en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Evans

Contemporary reporting from 1980 describes Evans's case as a misdemeanor cocaine possession case, not trafficking. United Press International reported on October 7, 1980 that Evans "pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing cocaine" and specifically says he pleaded guilty "to a misdemeanor charge of possessing five ounces of cocaine." A later Los Angeles Times profile likewise says he "pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor possession charge" in 1980. Because the documented offense was possession, describing the plea as one for cocaine trafficking is inaccurate.

The record described in contemporaneous and retrospective news coverage does not support a conviction for cocaine trafficking. UPI's 1980 report on Evans's sentencing states that he had "pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing cocaine" and that this was "a misdemeanor charge of possessing five ounces of cocaine." The Los Angeles Times similarly reported that Evans was arrested on possession charges and that "the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor after plea bargaining and Evans was convicted." Those sources contradict the article's statement that he was convicted of cocaine trafficking.

The claim says no further information was released after the 2010 rights acquisition, but later public information exists and the production was staged. Smuggler's own project page states that "The Kid Stays in the Picture premiered in 2017 at The Royal Court in London." Independent coverage from Time Out also reviewed the Royal Court production in March 2017. So the statement that no further information was released is incorrect.

Published book metadata for The Fat Lady Sang gives a different release date from the one shown here. Apple Books lists the title as released November 12, 2013. Kirkus Reviews likewise gives the book's release date as Nov. 12, 2013. Those sources contradict the article's claim that the publication date was November 22, 2013.