This movie was based on The New York Times article "The Sinaloa Cartel's 90-Year-Old Drug Mule" by Sam Dolnick, which recounts and was inspired by the true story of Leo Sharp, a World War II veteran in his eighties, who became the world's oldest and most prolific drug mule for the Sinaloa Cartel. in this movie, however, this was changed to him being a Korean War vet, so the story could be set in 2017.

Earl pleads guilty during his trial and the judge simply sends him to prison immediately. This is wildly unrealistic. In such a scenario, the judge would have called a recess or adjourned the trial for the day and ordered Earl to confer with his lawyer. If Earl was intent on pleading guilty, the judge would have accepted the plea and set a date for sentencing.

Featured in Toby Keith: Don't Let the Old Man In (2018)