Not long after retiring, Yuri proposed that everyone come to New York to join the gang. The situation in the U.S. was dire; the government was weak, and soldiers were merely contract workers, doing a job that was dangerous and had harsh conditions but offered high wages and decent job security.
The nature of gangs was similar—no one resisted joining them. The only issue was that Yuri had just joined and there was no guarantee of stability, so the matter remained unresolved.
Now, under Sean's leadership, there was a burgeoning opportunity in the liquor business. Within three days, on August 13, 1984, Jonas, Bill, and others began arriving in New York one by one.
In a bar, old comrades reunited, exchanging friendly punches and slaps on the back. After the initial excitement, drinks were served, and Sean poured brandy for everyone.
"Cheers!" they exclaimed, raising their glasses and downing the liquor.
"How's the wine?" Sean asked, smiling as he held up his glass.
"Very good, pure brandy," Chubby Bill replied, clearly enjoying it.
Yuri noticed that Sean hadn't touched his drink and suddenly had a thought. "Don't tell me what I just drank was fake wine!" he shouted, disbelief written across his face.
At this, the others looked at Sean, bewildered, while Saul simply smiled, having observed Sean's lack of consumption and choosing not to drink either.
"Of course, not fake wine!" Sean replied to a hint of amusement in his voice.
Yuri sighed in relief but felt a twinge of disappointment. "This is called a copycat!" Sean added with a grin.
"What? You made this so quickly?" Yuri picked up his glass and took another sip, savoring it as he tried to discern its authenticity.
"Wait," Jonas interjected, his brow furrowed. "Is this fake wine?"
Sean had only hinted at a big deal over the phone, not revealing the details to Yuri.
"Impossible!" Bill said, slightly embarrassed after boasting about the drink's quality.
"It's not completely successful yet. There are flaws in the aroma and taste. We need to refine it further. But you guys, who smoke and drink, aren't sensitive to those details," Sean explained, pulling out another bottle. "Let's compare."
He filled more glasses, and the group, rough around the edges, readily drank up. Surprisingly, they failed to notice any differences when switching cups.
Yuri, undeterred by the imperfections, excitedly danced on the sofa, enthusiastically telling Bill and the others that the counterfeit cost only about $0.50 while real wine exceeded $40—even when smuggled.
"80 times the profit!" he declared, causing an uproar among his friends.
"This is insane—like stealing money!" Bill exclaimed dramatically.
"No, no, no," Jonas chimed in, placing an arm around Bill's shoulder. "I can assure you that this is faster than any robbery! Just over a month ago, I saw a group robbing a bank—it barely totaled $10,000."
"Robbing a bank is far less lucrative and much more dangerous," Sean countered, rolling his eyes.
He explained that small banks rarely held significant cash reserves, and large withdrawals had to be scheduled in advance, making them difficult targets. The bigger banks, though wealthy, were located in bustling areas, making it hard for the less educated to attempt a heist.
As Sean shared his plans to expand the liquor business and requested help from his friends, the four men agreed without hesitation. For most Americans, the concept of law-abiding behavior was nonexistent. Even high-ranking officials had admitted to smoking marijuana.
"Hey, brothers, should we form a gang?" Yuri suggested loudly, banging on the table.
"Absolutely! What should we call it?" Jonas asked. "How about 'The Seal'? Wine is just like water!"
"Why not call it 'The Whale'?" came another suggestion.
"Shit, I think…" Yuri began, but Sean interrupted, chuckling, "Okay, okay. It's illegal to form a gang, you know."
Saul glanced at Sean, clearly wanting to ensure they were serious about this venture.
"The gangsters aren't serious people—they should be called 'vibrant social groups'!" Sean corrected everyone with mock seriousness, causing laughter to erupt.
There definitely needed to be a gang. This was the only way to conduct such a business, which was why Sean had approached Yuri in the first place.
After drinking for a while, Sean waved to a fit Mexican girl, who quickly brought in a group of girls, heating the atmosphere even more.
August 14, 1984
In the small, rented laboratory, Sean demonstrated the current blending process of their 'semi-finished products.' As they watched a small bottle of alcohol transform into richly colored brandy with a strong aroma, everyone erupted in cheers.
"Alright, now let's arrange some work," Sean said, calming everyone down. "Saul, first, I need you to go to New Jersey and find a company with the necessary liquor business qualifications to acquire. It's essential for our operations as we expand."
"Sure, but the acquisition will require funds," Saul replied, gesturing as if to indicate money.
"I only have a few thousand dollars right now, which I need for our first batch. You should focus on finding a company first. If that doesn't work out, look for one that's about to go bankrupt. Once we complete our first sale, we'll have the cash to move forward," Sean explained, confident in their plan.
Saul nodded in agreement.
"Next, you need to find a glass bottle manufacturer through your connections. I'm ready to place an order, and the demand for bottles will be huge. We can't rely on scavenging them from trash bins," Sean continued.
Saul nodded again, "No problem."
"Lastly, find a small printing factory to produce cartons for packaging. I'll handle the design," Sean instructed.
Saul frowned slightly. "But the factory may not agree to produce this kind of bottle."
With a knowing smile, Sean pointed to Yuri and his crew, who were all muscular and fierce looking. "That's why I brought them here. You're good at persuasion, and they can be persuasive too."
Saul spread his hands in mock surrender, while Yuri and the others laughed heartily. The camaraderie filled the room, and excitement buzzed in the air as they realized the potential of their venture.
"Let's get to work, then!" Yuri declared, his enthusiasm infectious. The group began discussing strategies, each contributing ideas and building off one another's energy.
As they planned, it was clear that this ragtag group was ready to take on the challenges ahead, united by a common goal and a shared sense of purpose. The liquor business was just the beginning, and with Sean at the helm, they were determined to carve out their place in the underworld of New York.