The Company

"The Company" was a drug and arms organization consisting of approximately 300 members, many of whom were former military men, ex-police officers, or ex-intelligence personnel. It was involved in large-scale illegal drug trafficking, gunrunning, and mercenary operations, with assets estimated at nearly $30 million, including planes, ships, and real estate.¹

Activities and Operations

The organization imported billions of dollars worth of narcotics from Latin America. It was also involved in the theft of specialized military equipment from the U.S. Naval Weapons Station at China Lake in the Mojave Desert, including infrared sniperscopes, a television camera for night vision, tracer ammunition, a remote-control helicopter, and secret components from a Sidewinder guided missile's radar unit. Some of this stolen equipment was intended for drug smugglers, and some was traded to drug suppliers in Colombia.¹

"The Company" was headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, and Mena, Arkansas. Twenty-nine members of the organization were indicted by the Fresno federal grand jury in 1981, including Andrew "Drew" Thornton, a former narcotics officer who later died while parachuting with 77 pounds of cocaine.¹

Connections and Investigations

Michael Riconosciuto claimed to have provided "valuable intelligence" on illegal drug activities and "The Company" to Brian Leighton, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in Fresno. Riconosciuto stated that he had been instrumental in helping Leighton identify members of "The Company" and even led law enforcement officers to a marijuana cache belonging to its members. However, Leighton's testimony in Riconosciuto's trial was evasive regarding their direct collaboration.¹

Danny Casolaro had been communicating regularly with Michael Riconosciuto and learned about "The Company." It is suggested that Casolaro may have scheduled a meeting with the Lexington FBI regarding drug trafficking by "The Company" shortly before his death.¹

Michael Riconosciuto also claimed that "The Company" was still active and that Brian Leighton's prosecutions had only served to "vaccinate" the group against further penetration. Riconosciuto sought to hand "The Company" and Robert Booth Nichols over to FinCen in exchange for entry into the Witness Protection Program, but his efforts were unsuccessful.¹