but beat them. Orlando’s only gratitude is that he gave him his life.
He remembers with sorrow that day of December when he walked out the door to never come back; in Orlando’s own words… “It was better like that…”

His mother’s teachings and moral principles have made out of Orlando a good guy.

He finished high-school with perfect grades, but unfortunately he didn’t make it to a higher education. His effort and dedication were not enough to live out this dream.

Orlando is now 20 years old, he drives a friend’s taxi to make a living. Anita is proud of her son, he’s an honest kid, he’s in love with his old time girlfriend Alejandra… finally it looks like the life is treating them nice.

Out of the blue, Orlando is forced to leave everything he loves, his mother, his country and everything that represents his life.
He travels to the U.S. where his aunt Amanda gives him a roof above his head, and the opportunity to start a new life in this country.

His arrival to the U.S. and his new frontier are now his reality, and he decides to face it without fear; with a strong believe that not the language, nor his lack of legal documents will make him cease in his journey to achieve his goals.

Jairo Restrepo, alias “el calvo” is Orlando’s cousin from his father’s side. Since he was a little kid, he showed his capacity to get involved in business.

He was born in a very big family where their essential necessities could not be satisfied.

He grew up in a poor neighborhood from Envigado, surrounded by criminals and in the company of an almost absurd ambition… he began his career as a drug dealer.

He’s innate charm have helped him scale in the obscure world of crime, that’s how he gets to meet “Alirio Marulanda”, the big fish of the moment. “Marulanda” anticipates “El Calvo’s” potential and he entrusts him his New York drug’s market.
Once there, “El Calvo” moves around with no trouble; he’s now in the big apple!

He lives a life of abundance; the scarcity of his childhood is history now.

At age 28, he meets Pilar, a beautiful woman full of ambition with whom he matches perfectly.
He moves with Pilar to Miami, trying to evade the authorities that are already looking for him, but he continues to run his illicit business.

“El Calvo” is not afraid of anything; he’s disrespectful, vulgar, a womanizer… in his mind, he’s got everything: money, power, women, the respect and fidelity of his people, and a beautiful wife. He feels himself untouchable; everything is done his own way.

Unfortunately, loyalty is not a word in his dictionary…

For Evelio Ramírez, also known as “Barimba”life’s never been easy. He was born in a small town in Risaralda, Colombia whose town’s dusty roads are too narrow to let civilization in.

Evelio, from a very big and traditional family, learns how to drive the truck his father used for work. He would dedicate his younger years to transport animals to the cattle shows in Pereira, Manizales, Cali and Medellin.

To this hard working, reserved, selfless and ready to lend a hand man; the violence of the Colombian guerrilla made him flee his little town to poke around and make a living.

One day he was presented with the opportunity of a life time. He was offered five million pesos and the promise to fly to the United States. The only thing he had to do, was to take to the  United States a couple of typical pottery pieces not knowing they were full of cocaine!
Barimba, a good and naïve soul, never suspected it was anything fishy behind this “great opportunity”; for him who up to that day. To him an airplane was nothing but an iron bird, a passport something he never thought he would ever have;  he saw the solution to his unstable life and an option for a new beginning.

When he arrived in Miami, opposed to what anyone would have taught, he passed like he was home with his little souvenir! 
As soon as he exited the airport concourse, two men in a blue Van pushed him in, gave him $2,000 and left him in a nearby hotel.

“Barimba” didn’t hesitate to contact an old friend that lived in the city who warmly accepted him home, repeating the story itself when he was welcome into a friend’s house when he got to the US…

Evelio soon started doing whatever job he could do; cutting grass, painting homes, cleaning windows, and a thousand other things.
Life put him in “Calvo’s” s path to whom he devoted himself and became a key person in his organization.

Amanda Gómez, Anita’s sister and Tato’s aunt.

 She got into the US with her husband by illegally crossing the Mexico/ US border. They were young and eager to chase the “American Dream”.
Little by little and through discipline and hard work, they bought their home, a humble house in the Kendall area where she is surrounded by many other Colombian immigrants.

Her three kids were born in the U.S. She raises them far from home, but with the values and costumes of her heritage.

Amanda is an excellent housewife, noble and caring mother. Her greatest concern is the family left behind in Colombia, the same she hasn’t seen in a long time, and misses so much…
Even though the distance, she preserves her traditions. At home she has always available the usual food from her town… The holidays and special days, I could say they’re a recreation of what she lived as a kid.

She is a kind person, everyone that will need her help, can count on her. In Amanda’s house there’s always room for a newcomer, and warm plate of food to share. There have been many family members and friends that have stopped in her house as they arrived in the country.

Within her siblings, Anita was always her closest and favorite sister. She suffered a great deal when she left her behind, but they’ve always kept close.

Orlando is for Amanda like a son; she loves him so much and feels blessed that he is a good kid.

“Tato” is grateful for her advice and the love she gives him. He loves and respects her as his own mother.