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In this episode, retired agent Greg Stejskal reviews the investigation of a massive marijuana criminal enterprise.
Initially, a lead from the Indianapolis Division seeking assistance with a case involving a mother, Linda Leary, and her two sons, Paul and Richard Heilbrunn, who were charged with operating a marijuana smuggling and distribution enterprise, Greg Stejskal was assigned to identified and locate a co-conspirator thought to be living in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area.
Only identified as “The Joker” in the 136-page federal indictment, the unknown subject had been charged with being a distributor for the Heilbrunn family marijuana criminal enterprise.
According to the indictment, the drug ring operated from 1975 to 1985 and it would prove to be the biggest marijuana ring ever prosecuted in the United States. After a patient but persistent investigation, Stejskal determined that James Hill was the man he was looking for, the Joker. Hill was sentenced to twenty years in jail for his role in the Ann Arbor operation of the marijuana criminal enterprise.
Special Agent (Retired)
Greg Stejskal
3/10/1975 – 10/31/2006
Greg Stejskal served with the FBI for 31 years.
He was assigned to the Detroit Division, where, for the most part, he worked out of the Ann Arbor Resident Agency. He was the Senior Resident Agent in the RA for the last ten years of his career prior to retirement.
Post retirement, Greg Stejskal is active in community service. He is also a regular contributor to TickleTheWire.Com, a website featuring federal law enforcement news from around the country. Stejskal’s article about his search for the Joker, Hunting For The Joker, is posted on the site.
Greg is also the author of FBI Case Files Michigan: Tales of a G-Man where he recalls stories about investigations from his Bureau career. Across the Mitten and through the Upper Peninsula, the Wolverine State has witnessed some thrilling and historic federal cases. The book shares tales of the kidnapping (and safe return) of a GM executive’s son, a marijuana criminal enterprise, poisoned patients at the Ann Arbor Veterans Hospital, a grisly double homicide solved by a determined fingerprint examiner, and more.
The following are links to newspaper articles about the massive marijuana criminal enterprise operated by the Heilbrunn brothers and their mother, Linda Leary:
People Magazine (June 19, 1989) – Masters of Deception: A Prominent Indiana Family-in-Exile Is Accused of Running a Drug Ring
New York Times – AP (August 4, 1990) – Ex-Civic Leader Is Jailed in Drug Smuggling
Hi! I only recently found this podcast and I love it! The stories are fascinating, and your interviewing skills are terrific. Something I noticed, especially in this particular cast is the quality of the sound. It sounds like you are doing the interview on a phone. Have you tried doing them on Skype? Your introduction for each podcast has excellent sound quality.
Also, congratulations on your daughter’s wedding! : )
Thanks for listening, Suzanne! Yes, I’ve actually used Skype to record some of my episodes, but it became such an issue that I stopped. Now, I just call everyone on the phone and use an app to record the call. I’ll work on making sure my guests and I have the best, albeit phone, connection possible. I use a nice quality studio mic for my intros and outros. And thank you for the wedding congrats! UPDATE: I ran the interview through a noise reduction filter and then replaced the file. I believe the audio quality of this episode is much improved. Thank you!