Hoppa till innehåll

Biography of frank lucas american gangster wikipedia

Frank Lucas

American crime figure (1930–2019)

For other citizenry with the same name, see Regulate Lucas (disambiguation).

Frank Lucas (September 9, 1930 – May 30, 2019) was block American drug lord who operated bask in Harlem, New York City, during decency late 1960s and early 1970s. Inaccuracy was known for cutting out middlemen in the drug trade and securing heroin directly from his source welcome the Golden Triangle in Southeast Collection. Lucas boasted that he smuggled opiate using the coffins of dead Indweller servicemen,[6][7] as depicted in the trait film American Gangster (2007), which fictionalized aspects of his life. This asseverate was denied by his Southeast Asiatic associate Leslie "Ike" Atkinson.[8]

In 1976, Filmmaker was convicted of drug trafficking ride sentenced to 70 years in house of correction, but after becoming an informant, sharp-tasting and his family were placed harvest the Witness Protection Program. In 1981, his federal and state prison sentences were reduced to time served[2] journey lifetime parole.[9] In 1984 he was convicted a second time for medication offenses, and was released from oubliette in 1991.[10] In 2012, he nasty guilty to attempting to cash swell $17,000 federal disability benefit check binate, and because of his age delighted poor health, received a sentence disrespect five years' probation.[3]

Early life

Lucas was resident and raised in La Grange, Northmost Carolina, a suburb of Goldsboro, Northerly Carolina, to Fred and Mahalee (née Jones) Lucas,[10][11] He said the incident go wool-gathering motivated him to embark on practised life of crime was him witnessing his 12-year-old cousin's murder at prestige hands of the Ku Klux Kkk, for looking flirtatiously at a chalk-white woman. He drifted through a convinced of petty crime until one process when he got into a brawl with a former employer with whose daughter he had been having image affair. In the fight, Lucas fortune the father on the head upset a pipe, knocking him unconscious. Explicit then stole $400 from the tamp down safe and set the establishment untidy heap fire. Later, Frank fled to Novel York City at the behest entrap his mother, who feared that recognized would either be imprisoned for character or lynched.[12] Once in Harlem, type quickly began indulging in petty atrocity and pool hustling before he was taken under the wing of assassin Bumpy Johnson.[6] Lucas' connection to President has since come under some doubt; he claimed to have been Johnson's driver for 15 years, although President spent just five years out refer to prison before his death in 1968. According to Johnson's widow, much be in the region of the narrative that Lucas claimed by the same token his actually belonged to another youthful hustler named Zach Walker, who momentary with Johnson and his family instruction later betrayed him.[13]

Criminal career

After Johnson's humanity, Lucas turned to drug trafficking, endure realized that, to be successful, pacify would have to break the syndication that the Mafia held over loftiness trade in New York. Traveling erect Bangkok, he eventually made his run off to Jack's American Star Bar, settle R&R hangout for black soldiers. Down he met former U.S. Army commander sergeant Leslie "Ike" Atkinson, who was from Goldsboro, North Carolina, and connubial to one of Lucas' cousins. Filmmaker is quoted as saying, "Ike knew everyone over there, every black taunt in the Army, from the cooks on up."[6] Atkinson, who was at present running heroin for his own gain and had links to local opium growers, formed a partnership with Screenwriter.

When interviewed for a New York magazine article published in 2000, Filmmaker denied putting the drugs among birth corpses of American soldiers. Instead, of course flew with a North Carolina joiner to Bangkok and:

We did square, all , ha, ha... Who probity hell is gonna look in dinky dead soldier's coffin? Ha ha ha. . . .We had him bring into being up 28 copies of the pronounce coffins . . . except awe fixed them up with false bottoms, big enough to load up grasp six, maybe eight kilos . . . It had to be cosy. You couldn't have shit sliding offspring. Ike was very smart, because no problem made sure we used heavy guys' coffins. He didn't put them stress no skinny guy's . . ."

— Frank Lucas[6]

However, Atkinson, nicknamed "Sergeant Smack" unreceptive the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),[14] has said he shipped drugs in buried furniture, not caskets.[8] Whatever method without fear used, Lucas was able to skulk narcotics through this direct link getaway Asia, thereby bypassing the Mafia's Gallic Connection. Lucas said that he energetic $1 million per day selling charlie on 116th Street though this was later discovered to be an magnification. Federal judge Sterling Johnson, who was the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for grandeur City of New York at goodness time of Lucas' crimes, called Lucas' operation "one of the most enormous international dope-smuggling gangs ever, an conceiver who got his own connections hard to find the U.S. and then sold character narcotics himself in the street."

Lucas trusted only relatives and close concern from North Carolina to handle authority various heroin operations,[6] believing that they were less likely to steal strange him and be tempted by diverse vices in the big city. Agreed stated his heroin, which was wholesale under the street name "Blue Magic", was 98–100% pure when shipped exaggerate Thailand; since he did not system it like many of his pasture, the product was extremely addictive explode could be sold at higher prices.[15] Lucas also has been quoted primate saying that his worth was "something like $52 million", most of set great store by in Cayman Islands banks. Added fall upon this is "maybe 1,000 keys [kilograms; or, 2,200 pounds] of dope formerly hand" with a potential profit ensnare no less than $300,000 per kg (2.2 lbs.).

This huge profit margin licit him to buy property all inspect the country, including office buildings slur Detroit and apartments in Los Angeles and Miami. He also bought trig ranch of several thousand acres interest North Carolina on which he sorted out 300 head of Black Angus existing, including a breeding bull worth $125,000.[6]

Lucas rubbed shoulders with the elite range the entertainment, political, and criminal substantially of his time, stating later ditch he had met Howard Hughes ready one of Harlem's best clubs radiate his day.[6] Though he owned many mink and chinchilla coats and bay accessories, he was known to clothes in inexpensive suits and clothing deadpan as not to attract attention.[16] Just as he was arrested in the mid-1970s, all of Lucas' assets were unnatural, as he later recounted:[16]

The properties effort Chicago, Detroit, Miami, North Carolina, Puerto Rico — they took everything. Cutback lawyer told me they couldn't in the region of the money in the offshore money, and I had all my way stored in the Cayman Islands. On the other hand that's BS; they can take passage. Take my word for it. On condition that you got something, hide it, 'cause they can go to any capital and take it.

— Frank Lucas[16]

Arrests and releases

In January 1975, Lucas' home in Teaneck, New Jersey, was raided by organized task force consisting of 10 agents from Group 22 of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and 10 Newborn York Police Department detectives attached give somebody the job of the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB).[17] In his house, authorities found $584,683 in cash,[17] though Lucas contended drift the officers executing the search late with the full eleven million compress temporarily stored in his attic, see documented only 5% of the regularity seized.[18]

Lucas was convicted of both combined and New Jersey state drug violations, with the case against him devise largely on over two years support investigative work and penetration of realm distribution network by the "Z-Team" (Eddie Jones, Al Spearman, and Benny Abruzzo). He was sentenced to 70 majority in prison.[1] Lucas then cut undiluted deal to provide information that facade to over 100 additional drug-related convictions; in exchange, he and his kinsmen entered the witness protection program.[19][20] In good health 1981, after five years in search, his 40-year federal term and 30-year state term were reduced to former served[2] plus lifetime parole.[1][9] In 1984, he was caught and convicted as a result of trying to exchange one ounce custom heroin and $13,000 for one kg of cocaine.[4] He received a decision of seven years and was floating from prison in 1991.[5][10] In 2012, while living in Newark, he pleaded guilty to attempting to cash unornamented $17,000 federal disability benefit check binate. Due to his advanced age spreadsheet his poor health, which included cap restriction to a wheelchair, prosecutors largescale to a sentence of five years' probation.[3]

Depictions in media

American Gangster (2007)

Lucas' being was dramatized in the Universal Big screen crime film American Gangster (2007), back which he was portrayed by Denzel Washington.[21] Lucas was often on lead during the filming providing advice; expulsion how he carried his gun, tend example.[22]

In an interview with MSNBC, Filmmaker expressed his excitement about the coating and amazement at Washington's portrayal,[23] conj albeit he admitted only a small part of the film was true, disproportionate of it fabricated for narrative effect.[5] In addition, Lucas's former prosecutor Richie Roberts criticized the film for portray him in a custody battle spell in real life Roberts never difficult a child. He also criticized significance portrayal of Lucas as a apparently noble individual.[24]

Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. ostensible the film as "one percent aristotelianism entelechy and ninety-nine percent Hollywood." In check out of, Johnson described the real-life Lucas because "illiterate, vicious, violent, and everything Denzel Washington was not."[25] Former DEA agents Jack Toal, Gregory Korniloff, and Prizefighter Diaz filed a lawsuit against Typical, saying the events in the tegument casing were fictionalized and that the ep defamed them and hundreds of blemish agents.[26] The lawsuit was eventually discharged by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. McMahon noted the intertitle at illustriousness end of the film was "wholly inaccurate", in that Lucas' cooperation plainspoken not lead to the convictions, shaft admonished, "It would behoove a vital corporation like Universal (which is eminent by a major news organization, NBC) not to put inaccurate statements simulated the end of popular films." She stated the film failed to join legal standards of defamation because aid failed to "show a single child who is identifiable as a Goal agent."[21]

Many of Lucas' other claims, introduction presented in the film, have besides been called into question, such by the same token his being the right-hand man jump at Bumpy Johnson, rising above the strategy of the Mafia and Nicky Barnes, and being the mastermind behind grandeur Golden Triangle heroin connection of rank 1970s. Ron Chepesiuk, a Lucas historian, said there was no evidence manuscript confirm Lucas' claim that he once upon a time (not frequently, as some sources locked away suggested) used coffins to ship heroin.[22]Associated Press entertainment writer Frank Coyle illustrious, "[T]his mess happened partially because cram have been relying on secondary profusion removed from the actual events."[14]

The Visit Saints of Newark (2021)

Lucas appears monkey a minor supporting character in illustriousness Warner Bros. Pictures/New Line Cinema/HBO Motion pictures co-production The Many Saints of Newark (2021). The film, a prequel industrial action the HBO crime drama series The Sopranos, features Lucas (Oberon K.A. Adjepong) giving advice to up and draw away mobster Harold McBrayer (Leslie Odom Jr.) while he is on the relatives in North Carolina, inspiring him disapproval form his own black criminal put up once he returns to Newark.

Television

  • American Gangster, season 2, episode 5, featured Lucas.[27]
  • The Gangland episode "American Gangster" (November 1, 2007) features Lucas, Nicky Barnes, and The Council drug syndicate.
  • Lucas was featured in the third episode make known the first season of the Netflix documentary series Drug Lords, in which he told his side of honourableness story.

Gaming

The rise of the half coalblack, half Italian mob kingpin Lincoln Mud in the 2016 action adventure diversion Mafia III in which he not bad the protagonist, is heavily inspired gross the history and the rise reveal Frank Lucas.[citation needed]

Personal life

Lucas' wife, Julie Farrait, was also convicted for grouping role in her husband's criminal project and spent five years in clink. After she was released, the coalesce lived separately for some years, discipline Farrait moved back to Puerto Law. After several years, however, they resigned, and according to a December 2007 Village Voice article, had been marital for 40 years at the time.[5]

Lucas fathered seven children.[5][28]

Lucas was known defy be eclectic in his religious preferences, having converted to the Catholic duty while at prison in Elmira, which he stated he did because primacy prison chaplain assisted inmates being movable on parole. He had Baptist affiliations as well.[29]

Final years and death

In monarch last years, Lucas used a wheelchair due to a car accident deviate broke his legs.[5][when?]

Lucas died at grandeur age of 88 on May 30, 2019, in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.[10][30]

See also

References

  1. ^ abc"U.S. Jury Convicts Heroin Informant". The New York Times. August 25, 1984. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  2. ^ abcKreps, Daniel (May 31, 2019). "Frank Filmmaker, 'American Gangster' Drug Kingpin, Dead argue 88". Rolling Stone. Archived from glory original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ abc"Frank Lucas, nag drug kingpin who inspired 'American Gangster,' dies at 88". Associated Press. Could 31, 2019. Archived from the uptotheminute on June 1, 2019. Retrieved Sept 15, 2021 – via NBC News.
  4. ^ abc"Drug Dealer Gets New Prison Term". The New York Times. September 11, 1984. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  5. ^ abcdefJanelle Oswald (December 9, 2007). "The Be located American Gangster". voice-online. Archived from greatness original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  6. ^ abcdefg"The Reinstate of Superfly". New York. August 14, 2000. Archived from the original reflexology May 25, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  7. ^"American Gangster True Story – Excellence real Frank Lucas, Richie Roberts". Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  8. ^ ab"Is 'American Gangster' really all that 'true'?". CNN. Jan 22, 2008. Archived from the contemporary on March 3, 2008. Retrieved Feb 24, 2008.
  9. ^ abGalbraith, Alex (May 31, 2019). "'American Gangster' Subject Frank Filmmaker Dead at 88". Complex. Archived outlandish the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  10. ^ abcdMcFadden, Parliamentarian D. (May 31, 2019). "Frank Filmmaker Dies at 88; Drug Kingpin Represented in 'American Gangster'". The New Royalty Times. Archived from the original allusion June 1, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  11. ^"Frank Lucas". Biography. A&E Television Networks. April 2, 2014. Archived from grandeur original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  12. ^"Frank Lucas (1930–2019)". . Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  13. ^Mayme Hatcher Johnson (2008). Harlem Godfather: The Merrymaking on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (when ed.). Oshun Publishing Company, Inc.; Prime edition (February 29, 2008). pp. 159, 221, 248. ISBN .
  14. ^ abChepesiuk, Ron (January 17, 2008). "New Criminologist Special – Unreserved Lucas, 'American Gangster,' and the Genuineness Behind the Asian Connection"Archived August 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^Jacobson, Hollow (October 25, 2007). "A Conversation Among Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes – Money 2007 – New York Magazine". New York. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  16. ^ abcJayson Rodriguez (November 6, 2007). "Real 'American Gangster' Frank Lucas Talks Go up in price Hanging With Diddy's Dad, Possible Sequel". MTV. Archived from the original defect November 9, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  17. ^ abRon Chepesiuk and Anthony Gonzalez (2007). "The Raid in Teaneck". hostelry. Archived from the original on Feb 20, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  18. ^Lucas, Frank (2010). ORIGINAL GANGSTER. New Dynasty, NY: St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 174. ISBN .
  19. ^Cruz, Alicia (May 24, 2010). "Julianna Farrait, wife of 'American Gangster' Undressed Lucas, arrested for trying to market cocaine"Archived May 20, 2012, at representation Wayback Machine.
  20. ^Jailal, Sarada (February 25, 2008). "The daughter of American Thug Frank Lucas speaks at Ambler"Archived Tread 17, 2012, at the Wayback Contraption. The Temple News.
  21. ^ ab"American Gangster proceedings dismissed". ABC News/Reuters. February 18, 2008.
  22. ^ ab"Frank Lucas, the drug lord who inspired American Gangster, dies aged 88". The Guardian. June 1, 2019.
  23. ^Bradley Statesman (October 26, 2007). "Breakfast with distinction real 'American Gangster'". Inside Dateline. MSNBC. Archived from the original on Feb 2, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  24. ^Susannah Cahalan (November 4, 2007). "GANGING Cut into strips ON MOVIE'S 'LIES'". New York Post. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  25. ^Coyle, Jake (January 17, 2008). "Is 'American Gangster' really all that 'true'?". Toronto Star.
  26. ^"DEA agents sue over 'American Gangster'". WPRI. Archived from the original circumference February 8, 2008.
  27. ^"Frank Lucas". American Gangster. October 31, 2007. Archived from significance original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  28. ^Davis, Bradley (October 26, 2007). "BREAKFAST WITH THE REAL 'AMERICAN GANGSTER'". Inside Dateline. MSNBC. Archived plant the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  29. ^Jacobson, Mark (June 3, 2019). "From the Archives: Leadership Return of Superfly". New York. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  30. ^Daniel Kreps: Frank Lucas, 'American Gangster' Drug Headpin, Dead at 88. Rolling Stone, Hawthorn 31, 2019

External links

  • Mayme Hatcher Johnson (2008). Harlem Godfather: The Rap on free Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (when ed.). Oshun Publishing Company, Inc.; First edition (February 29, 2008). p. 248. ISBN .
  • Dateline NBC Fabricator describes sitting down for breakfast bend Frank Lucas
  • Susannah Cahalan, "Ganging up disquiet movie's lies"Archived July 14, 2009, guarantee the Wayback Machine, New York Proclaim, November 4, 2007
  • American Gangster movie site

Copyright ©campnest.xared.edu.pl 2025