Paul Derry grew up in a military family, his father serving in the Navy. As he grew older Derry was known to rebel, selling marijuana to his peers and drinking.  At the age of 15, Derry was on a Canadian Military base in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. He was approached by an RCMP officer enquiring about his friends pot stash in exchange for $20. Following this incident, Paul continued to give information to both the RCMP and municipal police agencies across Canada. By the time Paul was in his early adult years, he had befriended many criminals including organized crime members and full-patch Hells Angels. Working both sides, Paul honed his skills as a fraud artist and drug dealer. In 1992, Paul was arrested on fraud charges which led to a subsequent sentence of 7 years in the federal prison system.

Following years of experience dealing with both organized crime members and street gangs; Paul Derry was considered a career criminal.  He served his time in the federal penitentiaries, Dorchester (Dorchester New Brunswick) and Atlantic Institute (known as Renous in Smith Crossing, New Brunswick.)

He was also known by law enforcement as a credible source and agent, credited for taking down multiple targets involved in home invasions, drug dealing, violent and sexual assaults and weapons trafficking. 

In 2000, Paul was the driver in a Hells Angels murder, which Paul had previously told RCMP officers about in hopes to secure an operation that would stop the hit from occurring. Working one last operation, Paul wore a wire and gathered intel which led to the murder convictions of Neil Smith, a full patched Hells Angel, Wayne James, Paul's cousin through marriage, nephew Dean Kelsie, and friend Steve Gareau in the murder of Sean Simmons. 

Stepping away from his role as a police agent and his actions as a criminal; Paul entered the Canadian Witness Protection Program. In 2010 Paul received a full pardon from the Government of Canada following his work in a non-profit that fights against human trafficking and his work in the community. 

Since 2009, Paul has written; Treacherous: How the RCMP Allowed A Hells Angel to Kill, Inside a Police Informant's Mind, and Call Me Barabbas. He is currently writing his fourth book, RCMP Witness Protection: Pros and Cons.

When not writing, Paul has continued to divide his time between consulting and working with non-profits against human trafficking and drug trafficking. He is also known to be an expert in the field of drug and alcohol abuse; speaks at law enforcement courses about source and agent cultivation.