Current Spotlight: The Cobra
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We have received an injunction by attorneys representing the subject depicted on this webpage. In order to comply, we have removed certain sections where facts could not be substantiated.
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Introduction
The Cobra is one of the most prolific and colorful gangsters that we have covered. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, he made his mark across the U.S. and oversees. While he is best known for working as muscle for one of the most prominent Columbian cocaine families, he also ran a healthcare empire and was a successful technologist.
The most unique gangster of modern times
The Cobra is the most unique gangster that we have featured on gangstatales. He is unique for the following reasons:
- Started as a teen
- Worked for the most powerful cocaine family in the world
- Arrested more times than any person we have featured
- Has been known to plan suicide missions and take them on personally
- Extremely intelligent: was awarded the most prominent AI patent.
- Has been incarcerated in the toughest facilities from Detroit to LA to Miami to Abroad
- Founded and profited from several legitimate businesses including healthcare and technology
Early Life
The Cobra was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to a father that was an engineer in the auto industry and a mother who was a healthcare professional. According to all of our sources, his family did not struggle financially. But some describe the neighborhood he grew up in as being in a place that was between a ghetto and a trailer park. In school he made friends with a group of guys that committed burglaries, petty theft and auto theft. Three people in this group eventually got caught while attempting to steal a Cadillac vehicle. To get light punishment, all three named the Cobra as being an accomplice. The Cobra was apprehended and was given a chance to name the others in the group. He did not name anyone and due to this he received 6 months in juvenile detention in Pontiac, MI.
It was in this facility that he met people that would change his life.
For reasons that we have not determined, the Cobra and a veteran inmate named Luka got into a physical confrontation. Luka's friends jumped in to assist him. While alone, the Cobra managed to get the best of Luka and his friends, putting two of them in the hospital. Ironically, after this incident the Cobra and Luka became in separatable.
The Cobra was released early. Before he was released, Luka gave him the phone number of his older cousin, "Pako." Luka explained that Pako makes a lot of money and is always looking for help.
Working for Pako
After being released from juvenile detention, the Cobra obtained a position working for Pako based on his friend's introduction. Pako's business revolved around getting pure cocaine from Miami and bringing it back to Detroit where it was cut and sold. The Cobra accompanied Pako to and from Miami several times.
During one trip, when the Cobra was only 14, Pako let him drive. Pako asked him to stop at a gas station so he could buy cigarettes. The Cobra stopped. Pako went in and then came back to the car. As the Cobra drove away, his car was surrounded by the Miami Police. Four people in the car were arrested including the Cobra. While nobody in the car was aware, Pako had robbed the gas station using a firearm.
The Cobra, his friend, and an associate were interrogated about Pako. The authorities made it clear that if they gave statements about Pako they would be released. The Cobra's friend and associate both took the deal. They gave statements and were released. Severe pressure was put on the Cobra to give statements against Pako. Since he was driving the car they threatened to charge him with armed robbery. The Cobra remained silent and was kept in jail.
Meeting Rivi
During his third week in jail, the Cobra was visited by Jorge Ayala-Rivera (aka "Rivi"). Rivi explained that he was the one supplying Pako with the product. He thanked the Cobra for remaining silent despite the consequences. After enticing the Cobra with large amounts of money to work directly for him, the Cobra agreed. Rivi advised the Cobra that once they bailed him out, he could not make his court date. And furthermore he would be a fugitive. The Cobra agreed. Some sources say that the Cobra took the deal because he was booked under an alias and was not worried about the fugitive status. Other sources say that the Cobra is not rational and actually likes being chased. Regardless of the reason, Rivi bailed the Cobra out and he started to work for Rivi and his team immediately.
Working for Rivi
It's not apparent whether the Cobra knew it or not at the start of his new employment, but Rivi was not a drug transporter. Rivi and his team were hitmen for Griselda Blanco, who was the top cocaine distributor in the U.S. By all accounts, she was ruthless and vengeful. It is documented that she is responsible for over 100 homicides in the U.S.
The Cobra would spend his summers working for Rivi. Based on interviews from three of Rivi's henchmen, the Cobra quickly gained favor with Rivi because he was willing to take on jobs that nobody else would do. They believed that he had something mentally wrong with him and this made him overlook the danger of the job. One witness stated that "there was a job that Griselda wanted done immediately, it was too dangerous and was basically a suicide mission. We tried to convince Rivi that it could not be done. All of us were on the same page. But the Cobra without understanding all the angles immediately told Rivi that he would do it. This is just one of the reasons why even though Rivi took a liking to that kid, he was an outsider to the rest of us. The kid was like a cowboy doing his own shit. But me and the rest of the guys stuck together. Look he is not doing time right now like the rest of us. He claims that he was just guarding shipments. I'm not going to say shit...but just ask the rest of the guys, we all know that's not true. He is just as guilty as the rest of us. Just because he feeds homeless n**** and shit like that does not mean that God will forgive him. He can walk around acting like a doctor or computer guy but we all know who he really is. And when he dies, he is going to hell just like the rest of us."
During one of these "suicide missions," Miami police who were allegedly corrupt ambushed the Cobra while he was transporting 20 kilos of cocaine to a marina. Instead of making a felony stop they fired at the Cobra with high powered weapons. As the Cobra made a u-turn to get away, bullets pierced through his Mustang and shattered his hip joint. Another bullet shattered the driver's side window and hit him in the head just above his left temple. He was able to speed away to his South Beach safehouse and page Rivi. According to all accounts Rivi personally came and carried him off with a full entourage. It is not known where he was taken but the Cobra's hip was destroyed. He was given an artificial hip. The bullet could not be removed from his skull. Metal staples were used to close his head wound. We could not verify where he was taken to recover. Some who we've interviewed say it was Ft. Lauderdale, some say it was in Rivi's safehouse, most say he went back to his parent's house in Detroit, Michigan.
During the marina incident a member of the Miami police lost his life. The Cobra claims that he was shooting in self defense. Because the police officers involved were off duty and could not explain what they were doing at that location, they did not name Rivi or the Cobra. But according to most people we interviewed, they held a deadly grudge against the Cobra. At police bars all over South Florida, the word went out that the Cobra was a marked man.
The Cobra allegedly wanted to stay in Miami. But Rivi convinced him to go back to Detroit. Not only was it dangerous for him, but he would be endangering the entire crew. The Cobra reluctantly complied and was transported back to Detroit where he finished recovering.
Life after Miami
Education
The Cobra faced challenges trying to complete high school. He had missed a significant portion of his high school education due to detainment in Miami. And when he attended school, he became involved in a number of altercations due to his unpredictable temperament. Although his grades were poor, he was able to graduate with his original class.
After graduation, the Cobra gained admission in University of Michigan. It is still unknown how he managed to gain admission despite his legal record and mediocre grades.
According to University records and transcripts, the Cobra earned a 4.0 GPA his first semester while taking graduate level law courses while in the pre-law program.
By the second semester his professors were so impressed that they recommended him to work with U.S. Congressman Levin in a congressional internship. The Cobra was accepted into the program. He gained many political allies during the tenure.
First Legitimate Startup
While the Cobra was attending the University of Michigan and interning for Congressman Levin, he formed a company called American Clinical Resource. He took advantage of the shortage of Physical Therapists and other healthcare professionals. The Cobra searched for and procured health care professionals from India.
He sponsored them on H1-B visas. He would then fill gaps within the healthcare system and have his employees provide services to geriatric patients and bill Medicare. He used unseen marketing strategies to earn contracts from large companies such as the Visiting Nurse Association.
The Cobra then created a software program that automated all medical note generation and HCFA billing. This gave his company a great advantage due to the fact that all competitors were still using paper notes.
The Cobra's software application would also boost the Medicare reimbursement rate by using algorithms. Although there is no evidence of the Cobra studying Computer Science, all sources interviewed stated that the Cobra programmed the software himself without any assistance. One source claims that he did this in one weekend. Based on the independent technology professionals that we consulted, the Cobra most likely engaged a large team of professional programmers to create the software, it would be next to impossible for any one to do it alone in the timespan that it was created.
While our experts have stated their opinion, the Cobra (with his legal name) is the only one listed on the software copyright. Furthermore we have interviewed several sources who state that they watched the Cobra programming the software for 72 hours straight. They all claim that nobody else was in his office.
With the financial boost from the software, he was able to amass 45 therapists. At that point in time, the average therapist visit made $400. With the increase in visits due to the auto-generated medical notes, the Cobra earned more than any of his competitors. According to HCFA documents, his company made 4.5 million dollars per month at it's peak.
Deadly Competition
The Cobra's biggest competition was a Pakistani named Amjad Khan. Khan was a feared healthcare mogul. He owned over 25 companies including American Home Health Care which was the largest therapy service provider. Khan was known for his violence and bribery. All sources state that nothing could be done relating to healthcare in Southwest Michigan without Khan's blessing.
As the Cobra expanded, his company started overlapping with that of Khan. The Cobra was warned by well wishers not to interfere with Khan's business. He did not listen. He took 3 of Khan's contracts in East Detroit.
The Cobra's company was hosting a Christmas Party at a local Olive Garden. According to 2 sources, when the Cobra went to use the restroom he was greeted by 4 of Khan's armed men. The warning was as follows: "You are taking money away from Mr.Khan, you don't need the money...Mr. Khan supports 200 people from his village and you were born into luxury. As a gentlemen he asks you, but at the same time you should know that he can bring a professional killer from Pakistan to finish you and be back in their country before the White police arrive." Without laying a hand on the Cobra they left.
Sources state that the Cobra contacted Rivi who promised to send 4 people to help the Cobra resolve this matter. While waiting, the Cobra received another warning and did not budge. He was waiting for Rivi's reinforcements. The next month, Rivi was arrested and charged on multiple murder counts. Nobody arrived to assist the Cobra.
In the next month there were 2 attempts to kill the Cobra. He barely escaped with this life during the last one. Two of his former employees claim that he changed after this. They state that he looked like a different person.
The Cobra was able to figure out who the hired assassin was. His name was Hafeez and he was from the same village as Khan. The Cobra had his right hand man try to follow him to find out where his base was. Hafeez was obviously trained in countersurveillance. It took weeks before the Cobra's right hand man found his office. The Cobra tried to come up with a plan to eliminate Hafeez but it was too difficult to get him on the road due to his security detail.
The Cobra eventually came up with a plan and paid his right hand man a large sum to carry it out. The Cobra's right hand man waited outside Hafeez's office. Once he saw him in the office through the window, he drove a truck right through the wall of his office. He then jumped into a waiting vehicle and fled.
Unfortunately for the Cobra, Hafeez survived with minor injuries. This angered Khan and a message was sent to the Cobra to hand over all of his business or he would be dead in 24 hours. According to sources, Khan tripled his bounty on the Cobra with Hafeez. Sources say that Hafeez told Khan that he would not accept any money to kill the Cobra, it would be his pleasure.
A great deal of the Cobra's loyal associates came to see him and pay their final respects. With no support, most thought that the Cobra's time was very limited. The Cobra fled to a safe house in Detroit. Hafeez and his men hunted the Cobra day and night. According to sources, the only person that knew the location of the safehouse was the Cobra's best friend from Kindergarten, Jason Pesant. And Jason reportedly stayed with him in this safehouse.
Cobra Strikes Back
On October 31 Halloween two trick-or-treaters showed up to Hafeez's home in Troy, Michigan. The two men were dressed in costumes and wearing masks. Hafeez is a conservative Muslim and would never let his wife answer the door. So when the two trick-or-treaters rang the bell, he opened the door. The men immediately pulled knives and stabbed Hafeez in the heart. They then walked to a waiting car and fled as he bled out and died.
Hafeez was in the country illegally and this incident was never reported to authorities. While there is nothing to corroborate this, sources say that the two men were the Cobra and his right hand man Altaf. Nobody has ever been charged with this incident.
The Great Exit
After Hafeez's death, Khan made it clear that the Cobra's life was limited. He called a meeting with the Cobra to demand that he hand over his business.
Khan invited him to meet at his office. Khan has over 6 bodyguards who are also assassins. It may have been due to this that the Cobra insisted on meeting somewhere else. By all accounts, the Cobra had only one person with him who could protect him, Altaf. It was next to impossible to ensure safety. The Cobra set the meeting at the airport terminal. Sources say that he did this to ensure that nobody had firearms. At the meeting, Khan gave him one month to wind down and hand his business over to him.
The Cobra immediately looked for buyers for his business. He made a deal with a buyer within a week. Sources say that the Cobra assembled a hit team from Columbia to finish Khan. Once he received the money for his business the Cobra retreated to his safehouse. Before the Cobra's hit team could get to Khan, Khan was arrested on Medicare fraud charges and fled to Pakistan. His family was arrested and Khan eventually returned to Detroit to face charges. He was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
The Cobra's sources told him that the government was targeting him next for Medicare fraud. He fled the country within 24 hours of getting the news.
Back to the U.S.
Killing of Best Friend
While the Cobra was still hiding out in India waiting for the statue of limitations to expire on Medicare fraud, he received the tragic news that his best friend, Jason Pesant was murdered in his Detroit safe house. By all accounts, the Cobra flew into a rage and flew back to Detroit under the alias Arjun Menon. Little is known what transpired during the next 3 months. The only thing known is that Khan's last 3 henchmen were never seen again.
After this, the Cobra was not seen for 6 months. Some say he went into a deep depression and stayed in a Northern Michigan cabin. Others claim that they saw him intoxicated in Detroit clubs. This is an interesting observation because up until this point the Cobra was known not to drink or use illegal drugs.
Most say that after the death of his best friend he went completely legitimate.
A Gangster Gone Straight
Legitimate Business
By the end of the 90's, the Cobra started consulting with large companies on software. He used on of his many aliases to hide his shady past. Records show that he has written mission critical software for large companies such as Costco, Warner Brothers and Walmart amongst other companies.
Pioneering AI
Decades before AI was in general use, the Cobra founded a technology company named Blue Lakes Technology. This company was a pioneer of AI and Machine Learning. The company was awarded 5 patents in AI technology. Decades later once AI was in most apps, Blue Lakes received royalties from hundreds of companies using its patented technology.
A Stable Life
For the next few decades the Cobra continued to create software applications and invest in real estate. He relocated to LA which is where he currently resides.
Arrest in Miami
A father ?
The Cobra's old girlfriend Sylvia Rodriguez contacted with the news that he was the father of her twin sons. The Cobra had a brief relationship with Sylvia during when he was in his early teens in Miami. According to multiple sources, the Cobra was confused as to how he could be the father of the twins based on the timing of their relationship.
Sylvia informed the Cobra that the twins were both incarcerated in Miami on capital offenses. Despite the advice of his well-wishers, the Cobra decided to travel to Miami to visit the twins. This would be the first time he travelled to Miami since the shootout.
Back in Miami
In Miami the Cobra took a few days to connect with old friends. He then went to the prison to speak to the twins. Apparently, both twins refused to speak to him. As the Cobra left the prison, he was contacted by an old friend that told him that the Miami police were aware that he was in town and were looking for him.
Capturing the Cobra
Once the Cobra found out that the police were aware of his presence he immediately fled to the airport and attempted to fly back to L.A.
As soon as he entered the M.I.A. airport he was surrounded by the Miami PD Swat Team. 25 men with M-16 machine guns surrounded the Cobra. He was taken to an undisclosed location and allegedly tortured for hours. He was accused of terrorism and assault. The Cobra was denied legal counsel and placed in county jail for 2 weeks. The Cobra hired a celebrity attorney who was able to get him released on $1000,000 bail.
Net Worth
Assets and Investments
According to most sources, the Cobra is worth approximately $33 Million in liquid assets. He is said to own another $19 Million dollars in real estate property including a 3 story Redondo Beach house that his ex wife and daughter reside in.
It has also been reported that the Cobra holds a large but unverifiable amount in a Texas hedge fund owned by his relative.
Retired Life
Family
According to several sources, the Cobra has been married multiple times.
Several sources state that the Cobra has twin boys who are currently incarcerated in the Dade Correctional Institution.
Additionally, he has an infant daughter with his last wife who resides in Southern California.
His parents, sister and nephews reside in Detroit, Michigan.
Current Status
Active Warrants
As of the time of this publication, the Cobra has 3 active warrants for charges stemming from assaulting a police officer to attempted murder and tax evasion.
Flagrant Behavior
While the Cobra has multiple warrants, he continues to flaunt his money. He has been seen on over-the-top spending sprees on Rodeo drive with prominent hip hop artists.
The Cobra has even appeared in music videos with hip hop stars such as Tyga.
Fitness Modelling
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
While having multiple warrants, the Cobra boldly modeled for designer fashion brands.
Men's Health
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
The Cobra was featured in top fitness magazines.
Inevitable End
Miami PD's Vendetta
According to several sources multiple officers of the Miami Police Department want to see the Cobra dead as they blame one of their colleagues deaths on him.
IRS
The Cobra is currently being prosecuted for tax evasion. According to IRS documents, he owes more than 11 Million dollars in back taxes.
Old Trafficking Rivals
Several sources who we have interviewed in prison state that several people who have had loved ones killed by Rivi are looking for an opportunity for revenge. Since the Cobra is the only associated alive and not incarcerated, he makes the perfect target. The sources state that it is only a matter of time before the Cobra is eliminated.
Ghosts from Healthcare Past
Many associates of Khan believe that the Cobra was personally involved in Hafeez's murder. Two sources state that there is a one Million dollar contract out on the Cobra and his right hand man Altaf.
Summary
The Cobra has lived a colorful life. He has accomplished things that most gangsters can only dream of. But in the process, he has made enemies with powerful factions. As such, his days are numbered.