2 daughters and a son. In doing so, the director saw potential in Gill and cast him as the tough-as-nails character. "[The film] said that my dad couldn't handle us kids and that he had Rick sell drugs because he couldn't cut the mustard to pay the bills, and that's the farthest thing, farthest thing from the truth." They went down and met, and he said he gave Gil ten grand to cover up the kid's murder." In May 1987, when he was 17 years old, Wershe Jr. was arrested and charged with the possession of eight kilos of cocaine. Contrary to popular belief, Rick was not brought down on a kingpin statute, racketeering, (or) a continuing criminal enterprise statute -- Rick was arrested when he was 17 years old at a routine traffic stop where they found cocaine, Burnstein said. "I was on one for a week, and it's the most traumatic part of almost 30 years in prison.". Therefore, it was a crime convicted while he was still behind the bars. When he was released from prison in Michigan in 2017, Wershe walked out of the prison and right into a prison transport van. He essentially goes by Rich W and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. RELATED: Richard 'White Boy Rick' Wershe officially free after more than 32 years. White Boy Rick is also a grandfather of six grandchildren. He directly bought cocaine from a Miami-based supplier named Art Derrick. 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. magazine.atavist.com. I have been made to feel welcome and accepted. He was convicted of possession of cocaine. 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. But, there is no confirmation as nothing about her personal as well as professional life is known. About. All rights reserved (About Us). During this period, he was earning about $30,000 a month. In 1998, his case was revisited and he was granted the chance of parole. He said, 125,000, Ill make sure you get it as long as that boy is dead. His keyword, Dead. This came from Gil Hills mouth to me.. The more time he spent with Boo, the more encounters he had with Boo's older brothers, including Johnny Curry. 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. Keisha is out of the social media world. Police had found the drugs stashed near Wershe's house after a traffic stop. "I was told to kill White Boy Rick," says Craft. White Boy Ricks new fame changed his life. Wershe pleaded guilty in 2006 to being involved in a car theft ring. However, he wasn't a drug kingpin by any stretch, as trailers for the movie label him. I can tell you this, I have more peace in my life now than Ive ever had, he told the Daily Mail. He essentially had two choices at the time, go back to school or hit the streets. More than a dozen police officers were implicated. Even now, the only trade Wershe knows is crime. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. His wife, Cathy Volsan (Mayor Coleman Young's niece), 24, began having an affair with Wershe, then 17. He needed protection, and he needed money. We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. He hawked surplus electronics, satellite TV equipment, sporting goods, and devices to pirate cable TV. Wershe Jr. grew up in a lower middle-class household in East Side of Detroit. He attended a local high school but abandoned his education in 1985, right before his 16th birthday. While Michigan repealed the 650-Lifer Law that handed Richard Wershe Jr. a life sentence, he was still in prison long after other offenders were released. 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. I became addicted to the women. Therefore, she has stayed away from the public and has made a low-key lifestyle. "We were portrayed in the film aslow-class dirt poorscuzz bags," she said. According to FBI Agent John Anthony, at that time, White Boy Rick was the single most productive informant the FBI had in Detroit. "Well, they never really say (what drug it is)," Dawn told WXYZ reporter Carolyn Cliffordwhen asked about the drugs. Steve Garagiola, ClickOnDetroit He was born in a working-class family that lived in a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit. Find out about Keisha Wershe and White Boy Rick Weve definitely figured out that Keisha Wershe is Richard Wershe Jr.s girl. He went above and beyond what the FBI asked him to do. Richard Wershe Jr. was arrested in his home in 1988 with 17 pounds of cocaine. The siblings were raised by their father with the help of his own parents who lived across the street from them. They caught him with 17 pounds of cocaine. It began airing on the Starz network in 2019 and was picked up by Netflix in April 2021. Ill never commit another crime.. White Boy, a documentary chronicling the case of Richard Wershe Jr., premiered on March 31, 2017, at the Freep Film Festival where it won the Audience Choice Award. 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. Richard Wershe Jr. is suing FBI agents, Detroit police and others a year after he was released from . I don't think so. 108 items. The case had grown exponentially. The former FBI informant at age 14, now starts his life over as an adult. The baby-faced little white boy, the news said, wasnt just a drug dealer. Who Is White White Boy Rick AKA Richard Wershe Daughter Now. And, he simply goes by the name Rich W and is a University of Michigan graduate. Events. "I was, I would say, a hustler," Wershe Sr. admitted. He notices that the gun has details consistent with Egyptian-made AK-47s, unlike the Russian-made ones the dealer claims he's selling. Also, his father was also an FBI informant. Likewise, in July 2020, Richard was released from custody in Florida after completing his sentence with credits for good behavior. 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. He was locked up at the age of 17, to originally serve a life sentence under a law since ruled unconstitutional. "He's very frank about who he is and what he did," actor Matthew McConaughey said during a CinemaCon interview. Wershe claims that it was because he had helped the FBI with Operation Backbone, which targeted corrupt police and public officials. 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. Rick Wershe's Charity Food Drive - Summer 2018. Should he be there for [29] years for the crime he committed? 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. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. -The New YorkerHowever, Wershe maintains that they weren't his drugs and that the corrupt cops planted them there. "But that's what we're all assuming,that's the drug of choice just by the way she acts, and I have never done heroin in my life.". A close childhood friend of Rick's said that in the case of Rick's father, the almighty buck ranked above morals. In the summer of 1984, FBI agents came to their house and started showing pictures of the Curry brothers and their associates. Who Is White Boy Rick's Daughter Keisha Wershe? Ive lost 30 years of my life, Wershe said during the parole meeting. Both had worked for Chrysler for four decades. Wershe Jr. pleaded to the man to call him an ambulance. Cover photos. The guy who pulled the trigger was an acquaintance and swore that it was an accident, but Wershe wasn't completely convinced, especially since Curry had likely caught wind that he was an informant. Rick started hanging out with their younger brother, Rudell "Boo" Curry, who shared Rick's interest in cars, motorcycles and girls. Agent Gregg Schwarz would later admit: We brought him into the drug world. A member of Johnny Curry's crew shot Wershe in the stomach with a .357 when Wershe was 15. He regularly spent time with the brothers and they did not suspect a thing. But Richard Wershe Jr. is ready to try. ", No. He commented that on the night of his 1987 arrest, police officers seized thirty-four thousand dollars of his cash. Richard Wershe Jr. was sent to prison for life at 18-years-old. At the age of 17, Wershe was arrested for possession of 8kg of cocaine and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. His Girlfriend/boyfriends name is Not Available. White Boy Rick only knew one way to do it. 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. [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. No. 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. Portrayed by Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie in the White Boy Rick movie, Roman and Verna Wershe did live across the street. In the spring of 1984, FBI agents knocked on the Wershes' door, intending to gather information from Rick's dad. Did his involvement in helping the FBI expose corrupt cops and city officials lead to him being denied parole for 29 years? Source: pressinformant.com. Perhaps. 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? The FBI was now involved in mayoral corruption. At the age of 14, the FBI taught Wershe how to deal drugs and planted him inside one of the citys most dangerous gangs. Young, as well as the allegation about Young's political ally Hill. The explanation could be for welfare or safety reasons. He took up with the Curry Gang, the foremost drug slingers in Detroit at the time, and made friends with dangerous criminals so that he could get better information. [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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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.. If you don't take this plea, we are going to arrest your mom and your sister,'" Wershe said. Who is George Osborne's fiance Thea Rogers? 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. Richard White Boy Rick Wershe Jr. is speaking out for the first time since his release from prison this summer. 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. "Johnny [Curry] placed a call to Gil, put it on speaker. Click On Detroit/WDIVRichard Wersher Jr. during his parole hearing. And what happened? According to Deadline Detroit, Rich, who is in his 30s, has a white-collar job. He left his keys in the ignition and went in to buy a soda. He was a witness for the FBI when he was between 14 and 16 years old. Even though he was dreading the transport process, Wershe said he wanted to start as soon as possible. The guy's girlfriend came home and called 911 when she saw Wershe writhing on the floor. 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. Where is Richard Wershe Jr Now, Kids - Daughter Son . 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. 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. "They said, 'Listen, this is what we're going to do. Dawn's heroin use is a major characteristic of her character in the film. RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. He also sold illegal guns. When he was 14 to 16 years old, he worked as an FBI informant. Al Profit/YouTubeNate Boone Craft, the convicted hitman who claims he was hired to kill Rick Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe Sr. didnt have any answers but his 14-year-old son, Richard Wershe Jr., knew every name. Ricks information had gotten the drug lord locked up behind bars and White Boy Rick began to take his place. -White Boy Documentary. She shared with 7 Action News by phone what that moment meant to them. It was a felony charged while he was still behind bars. Hed even taken his girlfriend, Cathy Volsan, the mayors niece. His wife, Cathy Volsan (Mayor Coleman Young's niece), 24, began having an affair with Wershe, then 17. Courtroom sketches from Rick's trial in 1988. 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. -Detroit Free Press. RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. Rick Wershe Jr Daughter Keisha; Born: Richard John Wershe Jr. [1] July 18, 1969 (age 51) Status: released on July 20, 2020: Known for: F.B.I. 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. "Everything went as planned. He was just aware of what went on around him in his community, a streetwise kid, and the FBI was willing to pay to find out just how much he was aware of. 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. 9 items. However, she might be dating or might be married and might also have kids. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. White Boy Rick knew this was because Johnny Curry was connected to Detroit Mayor Coleman Young; in fact, the king of Detroit crime, Johnny Curry, dated the mayors niece Cathy Volsan. On paper, they recorded White Boy Ricks tips under his fathers name. Wershe, the police claimed, was a dangerous cocaine godfather known to his underlings as White Boy Rick.. The FBI sent Wershe Jr. there with a fake id and $15,000 so he would continue to do his job as an informant. It was one reason why Wershe Sr. didn't want to leave the crack-ridden neighborhood. Johnny and other members of his organisation each served 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges. Thats how Richard Wershe Jr. became the FBIs youngest informant. There is no information about Keishas relationship history. [9][10][11][12] In 2019, his application was denied by the Florida clemency board. Dawn and Rick's grandparents are also in the film. He also bought and sold firearms, selling guns illegally on the black market, often out of his house. Source: Detroit. Richard Wershe Jr. will be staying behind bars longer than he had hoped. 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. But according to Dawn, just about all of the family dynamics portrayed in the movie are wrong. A carjacker with a gun in his hand jumped into Wershe's car. She eventually remarried. Rick Wershe Jr. in court, shortly after his arrest. Richard Wershe Jr. was arrested in his home in 1988 with 17 pounds of cocaine. "We were very overwhelmed," she had toldWXYZat the time. On July 14, 2017, just a few days shy of his 48th birthday, he was finally granted parole. 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. The notorious teenage FBI informant known as "White Boy Rick" spent three decades in jail cells. Wershe says that the FBI barely scratched the surface of how deep the corruption ran, and releasing him meant that the truth might come out. Detroit-based organized crime historian and true crime author Scott Burnstein said the end of Wershes decades-long sentence is way overdue.. Though he wasnt an angel he already started looting peoples homes for cash Wershe Jr. had never touched cocaine in his life. "My fingerprints weren't on the drugs. 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. 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. Keisha is the daughter of Richard Wershe Jr., a drug dealer and former informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Richard was born into a working-class family in a neighborhood on Detroit's east side. He was looking forward to taking another step toward his final release. Richard Wershe is also called White Boy Rick. He was born into an average family that lived in an area on the east side of Detroit. The bullet tore through his large intestine. After 32 years old imprisonment, Richard went back to his long-term fiancee Michelle MacDonald whom he has been dating since middle school. informant at age 14. September 14, 2018, 1:43 AM by Allan Lengel. Johnny Curry was history. Wershe Sr. was also known as an illegal arms dealer in the black market. 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