Where Is ‘Cocaine Quarterback’ Owen Hanson Now? A Look At Life After Prison – Blavity
The story of Owen Hanson, better known as the “Cocaine Quarterback,” is one of those real-life dramas that might as well have been written for television. He was a promising athlete at the University of Southern California (USC), whose life took a sharp turn from sports to organized crime. Over the years, he went from mingling with college teammates to running an international gambling and drug empire that caught the attention of the FBI.
Hanson’s downfall was just as spectacular as his rise, which eventually led to a lengthy prison sentence that seemed destined to keep him behind bars for decades. However, recent developments have shifted the narrative yet again and highlighted the FBI investigation surrounding the former athlete. Following the debut of Cocaine Quarterback on Amazon Prime Video, many are wondering where Owen Hanson is now. Here’s everything we know.
Who is Owen Hanson?
Owen Hanson grew up in Redondo Beach, California, eventually making his way onto the USC football team in 2004, per People. While he was never necessarily a star athlete, Hanson’s time in the West Coast sports world helped him build significant connections and credibility. Unfortunately, he later exploited these assets amid darker pursuits. By the mid-2000s, he was already involved in some performance-enhancing drug sales. This escalated into trafficking some hard drugs like cocaine, ecstacy and methamphetamine, as the Prime Video documentary reveals.
His operation became so vast it included offshore sports betting and money laundering. The FBI later characterized it as a “drug trafficking/gambling organization” with international reach. Over time, media coverage dubbed him the “Cocaine Quarterback” – a nickname that obviously stuck.
How long did he go to jail?
After his 2015 arrest, Owen Hanson was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison in December 2017. He was convicted of racketeering and drug-related crimes. The conviction was a culmination of an extensive investigation that truly exposed the full scope of his cartel style operation. Later, federal authorities also forced him to forfeit around $5 million in assets. This sum included luxury cars, expensive real estate and some cash holdings.
At the time, this sentence was considered fitting for someone who had been at the helm of such a big and dangerous criminal network. It was also designed to deter others who might attempt the same crimes. With the court imposing strict supervision conditions, it looked like Hanson would spend the better half of his adult life in prison, which resulted in many people assuming his story had effectively ended there.
How did Hanson get out of prison?
Despite his sentence, which was over two decades, Hanson got off relatively easily. He did not serve anywhere close to that full-time. Surprisingly, in March 2024, he was released after a federal court granted a motion under seal. This cited “extraordinary and compelling reasons” for his release, but the exact details remain confidential.
After Hanson was released, he was placed in transitional housing in Long Beach, California. This is a common requirement for those leaving federal custody and he remained there until June 2025. That is when he moved into his company’s warehouse in Los Angeles and continued to live under supervised parole, meaning his activities and movements have been closely monitored.
So, what exactly got Own Hanson out of prison? Time reports that it’s been suggested the California native was cooperative with authorities, which might have contributed to his early release. Beyond this speculation, it is believed that he assisted Australian investigators in a case involving an attorney accused of laundering cartel money. Although this is not officially confirmed, the theory has circulated widely among journalists covering his case.
What is Owen Hanson doing now?
Since regaining his freedom, Hanson has genuinely tried to reinvent himself, according to People. Today, one of his most popular ventures is a protein bar business. He even claims to have developed the product while in prison, using mop buckets as mixing tools. This business has given him a legitimate way to transition from his criminal past into something legal and potentially profitable, too.
Elsewhere, the former football star even seems to be reconnecting with old contacts from his USC days. Despite his past, this move is a great way to lean more into a new narrative, which is reflective of redemption and rehabilitation. According to reports, he is actually living at his company’s warehouse, reflecting both the constraints and restrictions of parole.
‘Cocaine Quarterback’ review
The Prime Video series Cocaine Quarterback: Signal-Caller for the Cartel revisits Hanson’s story with a blend of drama and true crime documentation. However, that balance is not suitable for everyone. The Guardian notes that, while the series is undeniably entertaining, it at times risks glamorizing Hanson’s old lifestyle before focusing on the darker realities of his crimes.
The visuals, compelling interviews and narrative all drive this docuseries to be a binge-worthy watch. However, as viewers may notice, the earlier episodes frame Hanson very sympathetically, focusing on his USC years and athletic charm. In comparison, the last chapters offer a more sobering look at the violence, manipulation and financial devastation left in his wake.
Ultimately, Cocaine Quarterback succeeds in drawing some major attention to Hanson’s story. It also leaves viewers to wrestle with the ethics of it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Own Hanson have a wife?
According to public records and reports, Hanson has not been married before.
What is Owen Hanson’s net worth?
It is hard to estimate his net worth. Before his arrest, he controlled millions of dollars in assets, which were tied to his criminal operation. But he was forced to forfeit about $5 million during his conviction, as the FBI reports. So any money he has now would have come from scratch and building up his new business ventures.
The post Where Is ‘Cocaine Quarterback’ Owen Hanson Now? A Look At Life After Prison appeared first on Blavity.
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