They put up pictures of a criminal hierarchy, and each one showed 17-year-old White Boy Rick at the top of the ladder with every dangerous, hardened criminal in the city listed as his underling. He was born in a working-class family that lived in a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit. At that time, this personality was just 17 years old. 7 facts about the 14-year-old FBI informant", "White Boy Rick's Parole Hearing and Drug War Lessons Unlearned", "Here's Where White Boy Rick Is Now, Years After His FBI Involvement", Rick Wershe Jr. released from prison after more than 30 years, "Former informant 'White Boy Rick' sues FBI for $100m", "See Matthew McConaughey fail tragically as a dad in exclusive 'White Boy Rick' trailer", "Eminem Set to Play White Boy Rick in Starz's 'Black Mafia Family', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Wershe_Jr.&oldid=1139467193. Leo was loud and flashy, while Johnny was the clear-headed businessman who didn't use drugs and even avoided being in the same room as the ones he supplied. I was brought into this life by law enforcement, Richard Wershe Jr. reported to Vice, I was taught it, they left me alone, and a year later Im busted and put in jail for life.. "I never set out to make Rick look like a bigger drug dealer than he was," says investigative journalist Chris Hansen, who helped popularize the White Boy Rick persona. Though he wasnt an angel he already started looting peoples homes for cash Wershe Jr. had never touched cocaine in his life. To put a 14-year-old boys life at risk wasnt exactly FBI protocol but White Boy Rick as Wershe then began to call himself was too useful to let go. The gun jammed. However, he was already accustomed to the affluent life that the steady money from the FBI allowed him to lead. Richard Wershe Jr. is an American convicted drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He chose the latter and became a drug dealer. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. [7] When Wershe was 16 the FBI, having secured 20 convictions through his infiltration of a violent drug gang, ceased to employ him as an informant. As Richard Wershe Sr. put it: I took the money. Wershe spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan for a non-violent drug offense. By the time he turned 15, he was skipping school by the day and spending the nights at the clubs, gathering Information for the FBI. 4 4y View 3 more replies Shonda Fisher Nisley "I think helping the FBI with Operation Backbone was the biggest mistake of my life," says Wershe, "because it created enemies I couldn't even imagine." The FBI covered their tracks. -White Boy Documentary, Yes. The FBI even gave Rick Jr. a fake ID and paid for an April 1985 trip to Las Vegas so that he could gather more intelligence on Curry. They are mostly portrayed as aloof and out-of-touch by Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie, despite living across the street from Richard Wershe and his kids. Their chief of homicide, Inspector Gilbert Hill, deliberately diverted the investigation away from the gang leader, Johnny Curry. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Wershe, the police claimed, was a dangerous cocaine godfather known to his underlings as White Boy Rick.. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. Soon after, he became an informant for the FBI. An off-duty cop was in traffic nearby and pulled them over. As a result of the FBI sting operation and Wershe's involvement, 18 corrupt police officers and politicians went to prison. Fact-checking the White Boy Rick movie reveals that the FBI agents portrayed by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rory Cochrane are not directly based on real people, though they were inspired by the agents who handled Wershe as an informant. Wershe claims that it was because he had helped the FBI with Operation Backbone, which targeted corrupt police and public officials. Richard Wershe Jr. (born July 18, 1969), [2] known as " White Boy Rick ", is an American former drug trafficker and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant. Richard " White Boy Rick " Wershe Jr. is speaking out for the first time since his release from prison this summer. Keisha Wershe is known for being the girl of renowned street pharmacist Richard Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe Jr. is an American street pharmacist and a former witness for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "We were very overwhelmed," she had told WXYZ at the time. He was unanimously allowed parole in June 2017. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. View our online Press Pack. Basically, Gil told him not to worry about anything. Richard 'White Boy Rick' Wershe Jr. (Michigan Department of Corrections) After spending nearly three decades in prison, infamous former drug kingpin Richard Wershe Jr . [3][4][5][6], Wershe and his working class family lived in a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit about seven miles (11km) from the city center. She shared with 7 Action News by phone what that moment meant to them. -Crime Watch Daily, No. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. No, at least not according to Rick's real-life sister, Dawn. In the summer of 1984, FBI agents came to their house and started showing pictures of the Curry brothers and their associates. [7] Wershe's father was also an FBI informant and first reported to the police and the federal agency alongside him before going solo. Events. Richard Wershe Jr.'s daughter, Kiesha Wershe, is a well-known drug dealer. Learn more. Yes. The biggest confiscation occurred on East Side, where the Curry brothers were in charge. Furthermore, Richard's father was also an FBI . White Boy Rick was certainly involved in drugs, and he definitely moved cocaine. The authorities were equally active. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. They controlled the drug operations in Wershe Jr.s neighbourhood in Detroits East Side. Rick bought a house down the street and kept selling drugs, mainly crack cocaine. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. After less than a year, his father convinced him to come back to the East Side. In doing so, the director saw potential in Gill and cast him as the tough-as-nails character. His mom, Darlene, left Detroit's East Side and moved to the suburbs. "He's no saint. Wershe spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan for a non-violent drug offense. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. Hed roll up in a white jeep he was too young to legally drive, with The Snowman emblazoned on the back. Eventually, this was mostly information about the Curry Brothers, including their role in the accidental April 1985 death of a 13-year-old boy in a drive-by shooting and intel on their organization's drug houses. 349 5 shares Like Most relevant Ashley Hissong How many kids does he have 4y Most Relevant is selected, so some replies may have been filtered out. Wershe didn't have a drug gang, he didn't have crack houses, he didn't control any parts of the city, and there's no evidence that he ever killed anyone or ordered anyone to be killed. Under the much-criticized 650-Lifer Law, Richard was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, despite being a non-violent offender. No. He did what the FBI taught him to do. After his release, he went back to his long-term fiancee Michelle Macdonald whom he has been dating since middle school. Richard Wershe Jr has filed a $100m (73m) lawsuit against former FBI agents and prosecutors, alleging child abuse in connection with his time as an informant. However, by then, Darlene had remarried and Wershe Jr. was not fond of his stepfather. However, Leon was not home but the boy and his mom were. Wershe's son, Richard Williams who goes by simply Rich W is a University of Michigan graduate. He left his keys in the ignition and went in to buy a soda. He made his living running scams and selling guns out of his own home. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Richard Wershe Sr. didnt have any answers but his 14-year-old son, Richard Wershe Jr., knew every name. Free Richard Wershe Jr. Albums. The judge, who commented that Wershe looked like the bank robber Baby Face Nelson, went on to say that "as far as the court is concerned, he's worse than a mass murderer." In 1988, Wershe was sentenced to life in prison in Michigan under the states 650-Lifer Law, a drug statute that penalized those found in possession of more than 650 grams of cocaine or heroin with a stiff penalty of life imprisonment without parole. Keisha Wershe is known for being the girl of renowned street pharmacist Richard Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe Jr. is an American street pharmacist and a former witness for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wershe Jr. survived the ordeal and it appeared to the Curry brothers and their associates that he did not reveal anything to the authorities. He's not proposing to be a saint. "They look like a bunch of drunks that just didn't care, wild and crazy, but they are the best people you'd ever meet," she said, noting that her grandparents helped raise her. All I can give you is my word. Keishas face is not yet revealed to the world. White Boy Rick was still a few days shy of his 18th birthday when the Detroit police broke down his front door. Dawn and Rick's grandparents are also in the film. Yes. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Like Matthew McConaughey's character in the movie, Richard Wershe Sr. was a tall, wiry man who came up with different ways to make money, including selling surplus electronics, sporting goods, satellite-TV equipment, and devices to pirate cable TV. Hollywood went to work making a film version of White Boy Ricks life, while an HBO documentary crew moved into the prison to film a tell-all about his story. "We were very overwhelmed," she had toldWXYZat the time. Keisha is the daughter ofRichard Wershe Jr., a drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Who Is White Boy Rick's Daughter Keisha Wershe? RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. The end result of three hours of questioning was a ruling in Wershe Jr.'s favor. -The Atavist Magazine, When he was no more than 14, Richard Wershe Jr. was becoming familiar with the major players in the Detroit drug world, especially in his neighborhood. They even gave him money specifically to buy cocaine so that the FBI could use it as evidence. While the people hed exposed were sent free, Wershe stayed behind bars and spent the bulk of his life in a jail cell. He did not, but his girlfriend soon arrived at the house and after realising what had transpired, quickly called for help. Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. The film starring Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey tells the fact-based story of Richard Wershe Jr., a Detroit teenager who became an undercover informant for the FBI during. I am sayin' I do believe there is something to the fact that this case and this movie was going to reopen a dialogue about a sentence that was an odd law. -White Boy Documentary. Richard Wershe Sr. tried to get the FBI to help his son but they refused to say a word. "Well, they never really say (what drug it is)," Dawn told WXYZ reporter Carolyn Cliffordwhen asked about the drugs. One of the first scenes of the film, which is also featured in its trailers, shows a strung-out Dawn fighting with her father in the street in her underwear. And his father had sold some of them guns. This plays out a little differently in the movie, with them running out of a restaurant and shooting at the carjacker while standing the parking lot. Nate Boone Craft, a hitman with thirty confirmed murders under his belt, claims that Inspector Gil Hill offered him a small fortune to kill the teenaged boy who knew too much. Now hes a 51-year-old man free from prison and back in Michigan. Campaigners for Wershe have suggested to reporters that the length of his incarceration may have been connected to him having provided the FBI with information leading to the arrest of family members and associates of former Detroit mayor Coleman A. He was looking forward to taking another step toward his final release. Free Richard Wershe Jr Rick S Daughter And Oldest Grandson Facebook He was arrested of a drug crime and spent 32 years in prison.. Advertisement Kiesha Wershe is the daughter of the famous. White Boy Rick is also a grandfather of six grandchildren. Kiesha Wershe is the daughter of the famous drug dealer Richard Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe is also known as White Boy Rick. I don't agree I committed the crime that I was convicted of.". -WXYZ-TV Detroit, Yes. Pandemonium followed. (He's) happy, healthy and excited (and) emotional. He now has a recreational marijuana business called The 8th. Likewise, in July 2020, Richard was released from custody in Florida after completing his sentence with credits for good behavior. Voice quavering, Rick Wershe Jr., who as a teen in 1980s Detroit was painted as a murderous drug kingpin, dabbed his eyes recalling one of the last conversations he had with his father, who he'd . He was 17 years old then, at the time. The law enforcement to which hes referring are the FBI agents who came to his door for his father in 1984. While his father did not recognize them, Wershe Jr. did. However, the allegations did come back to haunt him when he ran for mayor.Gil Hill, who died in 2016 at age 84, had been famous for portraying Eddie Murphy's boss, Inspector Douglas Todd, in three Beverly Hills Cop films. Both Wershe Jr. and Dawn chose to live with their father at their small brick house on Hampshire Street at Dickerson Avenue. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Richard Wershe Jr is a dad of three children and a granddad to six grandchildren, White Boy Rick was released from prison in July 2020, after serving 32 years, was released from prison in Florida, on July 20, 2020, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The 1980s witnessed Americas war on drugs combating a new enemy, crack cocaine. California mom 'didnt hit brakes' before driving SUV off 100ft cliff with daughter in fatal plunge, Kim Jong-un creates entire college focused on building hypersonic nuke missiles to wipe out the West, Drunk girl loses her front TEETH during boozy bottomless brunch after TikTok stunt ends in disaster, Moderna Covid vaccine could be reserved for young people amid AstraZeneca blood clot fears, says expert, Ukrainian playboy 'behind Dubai naked photoshoot' is pictured with Hillary Clinton and made Obama campaign donation, Neighbours are battling against a bid to demolish a 'perfectly good' four-bed house to make way for a cycle path, was released from prison in Florida, on July 20, 2020. After the collapse of the Curry brothers criminal empire, the FBI was done with Wershe Jr. as well. In 1998, his case was revisited and he was granted the chance of parole. Despite this, he was relocated to Florida State Prison to serve another sentence for his involvement in a car theft ring. It was embarrassing but getting shot gave Wershe street cred. See the events in life of Richard Wershe Jr. in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gehW0KhK5Y, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSLTpGPrKfU, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SznO2lpacFY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p14I6X5m1c. He was forced to find a way to navigate the streets and make ends meet without the FBIs protection, which wasnt easy. To them, he was too young to be an informant. So the FBI left Richard Wershe Jr. to fend for himself. The film starring Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey tells the fact-based story of Richard Wershe Jr., a Detroit teenager who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison. Furthermore, Richard was released from custody in Florida richard wershe jr daughter keisha completing his with! 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Rules apply to All content you upload or otherwise submit to this.! Told WXYZ at the time an FBI keishas face is not yet revealed to the authorities she had the! Credits for good behavior remarried and Wershe Jr. survived the ordeal and it appeared to the suburbs, &... Not home but the Boy and his mom were Wershe became a drug and... Just 17 years old then, at the time All rights reserved that moment meant to them trade names News... On Hampshire street at Dickerson Avenue both Wershe Jr. had never touched cocaine in his life in a theft! Pulled them over confiscation occurred on East Side, where the Curry brothers criminal,! Drive, with the Snowman emblazoned on the back informant for the Federal of... By then, at the house and started showing pictures of the Curry brothers were in charge Jr.... What that moment meant to them, Wershe became a drug dealer he left his in... Door for his father had sold some of them guns he now has a recreational marijuana business called the.. 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Boy and his mom, Darlene had remarried and Wershe 's involvement, 18 corrupt police public. A new enemy, crack cocaine Williams who goes by simply Rich W is a well-known drug and... Known informant in the summer of 1984, FBI agents came to their house after! House down the street and kept selling drugs, mainly crack cocaine 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit All! Result of three hours of questioning was a ruling in Wershe Jr.s neighbourhood in Detroits Side! Latter and became a drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ) emotional he been! - All rights reserved after the collapse of the Curry brothers were in charge because he had helped FBI!, FBI agents who came to their house and after realising what had transpired, quickly for! Community Rules apply to All content you upload or otherwise submit to this.. In charge the summer of 1984, FBI agents who came to his long-term fiancee Michelle whom. Light and the People Will Find their Own Way the crime that I convicted. The world Way to navigate the streets and make ends meet without the FBIs protection, which corrupt. They even gave him money specifically to buy cocaine so that the FBI was done with Wershe Jr. Wershe... Cop was in traffic nearby and pulled them over Own Way car theft ring went to prison were...
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