Trunco, known as Van Driven to his clients, was aiming at the 'reward pathway' of the brain, where an increase of a biochemical component, dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, triggered and reinforced behavior satisfying to humans. With a dose of his own business acumen, Trunco sought to apply the simple business equation that pleasing the consumer 's palate would reap rewards. The 'grim reaper', that is, death, would take a cut, but the stake Trunco had in the drunken hearts of his victims would bear financial fruit.