richard wershe jr daughter keisha
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. And were surprised by that?. After serving 32 years and seven months, Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr., left Kissimmee, Florida with his head high. They wanted information. How White Boy Rick Uncovered The Largest Corruption Case In Detroit History And Got Life In Jail, Mark Oliver is a writer, teacher, and father whose work has appeared on The Onion's StarWipe, Yahoo, and Cracked, and can be found on his, The Death Of Grigori Rasputin, History's Most Unkillable Man, Croatian Village Plagued By 100 Gigantic Sinkholes Following Massive Earthquake, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. [3][16], Eminem plays Wershe on the TV show BMF. "I was on one for a week, and it's the most traumatic part of almost 30 years in prison.". When he was 14 to 16 years old, he worked as an FBI informant. White Boy Rick is also a grandfather of six grandchildren. In addition to this, he was an amateur inventor. This came up at Richard Wershe Jr.'s 2017 hearing. [8], He was sentenced to life in prison in Michigan under the state's 650-Lifer Law, a drug statute passed in 1973 that penalized those found in possession of more than 650 grams (23 ounces) of cocaine or heroin with life imprisonment without parole. April 2, 2021 'White Boy' is a true-crime documentary that looks into the life of Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. Both Wershe Jr. and Dawn chose to live with their father at their small brick house on Hampshire Street at Dickerson Avenue. Learn more. Rick says they robbed somewhere around 20 homes together (not shown in the movie). The end result of three hours of questioning was a ruling in Wershe Jr.'s favor. Kiesha Wershe is the girl of renowned street pharmacist Richard Wershe Jr. Richard Wershe is also called White Boy Rick. They gave chase and Wershe got off two shots using the cheap .22 revolver that Dawn had in her purse. "It's hell on wheels," Wershe said. The notorious teenage FBI informant known as "White Boy Rick" spent three decades in jail cells. informant at age 14. 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). 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 hawked surplus electronics, satellite TV equipment, sporting goods, and devices to pirate cable TV. 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. "We heard that he was tellin', so they said, 'We got to kill that white boy.'" To them, he was too young to be an informant. He added that Wershe's dad, Richard Wershe Sr., who was played by Matthew McConaughey, was portrayed too positively, almost heroic at times. And I thought it was the right thing keep some drug dealers off the street and get paid for it.. One gang lord, B.J. I'm not going to say I helped. No. 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. And his father had sold some of them guns. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Is it peculiar that he gets released same year that we're makin' a movie that shines a little spotlight on him? However, after Wershe Jr. became an FBI informant, money began to flow in as they paid him for information. As stated in the White Boy documentary, one of those lawyers went on to become one of the officials who petitioned to deny Wershe's chance at parole in 2003, his one and only hearing until 2017. Wershe's days as a major drug dealer lasted only about a year before he was arrested. 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. In 2017, justice campaigners publicized Wershe's case and he was subsequently paroled, but directly to a prison in Florida to serve another five years for an auto theft conviction from 2008. But we are trying hard to collect all the information about him and will update you soon. Basically, Gil told him not to worry about anything. In May 1987, when he was 17 years old, Wershe Jr. was arrested and charged with the possession of eight kilos of cocaine. 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. Despite this, he was relocated to Florida State Prison to serve another sentence for his involvement in a car theft ring. According to one anonymous FBI agent, the agency was ordered to let the mayor go. Thats how Richard Wershe Jr. became the FBIs youngest informant. Nate Boone Craft, the convicted hitman who claims he was hired to kill Rick Wershe Jr. Richard Wersher Jr. during his parole hearing. They taught him how to pedal drugs on the street. He added that Wershe's dad, Richard Wershe Sr., who was played by Matthew McConaughey, was portrayed too positively, almost heroic at times. The Wershes could barely make the ends meet. Rick Wershe Jr. in court, shortly after his arrest. If you don't take this plea, we are going to arrest your mom and your sister,'" Wershe said. "He's very frank about who he is and what he did," actor Matthew McConaughey said during a CinemaCon interview. "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. 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. Who?" Yes. As her career and professional life are unknown, her earnings and net worth remain unknown as well. Wershe Sr. was rapidly losing his hold on both of his children. I wasnt sure it would be that way. After less than a year, his father convinced him to come back to the East Side. When he followed up with the FBI, Hughes found out that Wershe was telling the truth. He was 17 years old then, at the time. As described above, this included "the cocaine king" Johnny 'Lil Man' Curry (portrayed by Jonathan Majors in the movie). At the age of 17, White Boy was arrested for possession of 8 kg of cocaine and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. The White Boy Rick true story reveals that, like in the movie, it happened when Johnny Curry was in jail awaiting trial. [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. [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. Who is George Osborne's fiance Thea Rogers? He directly bought cocaine from a Miami-based supplier named Art Derrick. Richard was born into a working-class family in a neighborhood on Detroit's east side. The mothers name is Not Available. Rick's daughter and oldest grandson. 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. 108 items. 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 . The information about where Keisha has not been made public. -Detroit Free Press. They were seen stepping out together but Wershe says that the relationship was tumultuous. -The Atavist Magazine, This happened when Wershe was 14, well before he could drive legally. However, Wershe feels that his punishment grossly exceeded his crime, as do many others. Reporters and the police broadcasted the teenager all over the news with headlines that called him the leader of a drug cartel. -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. Richard was born in a working-class family that lived in a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. All the things I guess you expect after 32 years.". 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. Rick dressed in tracksuits and wore pricey Fila sneakers. He has three children, including a son named Richard Williams. The gun jammed. Rick Wershe Jr Daughter Keisha Morris Photos And Names; . Craft, years later, told reporters: I was told to kill White Boy Rick. He chose the latter and became a drug dealer. He became the longest-serving nonviolent juvenile offender in Michigan history. All I can give you is my word. She shared with 7 Action News by phone what that moment meant to them. -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. Other violent kingpins and enforcers who were convicted under Michigan law were freed years ago. Despite his age, he proved himself to be invaluable to the FBI. After 32 years old imprisonment, Richard went back to his long-term fiancee Michelle MacDonald whom he has been dating since middle school. On the one-year anniversary of his release from prison after 32 years, Richard Wershe Jr. filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing former FBI agents, ex-Detroit police officers and former federal. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. As Richard Wershe Sr. put it: I took the money. Convicted murderers came and went while Wershe was behind bars for possession. It began airing on the Starz network in 2019 and was picked up by Netflix in April 2021. Her date of birth and other information related to her family and educational background is unknown. However, she might be dating or might be married and might also have kids. 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." Now, his relationship is perfect. 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. The FBI covered their tracks. Click On Detroit/WDIV/YouTubeRick Wershe Jr. in court, shortly after his arrest. 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. White Boy Rick is also a grandfather of six grandchildren. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. White Boy Ricks father, Richard Wershe Sr., wasnt a man who lived entirely within the law. Assistant State Attorney General Scott Rothermel asked him why the police report indicates that less than thirty thousand dollars was confiscated. It was Wayne County Circuit Judge Dana Hathaway who later found no reason to keep Wershe locked up in Michigan, and today emotions were running high after his release. "[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." He was born into an average family that lived in an area on the east side of Detroit. He essentially had two choices at the time, go back to school or hit the streets. 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. Dawn and Rick's grandparents are also in the film. They controlled the drug operations in Wershe Jr.s neighbourhood in Detroits East Side. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Victoria Persinger Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts, Jeremy Hartwell Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts. 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. He was released from the Oaks Correctional Facility in Michigan in April 2017 and turned over to U.S. 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. He notices that the gun has details consistent with Egyptian-made AK-47s, unlike the Russian-made ones the dealer claims he's selling. 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. "I was told to kill White Boy Rick," says Craft. Rick went out in mink coats wrapped up with a belt made of solid gold and a diamond-encrusted Rolex on his wrist. He became sick." F.B.I. View our online Press Pack. Most were black and at least a decade older than him. 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. This garnered him street cred in their eyes and in the ensuing months, he grew even closer to them. But the news made him bigger than he was because the police were out for blood. Dawn's heroin use is a major characteristic of her character in the film. Caption: Keisha Wershes father Richard in the court. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. -The Atavist Magazine. The judge's implication is that the drugs Wershe supplied destroyed lives and likely resulted in deaths.Wershe has claimed that his FBI handlers pushed him into the drug trade to serve their own ends. Dawn goes on to say that her family was never consulted for the film, but McConaughey did visit with Wershe Jr. at Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee in March 2017 for more than 4 hours to prepare for the role. The FBI, though, wasnt there to send him to prison. It contains clips from Richard Wershe Jr. interviews and photos from his time as an FBI informant and drug dealer. He left his keys in the ignition and went in to buy a soda. On July 14, 2017, just a few days shy of his 48th birthday, he was finally granted parole. Hes energetic.". Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Who is Keisha Wershe? "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.". The FBI investigated Gil Hill's possible role in the cover up, but no charges were ever brought against Hill. He's one of the few people I've met in jail that doesn't say, 'I'm innocent.' He also sold illegal guns. Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. It was back in 1987 that Richard was caught having more than eight kilograms (18 pounds) of cocaine. -The Atavist Magazine, Yes. When he was 15, Wershe Jr. was shot in the stomach by one of Johnnys associates at the latter house. RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. In April 1985, Johnny went to Las Vegas, Nevada, to watch the Marvin Hagler vs Tommy Hearns boxing match. He moved tens of kilos. Through him, he gained access to the Curry brothers and their lavish lifestyle. Wershe spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan for a non-violent drug offense. 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. Richard Wershe Sr. tried to get the FBI to help his son but they refused to say a word. He was born into an average family that lived in an area on the east side of Detroit. (Scott Garfield/Sony/Columbia Pictures and Studio 8 via AP)(Scott Garfield). [7] Wershe's father was also an FBI informant and first reported to the police and the federal agency alongside him before going solo. The FBI sent Wershe Jr. there with a fake id and $15,000 so he would continue to do his job as an informant. informant at age 14. in early 1988 with the Detroit News Wershe said he and his son became informants after agents helped "get his daughter back In 2014, freelance writer Evan Hughes read Wershes outlandish claims about a conspiracy that had put him behind bars and started to look into whether they were true. He spent over three decades in prison, not getting the chance to spend time with his family. "You'd have to ask [the Detroit Police Department] that," Wershe Jr. replied. He did it just as big as me, the Curry brothers, Maserati Rick whoever you want to name.. Dawn says that when her dad discovered Rick had $50,000 in drug money, he wanted Rick out of the drug business. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Ive lost 30 years of my life, Wershe said during the parole meeting. And, it was back in the year 1987 when Richard was arrested for possessing cocaine in excess of eight kilograms (18 pounds). 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. 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. He now has a recreational marijuana business called The 8th. The former FBI informant at age 14, now starts his life over as an adult. He was a kingpin. No one knows," says Wershe. "I became addicted to the lifestyle," says the real Richard Wershe Jr. "I became addicted to the money. Click On Detroit/WDIVRichard Wersher Jr. during his parole hearing. RELATED: Richard 'White Boy Rick' Wershe officially free after more than 32 years. In the spring of 1984, FBI agents knocked on the Wershes' door, intending to gather information from Rick's dad. White Boy Rick is another name for Richard Wershe. Wershe, the police claimed, was a dangerous cocaine godfather known to his underlings as White Boy Rick.. So the FBI left Richard Wershe Jr. to fend for himself. McConaughey plays their father, Richard Wershe Sr., who raised his kids on the east side of Detroit. The same offense today would only carry a max sentence of three years in prison. During his trial the judge had no sympathy. But Richard Wershe Jr. is ready to try. However, he was already accustomed to the affluent life that the steady money from the FBI allowed him to lead. Rick started hanging out with their younger brother, Rudell "Boo" Curry, who shared Rick's interest in cars, motorcycles and girls. After spending 32 years incarcerated, Wershe was released from prison in Florida, on July 20, 2020 having completed 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. At that time, this personality was just 17 years old. White Boy Rick was certainly involved in drugs, and he definitely moved cocaine. Under the law at that time, it was supposed to cost him the rest of his life, which is just ridiculous. He vouched for an undercover FBI agent who posed as his supplier from Miami. He was only 14 years old at the time. He was 17-years-old. Wershe is a father of two daughters and a son. 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. magazine.atavist.com. 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. Click On Detroit/WDIV/YouTubeRick Wershe Jr. in prison. "We were very overwhelmed," she had toldWXYZat the time. Keishas face is not yet revealed to the world. RICHARD Wershe Jr known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980s. "Were there some exaggerations? An off-duty cop was in traffic nearby and pulled them over. Fathers name is Not Available. Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. Though he wasnt an angel he already started looting peoples homes for cash Wershe Jr. had never touched cocaine in his life. We have no more information about his spouse. 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. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, 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, McDonald's worker slammed after serving 'half-eaten' burgers and 'ruining' food with too much sauce in TikTok video. However, Leon was not home but the boy and his mom were. Wershe's life story was turned into a true-crime documentary called "White Boy" that was picked up by Netflix. He's not proposing to be a saint. "He's no saint. He's very frank about it. His Girlfriend/boyfriends name is Not Available. After 32 years in detention, he is back with his long-term fiance Michelle MacDonald, whom he has been dating since high school. Many feel that it would have helped him avoid such harsh prison time. A carjacker with a gun in his hand jumped into Wershe's car. Dawn was doing crack cocaine while Wershe Jr., accompanied by Bell, began committing burglaries. (He's) happy, healthy and excited (and) emotional. 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. He was convicted of possession of cocaine. 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. Also, we have no idea about his brother and sister, and we dont know their names either. He did not, but his girlfriend soon arrived at the house and after realising what had transpired, quickly called for help. 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. 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. Ever since he was released, Richard Jr has been an advocate for prison reform and works with Team Wellness to help ex-convicts. In Detroit in the 80s, everyone knew when White Boy Rick was around. 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. Source: Instagram. A film based on his life titled White Boy Rick was released Sept. 14, 2018. And, he simply goes by the name Rich W and is a University of Michigan graduate. White Boy Rick also has two daughters and six grandchildren. 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. Richard was born in a working-class family that lived in a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit. 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. Wershe in fact helped with the largest public corruption case in Detroit's history at the time. -Documentary, Yes. During this period, he was earning about $30,000 a month. The FBI was now involved in mayoral corruption. "It was all about Rick. Wershe Sr. was also known as an illegal arms dealer in the black market.