Editing Joey Hunt (section)

==== Joey's departure of J.J. Holdings ====
J.J. Holdings was built around a small inner circle, with Jim as its head and Joey as a permanent board member. In the early days, the balance worked. That balance began to shift when Jim helped form what became known as [[Big Four|the Big Four]]—an alliance with three other prominent criminal figures: [[Alexa Morrison]], [[Billy McBardigael]], and [[Edward McHaggis]]. Together, they tackled city-wide problems and coordinated major decisions. In practice, however, the alliance granted Jim greater influence over the criminal direction of the city.

As the months passed, Joey’s voice—and the voices of other independent board members—began to matter less. Jim grew increasingly reliant on the perspectives of the Big Four, whose philosophy was aggressively anti-competition: dominance through consolidation, exclusion, and control. Their outlook rejected balance in favor of a Big Four–only ecosystem, and it appealed to Jim’s increasingly emotional, opportunity-driven, and optimistic approach to growth. Quietly, Jim began replacing outspoken or cautious figures within J.J. Holdings with individuals who supported rapid expansion and loyalty over restraint. What had once been a business-first syndicate slowly became entangled in political maneuvering, ego, and mounting instability.

Joey pushed back. He valued restraint, structure, and long-term sustainability. Jim insisted Joey trust the process. The breaking point came during the First Paleto Crisis. Jim, Edward, and Tony—Billy’s replacement—made the decision to torture Damian Morrison. Joey vehemently opposed it. He viewed Damian not as an enemy, but as a valuable strategic ally whose removal would destabilize more than it solved. When Jim proceeded without meaningful consultation, Joey understood the balance was gone.

After careful consideration, Joey resigned his position and walked away from J.J. Holdings without ceremony. The company did not slow. Jim remained a dominant force in San Andreas, expanding the empire they had built together. But those who understood the organization knew the truth: Joey’s departure removed the logic and restraint that once kept it stable. Jim stood alone at the helm—one of the most insulated and influential figures in the underworld. And while Jim made the public moves, it had been Joey Hunt’s mind—quiet, disciplined, and unforgiving—that once kept everything from falling apart. Joey's departure however, didn't make a large impact on the company, which would still continue to grow, but without the sharp business-focused mind of Joey.