The story sounds like something straight out of a spy thriller.  A plot by America’s most feared criminal syndicate and its most secretive intelligence agency to assassinate a foreign leader using poison cigars and other James Bond-inspired schemes.  But this isn’t fiction. This is the true story of how the CIA joined forces with Mafia hitmen to assassinate Fidel Castro. The revelations with ties to the Watergate scandal in the 1970s have fueled conspiracy theories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  In this episode of True Crime Reporter®, I sit down with fellow investigative reporter Thomas Maier, whose book Mafia Spies pulls back the curtain on a chilling chapter of American history.  Together, we trace how the mob lost its Cuban gambling empire after Castro’s revolution and how, in Cold War fear, U.S. intelligence agents turned its gangsters to eliminate Castro. Maier says the challenge of his investigation was figuring how out to tell a story in which everyone lies.  Here’s a link to the cast of characters in the episode. PLEASE SUPPORT MY WORK Click here to purchase my “Texas Crime Stories” audiobook. It downloads into your podcast app. Click here to purchase the Paperback & Kindle editions on Amazon. Schedule me to speak at your social meeting or corporate event. My presentation, “Evil Walks Among Us,” features stories about serial killers and notorious criminals and personal safety tips. Step into the storied halls of the Texas Prison Museum and uncover the gripping tales of infamous inmates, daring escapes, and the history of justice in the Lone Star State. GET YOUR EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT PROMO CODES 41% Off Cozy Earth Sheets, Pajamas and More 20% Off Eric Javits Designer Hats Worn by True Crime TV Detectives 20% Off HyperNatural Men’s Polo Shirts 15% Off TONA Activewear Designer Gym Leggings 15% Off STAND+ Comfort Shoes For Extended Standing 10% Off AKILA Sunglasses and Eyewear