Scott Payne is a retired FBI agent and career undercover operative. Known for infiltrating some of the most dangerous domestic terror groups in the U.S., he now writes, trains, and advocates for smarter law enforcement strategies—and a second chance for those who truly want out. He’s a believer in justice, redemption, and calling hate by its name.

Follow Scott on Instagram:@scottpaynebigcountry and check out his brand-new book: Code Name: Pale Horse — a raw, real look inside the FBI’s most dangerous undercover ops.

Episode Description:

In Part 2 of CSI Sheryl McCollum’s conversation with retired FBI agent Scott Payne, we dive into one of his most dangerous assignments: two years undercover with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Massachusetts. From fake drug deals and cartel cover stories to a basement wire check that nearly cost him everything, Scott explains what it really takes to survive deep undercover.

If you thought infiltrating The Base deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest was intense, wait until you hear what happened when members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club ordered him to strip at gunpoint.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) From Georgia to Massachusetts, Scott recounts his time undercover with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club
• (4:00) Meet “Tex,” the car thief: stolen vehicles, staged deals, and the slow build of credibility
• (5:00) A fake cartel pipeline opens the door to something much bigger — and far more dangerous
• (8:00) “I lived to fight another day.” Two armed bikers, a basement, and a wire check that could’ve blown it all
• (14:00) His team was listening — and almost took out a wall to pull him out
• (16:00) Nearly 2,000 miles away, Scott’s wife pulls off the road with a sense of dread she can’t explain
• (17:45) Sheryl shares her own “undercover” mission — cracking down on counterfeit T-shirts at a Grateful Dead concert
• (18:45) Clothesline won’t say sorry—but he hated being the one to do it
• (24:00) Sheryl plugs the book and gives props to Scott — not just for the work, but for always lifting up his team
• (26:00) The last word belongs to Donnie Brasco: “The FBI gave you a cheap medal and 500 bucks. Was it worth it?” “Yes.”

Thanks for listening to another episode! If Zone 7 is part of your weekly routine, show us some love with a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more folks find the show—and helps us keep telling these stories.

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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice and the founder/director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute — a collaboration between universities and the criminal justice community that advances techniques for solving unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

Social Links:

• Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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