(NewsNation) — A new Mark Wahlberg docuseries detailing the story of a college athlete turned cartel kingpin has just been released on Amazon Prime.  

“Cocaine Quarterback: Signal-Caller for the Cartel” goes into the story of Owen Hanson, who upon graduating from college, made a deal with a Mexican cartel to smuggle drugs, as well as pursuing his goal of becoming rich quickly through a money laundering scheme, according to People Magazine.  

The start of his drug empire began when he was dealing party drugs and steroids from Mexico to his University of Southern California football teammate to fit in, according to the U.S. Sun.  

Hanson ended up connecting with the cartel through one of his associates, which led to the criminal organization expanding worldwide.  

In addition to his drug operation, Hanson, 43, started an illegal sports betting operation where he had clients who were professional athletes and Hollywood Stars, according to the Sun.  

He reportedly trafficked cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Australia, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune 

Owen Hanson earned millions a week 

According to the series’ synopsis, Owen’s money laundering scheme lost the cartel millions of dollars, sticking him with a massive amount of debt and in the middle of an FBI investigation.  

Hanson claims that at the height of his drug and betting empire, he was bringing in $1 million a day.  

He was also intimidating his associates, including gambler RJ Cipriani, who was an FBI informant. 

After Cipriani deliberately lost $2.5 million at blackjack, having received the money from Hanson as part of a laundering scheme, Hanson threatened Cipriani’s life, information that Cipriani later disclosed to the feds.

Authorities arrested Hanson in 2015 while he was playing golf in California.   

Hanson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute drugs and racketeering conspiracy. He was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison in 2017, as well as a lifetime of supervised release, People Magazine reported.  

He was also ordered to forfeit $5 million, including $100,000 in gold and silver coins, a Porsche Panamera, two Range Rovers, luxury watches, homes in Costa Rica, Peru and Cabo San Lucas and a sailboat. 

Owen Hanson’s early release from prison 

Hanson was released from federal prison in 2024 after serving seven years. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, his sentence reduction motion was filed under seal.  

Since its release, Hanson launched an ice protein bar company using a recipe he created in prison, according to People.  

“I should have been dead a long time ago,” he said, according to People. “I should have been killed by the cartel. I should have overdosed on cocaine that was laced with fentanyl. Going to prison saved my life, and I can honestly say that as scary as prison was, it’s the best thing that happened to me because now I feel better than ever.”