Authors

Chris Feistl

Chris Feistl served with distinction for 26 years with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), retiring in 2014 as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division.

After serving an initial six-year assignment in Miami, Florida, Chris was sent to Colombia in July 1994 and assigned to a special Task Force created to take down the notorious Cali cartel, a cartel former head of the DEA Robert Bonner once called “the most powerful criminal organization in the world. No drug organization rivals them today or perhaps any time in history.” In Colombia, Chris partnered with Dave Mitchell, and together they spent almost three years investigating the cartel; their joint efforts resulting in the arrest of the four ruthless Cali “Godfathers” and the dismantlement of the biggest drug cartel in history.

During his DEA career Chris worked all over the world, including over twelve years in Colombia, one of the longest tenures ever served by a DEA agent in the country. While assigned to Colombia, Chris managed and directed some of DEA’s most significant investigations; from transnational organized crime groups like the Cali and North Valley cartels to designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations such as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Chris has long been considered an expert on the Cali cartel, consistently making him a highly sought-after guest on television documentaries and podcasts with a particular focus on his pursuit of the Cali cartel leaders. Chris was portrayed in an 80-episode Spanish-language Netflix series entitled En la Boca del Lobo, as well as in Season 3 of Netflix’s widely acclaimed hit Narcos Colombia: Rise of a New Empire, The Cali Cartel.

In addition, Chris appeared in other television projects including Season 2 of Finding Escobar’s Millions (Discovery Channel), Narco Wars (National Geographic), Drug Lords: The Cali Cartel (Netflix), and German Cocaine Cowboy (Prime Video). He also appeared on National Public Radio’s (NPR) acclaimed show This American Life—Hiding in Plain Sight-Seven Year Snitch, and participated in a number of true crime podcasts including Game of Crimes, The Team House, and Forletta Investigates.

Chris is the recipient of the DEA Administrator’s Award of Honor (DEA’s highest honor), the DEA Administrator’s Award for Exceptional Service (twice), the DEA Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Group Achievement, eight DEA Performance awards, numerous recognition awards from the U.S. Intelligence Community (CIA) and other federal agencies, and four Distinguished Service medals from the Colombian government.

Chris currently serves as a consultant, subject matter expert, and advisor on television and film projects, including Season 3 of Narcos, which chronicled Chris and Dave’s efforts against the cartel.

Dave Mitchell

David Mitchell served with distinction for 33 years as a Special Agent for the DEA, building a formidable history of both domestic and foreign law enforcement experience. He began his career in Miami during the era of the Miami Cocaine Cowboys, and later conducted cocaine interdiction operations in the jungles of South America and led drug investigations throughout South Florida, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe.

In 1994, Dave was assigned to the DEA office in Colombia, where he was placed on an elite task force with the mission of taking down the Cali cartel leaders. Later, Dave continued to work in a supervisory role in Miami, Florida, where he led the arrest and extradition of numerous other major Colombian drug traffickers, including members of both the North Coast and North Valley cartels. He retired from the DEA in December 2020.

Dave was portrayed in an 80-episode Spanish language television and Netflix series entitled En la Boca del Lobo, as well as in Season 3 of the hit Netflix television series Narcos. Along with Chris Feistl, Dave also appeared on Netflix’s Drug Lords: The Cali Cartel.

Dave is the recipient of the DEA Administrator’s Award of Honor (DEA’s highest honor), the DEA Administrator’s Award for Exceptional Service, numerous DEA Performance awards, two Distinguished Service medals from the Colombian government, and a recognition award from the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Now Chris and Dave tell their own true story as only they can, revealing all of the incredible facts and never before revealed details of the many challenges and dangers they faced while investigating the Cali cartel.

Jessica Balboni

Jessica Balboni is a Boston-based writer and editor with a diverse background in media that spans artistic, academic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, including roles held with the Food Network, The Rockefeller Foundation, and ESPN.