“My job at the FBI Academy was to train, mentor, and supervise new agent trainees. As a walking example of the harsh realities of government service, as a US Marine and later as an FBI agent, I knew…what it takes to survive and thrive. I saw those qualities in Tony Arismendi, the distinctive attributes that would later make him into an exceptional FBI agent.”
—Edmundo Mireles, Former FBI Special Agent
Recipient of the FBI Medal of Valor for Exceptional Heroism
“Through the dangers and adversities I faced in my life and years as an FBI Agent, I've learned that we're all eternal spirits having a human experience.”
Anthony Arismendi moved to the United States from Venezuela as a teenager in the mid-seventies with the dream of becoming a US citizen and an FBI agent— despite the fact that he couldn’t speak a word of English.
Transplanted from the dangerous streets of Caracas, Arismendi’s unconventional thinking and out-of-the-box approach to life landed him in plenty of comical, often precarious situations. Still, he adapted his survival skills to a new culture, one harrowing day at a time, overcoming homelessness, prejudice, and poverty to achieve the impossible.
Profoundly inspirational, Arismendi’s unique blend of hard work, perseverance, and mysticism in the face of relentless adversity reminds us that our reservoirs of courage and determination run far deeper than we know—and that we should never give up on our dreams, no matter how out of reach they might seem.
Outsider Agent Free
Sneak Preview!
Sign up for a sneak preview of Outsider Agent sent straight to your inbox.
About the Authors
Anthony Arismendi is a former FBI agent with a highly decorated and distinguished career spanning two decades of undercover and special operations against drug cartels, gangs, organized crime, violent criminals, and terrorist organizations. He has served as a member of the FBI’s SWAT team, as a supervisory agent in two field offices and FBI Headquarters, and as a unit chief in the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. Today, he is the President and CEO of ARIXMAR and a sought-after public speaker, sharing his compelling and motivating story with public and private organizations across the country.
Larry Cano is an entrepreneur, writer, and UCLA graduate film school alum, best known for his role as executive producer of the Oscar-nominated movie Silkwood starring Meryl Streep, Cher, and Kurt Russell.
