George Jung
| George Jung | |
|---|---|
| Born: | August 6, 1942 Weymouth, Massachusetts
|
| Charges: | 1994: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine (pleaded guilty to conspiracy counts after a 1994 arrest in Topeka, Kansas). Earlier 1974: marijuana smuggling (Chicago). |
| Sentence: | 60 years (1994), later reduced; served nearly 20 years. Earlier 1974 marijuana conviction: a term served at FCI Danbury (reported length varies by source). |
| Released: | June 2, 2014 (early release from FCI Fort Dix); final discharge from BOP custody July 3, 2017 after a parole-violation term |
| Facility: | FCI Danbury (low-security) |
| Status: | Deceased. Released early from federal prison June 2, 2014; briefly re-incarcerated 2016-2017 for a supervised-release/parole violation; died May 5, 2021, age 78. |
George Jacob Jung (August 6, 1942, May 5, 2021), nicknamed "Boston George," was an American drug trafficker. During the 1970s and early 1980s, he partnered with Carlos Lehder to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into the United States for Colombia's Medellin Cartel. He was arrested in 1994 in Topeka, Kansas, with a large cocaine load. Jung pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison. His sentence was later reduced after he cooperated against Lehder, and he served nearly 20 years. He was released from FCI Fort Dix, New Jersey, on June 2, 2014, and died at his home in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on May 5, 2021. His life was dramatized in the 2001 film Blow, in which he was portrayed by Johnny Depp.
Early Life and Career
George Jung was born on August 6, 1942, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, in the Boston area, and was raised there. He began smuggling marijuana in the late 1960s, moving product from California and Mexico to New England.[1] He was nicknamed "Boston George" and "El Americano".
Criminal Case
In 1974, Jung was arrested in Chicago with roughly 660 pounds, or about 300 kg, of marijuana and sent to the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, Connecticut. There he was celled with and met Carlos Lehder, a young Colombian-German trafficker who was later tied to the Medellin Cartel.[2] After their release in the mid 1970s, the two built a cocaine-smuggling operation supplying the U.S. market, connected to Pablo Escobar's Medellin organization. In 1994, Jung was arrested in Topeka, Kansas, in a large cocaine case. Secondary reports cite the load at roughly 1,754 pounds, or about 796 kg, of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
Trial and Sentencing
Jung was sentenced in 1994 to 60 years in federal prison on the conspiracy charges. The sentence was substantially reduced after he testified and cooperated against his former partner Carlos Lehder, and for good behavior. He ultimately served nearly 20 years. The specific sentencing judge and case number are not verified in available non-Wikipedia public sources.
Incarceration
Jung's association with FCI Danbury (low-security) is confirmed, but it originates from his earlier 1974 marijuana term, not his cocaine sentence. Jung served his 1974 marijuana conviction at the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, Connecticut, the facility where he met Carlos Lehder around 1974 and 1975.[3] FCI Danbury is today designated a low-security facility. His major cocaine sentence from 1994 to 2014 was served at other facilities, reported as FCI Otisville in New York, FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, and FCI La Tuna in Anthony, Texas. He was released from FCI Fort Dix. No public BOP register number was located.
Release and Aftermath
Jung was released early on June 2, 2014, from FCI Fort Dix after nearly 20 years. He had been due for release in November 2014. Upon his release, he was transferred to a transitional halfway-house facility in California.[4] Jung was arrested in December 2016 for a supervised-release and parole violation stemming from an unauthorized promotional trip to Southern California. On January 25, 2017, he received a roughly 3-month sentence plus halfway-house time, and was reported released on July 3, 2017.[5] Jung died on May 5, 2021, at his home in Weymouth, Massachusetts, at age 78.[6] The cause of death was liver and kidney failure while he was in hospice care.[7] His story inspired the 2001 film Blow, featuring Johnny Depp as Jung.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did George Jung do?
He was a major U.S. cocaine trafficker who, with partner Carlos Lehder, smuggled large quantities of cocaine into the United States for Colombia's Medellin Cartel during the 1970s and early 1980s. He had earlier been convicted of marijuana smuggling in 1974.
Q: How long was George Jung's sentence?
He was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after his 1994 guilty plea to conspiracy charges. The sentence was later reduced following his cooperation against Carlos Lehder, and he served nearly 20 years.
Q: Where was George Jung incarcerated?
He served his 1974 marijuana sentence at FCI Danbury, Connecticut, where he met Carlos Lehder. His 1994-2014 cocaine sentence was served at other federal facilities reported as FCI Otisville (New York), FCI Fort Dix (New Jersey), and FCI La Tuna (Texas); he was released from Fort Dix.
Q: When was George Jung released from prison?
He was released early on June 2, 2014, from FCI Fort Dix. He was briefly re-incarcerated after a December 2016 parole violation and reported released again on July 3, 2017.
Q: Is George Jung still alive?
No. He died on May 5, 2021, at age 78, at his home in Weymouth, Massachusetts, from liver and kidney failure while in hospice care.
See also
References
- ↑ "Weymouth Native, Ex-Drug Trafficker George Jung Released from Prison". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "Two guys in a Connecticut jail cell helped change the way America does drugs". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "Two guys in a Connecticut jail cell helped change the way America does drugs". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "George Jung, A Famous 'Blow' Smuggler, Has Been Released From Prison". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "George Jung Heading Back to Prison But Not For Long". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "George Jung, Infamous Cocaine Smuggler, Dead at 78". '. Retrieved .
- ↑ "George Jung, Drug Smuggler and Inspiration for the Film Blow, Dies at 78". '. Retrieved .