Book excerpt: From former special agent in charge for the Office of Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering, Miami Organized Crime Strike Force and Secretary of Labor for the State of Florida Hugo D. Menendez comes an intriguing fiction that provides a true picture of illicit activities. Violation of Trust is a vivid portrayal of how organized crime individuals and organized crime connected labor union offi cers cooperate to embezzle union and health welfare funds to the disadvantage of union members and employers—as well as forcing unions on employees. Based on actual criminal investigations of Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering conducted by Mr. Menendez and members of his staff for the U. S. Department of Justice’s Miami Organized Crime Strike Force, this book follows the story of Giovanni Pelusa or “Pel” whose life changes forever when he became entangled in the world of organized crime and labor racketeering. From birth, Pel’s future had been predetermined. First, by his size and secondly, the infl uence his father’s profession had on him. Though he was a loving son and outwardly a decent individual, he was a born enforcer. He had no regard for the pain or even the death he infl icted on others. In trying to become his father, he became entangled in the world of organized crime and labor racketeering. Pel sold his services as other professional individuals sell theirs. His success in the field of muscle for the racketeers provided him with a measure of wealth. His height and strength turned out to be his undoing. Like a ghost, the tall man appeared to be present at many crime scenes. Trying to save himself by turning as an informer cost him dearly instead. His actions led to the unraveling of one of the largest organized crime and labor racketeering conspiracies in the United States.