Black Tuna Diaries – The True Story Of Americans Most Notorious Marijuana Smuggler
This is a true account of the life of America’s most written about marijuana smuggler. Between the accounts of his smuggling adventures, Robert tells his life story. Life as a member of “The South St. Gang”, his years as an actor, a famous pitchman, a successful entrepreneur in America and England, Bull Fighter in Spain, TV producer, smuggling pilot, big game fisherman, and the celebrities and villains he met along the way. The last section of the book deals with his twenty-nine years in federal prisons. From the infamous Super-Max at Marion Illinois to Camp Fed in Florida, he takes the reader on a tour of the federal prison system and introduces him to the convicts.
On May 1, 1979 President Jimmy Carter’s Attorney General, Griffin Bell, called a press conference in the nation’s capital to announce the arrest and indictment of the Black Tunas. A gang of marijuana smugglers led by Robert Platshorn and his two partners Robby Meinster and Big Gene Myers. Bell called the Tunas the “slickest, most sophisticated pot smugglers of the 70’s.” He told the gathered reporters that the Tunas used a fleet of aircraft, and five yachts, to smuggle over a half-million pounds of Columbian marijuana into the United States in a six month period. Later, the DEA would claim the Tunas brought in anywhere from one million to three million pounds of high-grade grass and made over three hundred million dollars.
Twenty nine years later, the official DEA website still has a picture of the gold medallion they claim Black Tuna gang members wore as “a talisman and symbol of their membership in this smuggling group.” They do not mention that no trace was ever found of the fleet of aircraft, the five yachts, or any fraction of the alleged three hundred million dollars. Now, after twenty-nine years in federal prison, Robert Platshorn, better known as The Black Tuna, breaks his silence and tells the true story of Americas’ longest serving marijuana prisoner. From his first toke to his last ton, Platshorn accounts for every pound, every penny, every plane and every yacht, including a few that the government never knew about.
About the Author Robert Platshorn
Robert Platshorn, author of Black Tuna Diaries and America’s longest (30 yrs) imprisoned nonviolent marijuana offender. Raised on South St. in downtown Philadelphia, acting ambitions earned him a supporting role in a successful off Broadway play while still in high school. The same skill led to Robert becoming one of America’s most famous pitchmen. The late Billy Mays called him “A legend in the pitch business”. Seen for years on TV, at fairs, and shows selling Vita Mix, frozen food knives, and gadgets. Robert studied communications at University of Miami.
At twenty-four he moved to London to found Dynamic Reading Institutes. Starting with a rented classroom, within three years there were fourteen schools in three countries and his teachers giving classes at Oxford, Cambridge, London University and the House of Lords. On his return to the U.S he started the Ice Cream Factory. Using a unique pushcart he invented, he became the second largest distributor of Breyers ice cream.
He moved back to Miami in 1975 to attend Law School. Miami in the 70’s was the center of the Colombian pot trade. Robert turned his business acumen to the mission of smuggling Colombian pot. Attorney general Griffin Bell named Robert’s organization the Black Tuna Gang and alleged they were responsible for most of the marijuana crossing the Florida coast. In 1979, a year after quiting the smuggling business, he was indicted, convicted and sentenced to 64 years in federal prison. He was released in late 2008 after serving almost 30 years in eleven different prisons.
Robert lives in Florida with his wife Lynne. He works for Medical Marijuana, collecting signatures for a Florida ballot initiative sponsored by PUFMM and NORML. He has appeared at Universities, Concerts, benefits, Expos and in the media to promote the cause, tell his story, and sign copies of his autobiography, Black Tuna Diaries (www.blacktunadiaries.com). His story was featured in three different editions of High Times, The New York Times, The Wall St Journal, Time, and most other national media outlets. His writing has been seen in The New York Times, High Times and various publications.
“Bobby Tuna” will soon be featured in “Square Grouper” an exciting new documentary from rakontur, producers of Cocaine Cowboys, and the ESPN hit film, “The U.”
Contact: Robert Platshorn-email tunaville@yahoo.com Phone 954-773-6967
