When you meet Jason “Rock” Neil today, you see a man of calm power, strong, grounded, and full of faith. But behind that calm exterior lies one of the most extraordinary redemption stories you’ll ever hear. Once a millionaire criminal running dangerous home invasions and drug operations, Jason walked away from it all to rebuild his life, open multiple gyms, and eventually face his toughest battle yet: stage four cancer.
In an unforgettable episode of “A Healthy Point of View” podcast, Sam Tejada, CEO and Founder of Liquivida®, sat down with Jason to talk about his journey from the streets to spiritual strength, a story of pain, awakening, and the relentless pursuit of peace.
The Street Legend Who Beat Crime, Faced Death & Found God | Jason “Rock” Neil | Ep. 101
A Childhood Marked by Struggle
Jason’s story began with hardship. His mother had him as a teenager, leaving him in the care of his grandparents in upstate New York. He describes his grandparents as his “first real parents,” his first experience of love and structure. But when his mother got back on her feet and brought him to live with her in Florida, everything changed.
He was ten years old, quiet, withdrawn, and struggling to read. Surrounded by older kids entrenched in crime, Jason was quickly pulled into that world. “The streets overpowered me,” he told Sam. By thirteen, he was selling crack cocaine out of his bedroom window while his mother thought he was asleep.
School didn’t offer refuge. “I couldn’t read,” Jason said. “I’d lie in Bible study and say I had to use the bathroom just to avoid reading out loud.” Embarrassment became anger. Anger became action. And action on the streets brought money.
Becoming the “Four Horsemen”
Jason rose quickly in the underground world. His charm, intelligence, and fearlessness made him stand out. He and three partners, who called themselves the “Four Horsemen,” ran complex operations home invasions, drug trafficking, and even bank robberies. “I was educated in crime,” he said plainly. “What you focus on, you become great at. I put in the work, and I became great at it.”
At the height of his criminal empire, Jason had safe deposit boxes full of cash, cars, and women who worked in banks tipping him off about investigations. But wealth couldn’t hide the emptiness. His life was a cycle of danger and deceit, powered by adrenaline and addiction to money.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
The Vision That Saved His Life
During what seemed like a routine jewelry heist, Jason found himself face to face with an elderly man he’d tied up. The man looked up at him, and Jason saw his late grandfather’s face. “He’s been dead since 1987,” Jason said. “But in that moment, I saw him clear as day. It froze me.”
He ordered his crew to stop. Despite the millions they could have taken, he walked away. That night, he cried for hours and decided to end his life. Instead, he found something else: surrender. “That was the night I begged God to come into my life,” he said.
The next day, Jason gathered all his guns, badges, and bulletproof vests and threw them into the ocean near Mar-a-Lago. “I said, I’m not going to look back.”
Finding Redemption in the Gym
A few weeks later, he walked into a local gym and his life took a new direction. The owner offered him a job greeting members and encouraging sign-ups. Jason told him he couldn’t read. The owner smiled and said, “You don’t need to read, just tell people to come in.”
That moment became his rebirth. “I cut the world off,” Jason said. “I worked every day. I found peace in the gym.” Over time, he saved enough money to open his own fitness center legitimately this time. He prayed for guidance and got it most unexpectedly: a location opened up in a Publix plaza that was impossible to get into. “God told me, ‘Put it there,’” Jason said.
He listened. The gym opened. His old friends came to the ribbon-cutting that night, trying to pull him back into their old life. He said no and hours later, those same friends were killed in a robbery gone wrong. Jason believes that moment was divine intervention. “I was supposed to be in that car,” he said quietly. “God saved me that night.”
Facing Cancer—and the Truth About Healing
Years later, Jason faced another fight for his life: stage four cancer. But this time, he had a different kind of strength. “Cancer hasn’t been all bad,” he said. “It taught me who’s real and who’s not. It taught me how to eat, how to live, and how to listen to my body.”
He became his own researcher, studying plant-based nutrition, juicing, and natural compounds that help the body fight disease. “Doctors are drug dealers,” he told Sam bluntly. “They just want to cut you and medicate you. I decided to take my health into my own hands.”
Jason’s protocol now includes juicing greens daily, using wormwood, aloe, and broccoli sprouts, and living without sugar, dairy, or processed food. His cancer markers have dropped dramatically. “I used to think cancer was a death sentence,” he said. “Now I know it’s a teacher.”
Lessons in Faith, Forgiveness, and Freedom
Today, Jason dedicates his life to helping others, especially kids from underprivileged backgrounds, see that change is possible. He’s written a book about his journey and speaks openly about faith, discipline, and self-forgiveness. “That’s the hardest part,” he admitted. “Forgiving yourself.”
But even through his pain, Jason’s message is one of power and redemption. “God took away everything I got the wrong way,” he said. “Because he didn’t give it to me, the devil did. But give me another chance to build something better. This time, I’m doing it right.”
A Life Reclaimed
Jason “Rock” Neil’s story isn’t about perfection. It’s about perseverance, accountability, and the human ability to evolve. From a boy who couldn’t read to a man who teaches others how to rebuild, his life stands as a testament to faith’s ability to transform.
As Sam said during the podcast, “You don’t get away, you get by. And when your turn on the seesaw comes, you face it with grace.”
Jason’s done just that.