METHod to Madness

We know him from True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger, she knows Tom Arnold from sharing a four bedroom house with him and eight others.

Lori Arnold is Tom’s sister.

At age 13 she started smoking pot, taking speed, and sniffing paint; that same year she was given her first cigarette, by her mother.

At 15 on the advice of her mother, she lies about her age to the judge and marries a 23 year old who tries persuading her, to sell herself to a truck stop stranger.

Husband number two is barely a step up, he doesn’t try whoring her out, but Sin is president of The Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club; he is one bad dude, the last thing he needs to do, to prove anything; is hit a woman, but he does.

In 1982, $144 twice a month isn’t enough to make ends meet, so when Sin’s brother asks Lori if she wants to earn a few extra dollars hustling crystal meth, she jumps on it. In no time he has to refer Lori to his supplier, because he can’t keep up. Shortly after, that supplier tells her he can’t keep up either. Via the Motorcycle Club, they find a connection in Arizona, Jose.

After a couple years Lori’s business has grown so much that she buries a lab in the back forty but not before Jose gets pinched, and “turns” on Lori. The feds are building a case.

Lori forges a tight unit that, at its apex is pulling down some serious money; $800,000 a month serious. She spends like most would; 144 acre ranch, she buys cars, planes, boats, and ultimately 52 horses for Sin (Floyd). Keeping Floyd happy, minimizes his ‘Nam flashbacks, which typically result in Lori being mistaken for a “gook” at the other end of a rifle.

The raid is inevitable and it comes hard; 50-60 agents in about 30 vehicles. There are no arrests that day. After a few weeks it’s business as usual for Lori. It takes the feds close to a year before they sweep in and make arrests, when they do, Tom and Rosanne fly into town with 40 thousand in cash.

Bond is denied.

Lori does 8 years in prison.

She gets out and starts working at a meatpacking plant during the day and Wendy’s at night. She follows the straight and narrow…for about four months.

Frustrated with busting her ass for pennies, she tries to make a couple bucks by doing small deals here and there. It gets out of hand. The money comes fast; she buys a house, a car and a bar.

28 months after doing an 8 year stretch, she’s back in for another six.

Today, four years later; she’s still clean, remarried and working as a telemarketer.