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." However, she might be earning and living a life without any difficulties. The end result of three hours of questioning was a ruling in Wershe Jr.'s favor. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. informant at age 14. After he was done working as an informant for the FBI, Richard Wershe started selling cocaine himself. 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 FBI was now involved in mayoral corruption. Wershe's 30-year-old son sat next to me at a screeening Thursday night in Novi for the . This came up at Richard Wershe Jr.'s 2017 hearing. Is it peculiar that he gets released same year that we're makin' a movie that shines a little spotlight on him? The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. He became a drug dealer. But a lot of people seem to feel and see I had a rough deal. Wershe Sr. had initially contacted the FBI to seek their help with his daughter, who, by then, had a severe drug problem. In April 1985, Johnny went to Las Vegas, Nevada, to watch the Marvin Hagler vs Tommy Hearns boxing match. Chambers, praised White Boy Ricks climb up to the top: He rose all the way through the ranks. This garnered him street cred in their eyes and in the ensuing months, he grew even closer to them. Rick hadn't been spending time with Curry yet, but he knew who the operators were in the neighborhood. After the collapse of the Curry brothers criminal empire, the FBI was done with Wershe Jr. as well. It contains clips from Richard Wershe Jr. interviews and photos from his time as an FBI informant and drug dealer. The name was instead given to him by reporters who covered his case. Richard Wershe Jr. was sent to prison for life at 18-years-old. The former FBI informant at age 14, now starts his life over as an adult. "My daughter became sick on doing drugs," Richard Wershe Sr. says. Yes. "My son became sick on power, the excitement, the prestige, the money, and the glamour of selling. He was arrested in 1987 at age 17 and sentenced to life in prison. Courtroom sketches from Rick's trial in 1988. The guy's girlfriend came home and called 911 when she saw Wershe writhing on the floor. 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. Source: Detroit. Also, we have no idea about his brother and sister, and we dont know their names either. April 2, 2021 'White Boy' is a true-crime documentary that looks into the life of Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. Despite his age, he proved himself to be invaluable to the FBI. His wife, Cathy Volsan (Mayor Coleman Young's niece), 24, began having an affair with Wershe, then 17. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. "We were very overwhelmed," she had toldWXYZat the time. He had been assigned to show the movie's director, Martin Brest, around Detroit. The mothers name is Not Available. I wasnt doing all that well at the time. Detroit-based organized crime historian and true crime author Scott Burnstein said the end of Wershes decades-long sentence is way overdue.. His attorney, Ralph. He was released from the Oaks Correctional Facility in Michigan in April 2017 and turned over to U.S. Cathy Volsan (Johnny Curry's wife who was also the mayor's niece) was eager to get back into the cocaine business and offered the police assistance. Wershe had driven his grandmother's car to a gas station, and his sister Dawn drove another car. He was a witness for the FBI when he was between 14 and 16 years old. After Richard Wershe Jr. is paroled in Michigan, he'll immediately be transferred to prison in Florida, where he's expected to spend the next 3 years and 8 months. Police had found the drugs stashed near Wershe's house after a traffic stop. The Wershes could barely make the ends meet. [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. 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. Johnny and other members of his organisation each served 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges. Photos. It took 30 years for Richard Wershe Jr. to win his freedom. It turned into a stolen car ring, and Wershe pleaded guilty to protect his sister and mother from criminal charges. in early 1988 with the Detroit News Wershe said he and his son became informants after agents helped "get his daughter back . He is seen throughout the film dealing firearms on the street and complying with his son's drug activity. -The Atavist Magazine, Yes. "Everything went as planned. Dawn's heroin use is a major characteristic of her character in the film. "You'd have to ask [the Detroit Police Department] that," Wershe Jr. replied. Wershe Jr.'s parents opted for a separation when he was five years old. Other violent kingpins and enforcers who were convicted under Michigan law were freed years ago. Their chief of homicide, Inspector Gilbert Hill, deliberately diverted the investigation away from the gang leader, Johnny Curry. He notices that the gun has details consistent with Egyptian-made AK-47s, unlike the Russian-made ones the dealer claims he's selling. -The Atavist Magazine. But where is the equity in a system that puts non-violent criminals away while killers walk free?, Read more: White Boy Rick Wershe Jr. to return to Metro Detroit after release. The explanation could be for welfare or safety reasons. Yes. "Johnny [Curry] placed a call to Gil, put it on speaker. Pandemonium followed. In addition to this, he was an amateur inventor. Richard Wershe Jr. will be staying behind bars longer than he had hoped. "My fingerprints weren't on the drugs. In 2016, a notorious former Detroit hitman alleged Hill had once tried to commission the murder of Wershe. The audience for the hearing packed the biggest room available in the state system. Despite this, he was relocated to Florida State Prison to serve another sentence for his involvement in a car theft ring. He regularly spent time with the brothers and they did not suspect a thing. This is certainly a valid argument, especially since they didn't stop using him as an informant or offer to put him into witness protection after he had been shot and nearly died. The FBI sent Wershe Jr. there with a fake id and $15,000 so he would continue to do his job as an informant. Starring newcomer Richie Merritt and Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey, the film tells the incredible true story of Richard (White Boy Rick) Wershe, Jr., the longest-serving non-violent juvenile offender in the American prison system. 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. The film has received mixed reviews from critics, but there's nothing mixed about the reaction from Wershe's sister, Dawn Scott, who expressed frustration over her family's portrayal in anexclusive interview with WXYZ in Detroit. Keisha is the daughter of Richard Wershe Jr., a drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. -The Atavist Magazine, Yes. Then they had him thrown in prison for life. He commented that on the night of his 1987 arrest, police officers seized thirty-four thousand dollars of his cash. Rick befriended Bell, who lured him into the world of petty crime. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. The White Boy Rick true story confirms that some of these encounters did occur at the roller skating rink like in the movie. Keisha Wershe is known to be the daughter of the famous drug dealer Richard Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe Jr. is an American drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He vouched for an undercover FBI agent who posed as his supplier from Miami. Richard Wershe, Jr. (Photo: Darlene Carr) The agents decided then and there to make an informant recruitment. During a screening of White Boy Rick in 2018, he let the power source know that his father was smarter and more aware than he was portrayed in the film. But we are sure that it is not available and his spouses name is not available. (He's) happy, healthy and excited (and) emotional. Dawn Wershe, Richard Wershe Jr.'s sister, sat in a row nearby. Click On Detroit/WDIVRichard Wersher Jr. during his parole hearing. 14:51 Richard Wershe Jr. is about to experience freedom for the first time in his adult life. 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). Therefore, this personality is not active on any social media sites including Instagram and Twitter. 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. On July 14, 2017, just a few days shy of his 48th birthday, he was finally granted parole. The siblings were raised by their father with the help of his own parents who lived across the street from them. "We were very overwhelmed," she had told WXYZ at the time. 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. [7] Wershe's father was also an FBI informant and first reported to the police and the federal agency alongside him before going solo. -Documentary. Instead, he remained incarcerated in Michigan for 29 years. 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. "Today was just it was, you know freedom," McDonald said. Wershe Jr. survived the ordeal and it appeared to the Curry brothers and their associates that he did not reveal anything to the authorities. According to retired FBI agent John Anthony, White Boy Rick was the most productive informant for the agency at the time. When he was asked what t will be like when he hangs out with his father after his release he responded: "Honestly, I don't know, we've got some catching up to do.". Rick Wershe Jr. began to see the corruption when a 13-year-old boy was shot by the Curry Gang and the Detroit police did nothing about it. Later in the year 2017, Richard was again sentenced to 5 years in prison at Florida State prison on a 2008 car theft ring conviction. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. AKA Richard Wershe Jr.'s daughter, Kiesha Wershe, is a well known drug supplier. Starring newcomer Richie Merritt and Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey, the film tells the incredible true story of Richard (White Boy Rick) Wershe, Jr., the longest-serving non-violent juvenile. At the age of 17, White Boy was arrested for possession of 8 kg of cocaine and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He went as part of Curry's entourage, there to attend the Hearns vs. Hagler boxing match at Caesar's Palace (like in the film, they never got into the match). And, he simply goes by the name Rich W and is a University of Michigan graduate. 2 daughters and a son. Johnny was one of the most powerful drug lords in Detroits underworld and Wershe Jr. constantly provided information on him and his criminal empire. 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. He was born into an average family that lived in an area on the east side of Detroit. [15] An ambulance arrived and blocked them from leaving. In researching the White Boy Rick true story, we learned that Wershe's activities as an off-the-books confidential FBI informant were kept under wraps at the trial, which ended with him being given a life sentence. 8:08 am. Wershe says that he was given new lawyers who had worked for Mayor Coleman Young. According to both the real White Boy Rick and local drug czar Johnny Curry, homicide detective Gil Hill helped to cover up the murder of a 13-year-old boy named Damion Lucas, who was shot accidentally during a drive-by shooting that targeted the house of the boy's uncle, Leon Lucas. He went above and beyond what the FBI asked him to do. -The Atavist, According to former hitman Nathaniel Craft, he says that he was hired by homicide detective Gil Hill to take out Richard Wershe Jr. so that Wershe couldn't confess to what he knew about corruption in the police department, including the cover up of Damion Lucas' murder. Rick started hanging out with their younger brother, Rudell "Boo" Curry, who shared Rick's interest in cars, motorcycles and girls. It was journalism that saved him. "I was told to kill White Boy Rick," says Craft. "It's hell on wheels," Wershe said. The baby-faced little white boy, the news said, wasnt just a drug dealer. Caption: Keisha Wershes dad Richard and Michelle. "I was on one for a week, and it's the most traumatic part of almost 30 years in prison.". At the time he landed the role, he was also the head of the Detroit Police Department's homicide division. Wershe is now engaged to his longtime girlfriend. After serving 32 years and seven months, Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr., left Kissimmee, Florida with his head high. And were surprised by that?. Cover photos. A carjacker with a gun in his hand jumped into Wershe's car. Other Curry gang members arrived to the home before the ambulance and attempted to load Curry into the backseat of a car, possibly to dump him somewhere. White Boy Rick, a film based on his life, was released on September 14, 2018. The 14-year-old wasnt a drug dealer or a gangster. Click On Detroit/WDIV/YouTubeRick Wershe Jr. in prison. Richard Wershe Jr.'s daughter, Kiesha Wershe, is a well-known drug dealer. View more / View less Facts of Keisha Wershe. They were seen stepping out together but Wershe says that the relationship was tumultuous. No one knows," says Wershe. RELATED: Richard 'White Boy Rick' Wershe officially free after more than 32 years. "We were portrayed in the film aslow-class dirt poorscuzz bags," she said. 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. He directly bought cocaine from a Miami-based supplier named Art Derrick. Wershe claims that it was because he had helped the FBI with Operation Backbone, which targeted corrupt police and public officials. We were ridin' around in Johnny's BMW. 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. This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 08:20. Who is Keisha Wershe? Caption: Keisha Wershes father Richard in the court. 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? It was embarrassing but getting shot gave Wershe street cred. He is working to enjoy the life he never had due to his conviction as a teenager, but hes still wondering why he had to spend so much time in prison. Wershe was arrested but the cop never showed up for the trial. He now has a recreational marijuana business called The 8th. He was forced to find a way to navigate the streets and make ends meet without the FBIs protection, which wasnt easy. He spent over three decades in prison, not getting the chance to spend time with his family. According to FBI Agent John Anthony, at that time, White Boy Rick was the single most productive informant the FBI had in Detroit. When he was 15, Wershe Jr. was shot in the stomach by one of Johnnys associates at the latter house. Kiesha Wershe is the girl of renowned street pharmacist Richard Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe is also called White Boy Rick. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. -WXYZ-TV Detroit, Yes. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. White Boy Rick is another name for Richard Wershe. Even though he was dreading the transport process, Wershe said he wanted to start as soon as possible. The biggest confiscation occurred on East Side, where the Curry brothers were in charge. While not the central focus, Wershe does appear on the show in a recurring capacity.[17]. Richard was sentenced to life in prison in Michigan under the states 650-Lifer Law. The law enforcement to which hes referring are the FBI agents who came to his door for his father in 1984. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. White Boy Rick also has two daughters and six grandchildren. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Date Published: 5/10/2022. Dawn and Rick's grandparents are also in the film. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. While his father did not recognize them, Wershe Jr. did. Where is Richard Wershe Jr Now, Kids - Daughter Son . F.B.I. Author Free Richard Wershe Jr Rick has 3 children. They caught him with 17 pounds of cocaine. Soon after, he became an informant for the FBI. From the moment he started high school, he was pulled away from a normal life and dragged into a life on the streets. She shared with 7 Action News by phone what that moment meant to them. But the news made him bigger than he was because the police were out for blood. About a year later, he moved back in with his father. Rick dressed in tracksuits and wore pricey Fila sneakers. Having just turned 51 years old, Wershe began a new chapter in life together with his fiance Michelle McDonald, whom he began dating in middle school. -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. White Boy Rick is also a grandfather of six grandchildren. informant at age 14. -Crime Watch DailyThe press had played up Wershe's nickname and labeled him a "teenage drug kingpin." Perhaps. Assistant State Attorney General Scott Rothermel asked him why the police report indicates that less than thirty thousand dollars was confiscated. 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 added that Wershe's dad, Richard Wershe Sr., who was played by Matthew McConaughey, was portrayed too positively, almost heroic at times. Eventually, he began dealing, not under Johnny's watch, but on his own, and his trajectory was set.He started bringing in more and more money from selling drugs, eventually cutting out the middle men and having cocaine delivered directly from suppliers in Miami. He was convicted of possession of cocaine. One gang lord, B.J. Pretty soon he uncovered a conspiracy that ran through the whole city. Despite the Michigan Parole Board voting unanimously to grant Richard Wershe Jr. his freedom in 2017 after spending 29 years in prison, the then 47-year-old still had time to serve in Florida for a separate offense. Love Island fans' horror as axed Olivia handed power to destroy TWO other stars, Frogmore eviction shows King's drawn a line with Harry, Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. -The Atavist Magazine, Rick's sister Dawn was dating a small-time criminal named Terrence Bell and she had become involved with crack cocaine. Wershe spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan for a non-violent drug offense. Richard Wershe Jr. mugshot for Florida Department of Corrections, Detroit historian: White Boy Rick Wershe prison release way overdue. -White Boy Documentary, With local drug lord Johnny Curry behind bars, it is believed that Wershe, then 17, was bringing in about $30,000 a month. Most recently, in Florida, on unrelated charges, Wershe was set free Monday due to good behavior. When federal agents raided Cathy's townhouse on a Friday afternoon in June 1987, they found Wershe there in bed with her. All I can do is try to be the best man I can from this day forward, Wershe says. Supporters say Wershe's cooperation against corrupt public officials proved to be the reason for a conspiracy of lies to keep him inside. A nearby policeman then appears to arrest them. Richard Wershe Jr. is an American convicted drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Under the law at that time, it was supposed to cost him the rest of his life, which is just ridiculous. I go to pay for a meal, and someone recognizes me as White Boy Rick, and they say, I got this.. Rick says they robbed somewhere around 20 homes together (not shown in the movie). However, she might be dating or might be married and might also have kids. After his release, he went back to his long-term fiancee Michelle Macdonald whom he has. No, at least not according to Rick's real-life sister, Dawn. The FBI covered their tracks. "He's very frank about who he is and what he did," actor Matthew McConaughey said during a CinemaCon interview. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. 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). Ever since he was released, Richard Jr has been an advocate for prison reform and works with Team Wellness to help ex-convicts. And what happened? We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. White Boy Ricks new fame changed his life. Timeline photos. Rick went out in mink coats wrapped up with a belt made of solid gold and a diamond-encrusted Rolex on his wrist. "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. 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. [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 described above, this included "the cocaine king" Johnny 'Lil Man' Curry (portrayed by Jonathan Majors in the movie). Later in 2020, he was awarded credits for proper conduct. "We heard that he was tellin', so they said, 'We got to kill that white boy.'" I don't agree I committed the crime that I was convicted of.". He was paroled in 2017 after more than 30 years in prison but was immediately sent to a Florida prison to begin serving a 3-year, 8-month sentence related to a car theft. Also, his father was also an FBI informant. 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. They controlled the drug operations in Wershe Jr.s neighbourhood in Detroits East Side. The White Boy Rick true story reveals that, like in the movie, it happened when Johnny Curry was in jail awaiting trial. Nate Boone Craft, the convicted hitman who claims he was hired to kill Rick Wershe Jr. Richard Wersher Jr. during his parole hearing. In May 1987, when he was 17 years old, Wershe Jr. was arrested and charged with the possession of eight kilos of cocaine. Who Is White White Boy Rick AKA Richard Wershe Daughter Now. Richard 'White Boy Rick' Wershe Jr. (Michigan Department of Corrections) After spending nearly three decades in prison, infamous former drug kingpin Richard Wershe Jr . They were relics of a time when Detroit was booming. Yes. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Richard Wershe Sr. didnt have any answers but his 14-year-old son, Richard Wershe Jr., knew every name. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Moreover, his father was also an FBI informant and first reported to the police and the federal agency alongside him before going also. But according to Dawn, just about all of the family dynamics portrayed in the movie are wrong. However, lets hope Keisha might be living a happy life. "They said, 'Listen, this is what we're going to do. When he was asked what t will be like when he hangs out with his father after his release he responded: "Honestly, I don't know, we've got some catching up to do.". Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. Likewise, in July 2020, Richard was released from custody in Florida after completing his sentence with credits for good behavior. After his release, he went back to his long-term fiancee Michelle Macdonald whom he has been dating since middle school. Though Rick didnt know it, there was a price on his head. "Everything went as planned. He needed protection, and he needed money. Agent Gregg Schwarz would later admit: We brought him into the drug world. As a result of both the impending film and the White Boy documentary that had just been released, interest in Wershe Jr. had been on the rise, so much so that a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections was on hand doing live TV interviews before 7 a.m. on the morning of the 9 a.m. hearing. The information about where Keisha has not been made public. This picture of him is a still from his role in the movie Beverly Hills Cop. (He's) happy, healthy and excited (and) emotional. "I think everything went really well and he looks forward to everything that he has ahead of him.. We have no more information about his spouse. He also bought and sold firearms, selling guns illegally on the black market, often out of his house. He says that he was working with his sister from prison to secure a car for his mom. "I know that the drugs I sold destroyed peoples lives," Wershe said in 2017. -Crime Watch Daily, No.
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