Richard, aka White boy Rick, was finally set free in 2020 after spending more than thirty years in jail. Wershe served the longest sentence of any nonviolent minor in Michigan history, according to his lawyer, Nabih Ayad, because the information he provided helped take down crooked police. Please try again later. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Before a 2003 hearing, the lawsuit says, he called in his chips but was informed the federal prosecutors who promised to help were barred from doing so. His father, Richard Sr. and his mother Darlene divorced when he was five years old, and Richard ended up staying with his father. At sixteen years old, Richard was suddenly left with no supervision. It hasnt been all celebration. Operation Backbone was a success, nailing 13 Detroit police officers and public officials, according to the lawsuit. Wershe a father of three 30-something children, all born in the three years before he went to prison was in solitary confinement in Florida in 2005 when a jailer told him his oldest daughter had delivered his first grandchild, a boy, he said. In 1998, Michigan revised its 650-Lifer Law. Officers caught him, beat him badly enough to go to the hospital and later informed him theyd received a tip leading them to 18 pounds of cocaine they said hed stashed in his neighbors yard, the lawsuit and local news reports say. 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. In addition, Richards life has been the subject of many books as well as the feature film White Boy Rick starring Matthew McConaughey as Richards father. Im sorry to tell you that the legend of White Boy Rick is just not true, Schwarz said. "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.". One of his FBI handlers visited him in 1991 with a federal prosecutor who needed help with a sting targeting dirty policemen and politicians, and he promised to fight for Wershes release, the lawsuit says. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Richard was from a lower-middle-class family. Richard Wershe Sr. didn't drink, but police records show a history of. informant at age 14. When he got upstairs, the associate shot him with a .357 Magnum, the bullet ripping through his large intestine, he told CNN. Richard Wershe Sr. is his father's name, and Darlene McCormick is his mother's name. Asked where he finds inspiration after 32 years and seven months in a cage, Wershe said he read loads of books in prison, but he brought only one home: Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning, sent to him by screenwriter Scott Silver of Joker and 8 Mile fame. He was instrumental again, leading to the arrests of multiple policemen and other officials that included the family members of Mayor Coleman Young. People say, Its amazing to me youre not bitter, he said. He cant let anger consume him, he said. The criminal case against Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. played out during the late 1980s, when he was a teenager and the drug-trade . Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969, in Michigan, and is now 51 years old. Finally, he could. Detroits city attorney did not respond to a request for comment. He was a teen drug informant for the FBI until he got caught dealing drugs. It is true that Wershe Sr. was . The man was initially sentenced to life in prison, but instead earned his parole in 2017 and was released in July 2020. My next door neighbor in Detroit worked with his father Rick Sr. back in the 80's selling bootleg cable boxes and other nefarious items. Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. has waited a long time for this day. Dawn, his older sister, is his other sibling. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. At the age of 17, Wershe was arrested for possession of 8kg of cocaine and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. 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. He was tested by an Assistant Michigan Attorney General who ignored key elements in the Wershe story while grilling him at length about other parts. Released on July 20, 2020, Wershe has been working to cement that message. Wershes drug-dealing days ended May 22, 1987. . He belongs to a working middle-class family. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Try again later. With Richards help, the authorities were able to make multiple busts, eventually sending them to prison. He also has an older sister named Dawn. They taught him the tricks of buying and selling narcotics, while providing him money, drugs and a fake ID only to disavow him when he was arrested for cocaine, he says. Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. [9][10][11][12] In 2019, his application was denied by the Florida clemency board. Failed to remove flower. Jr. He also worked as an FBI informant as his father at a young age. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He had stated that he was addicted to the lifestyle that he had led until then. His attorney, Ralph Musilli,. Theyve adopted two feral cats Bonnie and Clyde, he says, smirking, sipping from a water bottle and a pair of rescue Shih Tzu-Pomeranians, Sophie and Rosie, who are heavily featured in his timeline. Speaking to CNN, she praised his involvement with the Team Wellness Center, a local mental health services provider, and said so much of Wershes work is aimed at combating inequity and creating alternatives for those headed toward incarceration. F.B.I. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. I had money on me, he told CNN. The man formerly branded as a "drug kingpin" when he was only 17 years old was finally released from prison in 2020 after spending more than 30 years behind bars for a non-violent, juvenile drug offense. 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. September 10, 2013, 11:38 PM by Allan Lengel. Detroit school board member and former state lawmaker Sherry Gay-Dagnogo met Wershe in January. Richard Wershe Jr., popularly known as "White Boy Rick," was 14-years-old when the FBI enlisted him as an informant. Over the next couple of years, Richard infiltrated the Curry criminal organization headed by brothers Johnny and Leo Curry. Add a bio, trivia, and more. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. They were hoping he dies in jail. This account has been disabled. Gregarious and affable, qualities he still exudes today, Wershe Jr. was good at the work the details of which he kept from his father. Weve updated the security on the site. Matthew McConaughey, left, stars as Richard Wershe Sr. and Richie Merritt stars as Ricky Wershe Jr. in "White Boy Rick." (Special Photo: Studio 8) . Richard Wershe Jr., a former FBI and Detroit police informant known as "White Boy Rick," hugs his mother Darlene McCormick after a press conference at the Penobscot Building, in Detroit, July 20 . In the White Boy documentary, Schwarz joined other sources, including a gang leader and convicted drug trafficker, in telling filmmakers Wershe had no henchmen, no territory. The two met in middle school and cultivated a romantic relationship about five years ago. Wershe says, as a teen, he never would've chosen a life of crime had he not been indoctrinated by local and federal police. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. One of his neighbors hanged himself in his cell, he said. 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. Both would become fearsome enemies, Wershe Jr. said. My daughter was having a girl, and she said, No, you had a grandson. She said sometimes those things are wrong, and today hes a 16-and-a-half-year-old kid, an honor roll student and going to graduate school a year early and get a jump on college, the proud grandfather said. Previous to Richard's current city of Saint Clair Shores, MI , Richard Wershe lived in Clinton Township MI and Warren MI. Its the story of a White teen operating among Black drug dealers in a corrupt and treacherous city during the crack epidemic. Wershe could seek parole beginning in 2002. Latest prison photo of Richard J. Wershe, Jr., known to the public as White Boy Rick. I was told to kill White Boy Rick. An agent dropped by the house but told Wershe Sr. he couldnt help him without some quid pro quo, his son said. Richard Sr. was described as a street hustler and was always working. "I don't know what other words to use, not the way it was.". Dawn's heroin use is a major characteristic of her character in the film. Since he was sent to prison when he was 17 years old, Richard didnt get to see his children grow up, and the world passed him by. The 17-year-old and a friend were pulled over and Wershe ran. Learn more about merges. Richard Wershe Sr. was an illegal arms dealer, and the movie claims that Wershe Jr. was pressured to become a drug snitch to protect his dad from some gun charges. We say that admiringly. There was a problem getting your location. Richie Merritt Ricky Wershe Jr. Matthew McConaughey Richard Wershe Sr. Bruce Dern Grandpa Roman Wershe . He has a sister, Dawn, who is about three years older than him. Rick Sr. also ran the Electronic surplus store on Gratiot near 10 mile road I used to buy various radio parts from. The youngest is 7. When Richard was up for parole in 2003, the hearing was a difficult one. Voice quavering, Rick Wershe Jr., who as a teen in 1980s Detroit was painted as a murderous drug kingpin, dabbed his eyes as he recalled one of the last conversations he had with his father,. This browser does not support getting your location. He walks free from prison after 30 years Monday. No words were said, he recalled. I was selling drugs. Wershe pleaded guilty in a car theft ring, he says, to protect his mother and sister, Dawn Scott. Hitmen should not have been Plaintiffs only concern, the lawsuit says. Panicked, she called 911. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Did you encounter any technical issues? His dad owned a gun store, through which hed made acquaintance with FBI agents, Wershe Jr. said, explaining his father reached out when he learned his daughter was dating a drug dealer. Resend Activation Email. During this 2014 call, Rick Wershe Sr. told his imprisoned son he was scheduled to die that day, which the younger Wershe told him wasnt true. Richard Wershe Sr Stock Photos and Images (32) Page 1 of 1. His parents divorced when he was only five years old. Try again. All I remember is waking up at the bottom of the stairs in this agonizing pain, and I was 15 years old. A police officer who testified against Richard at the time, William Rice, had later admitted that he didnt know who Richard was back then, even calling the testimonies a sham. While it is being contemplated that Rick will probably be released by 2020, his story comes out a lot sooner and candidly reveals the underlining truth of the legal system. He is known for Palmer (2021), Untitled White Boy Rick Release Documentary and Detroit Connection Pt. Realizing the son was the better source, the agent pulled up to the junior Wershe one day as he walked home from school, telling the 14-year-old, Get in, the lawsuit says. Rick Wershe's Parole Hearing: His Tormentors Just Won't Give It Up Sunday, June 18, 2017 On June 8th, Richard Wershe, Jr. spent over four hours fighting for his life. Two years later, though, he was finally paroled only to be taken to Florida to serve five years for the car theft ring charge. Richard was also used by the Detroit Police Department. Things got worse for Richard when he had to plead guilty to a minor charge related to a car theft ring while in prison. . He had stated that he was addicted to the, Even while in prison, Richard was a valuable asset to the FBI. Reporters and the police broadcasted the teenager all over the news with headlines that called him the leader of a drug cartel. Again, Wershe delivered, with an assurance his grand jury testimony would never be turned against him, according to the lawsuit. September 14, 2018, 1:43 AM by Allan Lengel. That came to an end in 1987 when he was arrested for possession of more than eight kilograms of cocaine. Wershe, now 52, spent three decades . In an email signed by Mayor Mike Duggan and Police Chief James White, the city and its police department declined to comment, as did the FBI, through its Detroit field office. Learn more about managing a memorial . He was sent to Florida to serve his time in witness protection, largely cutting him off from his family for 15 years, the lawsuit says. John Collier/ Detroit Free Press via ZUMA In 2002 Wershe was arrested. Discovery Company. Inventor: Richard Wershe Multiple purpose hand tool for sports equipment Patent number: 6062111 Abstract: A portable tool assembly (10) has a flat carrying case (12). Wershe tells CNN he became addicted to the drug dealer lifestyle, but he was far from a kingpin. Wershe had reportedly implicated the official in a coverup involving the drive-by murder of a 13-year-old. Wershe, now 52, spent three decades . View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Created by: TheIrishScourge Added: 18 Sep 2018 Find a Grave Memorial ID: 193214851 Source citation 2. He has been an advocate for prison reform and partnered with Team Wellness to help former inmates in the east side of Detroit. View Richard Wershe's record in Saint Clair Shores, MI including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. He vacillated for months on whether to file his lawsuit, ultimately deciding he wanted his story on the record to ensure no more youngsters faced his travails, she said. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. In an affidavit, MacDonald said her fianc suffers trauma stemming from his experiences with Detroits underground and the broken promises from authorities. (David Guralnick/The Detroit News via AP) Rick Wershe Sr. died about two weeks later, on October 2, 2014. In 1984, Richard Wershe Sr. entered into an official relationship with the FBI as a paid informant. Drag images here or select from your computer for Richard John Ricky Wershe Sr. memorial. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. He is seen throughout the film dealing firearms on the street and complying with his son's drug activity. We spoke to Andy Hale, a civil rights attorney . Wershe Sr. didnt know much about the streets, according to his son. eponymous feature film with Matthew McConaughey, confirmed in a 2012 letter to Michigans parole board, hanging out with fiance Michelle MacDonald, Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning,. 2022 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Create a free family tree for yourself or for Richard Wershe and we'll search for valuable new information for you. Rick Wershe Sr. died about two weeks later, on October 2, 2014. He said that he did it because he wanted to protect his mother and sister from being charged. Thanks to Defendants, Plaintiff had become a target for the drug gangs as well as a target for law enforcement.. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Thank God his girlfriend showed up. He went back to a big family of two daughters, a son, and six grandchildren. However, the partnership with the law came to an end sometime in 1986. At last weeks news conference, she lauded the work hes done to improve the criminal justice and foster care systems, while feeding and clothing the less fortunate and helping build a ramp for a paraplegic friend. I broke down that day, and I happened to be in my counselors office. [3][16], Eminem plays Wershe on the TV show BMF. Get the latest obituaries delivered to . Upon winning parole, he walked out of prison in August 2017 and into the transport van of US Marshals, who took him back to Florida, where he would serve three more years. The case has a groove along an edge side (26) to snap-fit an allen wrench (18) in place and an opposite edge side (24) to snap-fit tool bits (14 and 16) in place. House & Car Richard Wershe Jr. was released from Florida prison on 20 July 2020. The circle that Im around is amazing, Wershe said. He was instrumental again, leading to the arrests of multiple policemen and other officials that, His hopes were quashed again in 2015 when a judges decision to resentence him was met with. As 14-year-old 'White Boy Rick,' he was taught to pedal. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The officer gave him a warning and told him to slow down. Rick Carter first came to the attention of local authorities when at. DETROIT - Richard Wershe Jr. is suing FBI agents, Detroit police and others a year after he was released from prison. His hopes were quashed again in 2015 when a judges decision to resentence him was met with opposition from the prosecuting lawyer at the time, Kym Worthy. He was labeled "White Boy Rick" by officials and in popular media and had a net worth of $50,000 per . Filmmaker Yann Demange's true-story portrait of Detroit . Leaving prison cells, Richard is currently living in his Michigan house. He has an elder sister named Dawn. Shortly after turning 15, the lawsuit alleges, he was operating throughout greater Detroit, and his handlers let him keep some of the seized drugs to sell himself. He used to sell guns on the black market and later became an informant for the FBI, telling them who he was selling the guns to. Richard Wershe We heard that he was telling, so they said, We got to kill that White boy, Craft told filmmakers. 0:00. The book chronicles Frankls and fellow prisoners experiences in Nazi concentration camps. Craft pulled alongside the youngsters vehicle, and his accomplice opened fire, but the Mac jammed on us, Craft said, referring to the brand of machine pistol. He dropped out of school and had started dealing drugs. He made his 0.5 million dollar fortune with F.B.I. Over the next couple of years, Richard infiltrated the Curry criminal organization headed by brothers Johnny and Leo Curry. But according to Dawn, just about all of the family dynamics portrayed in the movie are wrong. See full bio Born: July 18, 1969 in Detroit, Michigan, USA "White Boy Rick," the film based on the life of Richard Wershe Jr. opens in theaters Sept. 14. When the court ordered him to provide fingerprints, he told the judge no order was needed because he hadnt touched the box, he said. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. It showed me that what I was going through is nothing compared to what this man went through, so it made me stronger, and I needed that push at the end (of my time in prison), he said. 2:30. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. When Richard was only five years old, their parents decided to get separated, and both Richard and his sister chose to reside with their father. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. They were one of the biggest drug dealers in Detroit during the 1980s. 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. He has been engaged to Michelle Macdonald, someone he has been dating since middle school. Richard John Wershe was born on month day 1943, to Roman Ray Wershe and Vera Wershe. Richard Wershe Jr. was born in Michigan on July 18, 1969, and is now 51 years old. Coming off the Telluride and Toronto film festival debut circuit, this true story of a 14-year-old Detroit kid, Rick Wershe Jr., recruited in 1984 to be part of an undercover police operation to . "We were portrayed in the film aslow-class dirt poorscuzz bags," she said. During his time in prison, Wershe's father, Richard Wershe Sr., died and his mother is now ill. Paroled in Michigan in 2017, Wershe was sent to Florida to serve time for a 2006 conviction. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Dawn and Rick's grandparents are also in the film. The celebrity his starsign is Cancer and he is now 53 years of age. In the last year, hes worked to improve mental health resources and the foster care and criminal justice systems in Detroit. Instead, they came to the hospital and instructed Wershe to describe the shooting as an accident to boost his street cred, the lawsuit states. He was one of the FBI's most productive paid-drug informants who started working undercover for the agency in Detroit at the age of 14. When he was 14 years old in 1983, Richard also started working for the FBI as an informant. Richard John Wershe Sr, 1943 - 2014. The 20-year-old reluctantly obliged. He was 17-years-old. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Share. Read More: Where is Hargobind Tahilramani Now? 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. Pivotal to his release was the testimony of two ex-FBI agents, one of whom is named in Wershes lawsuit. While not the central focus, Wershe does appear on the show in a recurring capacity.[17]. In 1987, at 17 years of age, Wershe was arrested for possessing cocaine in excess of eight kilograms (18 pounds). His father, Richard Sr. and his mother Darlene divorced when he was five years old, and Richard ended up staying with his father. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Richard Wershe Jr. On 18-7-1969 Richard Wershe Jr. (nickname: White Boy Rick) was born in Michigan, United States. He was 70. Under Michigans 650-Lifer Law, Wershe was sent to prison forever. "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. During his time in Florida, he had also worked with a law firm while living in a halfway house. His father was an FBI informant and recorded to police and several FBI agencies. He added that Wershe's dad, Richard Wershe Sr., who was played by Matthew McConaughey, was portrayed . Based on the true story of Rick Wershe Jr., who at age 14 was the youngest informant in FBI history, "White Boy Rick" tells a very tricky, Scorsese-like tale of Rick (strong first-timer Richie . Richard continued to cooperate.. But nothing changed for him. But hed begun to draw suspicion. All rights reserved (About Us). Prosecutors cast Wershe as one of Detroits most dangerous dealers, a story many reporters were all too happy to take to editors. Wershe made a narrow escape from an intersection just north of Interstate 94, the lawsuit says. Wershe, who was released from a residential work-release program in Kissimmee as the state's Department of Corrections confirmed, has been behind bars since 1988 for his involvement in a non-violent drug crime. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Richard John Ricky Wershe Sr. His Instagram feed contains no glorification of his days as a baller. This is a carousel with slides. The film starring Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey tells the fact-based story of Richard Wershe Jr., a Detroit teenager who. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Richard Wershe Jr. worked as an FBI informant at the age of 14 and later worked as a drug dealer after he turned 17. Suffering from brain cancer, his dad often moaned in pain over the phone. Wershe wants $100 million for his trouble, a sum Ayad says amounts to about $3 million for each year of incarceration, during which Wershe has suffered anxiety, depression and abdominal pain from an assassination attempt that ripped his colon in half when he was 15. Another federal prosecutor visited the following year, promising to advocate for a commutation if the young man testified against a drug gang, the lawsuit says. They were hoping their story will never get out, never, because they knew what they did was wrong morally, ethically, principally, the attorney said at a news conference. 2 Richard Wershe Jr is a dad of three children and a granddad to six grandchildren Credit: wxyz news Who are White Boy Rick's kids? It was during this time that the moniker White Boy Rick was used heavily by the media, painting him as a notorious drug lord. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. 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. Darlene subsequently moved to the suburbs. With Richards help, the authorities were able to make multiple busts, eventually sending them to prison. 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. Several agencies promised intervention but it never occurred. Contribute to IMDb. Richard Wershe Sr. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. White Boy Rick was arrested in 1987 for possessing cocaine in excess of eight kilograms and sentenced to life in prison. The story of White Boy Rick has long titillated audiences, whether its told in newspapers, magazines, documentaries, books or an eponymous feature film with Matthew McConaughey. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Oops, something didn't work. The testimony absolutely materially was the dispositive factor in the Boards decision to not allow Plaintiff parole, the lawsuit says, demanding prosecutors acknowledge they violated his Fifth Amendment rights. Richard Wershe Jr. Additional Crew Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. I would have to agree has done 25 years a lot longer than the . Richard Wershe Jr., center, a former FBI and Detroit police informant known as "White Boy Rick," attends a news conference with friends and family at the Penobscot Building, in Detroit, on July 20, 2021. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. He belongs to a working middle-class family. As a result, his first tryst with law enforcement happened through Richard Sr. I said, Oh, you must have misunderstood. He declined to divulge who summoned him but said he was in the basement when an associate called him up. Wershe gets anxious passing prisons, remembering the horrors hes seen, including inmates stabbed in the neck and sliced from mouth to ear, he said. Gina Balaya, spokeswoman for the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, did not return a message seeking comment. White Boy Rick has the atmosphere and footprint of a low-budget, shot-on-location crime pic from 40 years ago. He was arrested for possession of cocaine when he was 17 years old and was sentenced to life without parole under the rather harsh 650-Lifer Law in Michigan. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Richard Wershe Jr. is suing FBI agents, Detroit police and others a year after he was released from prison. Richard Wershe Sr. was a street hustler and con man, always chasing get-rich-quick schemes and seldom home. The other is Gregg Schwarz, who confirmed in a 2012 letter to Michigans parole board that Wershe had worked undercover and assisted with investigations into the 13-year-olds murder, the Detroit drug gang and Operation Backbone. The only thing Rick Wershe dominated in his teen years was the headlines. Hes trying to find a way to make his life the pain and suffering that he endured a pathway and a light to guide those so they will never ever have to deal with situations like that, she said. Young, as well as the allegation about Young's political ally Hill. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Richard Wershe (193214851)? Wershe is candid about his drug dealing. He also has an older sister named Dawn. Rick Wershe, Jr. as a teen and in recent years (Deadline Detroit) It is a good question. He has an elder sister named Dawn. Try again later. Wershe was too naive to fathom the folly of being a familiar White face in a city where seven in 10 residents were African American and locals were demanding answers to the drug scourge, he says. His father's name is Richard Wershe Sr ., and his mother's name is Darlene McCormick. 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=1125756971, Federal Bureau of Investigation informants, American people convicted of drug offenses, Prisoners and detainees of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The youngest paid drug informant in the history of the FBI has spent his entire adult life in prison. During the height of Detroit's crack craze, Maserati Rick Carter reigned as the most recognized of all of the flashy, high rolling dealers in the motor city. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193214851/richard-john-wershe. It wont touch another soul, he said. Published There is a lot of speculation about his net worth due to the information that was leaked from his FBI file. The law was overturned but he was rejected as a menace to society by the Michigan Parole Board in 2003, despite (or perhaps because of) having assisted the FBI in the 1990s with a sting unsuccessfully targeting Gil Hill and drawing in the relatives of influential city politicians. I thought I was going to die., The shooters girlfriend arrived within a minute, Wershe said. British actress Bel Powley portrays Dawn in the film, which hit theaters nationwide on Sept. 14. None could match Rick's flair for the dramatic an attribute he would display even in death. Wershe's father Richard Sr. used to sell guns on the black market before becoming an FBI informant. Wershe Jr. grew up in a lower middle-class household in East Side of Detroit. . ). Wershe Jr. wasnt allowed to attend the funeral. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. Inspired by the story of Richard Wershe Jr. At the age of 14, Wershe became an undercover informant for local and federal law enforcement agencies in the mid-80s, and grew in that role enough to establish himself as a major drug dealer. Failed to delete memorial. When he was five years old, his parents decided to separate. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Richard J. Wershe, Sr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. White Boy, a true-crime documentary directed by Shawn Rech, tells us the fascinating story of Richard White Boy Rick Wershe Jr., who gained tremendous notoriety in the 1980s as an alleged drug kingpin who was also an FBI informant. There is a problem with your email/password. With his help, FBI was able to make multiple busts, eventually leading to . A system error has occurred. RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. . Ill tell you, I sold drugs. Yet again, he was denied, and yet again, he walked back to his prison cell. Rick has continued to mushroom in this space, growing in this space of being a voice, being an advocate, giving back, she said. His father's name is Richard Wershe Sr. and his mother's name is Darlene McCormick. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Richard Wershe Jr., center, stands with mother Darlene McCormick at a news conference in Detroit this month. Hes a connector., Wershe enjoys helping others, but he prefers being a role model, he said: If I set an example and get other people to follow me, I think Im doing more than just feeding somebody for a day.. 2022 Cable News Network. Still to this day, Im out of prison, and Ill say the same thing: I never touched that f**king cocaine. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Ayad is requesting an extension to the statute of limitations, which case law supports when someone fears retaliation from those imprisoning him, he told CNN. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. The teen was of a malleable and impressionable mindset and did what the FBI agent and DPD officers demanded he do, that is go into drug houses he did not know, in areas of the city he did not know, and ask to buy drugs from people he did not know, the lawsuit says. Richard was also used by the Detroit Police Department. He also speaks with ex-convicts who dont understand the path forward, she said. I had a lot of pride, and I remember the counselor, he gave me a hug and he wouldnt let me leave his office and I just wanted to get back to my cell to be alone. September 2015: Judge's ruling could free former teen drug dealer. There were at least three more attempts on his life, including one in which bullets narrowly missed his father as he watched TV, the lawsuit says. He felt helpless, it says, and a deep depression set in. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. But if he can use it as a platform to draw attention to important initiatives, hes fine with the moniker. He finally ended his ordeal in July 2020 when he was released from prison earlier than his sentence ended due to good behavior. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? "He was actually instructed to infiltrate the Curry boys' gang and start hanging out with the Currys pretending that [he wanted] to learn the drug game to start making controlled buys . Richard Wershe grew up in Detroit at a time when unemployment was on the rise, and the crack cocaine epidemic gripped the city. Richard spent a lot of time with his father and looked up to him. Rather, it shows him golfing, fishing and hanging out with fiance Michelle MacDonald. Failed to report flower. The film, set in the 1980s on Detroit's eastside, tells the true story of Rick Wershe, Jr., called by the local newspapers "White Boy Rick" and his father Richard Wershe, Sr. During that decade, Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs is in full swing and the FBI is anxious to break up drug dealing and crooked police in Detroit. No parole. Richard was sentenced to life in prison without parole since he was arrested with more than 650 grams of cocaine in his possession. Within six months, they thrust him back into the snitch game, providing him accommodations, money and a fake ID to continue his undercover work in Las Vegas, where several Detroit drug lords were attending a bout between Thomas Hearns a favorite son of the Motor City, ironically nicknamed The Hitman and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Wershe and the lawsuit say. Wershes previous lawyers advised him not to seek redress until he was released, Ayad said. At age 14, Wershe became the youngest FBI informant ever, helping to bring. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The film, set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic, looks at the life of . Wershe wasnt released. Neither do we. In 1998, the 650-Lifer Law, which was the reason Richard was in jail, was repealed. He said, Rick, just stay here, and Ill never forget that.. He adds that Wershe did what the FBI told him to do. Update information for Richard Wershe Sr. . Interesting interview with Rick Wershe, AKA as "White Boy" this morning. It will eat away at him. Through Richard J. Wershe Sr. the FBI found out Richard J. Wershe Jr. was known and trusted by the Curry brothers and their henchmen because he was just Ricky, a white kid from the racially mixed 'hood. Richard J Wershe and Rick J Wershe are some of the alias or nicknames that Richard has used. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Thanks for your help! In November 1984, Wershe told CNN, he was called to a house. Plaintiffs nightmare turned surreal as Detroit Police Officers that he had never met before testified at his hearing, quoting directly from Plaintiffs sealed grand jury testimony, linking him to the drug gang he helped take down, the suit says. Steve Garagiola, ClickOnDetroit The name was instead given to him by reporters who covered his case. Wershe Jr., unconvinced all his storys tellers have fallen on the side of accuracy, has his own documentary in the works. . When I read it, it just gave me meaning. News never stops. Richard Wershe Jr, once the youngest paid informant in FBI history, sensationally walked free last month after 32 years in prison. Wershes attorney at the time told him that, for his safety, he shouldnt level accusations over the grand jury testimony until he got out, the lawsuit says. Sorry! Claims by prosecutors and police that he was a major figure in Detroit's drug underworld in the last half of the 1980s are a combination of misrepresentations and outright lies. In Michigan history, Richard Wershe is the longest-serving non-violent juvenile offender. Thank God she called 911, or I wouldnt be talking to you today, Wershe said. Add to your scrapbook. That box is a goddamned lie, pardon my language.. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. If you've seen White Boy, the documentary on Rick Wershe Jr. aka "White Boy Rick" you may be wondering how he's doing now. Federal officials testified on his behalf and supported his release, but there were other policemen who did the exact opposite. Please reset your password. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. Richard Wershe grew up in Detroit at a time when unemployment was on the rise, and the crack cocaine epidemic gripped the city. When he was 14 years old in 1983, Richard also started working for the FBI as an informant. (Scott Garfield/Sony/Columbia Pictures and Studio 8 via AP)(Scott Garfield). When he was only 5, his parents decided to separate. He was sent back to Michigan after his racketeering plea. based on information from your browser. Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969, in Michigan to Richard Wershe Sr. and Darlene McCormick. Richard Wershe Jr. Facts & Wiki Where does Richard Wershe Jr. live? Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. He believed he was still under police protection, he said, but the box of cocaine which contained far more than 650 grams, enough to put a drug dealer away for life was a setup, Wershe insists. On the other hand, his net worth figure seems to stand at around $1 million at the current . Soon, other law enforcement departments were working with him too. When he was 15, Wershe told the FBI that a major drug dealer had spoken of paying a bribe to Detroit detective inspector and subsequent city council president and mayoral candidate Gil Hill in order to quash the investigation into a 13-year-old boy's murder. The White Boy Rick persona wasnt Wershes idea, he told reporters this month, addressing many of them by name. This image released by Sony Pictures shows and Matthew McConaughey, left, and Richie Merritt in a scene from "White Boy Rick." The movie, titled after the moniker given to Wershe, is loosely based on Wershe's life and relationship with his father, Richard Wershe Sr., who McConaughey plays in "White Boy Rick." Wershe is played by Richie Merritt who went on to start in HBO's "Euphoria." In the late 1980s, Wershe became the youngest known informant in the history of the . Wershe would miss the births of all six of his grandchildren, one of whom he will meet for the first time on a road trip to Indiana next month. Try again later. The net worth of Richard Wershe Jr. is unknown. Im adamant about it. 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