Russ (former informant)

And yet, I still feel like I'm betraying one more person that's close to me.

And yet, I still feel like I'm betraying one more person that's close to me.

It's all deception. It's all fucking lies created to confuse people. And the informants involved are just as confused as the people that were the targets. And these reports are based on search warrants, you know, provided to a judge. You are lying under oath. But you obtained a warrant under lies. You're a fucking criminal.

It's all deception. It's all fucking lies created to confuse people. And the informants involved are just as confused as the people that were the targets. And these reports are based on search warrants, you know, provided to a judge. You are lying under oath. But you obtained a warrant under lies. You're a fucking criminal.

And if you're breaking laws to catch a criminal, by definition, you are a fucking criminal. It's a fucked up system.

And if you're breaking laws to catch a criminal, by definition, you are a fucking criminal. It's a fucked up system.

There's been a bunch of close calls. I try to avoid it, you know what I'm saying, but there have been a bunch of close calls. I wake up, and I should be hoping for the best.

There's been a bunch of close calls. I try to avoid it, you know what I'm saying, but there have been a bunch of close calls. I wake up, and I should be hoping for the best.

I think everybody in this shit's a victim at certain levels. I certainly am. And maybe I'm not the worst victim, but, like, I do suffer from it daily. You know, it is a drug war, and I think I suffer from PTSD like any other soldier would. You know, you guys coming out of nowhere 20 years later, I finally settled in in life and got this stuff behind me. I'm dealing with it here again.

I think everybody in this shit's a victim at certain levels. I certainly am. And maybe I'm not the worst victim, but, like, I do suffer from it daily. You know, it is a drug war, and I think I suffer from PTSD like any other soldier would. You know, you guys coming out of nowhere 20 years later, I finally settled in in life and got this stuff behind me. I'm dealing with it here again.

You know, not poor me. I fucking deserve it. You know, say, like, explain the whole story to someone that I was born into this shit. Another victim of the drug game. People will just read it and say, you know what? They're fucking drug dealers and they got what they deserved. Because they're breaking laws, we can do anything we want to them. And maybe they're right. I don't know.

You know, not poor me. I fucking deserve it. You know, say, like, explain the whole story to someone that I was born into this shit. Another victim of the drug game. People will just read it and say, you know what? They're fucking drug dealers and they got what they deserved. Because they're breaking laws, we can do anything we want to them. And maybe they're right. I don't know.

It's a fucked up system that few people understand. And I wouldn't know how to change it. I know it would be tough.

It's a fucked up system that few people understand. And I wouldn't know how to change it. I know it would be tough.

It's all deception. It's all fucking lies created to confuse people, and the informants involved are just as confused as the people that were the targets.

It's all deception. It's all fucking lies created to confuse people, and the informants involved are just as confused as the people that were the targets.

I haven't talked about it in years, but like, I feel it should come out. But you have to be careful. That is sensitive information there. It's not about getting in a fight with someone who thinks I ratted him out. These dudes are fucking dangerous, man. Trust me when I tell you.

I haven't talked about it in years, but like, I feel it should come out. But you have to be careful. That is sensitive information there. It's not about getting in a fight with someone who thinks I ratted him out. These dudes are fucking dangerous, man. Trust me when I tell you.

I'm really dependent on you for my safety, for my family's safety.

I'm really dependent on you for my safety, for my family's safety.

When I first got in touch with him... I knew it was something to do with that era. I knew it was something I didn't want to talk about. Even now, I'm like, damn, why am I talking about this?

When I first got in touch with him... I knew it was something to do with that era. I knew it was something I didn't want to talk about. Even now, I'm like, damn, why am I talking about this?

I never paid my debt for all this. And Carm is a motherfucker. So I guess you showing up is fitting.

I never paid my debt for all this. And Carm is a motherfucker. So I guess you showing up is fitting.

If a reporter knocking on your door is all it is, it beats a Colombian with a machine gun.

If a reporter knocking on your door is all it is, it beats a Colombian with a machine gun.

I should have got a job at the fucking post office. Yeah, I'd be doing good.

I should have got a job at the fucking post office. Yeah, I'd be doing good.

School clothes and fucking food and shit like that. You know, sadly, a couple hundred bucks to a kid with nothing, you know, that's a lot of money. It's probably what a normal kid would be provided with if they had parents who had means.

School clothes and fucking food and shit like that. You know, sadly, a couple hundred bucks to a kid with nothing, you know, that's a lot of money. It's probably what a normal kid would be provided with if they had parents who had means.

Pure cocaine. It sells itself in a weird way. Most cocaine. I've never tried cocaine, you guys believe that or not. But pure cocaine is the key to making big, big money like I'm talking about.

Pure cocaine. It sells itself in a weird way. Most cocaine. I've never tried cocaine, you guys believe that or not. But pure cocaine is the key to making big, big money like I'm talking about.

There was no middleman between the cocaine and I for the most part. It's such an adrenaline rush. The rush of it, the danger of it, the cash of it. It's a high that I miss some days.

There was no middleman between the cocaine and I for the most part. It's such an adrenaline rush. The rush of it, the danger of it, the cash of it. It's a high that I miss some days.

To this day, 100%. That dude's fucking bad. Like, look, here's the thing. You know, I don't fear many people at all. I can usually judge the dangerous ones from the harmless ones. And I've done that, but I put that mother right at the top of the list.

To this day, 100%. That dude's fucking bad. Like, look, here's the thing. You know, I don't fear many people at all. I can usually judge the dangerous ones from the harmless ones. And I've done that, but I put that mother right at the top of the list.

I was a bad seed in a perfect situation, and I think he hit the jackpot there. I think once he realized what he had, he took that and ran.

I was a bad seed in a perfect situation, and I think he hit the jackpot there. I think once he realized what he had, he took that and ran.

Look, we know what you're doing out here and it seems like it's relatively lucrative. He's like, look, you know, throw me a bone here and then I can protect you.

Look, we know what you're doing out here and it seems like it's relatively lucrative. He's like, look, you know, throw me a bone here and then I can protect you.

I was led to believe, like, you can do whatever the fuck you want. And you tell a young man with money and no moral compass that, you're creating fucking animals, man. And that's what I was.

I was led to believe, like, you can do whatever the fuck you want. And you tell a young man with money and no moral compass that, you're creating fucking animals, man. And that's what I was.

So I gave him a couple of those and they kicked in a few doors and grabbed, you know, a few quarter pound weed or whatever it was. And then he was content, but he started to realize the bigger picture.

So I gave him a couple of those and they kicked in a few doors and grabbed, you know, a few quarter pound weed or whatever it was. And then he was content, but he started to realize the bigger picture.

He was just a normal average Joe. Good guy, nonviolent person, as I perceived him at least. He liked to party on the weekends, and rather coming out of his own pocket, he liked to have a little bit extra.

He was just a normal average Joe. Good guy, nonviolent person, as I perceived him at least. He liked to party on the weekends, and rather coming out of his own pocket, he liked to have a little bit extra.

And he took it on the chin. But that's one that stands out that I don't like, that haunts me a little.

And he took it on the chin. But that's one that stands out that I don't like, that haunts me a little.

They were working-class people and good people. More than a majority are, I don't want to say innocent victims, but they're civilians who don't deserve the punishment or the treatment or the treachery of getting entangled in this fucked up game.

They were working-class people and good people. More than a majority are, I don't want to say innocent victims, but they're civilians who don't deserve the punishment or the treatment or the treachery of getting entangled in this fucked up game.

I'm looking for an exit at this point.

I'm looking for an exit at this point.

It's all my fault. I was young, but still knew right from wrong. But as I look back, you know, it was pressure, you know, pressure to keep going, pressure to perform. And like a lot of it, you know, I felt like I had done enough that I could have bought myself some safe time, but it was never enough.

It's all my fault. I was young, but still knew right from wrong. But as I look back, you know, it was pressure, you know, pressure to keep going, pressure to perform. And like a lot of it, you know, I felt like I had done enough that I could have bought myself some safe time, but it was never enough.

I was a piece of shit, man. I did all this for nothing. And it's a waste of a life, to be honest. It's tough. It is, man. I regret it. And I wish, you know, I live in shame a lot of times because of it.

I was a piece of shit, man. I did all this for nothing. And it's a waste of a life, to be honest. It's tough. It is, man. I regret it. And I wish, you know, I live in shame a lot of times because of it.

But we were close, you know? On the surface, he's a nice guy. We had a good relationship. I don't know if it was bullshit or it was the truth, but as I look back now, it's kind of fucking sad, isn't it?

But we were close, you know? On the surface, he's a nice guy. We had a good relationship. I don't know if it was bullshit or it was the truth, but as I look back now, it's kind of fucking sad, isn't it?

You do sketchy shit like that, you build some weird bond. I still can't help but think, like, if I called him, could he have helped me with this? Rather than call you guys, you know?

You do sketchy shit like that, you build some weird bond. I still can't help but think, like, if I called him, could he have helped me with this? Rather than call you guys, you know?

And there was one trend in particular that we missed out on. Had we followed it, I think Vine would be in a different place today.

And there was one trend in particular that we missed out on. Had we followed it, I think Vine would be in a different place today.

Lip-sync videos.

Lip-sync videos.

You remember Musically? People became proud of the content that they were creating, and they didn't have to employ their creative talents, their comedic talents, or anything outside of just moving your lips and make it look like you're singing the song. That became a huge trend. Musically's user numbers grew to 150 million downloads or active users monthly.

You remember Musically? People became proud of the content that they were creating, and they didn't have to employ their creative talents, their comedic talents, or anything outside of just moving your lips and make it look like you're singing the song. That became a huge trend. Musically's user numbers grew to 150 million downloads or active users monthly.

and young people all over the country moved over to Musical.ly to gain audiences and to become famous because it was much easier.

and young people all over the country moved over to Musical.ly to gain audiences and to become famous because it was much easier.

Right. Vine was very like unfiltered and kind of like just put you there in the spotlight. But musically, you could leverage the power of this music asset and attribute it to yourself and your own capabilities and talents. And we really didn't think that was important. We thought that was like something that, you know, cheesy teenagers did. And it had no place on the Vine platform, but it did.

Right. Vine was very like unfiltered and kind of like just put you there in the spotlight. But musically, you could leverage the power of this music asset and attribute it to yourself and your own capabilities and talents. And we really didn't think that was important. We thought that was like something that, you know, cheesy teenagers did. And it had no place on the Vine platform, but it did.

Ended up becoming a phenomenon. Musical.ly was acquired by ByteDance and then merged with their video app and relaunched as a new app called TikTok. I think from there, the TikTok algorithm was able to connect audiences to these niche content creators, get a feed of videos that was actually interesting and relevant to you without having to do the work to go find it.

Ended up becoming a phenomenon. Musical.ly was acquired by ByteDance and then merged with their video app and relaunched as a new app called TikTok. I think from there, the TikTok algorithm was able to connect audiences to these niche content creators, get a feed of videos that was actually interesting and relevant to you without having to do the work to go find it.

Yeah. Brief conversations that were quickly, you know, shut down because it just didn't feel like it was part of the spirit of what made Vine special. Vine was about talent and raw creativity and performance, right? We favored people that could actually sing as opposed to people that pretend that they sing. But it turns out that like nobody really cared.

Yeah. Brief conversations that were quickly, you know, shut down because it just didn't feel like it was part of the spirit of what made Vine special. Vine was about talent and raw creativity and performance, right? We favored people that could actually sing as opposed to people that pretend that they sing. But it turns out that like nobody really cared.

I don't think the way you inspire creators is by putting on parties for them. You inspire them by giving them inspirational tools. So the harpsichord was amazing, but the piano, wow. I can press the key lightly and it makes a quiet sound and I can press it harder and it's louder. Like, whoa, dynamics. So there were a lot of grievances from the Vine Mafia and they were a very loud voice, right?

I don't think the way you inspire creators is by putting on parties for them. You inspire them by giving them inspirational tools. So the harpsichord was amazing, but the piano, wow. I can press the key lightly and it makes a quiet sound and I can press it harder and it's louder. Like, whoa, dynamics. So there were a lot of grievances from the Vine Mafia and they were a very loud voice, right?

Like popular voices are often... Like the reason they all joined Vine was because of the inspirational creative tool, because of what the touch and hold to record camera enabled for them creatively.

Like popular voices are often... Like the reason they all joined Vine was because of the inspirational creative tool, because of what the touch and hold to record camera enabled for them creatively.

Whether it was Shawn Mendes creating these short looping videos of himself singing or Logan Paul doing backflips over garbage cans on his college campus, or King Bach with his super funny videos and skits.

Whether it was Shawn Mendes creating these short looping videos of himself singing or Logan Paul doing backflips over garbage cans on his college campus, or King Bach with his super funny videos and skits.

camera magic it was it was the creation tool but there were many other creators it was just too difficult for them to find yeah turns out the solution to that is something like a for you feed right something that's less like a social network and more like social media i don't think that would ever work personally that sounds like a crazy idea

camera magic it was it was the creation tool but there were many other creators it was just too difficult for them to find yeah turns out the solution to that is something like a for you feed right something that's less like a social network and more like social media i don't think that would ever work personally that sounds like a crazy idea

It did not come as a shock because I had already been engaged with Twitter about possibly buying Vine. And I knew when someone's trying to sell their company that they're probably exploring other options if it doesn't sell. up to and including winding down. It was not really surprising. It always felt like an inevitability as long as the user numbers continued to decline.

It did not come as a shock because I had already been engaged with Twitter about possibly buying Vine. And I knew when someone's trying to sell their company that they're probably exploring other options if it doesn't sell. up to and including winding down. It was not really surprising. It always felt like an inevitability as long as the user numbers continued to decline.

Yeah, breaking news.

Yeah, breaking news.

This was at a time when shortly after Colin and I founded Intermedia Labs, the app studio. Yeah, we were very well capitalized in business and we knew that Twitter was going to make some decision about Vine. We didn't know what it was. We engaged with some of the folks at Twitter and learned that they were open to possibly selling Vine. And we thought, okay, well...

This was at a time when shortly after Colin and I founded Intermedia Labs, the app studio. Yeah, we were very well capitalized in business and we knew that Twitter was going to make some decision about Vine. We didn't know what it was. We engaged with some of the folks at Twitter and learned that they were open to possibly selling Vine. And we thought, okay, well...

We could either revive it or fold it into what we were working on, which was HQ Trivia and live streaming tools. But it just didn't make sense. And when looking at the numbers and the costs, it just didn't make sense for us. The costs were astronomical. It was just too heavy of a weight for us to pull.

We could either revive it or fold it into what we were working on, which was HQ Trivia and live streaming tools. But it just didn't make sense. And when looking at the numbers and the costs, it just didn't make sense for us. The costs were astronomical. It was just too heavy of a weight for us to pull.

Yeah, it was. But we also knew like, hey, this world moves so quickly, we just build something new that can scale just as quickly. HQ Trivia came out of that process.

Yeah, it was. But we also knew like, hey, this world moves so quickly, we just build something new that can scale just as quickly. HQ Trivia came out of that process.

I think also it's important to mention Colin Kroll's involvement. He has tragically passed away a few years ago. I miss him. He was a good friend of mine, one of the best engineers I've ever worked with. I think it's important to just acknowledge his contributions to Vine. And yeah, hope to see some more news about Vine soon.

I think also it's important to mention Colin Kroll's involvement. He has tragically passed away a few years ago. I miss him. He was a good friend of mine, one of the best engineers I've ever worked with. I think it's important to just acknowledge his contributions to Vine. And yeah, hope to see some more news about Vine soon.