Military Tuna

by Robert Platshorn, Mon Mar 8, 2010

This chapter never made it into the Black Tuna Diaries (blacktunadiaries.com). Maybe out of fear of Uncle Sam or maybe because I'm not sure if today's generation is aware of the drug experiments and the illegal ops the CIA was so fond of in those days. Like everything in my book, every word is true.

It was the 1960's, the height of the Vietnam War. I was working as a pitchman. Selling Vita Mix liquefiers, at state fairs, home shows, and department stores all over the country. During the previous two years I kept my draft board in Atlantic City informed of each change of address as I moved from city to city. Often two or three times a month. I don’t think they appreciated the joke. While it may have been perfectly legal, it frustrated their efforts to deliver my draft notice. But all good things come to an end.

It was winter and I was back home in Atlantic City after …READ MORE

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How I Found Captain Randy

by Robert Platshorn, Mon Mar 1, 2010

April 1, 2008, after serving 30 years in federal prison for smuggling marijuana, I traded my prison bunk for one in a halfway house. I was determined to locate my co-defendants. Not to reconstitute the Black Tuna Gang (blacktunadiaries.com). We had all been close friends. I wanted to know where and how they were. My first line of investigation was the Internet. Now you have to keep in mind that when I went to prison in 1979, there were no home computers, no desktops, no PCs or laptops. I did a quick “teach yourself” Windows XP course and went to work. Even that was no easy job. The halfway house was worse than prison. No cellphones and no Internet. The only way I could get online was to get permission for a two hour visit to the local employment center where a few old computers were available to job hunters. Their use was monitored, so I had to find one the back of the room where my screen couldn't be seen by the …READ MORE

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29 YEARS IN DURANCE VILE

by Robert Platshorn, Mon Feb 15, 2010

 When I speak at colleges, book signings or interviews, the most asked question is “how did you survive almost 30 years in prison?”. There is no simple answer. But here is a peak into my journey through the federal prison system. It was written for a prison publication, but I figure most of you understand the lingo.....for one reason or another.

"You will serve a regular adult sentence of 31 years followed by a consecutive non-parolable sentence of 33 years under the King Pin statute.” That was mid 1980, before the “new law”. I had been …READ MORE

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I'm a Very Lucky Guy

by Robert Platshorn, Tue Feb 9, 2010

I got out! I was sentenced to sixty-four years for non-violent marijuana offenses. High Time magazine gave me the dubious title of “the longest serving non-violent marijuana offender in America”. It won't be mine for long. Many sentenced after me will soon be able to claim my title. They are serving LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE and will never get to spend another minute as a free man.

Here are a few reasons I'm one hell of a lucky guy. I was a pot smuggler in the late 1970's. At the time, no one received a life sentence for marijuana. That changed in the early 80's as Reagan stepped up this insane failure of a drug war. At the time I was thirty-six and thought 64 years, most of it non-parolable, was in effect a life …READ MORE

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Steamed Tuna!

by Robert Platshorn, Fri Jan 29, 2010

Date line Tunaville, Fl...1/29/10.........The Tuna is pissed, angry, steamed, and very very disappointed.

I was invited to be the wrap-up speaker at the Cannapalooza in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay resort.

I was excited about the event and looked forward to speaking, meeting everone and spending three days signing copies of Black Tuna Diaries (www.blacktunadiaries.com)

Last night I received this email.

 We regret to inform all of our fans who were eagerly …READ MORE