Former DEA Agent James Kuykendall Disputes His Characterization in Amazon Prime Docuseries, “The Last Narc”

Kuykendall was the boss of DEA agent, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, whose 1985 murder is the focus of the series

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The popular Amazon Prime docuseries, The Last Narc, released earlier this year, inaccurately and unfairly characterizes one of the agents portrayed in the show. The Last Narc, which focuses on the 1985 murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, wrongly alleges a government conspiracy that includes decorated federal agent, Jaime Kuykendall, according to Kuykendall’s lawyer, Greg Gutzler of DiCello Levitt Gutzler.

“Mr. Kuykendall dedicated his life to law enforcement and was, at all times, unequivocally loyal to his country and to his fellow agents,” Gutzler says. “Amazon and other sources have besmirched Mr. Kuykendall’s character and denigrated his record of service to our country.”

Mr. Kuykendall also issued a formal statement about the series:

“The Amazon ‘documentary’ series, The Last Narc, is riddled with fiction that is camouflaged as ‘fact’. To catch eyeballs, and in knowing disregard of the truth, the Amazon producers falsely painted me as corrupt. That insinuation is patently false – I have always been loyal and faithful in my duties and to my colleagues. The producers were provided ample opportunity to sufficiently research and vet many of the assertions made in the show, yet they preferred sensational conspiracy theories and relied on unreliable witnesses to paint a picture of the events surrounding Enrique Camarena’s death and the subsequent investigations and trials. As a result, Amazon released an inaccurate documentary series, which they put forth as the truth. By doing so, The Last Narc and related publications, which continue to crop up, ultimately harm the reputation of honest men, tarnish the legacy of Enrique Camarena, and falsely paint a picture of incompetence—and even corruption—among the law enforcement professionals who put their lives on the line to conduct investigations into the murder of their friend and colleague. This brazen disregard for the truth is both harmful to my reputation and causes undue emotional distress for Mr. Camarena’s family and friends.

“My former DEA colleagues, as well as law enforcement officers and many others who knew me and Mr. Camarena during the time of the events examined in The Last Narc and related publications, were, and continue to be shocked by the lack of diligence or care with which the publishers, producers, and participants in the documentary have spun and misrepresented the facts.

“The accusations of corruption against me are patently false. Prior to the publication of the documentary: (i) I specifically discussed elements of the proposed show with producers; (ii) gave them facts to set the record straight; and (iii) urged them to be diligent in their search for the truth and in their portrayal of the facts. The producers, however, disregarded these conversations and information and instead produced a documentary putting forth falsehoods as fact and harming me and others in the process.

“I will defend my reputation and honor, and the facts will prove that truth. I have retained legal counsel and intend to pursue justice for myself and my fellow agents and their families.”

Mr. Kuykendall’s lawyer, Greg Gutzler, is available for comment upon request.