Full Breakdown
Miami-Dade Narcotics Officers Sue Artists Equity Over Netflix Film “The Rip”
5/9/2026, 8:18:50 PM
Defamation Lawsuit Over a ‘True-Event’ Thriller
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a Florida federal district court by narcotics officers Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, names Artists Equity and Falco Pictures as defendants and alleges defamation, defamation by implication, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The officers seek unspecified damages and note a cease-and-desist letter was sent in December 2025 after the film’s trailer. Netflix is not a named defendant.
2016 Miami-Lakes Narcotics Bust
On June 29 2016, Miami-Dade narcotics officers uncovered nearly $22 million in cash hidden in orange buckets behind a false wall in a Miami Lakes home. The seizure totaled $21,970,411, the largest cash seizure in the department’s history. Jonathan Santana served as lead detective; Jason Smith supervised the operation.
Key Figures & Groups
Key participants include officers Jason Smith (supervising) and Jonathan Santana (lead detective); production entities Artists Equity (founded 2022 by Ben Affleck, CEO, and Matt Damon, chief creative officer) and co-producer Falco Pictures; director Joe Carnahan; plaintiff attorney Ignacio Alvarez; and Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo, who publicly criticized the film.
Data & Statistics
Seized cash: $21,970,411 hidden in orange buckets behind drywall. The film premiered January 2026, starring Damon and Affleck, both co-producers.
Official Statements & Responses
The complaint says the movie shows officers stealing seized money, lying to suspects, colluding with cartels, and participating in the murder of a fellow officer and a DEA agent—behaviors absent from the real case. It adds that family members, colleagues and prosecutors approached the officers after the trailer, asking which character they were and how many buckets they kept. A consulting officer later apologized on behalf of director Carnahan and offered future consulting, indicating awareness of the officers’ concerns. Mayor Calvo and police leadership called the film’s depiction of the city unfair and inaccurate.
Criticism & Opposition
The suit underscores tension between artistic freedom and the rights of real individuals in true-crime works. Critics say the fictional corruption narrative harms the officers’ reputations and could set a precedent for future productions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The complaint lists the seized amount as $21,970,411, while promotional materials round it to “nearly $22 million.” No independent verification of the film’s fictional scenes is provided, leaving the factual discrepancies unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “‘When you rip something, you’re stealing something.” — Jonathan Santana, lead detective, Miami-Dade Police Department
- “We never stole a dollar.” — Jonathan Santana, lead detective, Miami-Dade Police Department
- “They portrayed police officers as dirty, they portrayed my clients as dirty,” — Ignacio Alvarez, attorney for plaintiffs
- “The officers say “The Rip” added fabricated plotlines involving police corruption, theft schemes, cartel dealings and murder.” — Complaint filed by Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, Miami-Dade narcotics officers
What’s Next
The case proceeds in federal court, where the plaintiffs seek damages for reputational harm. The outcome may influence how studios obtain consent from real-life participants in future true-crime projects.