American Vigilante Reveals How He Went To WAR Against The WORST Cartels In Mexico

The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell

Johnny Mitchell

True Crime

4.3 • 563 Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 123 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In one of the most unbelievable redemption stories ever told, Johnny sits down with Dave Franke, a man whose life has taken him from the streets of North Hollywood to the front lines of Mexico’s war against the cartels. After losing custody of his daughter, he made the unthinkable choice — to move to Zacatecas, Mexico, and join the state police, fighting the same cartels that once supplied the drugs that nearly killed him. He opens up about: -Growing up amid gang violence and drug addiction in 1980s Los Angeles -Surviving attempted murder charges and life on the run -Finding faith and redemption after nearly losing everything -His shocking experience inside the Zacatecas State Police — from brutal training to real-life gun battles with cartel convoys -Corruption, U.S. involvement, and what it’s really like to fight the cartels from the inside Raw, intense, and deeply human — this episode dives into the darkness of addiction, the chaos of Mexico’s cartel war, and the unlikely redemption of a man who walked through both. Go Support Dave! Website: https://www.davefranke.com/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Ava! Download the Ava app today, and when you join using my promo code CONNECT20, you’ll save 20% for your first year—monthly or annual, your choice. Surfshark! Go to https://surfshark.com/connectmitchell or use code CONNECTMITCHELL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Ridge! Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code CONNECT at https://www.Ridge.com/CONNECT #Ridgepod Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Intro: Violence in Mexico & Dave Franke's Quest 02:32 Dave's Background: Childhood & Gang Life in LA 08:26 Falling Into Drugs & Drug Dealing 13:19 Addiction, Violence & Attempted Murder 21:56 Rock Bottom and Getting Sober 24:18 This Episode Is Sponsored By AVA! 26:27 Losing Custody & The Move to Mexico 27:57 Motivation: Fighting the Cartels 29:34 State Police: Joining & Training in Mexico 35:34 Corruption, Human Rights & Reality of Policing 41:13 This Episode Is Sponsored By SURFSHARK and RIDGE! 45:46 Cartel Wars: Operations, Shootouts & Survival 55:49 Life in Zacatecas: Convoys, Shootings & Daily Danger 01:06:06 Cartel Corruption, Moles & Betrayal 01:21:05 Election Violence & Political Corruption 01:43:33 Did He Make a Difference? Reflections on Violence 01:49:49 Leaving the Force, Law School, & Life After 01:57:46 Reflections on Mexico & Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The level of violence in Mexico is just on a whole other level.
0:03.1	Inzakotakas, there are bodies hanging from bridges.
0:05.6	Inzakakas are our heads and coolers.
0:07.5	They've gone in there and killed everybody in the bars.
0:09.9	Your own brothers might kill you or something or kidnap you.
0:13.3	I've been offered on three different occasions a chance to join a cartel indirectly.
0:18.4	Dave Frank has one of the most interesting life stories I've ever heard.
0:21.8	He grew up as a gangbanger in Skinhead Gangs all over Los Angeles, California.
0:26.6	And from a young age, he was a prolific drug dealer and a drug addict.
0:30.0	When he was 30 years old after getting sober, Dave decided to move to Mexico to fight the very
0:35.3	same cartels that he used to work for.
0:37.5	He ended up in Zacatecas, Mexico, in the middle of the war between the Sinaloa
0:41.5	cartel and the ultra-violent Zeta cartel.
0:44.4	Dave managed to join the elite unit of the Zakateka's special police force and worked
0:49.3	for five years in some of the most intense combat anywhere in Mexico.
0:53.4	Dave reveals in shocking detail the life
0:56.3	of a Mexican law enforcement officer, the deep corruption and brutality that exists at the highest
1:01.5	levels, the insane shootouts and betrayals by his comrades, and admits that his unit was working
1:07.1	as a pawn of the government who was in bed with the Sinaloa cartel in their battle
1:11.7	to defeat the Zetas.
1:13.1	And for more content with Dave, where he reveals secrets he's unable to share with the public,
1:17.6	head over to Patreon, patreon.com slash The Connect show.
	...

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