August 11, 2026

I Was a Tango Blast for 10 Years in Federal Prison — Here's What That World Really Looks Like | Eli44

Eli44 grew up in Texas, took to the streets at a young age, did his first bid in the Texas Department of Corrections where he joined the Tango Blasts, and then caught a nearly 15 year federal sentence that sent him into federal medium security facilities and federal penitentiaries where he spent nearly a decade navigating the gang politics, the violence, and the disciplinary transfers that define life as a Tango Blast inside the federal system. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, he shares what being a Tango Blast inside the federal system actually looks like — the rules, the politics, the violence, and the specific survival mindset that nearly 10 years inside some of the most brutal federal facilities in the country required of him — and what finally getting out and turning his life completely around actually took after everything those years produced. _____________________________________________  #crimestory #prison #truecrimestories _____________________________________________ Thank you to FACTOR & HIMS for sponsoring this episode: Factor: Head to https://factormeals.com/lockedin50off and use code lockedin50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until! _____________________________________________ Hims: Visit https://hims.com/lockedin to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. _____________________________________________ Connect with Eli44: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_eli44/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd1XjhE0mMb34j-FwQsez3A/feed TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereal_eli44 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Growing Up in Austin 01:47 Finding the Streets and Music 04:21 Early Hustle and First Arrests 05:59 The Katrina Clash and Carrying a Weapon 08:00 The Music Scene and Getting Deeper 10:10 Jack Boys and Robberies 13:29 Caught with Drugs and a Gun 15:31 Going to TDC and Getting Initiated 18:00 Life in the State Prison 20:00 The Music Blows Up 22:00 Returning to the Drug Game 24:04 The Setup and Getting Caught 34:00 The Arrest and Aftermath 36:48 The Feds Get Involved 40:35 Cartel Pressure and Family Threats 44:00 Federal Sentence and Time in County 47:59 Life in the Federal Pen 54:00 The Politics of the Yard 01:04:00 A Standoff and Stealing an Amp 01:09:00 The Theft and Its Consequences 01:13:00 A Show of Force and Diplomacy 01:20:00 A Fight and a Stabbing 01:29:00 Spiritual Awakening at Atwater 01:36:00 The SMU Program 01:44:00 Meeting Kodak Black 01:50:00 The Horrors of the SMU 01:55:00 Texas Syndicate Rivalry 02:00:00 Life After the SMU 02:00:04 The SMU Experience 02:02:30 Coming Home and New Beginnings 02:04:55 Current Life and Outreach _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBick

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