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about the author

david tuch

David Tuch, PhD, is a technology entrepreneur and author. His writing uncovers overlooked stories at the intersection of organized crime and espionage. Originally from New York, he has lived in England and France and now makes his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife and four children. The Wireless Operator is his first book.

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I was doing genealogy research when I was emailed by a distant relative saying we shared a cousin, Harold Derber, who ran guns and drugs and was shot down in Miami. What started with digging through old newspaper articles and government files, turned into an obsession, culminating in the book.

Researching at the intersection of crime and espionage presents unique challenges, requiring a deep dive into primary sources. Whenever possible, I rely on firsthand accounts—interviews, correspondence, and contemporaneous records—to piece together the story. I’ve been fortunate to gain access to his lover’s unpublished memoirs. I’ve also benefited from interviews with Derber’s family members, former trafficking associates and, in many cases, the descendants of his contacts.

A key aspect of my approach is cross-referencing multiple national perspectives. In some cases, I’ve had to reconcile conflicting accounts from US, UK, Swiss, and Cuban government records to build a more complete picture. This often involves filing Freedom of Information requests and working with foreign archives to access previously undisclosed or overlooked materials. Additionally, I collaborate with an exceptional team of archival researchers across Bogotá, Tel Aviv, London, Manchester, and the US, who have helped uncover critical documents.

I haven’t reached a firm conclusion yet. His killers may have been the Florida smuggling crew trying to take him out, contractors sent by his Colombian suppliers, or soldiers from the Gambino family trying to stop his testimony. Each had their motives, whether to eliminate competition, settle scores, or cover up deeper entanglements.

There have been some discussions, and I believe Derber’s story would make for an incredible film or limited series. His life had all the elements—war, espionage, crime, drugs, and political intrigue. We’ll see what happens!

I’m currently working on two projects: a biography of Chaim Shatan, a pioneering psychiatrist who defined PTSD; and an overlooked story regarding WW2 espionage.

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