Charles H Hood

Wheeler, Dealer! Charles H Hood

"Wheeler, Dealer!" is the never-before-told story of the murder of Roger Wheeler, a multi-millionaire and the CEO of World Jai Alai, America's largest Jai Alai Fronton; and the Telex Corporation, a leading supplier of computer technology to the DEA and other such powerful government agencies. This is the true, behind-the-scenes story, based upon the more than 5,000 pages of files compiled by the nearly 100 participating detectives involved in this nearly 30-year cross-country murder investigation. The files not only tracked the status of the crime, but also included multiple interviews with former crime-family members, since-turned FBI informants. And it was the sum of such interviews that not only provided assistance to the investigators, but will provide an astonishing learning experience to the readers. As head of his two corporations, Wheeler was in a position of considerable power. Accordingly he was renowned to be a head-strong, ego-driven entrepreneur. He feared no one and repeatedly chastised all who interfered with his life -- including members of the mafia. Wheeler had but one goal in life, to make money. But in his many quests to do so, his "No Fear" actions negatively impacted three of the five major crime families in America, resulting in each authorizing "hits" on him. What you thought of Roger depended upon how you knew him. His public image was one of a "wealthy, charming, church-going father of four." But those who knew him as their boss, considered him to be "a mean-spirited and belligerent leader" who listened to no one and treated his employees with such disrespect that he was despised by nearly all. All things considered, Roger Wheeler's life was one that epitomized a "Wheeler, Dealer! His other reputations included being: "An aggressive, over-sexed womanizer;" a heavy gambler who too often slow-paid his debts; and allegedly the leader of a home-burglary ring that targeted his friends. It was the investigators' discovery of this secret life that led to a greatly-expanded list of suspects -- more than 120 at one time. It was a list that included the many members of the underworld that he had challenged or fired; his gambling foes and the alleged home-burglary pals who had twice threatened his life for non-payment of debts; and finally the many revenge-seeking husbands and boyfriends of the innumerable women he had successfully bedded -- his preferences being his employees or the wives of his close associates.