It didn't help that Rick's father would leave the kids alone to go out of town to do business.The reigning drug operation in Rick's East Side neighborhood was run by twin brothers Leo 'Big Man' Curry and Johnny 'Lil Man' Curry, who lived just across the I-94 from the Wershes. We have no more information about his spouse. Fact-checking the White Boy Rick movie confirmed that he had dropped out of high school by the spring of 1985, prior to his sixteenth birthday. It was journalism that saved him. Wershe Jr. pleaded to the man to call him an ambulance. Ricks information had gotten the drug lord locked up behind bars and White Boy Rick began to take his place. He was born into an average family that lived in an area on the east side of Detroit. No. (WXYZ) After serving 32 years and seven months, Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr., left Kissimmee, Florida with his head high. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. Richard Wershe Jr. was good at what he did. Every drug dealer was impressed. His wife, Cathy Volsan (Mayor Coleman Young's niece), 24, began having an affair with Wershe, then 17. According to the White Boy documentary, he did go to stay with his mother for the eighth grade when he was 13, but he didn't get along with her new husband and he was still in contact with his dad. At present, Wershe Jr. is kept at the Reception and Medical Center state prison in Lake Butler, Florida and is scheduled to be released in 2020. His dissatisfied daughter, Dawn, leaves their home, leaving Rick alone with his son, Ricky. He also sold illegal guns. -Crime Watch Daily, On June 8, 2017, Richard Wershe Jr., 47, was granted his first parole hearing in more than 14 years. The siblings were raised by their father with the help of his own parents who lived across the street from them. At age 17, White Boy was caught for possession of 8kg of cocaine and was sentenced to life in prison. It wont be easy. Wershe Jr. grew up in a lower middle-class household in East Side of Detroit. Moreover, it is known that Richard has two daughters and one son named Richard Williams. More than a dozen police officers were implicated. On July 14, 2017, just a few days shy of his 48th birthday, he was finally granted parole. The FBI, though, wasnt there to send him to prison. Rick Wershe Jr. in court, shortly after his arrest. informant at age 14. Richard Wershe Sr. tried to get the FBI to help his son but they refused to say a word. Wershe spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan for a non-violent drug offense. -White Boy Documentary, Yes. Richard 'White Boy Rick' Wershe Jr. (Michigan Department of Corrections) After spending nearly three decades in prison, infamous former drug kingpin Richard Wershe Jr . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Johnny Curry, the so-called "cocaine king of the East Side," was freed 18 years before Wershe (Curry had been sentenced in Federal Court and wasn't subjected to Michigan's harsh laws that were in place at the time). He was only 14 years old at the time. The man who shot him had claimed it was an accident but Rick had his suspicions that there were people out to get him. 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. However, by then, Darlene had remarried and Wershe Jr. was not fond of his stepfather. Instead of pulling him out, the FBI used his newfound cred to push him in deeper with the Curry gang. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. [7] Wershe's father was also an FBI informant and first reported to the police and the federal agency alongside him before going solo. "I was on one for a week, and it's the most traumatic part of almost 30 years in prison.". 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. In July 2021, Wershe sued the FBI, saying in the lawsuit that: "Had I not been an informant for the task force, I would never have gotten involved with drug gangs or criminality of any sort", and that the FBI's actions amounted to child abuse. So the FBI left Richard Wershe Jr. to fend for himself. Wershe Jr.'s parents opted for a separation when he was five years old. However, he wasn't a drug kingpin by any stretch, as trailers for the movie label him. At the time he landed the role, he was also the head of the Detroit Police Department's homicide division. 4 4y View 3 more replies Shonda Fisher Nisley They were seen stepping out together but Wershe says that the relationship was tumultuous. Reporters and the police broadcasted the teenager all over the news with headlines that called him the leader of a drug cartel. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The end result of three hours of questioning was a ruling in Wershe Jr.'s favor. At the age of 14, the FBI taught Wershe how to deal drugs and planted him inside one of the citys most dangerous gangs. 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. "Everything went as planned. He had an affair with Johnnys wife, Cathy Volsan, who was an influential figure in Detroit at the time, being the niece of Mayor Coleman Young. Then they had him thrown in prison for life. The order came down the pipe that the nation didnt want to deal with another news story about a corrupt mayor: Washington didnt want another Marion Barry, the Washington D.C. mayor who had recently been caught dealing crack. Home. "Rick refused, so my dad took the money and threw my ex-husband and Rick out." It took 30 years for Richard Wershe Jr. to win his freedom. (He's) happy, healthy and excited (and) emotional. "FBI Special Agent Gregg Schwarz, who was stationed in Detroit at the time, asks, "Kingpin of what? The case had grown exponentially. White Boy Rick is another name for Richard Wershe. In September 2018, Local 4 shared a special documentary report on the life of Wershe, the now infamous figure in Detroits drug scene in the 1980s. In 2016, a notorious former Detroit hitman alleged Hill had once tried to commission the murder of Wershe. Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. And to the 14-year-old Richard Wershe Jr., it was an adventure: What kid doesnt want to be an undercover cop when hes 14, 15 years old?. This image released by Sony Pictures shows and Matthew McConaughey, left, and Richie Merritt in a scene from "White Boy Rick." He did not, but his girlfriend soon arrived at the house and after realising what had transpired, quickly called for help. In the 1980s, he gained notoriety in the streets of Detroit under the moniker White Boy Rick. Wershe in fact helped with the largest public corruption case in Detroit's history at the time. Ive lost 30 years of my life, Wershe said during the parole meeting. -White Boy Documentary. Wershe continued to help the FBI even after being incarcerated and played an instrumental role in Operation Backbone, which resulted in the arrests of several corrupt Detroit police officers. However, he was already accustomed to the affluent life that the steady money from the FBI allowed him to lead. Wershe was released from a Florida prison in July, ending his 32 years. To them, he was too young to be an informant. But we are sure that it is not available and his spouses name is not available. All I can give you is my word. Your source for Local information & breaking news across southeast Michigan plus 4Warn Weather providing you with accurate forecasts so you can plan your day. 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. While not the central focus, Wershe does appear on the show in a recurring capacity.[17]. 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. Al Profit/YouTubeNate Boone Craft, the convicted hitman who claims he was hired to kill Rick Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe Jr. was arrested in his home in 1988 with 17 pounds of cocaine. It was a bit of stretch. Keisha Wershe is known as the daughter of the famous drug dealer, Richard Wershe Jr. He made his living running scams and selling guns out of his own home. Later in 2020, he was awarded credits for proper conduct. Wershe, who was caught with more than eight kilograms in his possession, was way past that mark.In 1998, the law was amended to retroactively allow for the chance of parole. They gave chase and Wershe got off two shots using the cheap .22 revolver that Dawn had in her purse. Wershe, the police claimed, was a dangerous cocaine godfather known to his underlings as "White Boy Rick." "We were very overwhelmed," she had toldWXYZat the time. He's not proposing to be a saint. Lured by their wealth and expensive things he had only seen in magazines, Rick started spending time with Johnny. Wershe's life story was turned into a true-crime documentary called "White Boy" that was picked up by Netflix. 108 items. Richards was sentenced to life in prison in Michigan under the states 650-Lifer Law. However, after Wershe Jr. became an FBI informant, money began to flow in as they paid him for information. 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. He was looking forward to taking another step toward his final release. "He's no saint. Keishas face is not yet revealed to the world. I told on the wrong people, Wershe confessed. Wikimedia CommonsColeman Young, the Detroit mayor who was allegedly involved in the police corruption scandal exposed by Rick Wershe Jr. White Boy Rick, though, was a little bit too good. Source: Instagram. "I cant take it back." And what happened? He had been assigned to show the movie's director, Martin Brest, around Detroit. He essentially goes by Rich W and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. However, Leon was not home but the boy and his mom were. I became addicted to that life." The gun jammed. Hes energetic.". "We were very overwhelmed," she had told WXYZ at the time. Curry, Rick found out, had slipped Inspector Hill a $10,000 bribe. The FBI had nobody to blame for this new drug lord but themselves. When he followed up with the FBI, Hughes found out that Wershe was telling the truth. After his release, he went back to his long-term fiancee Michelle Macdonald whom he has been dating since middle school. All I can do is try to be the best man I can from this day forward, Wershe says. He needed protection, and he needed money. Today is a great day for truth, a great day for justice, a great day for vindication, Burnstein said when Wershe was released in July 2020. But they worried that if they took action on their findings, the agency would get wind of their all-too-young informant. About. Published: July 20, 2020, Deadline Detroit, September 07, 2016, Allan Lengel, Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 08:20, "Newcomer Richie Merritt Lands Title Role in 'White Boy Rick' Opposite Matthew McConaughey", After 32 years behind bars, White Boy Rick Wershe Jr. to be released Monday, ONE-TIME DETROIT SUPER COP GIL HILL DIES OF LUNG DISEASE, FAMED CRIME FIGHTER NEVER SHOOK MURDER COVER-UP CLAIMS, Past Detroit Hit Man Claims Gil Hill Wanted Him To Kill Richard Wershe Jr, "Who is White Boy Rick? Despite his age, he proved himself to be invaluable to the FBI. He now has a recreational marijuana business called The 8th. [13], On July 20, 2020, Wershe was released from custody in Florida, having completed his sentence with credits for good behavior.[14]. Most were black and at least a decade older than him. After less than a year, his father convinced him to come back to the East Side. Instead, he remained incarcerated in Michigan for 29 years. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). His Girlfriend/boyfriends name is Not Available. He's very frank about it. Timeline photos. -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. [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. Caption: Keisha Wershes dad Richard and Michelle. The name was instead given to him by reporters who covered his case. Likewise, in July 2020, Richard was released from custody in Florida after completing his sentence with credits for good behavior. Dawn says that when her dad discovered Rick had $50,000 in drug money, he wanted Rick out of the drug business. Wershe had driven his grandmother's car to a gas station, and his sister Dawn drove another car. In 1998, his case was revisited and he was granted the chance of parole. Also, we have no idea about his brother and sister, and we dont know their names either. A merciless 1978 law in Michigan known as the 650-Lifer Law mandated life in prison without parole for being caught with more than six hundred and fifty grams of cocaine or heroin. He was 17 years old then, at the time. Rick dressed in tracksuits and wore pricey Fila sneakers. 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 also bought and sold firearms, selling guns illegally on the black market, often out of his house. I have been made to feel welcome and accepted. informant at age 14. He looks great. After serving 32 years and seven months, Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr., left Kissimmee, Florida with his head high. Did I do something wrong? Click On Detroit/WDIV/YouTubeRick Wershe Jr. in prison. No one knows," says Wershe. (Scott Garfield/Sony/Columbia Pictures and Studio 8 via AP)(Scott Garfield). In the summer of 1984, FBI agents came to their house and started showing pictures of the Curry brothers and their associates. A film based on his life titled White Boy Rick was released Sept. 14, 2018. Fathers name is Not Available. Craft, years later, told reporters: I was told to kill White Boy Rick. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. They caught him with 17 pounds of cocaine. 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. Rick Wershe's Charity Food Drive - Summer 2018. Instead of helping him, they made sure he was sent away for life. There was even an assassination attempt on Wershe Jr. by former professional hitman Nathaniel Craft, who later revealed that he was employed by police detective Gil Hill to kill Wershe Jr. to prevent him from speaking about police corruption in Detroit. Wershe spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan for a non-violent drug offense. Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. My palm prints weren't on it." Wershe earned his parole in 2017 after nearly 30 years in prison. He had previously plead guilty to two felonies related to a Florida stolen car scheme and was sentenced to five years in prison in 2006 on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Richard Wershe, Jr. (Photo: Darlene Carr) The agents decided then and there to make an informant recruitment. He spent over three decades in prison, not getting the chance to spend time with his family. He and his sister subsequently stayed with their father. Though Rick didnt know it, there was a price on his head. Author Free Richard Wershe Jr Rick has 3 children. He has stayed quiet for weeks, but that changed when he spoke to the Daily Mail about his past month as a free man. Wershe Jr. got involved in the world of crime through a petty criminal named Terrence Bell, with whom his sister was in a relationship at the time. 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. 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