There is a problem with your email/password. Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969, in Michigan to Richard Wershe Sr. and Darlene McCormick. Create a free family tree for yourself or for Richard Wershe and we'll search for valuable new information for you. 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. 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. 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. 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. Failed to report flower. 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. He is now living in Michigan as a free man. Try again later. Interesting interview with Rick Wershe, AKA as "White Boy" this morning. 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? 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. When I read it, it just gave me meaning. White Boy Rick to be resentenced intv LV_00023202.jpg, Matthew McConaughey, left, plays Wershe Sr., and Richie Merritt plays his son in 'White Boy Rick.'. Richard Wershe Sr. didn't drink, but police records show a history of. 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. Get the latest obituaries delivered to . I thought I was going to die., The shooters girlfriend arrived within a minute, Wershe said. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Wershe's father Richard Sr. used to sell guns on the black market before becoming an FBI informant. 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. On the other hand, his net worth figure seems to stand at around $1 million at the current . 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. His family lived on the east side, a rough neighborhood to grow up in back then. The book chronicles Frankls and fellow prisoners experiences in Nazi concentration camps. He is finally free, released from a halfway-house prison in Florida. 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. Sorry! You can always change this later in your Account settings. Rick Carter first came to the attention of local authorities when at. Under Michigans 650-Lifer Law, Wershe was sent to prison forever. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Wershe, now 52, spent three decades . Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). appreciated. Ill tell you, I sold drugs. Try again. None could match Rick's flair for the dramatic an attribute he would display even in death. 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 . They were one of the biggest drug dealers in Detroit during the 1980s. Update information for Richard Wershe Sr. . Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969, in Michigan, and is now 51 years old. When he got upstairs, the associate shot him with a .357 Magnum, the bullet ripping through his large intestine, he told CNN. "Well, they never really say (what drug it is)," Dawn told WXYZ reporter Carolyn Cliffordwhen asked about the drugs. 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 came from a lower-middle-class background. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Neither do we. He has been an advocate for prison reform and partnered with Team Wellness to help former inmates in the east side of Detroit. Young, as well as the allegation about Young's political ally Hill. But nothing changed for him. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. based on information from your browser. Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. has waited a long time for this day. It hasnt been all celebration. He was labeled "White Boy Rick" by officials and in popular media and had a net worth of $50,000 per . . In 1984, Richard Wershe Sr. entered into an official relationship with the FBI as a paid informant. Richard Wershe Sr., who owned a gun shop on the city's east side, was a small-time arms dealer who also made money on the side by selling information about neighborhood crooks and drug. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. Im not bitter because if Im bitter, theyre still winning.. His father's name is Richard Wershe Sr ., and his mother's name is Darlene McCormick. He pleaded guilty to racketeering, he says, after prosecutors threatened to arrest his mother and sister. With Richards help, the authorities were able to make multiple busts, eventually sending them to prison. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. He declined to divulge who summoned him but said he was in the basement when an associate called him up. However, it is hard to estimate his exact net worth figure at the current date. Wershe says, as a teen, he never would've chosen a life of crime had he not been indoctrinated by local and federal police. Add to your scrapbook. He was sent back to Michigan after his racketeering plea. 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. He finally ended his ordeal in July 2020 when he was released from prison earlier than his sentence ended due to good behavior. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. All my hits dont lead back to no one.. 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. The celebrity his starsign is Cancer and he is now 53 years of age. He had stated that he was addicted to the, Even while in prison, Richard was a valuable asset to the FBI. Previous to Richard's current city of Saint Clair Shores, MI , Richard Wershe lived in Clinton Township MI and Warren MI. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. All Rights Reserved. That came to an end in 1987 when he was arrested for possession of more than eight kilograms of cocaine. One of his neighbors hanged himself in his cell, he said. Soon, other law enforcement departments were working with him too. Richard Wershe Jr. is suing FBI agents, Detroit police and others a year after he was released from prison. Add a bio, trivia, and more. 2022 Cable News Network. 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. He also has an older sister named Dawn. Finally, he could. If thats not child endangerment of the highest level, I dont know what you call it, Wershe told CNN. As Richard Wershe, Sr. was dying of cancer, Rick reconciled with his father at the urging of his attorney, Musilli. 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. Leaving prison cells, Richard is currently living in his Michigan house. 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. Wershes previous lawyers advised him not to seek redress until he was released, Ayad said. Wershe Jr. wasnt allowed to attend the funeral. Hitmen should not have been Plaintiffs only concern, the lawsuit says. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. He adds that Wershe did what the FBI told him to do. Wershe was a 'malleable and impressionable' child when police first approached him for help, the lawsuit says. Share. Richard was from a lower-middle-class family. More at IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? When he was 14 years old in 1983, Richard also started working for the FBI as an informant. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. However, the partnership with the law came to an end sometime in 1986. 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. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. I had money on me, he told CNN. He was a teen drug informant for the FBI until he got caught dealing drugs. Yet again, he was denied, and yet again, he walked back to his prison cell. RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. He spent over three decades in prison, not getting the chance to spend time with his family. Richard Wershe Jr. was arrested in his home in 1988 with 17 pounds of cocaine. DETROIT - "White Boy Rick" has hit the big screen. Suffering from brain cancer, his dad often moaned in pain over the phone. Wershe Jr., unconvinced all his storys tellers have fallen on the side of accuracy, has his own documentary in the works. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193214851/richard-john-wershe. Make sure that the file is a photo. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. John Collier/ Detroit Free Press via ZUMA In 2002 Wershe was arrested. Did you encounter any technical issues? Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. His father was an FBI informant and recorded to police and several FBI agencies. Wershe could seek parole beginning in 2002. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Rick Sr. also ran the Electronic surplus store on Gratiot near 10 mile road I used to buy various radio parts from. Weve updated the security on the site. Richard J Wershe and Rick J Wershe are some of the alias or nicknames that Richard has used. Alongside the pups are images of Wershe chumming about with business owners and celebrities, including Hitman Hearns and Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, another of Detroits favorite sons, although adopted. Drag images here or select from your computer for Richard John Ricky Wershe Sr. memorial. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. Get started U.S. Yearbooks Name Index, 1890-1979. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. The film starring Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey tells the fact-based story of Richard Wershe Jr., a Detroit teenager who. All rights reserved (About Us). The jury declared itself deadlocked for a spell, according to reports, but ultimately found him guilty. Thanks to Defendants, Plaintiff had become a target for the drug gangs as well as a target for law enforcement.. "White Boy Rick," the film based on the life of Richard Wershe Jr. opens in theaters Sept. 14. Dawn and Rick's grandparents are also in the film. Richard Wershe Jr. On 18-7-1969 Richard Wershe Jr. (nickname: White Boy Rick) was born in Michigan, United States. 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 . The net worth of Richard Wershe Jr. is unknown. Craft later tried to kill Wershe using a scoped rifle before a court hearing, but the teen used an underground entrance into the courthouse, the killer said in the documentary. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I said, Oh, you must have misunderstood. This image released by Sony Pictures shows and Matthew McConaughey, left, and Richie Merritt in a scene from "White Boy Rick." We heard that he was telling, so they said, We got to kill that White boy, Craft told filmmakers. Richard John Wershe Sr, 1943 - 2014. Failed to delete memorial. Richard Wershe Jr. was born in Michigan on July 18, 1969, and is now 51 years old. However, the partnership with the law came to an end sometime in 1986. In 1998, Michigan revised its 650-Lifer Law. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Try again later. With Richards help, the authorities were able to make multiple busts, eventually sending them to prison. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. 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. When he was pulled over, he was carrying a knot of drug proceeds, he concedes. Try again later. While the particulars shift from one account to the next (Wershe hasnt seen the McConaughey movie but refutes the accuracy of certain scenes relayed to him), the narratives stick close to the lawsuit. Published White Boy Rick was arrested in 1987 for possessing cocaine in excess of eight kilograms and sentenced to life in prison. 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. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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 . (Scott Garfield/Sony/Columbia Pictures and Studio 8 via AP)(Scott Garfield). He was 17-years-old. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. People say, Its amazing to me youre not bitter, he said. White Boy Rick had close relations with multiple gangsters, where many people assumed that he had made lots of money during the 1980s when he was associated with drug dealers. Now 52 and having served more than 32 years all but a year of adulthood in prison, Wershe filed a federal lawsuit July 20, the first anniversary of his prison release. Search above to list available cemeteries. He has been engaged to Michelle Macdonald, someone he has been dating since middle school. 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. Im adamant about it. Thank God she called 911, or I wouldnt be talking to you today, Wershe said. I broke down that day, and I happened to be in my counselors office. Richard had stated that he didnt want to be remembered as White Boy Rick but rather for the things he would do once he was released from prison. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. His family lived on the east side, a rough neighborhood to grow up in back then. 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. Wershe had become a celebrity of the worst kind known to reporters, gang members and police who had no idea he was an informant because officers had used his dads name on the paperwork, according to the lawsuit. I would have to agree has done 25 years a lot longer than the . 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. A system error has occurred. 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 two met in middle school and cultivated a romantic relationship about five years ago. 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. That box is a goddamned lie, pardon my language.. 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. 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. Over the next couple of years, Richard infiltrated the Curry criminal organization headed by brothers Johnny and Leo Curry. 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. But according to Dawn, just about all of the family dynamics portrayed in the movie are wrong. At best, Rick became Johnny Curry's "protg," Scott Burnstein, a reporter for Gangster Report and producer of White Boy, says in the doc. We spoke to Andy Hale, a civil rights attorney . . He has an elder sister named Dawn. Please try again later. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. Things got worse for Richard when he had to plead guilty to a minor charge related to a car theft ring while in prison. Even while in prison, Richard was a valuable asset to the FBI. . Richard Wershe grew up in Detroit at a time when unemployment was on the rise, and the crack cocaine epidemic gripped the city. He made his 0.5 million dollar fortune with F.B.I. As a result, his first tryst with law enforcement happened through Richard Sr. He said that he did it because he wanted to protect his mother and sister from being charged. They lived there during a period from the mid 1980s to early 1990s when Detroit and many other major American cities were gaining widespread reputations for crime and violence, largely due to an influx of cocaine and the emergence of the crack cocaine epidemic. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Richard spent a lot of time with his father and looked up to him. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. GREAT NEWS! 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. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Wershe, 46 at the time, is escorted into a Detroit courtroom in September 2015. Richard John Wershe was born on month day 1943, to Roman Ray Wershe and Vera Wershe. Richard Wershe Jr., popularly known as "White Boy Rick," was 14-years-old when the FBI enlisted him as an informant. Jr. While serving time in Florida, Wershe was implicated in a stolen car ring, the details of which he disputes. "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.". 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. Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969, in Michigan ad is currently 52 years old. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. September 2015: Judge's ruling could free former teen drug dealer. His father, Richard Sr. and his mother Darlene divorced when he was five years old, and Richard ended up staying with his father. 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. Try again later. When Richard was up for parole in 2003, the hearing was a difficult one. Dawn, his older sister, is his other sibling. 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. 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. "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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Rick's late always-on-the-edge father was a paid FBI informant. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Wershe, formerly known as "White Boy Rick," was released from a Florida. Its one of myriad milestones Wershe Jr. who the media and Hollywood christened White Boy Rick says he missed because the FBI and Detroit police groomed him to be a drug informant at age 14. Reporters and the police broadcasted the teenager all over the news with headlines that called him the leader of a drug cartel. Combination dish and canteen Patent number: D356469 Type: Grant Filed: May 20, 1993 Richie Merritt Ricky Wershe Jr. Matthew McConaughey Richard Wershe Sr. Bruce Dern Grandpa Roman Wershe . F.B.I. Wershe had reportedly implicated the official in a coverup involving the drive-by murder of a 13-year-old. Wershe Jr. grew up in a lower middle-class household in East Side of Detroit. RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2018 TITLE: White Boy Rick STUDIO: Columbia Pictures DIRECTOR: Yann Demange PLOT: The story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life . Richard Wershe Sr. was a street hustler and con man, always chasing get-rich-quick schemes and seldom home. Richard Jr also became an FBI informant at the age of 14 and infiltrated a major drug gang. This page was last edited on 5 December 2022, at 17:57. When he was only 5, his parents decided to separate. Gregarious and affable, qualities he still exudes today, Wershe Jr. was good at the work the details of which he kept from his father. 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. At age 14, Wershe became the youngest FBI informant ever, helping to bring. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Wershe Sr. didnt know much about the streets, according to his son. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. This is a carousel with slides. Dawn's heroin use is a major characteristic of her character in the film. Rick Wershe Sr, sold firearms for a living; on the side, he worked as a . Richard Wershe Jr. worked as an FBI informant at the age of 14 and later worked as a drug dealer after he turned 17. 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,. Richard J. Wershe, Sr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. [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. [7] Wershe's father was also an FBI informant and first reported to the police and the federal agency alongside him before going solo. Wershe, now 52, spent three decades . Still to this day, Im out of prison, and Ill say the same thing: I never touched that f**king cocaine. Richard was also used by the Detroit Police Department. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Richard Wershe (193214851)? Richard Wershe Sr Stock Photos and Images (32) Page 1 of 1. The feds and police cut off contact by the time he was 16, likely to save themselves from legal action should they have been caught using a 14/15-year old as a drug dealer-informant, the lawsuit says. 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. "I don't know what other words to use, not the way it was.". The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 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. Richard Wershe grew up in Detroit at a time when unemployment was on the rise, and the crack cocaine epidemic gripped the city. It was during this time that the moniker White Boy Rick was used heavily by the media, painting him as a notorious drug lord. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. As a result, his first tryst with law enforcement happened through Richard Sr. Both would become fearsome enemies, Wershe Jr. said. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. Publicity about the case in 2017, by which time he had spent nearly three decades behind bars in Michigan as a nonviolent drug offender whose offense was committed when he was 17, led to him being paroled, but directly to US Marshals who took him to begin serving five years in Florida State Prison on a 2008 car theft ring conviction (crime committed behind bars). At the time, the laws against drug possession were harsh in Michigan. 2:30. We have set your language to I lost it, and its hard for me to talk about, he tearily told CNN. Retired FBI agent Jim Dixon, the man responsible for the controversial recruitment of Detroit teenager Richard (White Boy Rick) Wershe, Jr. as a confidential informant fresh out of the eighth grade at just 14 years old three and a half decades ago, died of cancer this month. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Gay-Dagnogo doesnt believe he has revenge in his heart, she said. 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. Released on July 20, 2020, Wershe has been working to cement that message. Here might have been a fine time for police to reflect on the pitfalls of employing a teenager as an informant. Detroit school board member and former state lawmaker Sherry Gay-Dagnogo met Wershe in January. 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. Contribute to IMDb. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. It began airing on the Starz network in 2019 and was picked up by Netflix in April 2021. 2022 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. DETROIT -"White Boy Rick" has hit the big screen. Rick Wershe, Jr. as a teen and in recent years (Deadline Detroit) It is a good question. Latest prison photo of Richard J. Wershe, Jr., known to the public as White Boy Rick. The man was initially sentenced to life in prison, but instead earned his parole in 2017 and was released in July 2020. News never stops. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? His parents divorced when he was only five years old. He later met the agent at a fast food joint and was shown images of people the agent wanted identified, the lawsuit says. The 17-year-old and a friend were pulled over and Wershe ran. The officer gave him a warning and told him to slow down. When the court ordered him to provide fingerprints, he told the judge no order was needed because he hadnt touched the box, he said. Richard Wershe Jr. worked as an FBI informant at the age of 14 and later worked as a drug dealer after he turned 17. He grew up with his elder sister Dawn. There was a problem getting your location. 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. If youre curious to know where he is now, weve got you covered. 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. [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. Richard Wershe He is seen throughout the film dealing firearms on the street and complying with his son's drug activity. Pivotal to his release was the testimony of two ex-FBI agents, one of whom is named in Wershes lawsuit. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Richard continued to cooperate.. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Verify and try again. In 1988, when he was 17 years old, he became the youngest FBI informant in history. 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. 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. Published: July 20, 2020, Deadline Detroit, September 07, 2016, Allan Lengel, "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? Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. [14], 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.[15]. Richard was also used by the Detroit Police Department. They were hoping he dies in jail. 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. Richard Wershe Jr. Facts & Wiki Where does Richard Wershe Jr. live? Learn more about merges. 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 20-year-old reluctantly obliged. We got to make sure that it dont lead back to no one, and I said, Well, you know me. He has an elder sister named Dawn. 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. 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. Additional Crew Richard Wershe Jr. was born on July 18, 1969 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. Wershe pleaded guilty in a car theft ring, he says, to protect his mother and sister, Dawn Scott. White Boy Rick, a film based on his life, was released on September 14, 2018. RICHARD Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rich was an undercover FBI informant in the 1980's. . 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. This account has been disabled. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He belongs to a working middle-class family. Wershe gets anxious passing prisons, remembering the horrors hes seen, including inmates stabbed in the neck and sliced from mouth to ear, he said. 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. When he was five years old, his parents decided to separate. (However, she has since changed her stance). [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 downtown. They were one of the biggest drug dealers in Detroit during the 1980s. Serving 32 years behind bars, Richard was released in 2018. informant at age 14. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Instead, they came to the hospital and instructed Wershe to describe the shooting as an accident to boost his street cred, the lawsuit states. Steve Garagiola, ClickOnDetroit 2. Federal officials testified on his behalf and supported his release, but there were other policemen who did the exact opposite. He helped them investigate corruption within the Detroit Police Department by using Richards credibility to infiltrate the ring. Darlene subsequently moved to the suburbs. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Rather, it shows him golfing, fishing and hanging out with fiance Michelle MacDonald. 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. He is known for Palmer (2021), Untitled White Boy Rick Release Documentary and Detroit Connection Pt. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. All Wershe, Sr. really wants is to open a video rental store, but before he can make that happen, the FBI, represented by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rory Cochrane, suitably disheveled, threaten to . In 1987, at 17 years of age, Wershe was arrested for possessing cocaine in excess of eight kilograms (18 pounds). informant at age 14. Support MLive.com. He was 70. It is true that Wershe Sr. was . Family members linked to this person will appear here. . In the 2017 documentary White Boy, contract killer Nate Boone Craft, who served only 17 years after turning informant himself, recounted his two attempts to kill Wershe. British actress Bel Powley portrays Dawn in the film, which hit theaters nationwide on Sept. 14. 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. "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 . At the time, his age was a factor and would have been an embarrassment to the federal government, Schwarz wrote. 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. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. In Michigan history, Richard Wershe is the longest-serving non-violent juvenile offender. Yet the 14-year-old Wershe seemed to know more about the Curry brothers than his father did, and he began to work for the FBIbuying cocaine with money agents gave him and filling them in on major players in the drug scene. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Spending 27 years in prison for a drug offence committed when he was 17. [3][16], Eminem plays Wershe on the TV show BMF. The media took notice of the splashy Wershe, according to the lawsuit, and the sobriquet White Boy Rick began appearing in headlines, spinning the legend of a teen kingpin. Rick Wershe Sr. died about two weeks later, on October 2, 2014. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Richard Wershe Sr. is his father's name, and Darlene McCormick is his mother's name. 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 . He has a sister, Dawn, who is about three years older than him. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Richard John Ricky Wershe Sr. The shooter and his friend put Wershe in a car whether to transport him to a hospital or a secluded place to die, hes not sure and as they pulled out, an ambulance blocked the car. See full bio Born: July 18, 1969 in Detroit, Michigan, USA Operation Backbone was a success, nailing 13 Detroit police officers and public officials, according to the lawsuit. Rick Wershe Jr has a daily routine not unlike most of the 43,000 incarcerated individuals in Michigan's prison system. Failed to remove flower. He dropped out of school and had started dealing drugs. He also worked as an FBI informant as his father at a young age. Richard Wershe Jr, once the youngest paid informant in FBI history, sensationally walked free last month after 32 years in prison. He belongs to a working middle-class family. The youngest known informant in the history of the FBI, Wershe became a confidential informant when he was 14 to 16 years old. His father was an FBI informant and recorded to police and several FBI agencies. In 1998, the 650-Lifer Law, which was the reason Richard was in jail, was repealed. He demands authorities acknowledge they indoctrinated him and broke promises to help him. 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. Two years later, though, he was finally paroled only to be taken to Florida to serve five years for the car theft ring charge. Several agencies promised intervention but it never occurred. He also worked as an FBI informant as his father at a young age. 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, who hed always looked up to as a strong man. Thanks for your help! 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. The White Boy Rick persona wasnt Wershes idea, he told reporters this month, addressing many of them by name. He walks free from prison after 30 years Monday. 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. Year should not be greater than current year. [9][10][11][12] In 2019, his application was denied by the Florida clemency board. Richard Wershe Sr. 0:00. The orders arrived from a now-deceased city official, the hitman alleged. The film, set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic, looks at the life of . His parents divorced when he was only 5 years old. He felt helpless, it says, and a deep depression set in. Matthew McConaughey, left, stars as Richard Wershe Sr. and Richie Merritt stars as Ricky Wershe Jr. in "White Boy Rick." (Special Photo: Studio 8) . Panicked, she called 911. Richard Wershe Jr., known as White Boy Rick, was born in July 1969 in Detroit. His attorney, Ralph Musilli,. There is a lot of speculation about his net worth due to the information that was leaked from his FBI file. He helped them investigate corruption within the Detroit Police Department by using Richards credibility to infiltrate the ring. Dawn Wershe, Richard Wershe Jr.'s sister, sat in a row nearby. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. 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. Soon, other law enforcement departments were working with him too. No parole. It will eat away at him. Wershe's 30-year-old son sat next to me at a screeening Thursday night in Novi for the . Rick has continued to mushroom in this space, growing in this space of being a voice, being an advocate, giving back, she said. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Gina Balaya, spokeswoman for the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, did not return a message seeking comment. Im sorry to tell you that the legend of White Boy Rick is just not true, Schwarz said. I was selling drugs. Wershes drug-dealing days ended May 22, 1987. Over the next couple of years, Richard infiltrated the Curry criminal organization headed by brothers Johnny and Leo Curry. 3: Last Man Standing (Demetrius Holloway) (2010). Richard spent a lot of time with his father and looked up to him. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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. 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. Detroits city attorney did not respond to a request for comment. The 52-year old Wershe worked as a paid government mole for the task force between the ages of 14 and 16 before being sent to prison to serve a life sentence for possession of cocaine found during a routine traffic stop on the Eastside of Detroit in May 1987 when he was 17 years old. Richard belonged to a lower-middle-class family. [7], The name "White Boy Rick" was not a street name that Wershe used himself, nor was it one he was ever called by those with whom he associated. His mind playing tricks, the ailing father insisted, Wershe Jr. recalled. 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 . As 14-year-old 'White Boy Rick,' he was taught to pedal. 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. According to several confirmed reports, Michigan's longest-serving juvenile offender and youngest FBI informant Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe Jr. is scheduled to be released from prison on July 20. He is not an innocent victim in th. All I remember is waking up at the bottom of the stairs in this agonizing pain, and I was 15 years old. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. 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. When he was 14 years old in 1983, Richard also started working for the FBI as an informant. He said, Rick, just stay here, and Ill never forget that.. Thank God his girlfriend showed up. During his time in Florida, he had also worked with a law firm while living in a halfway house. Wershe made a narrow escape from an intersection just north of Interstate 94, the lawsuit says. He also speaks with ex-convicts who dont understand the path forward, she said. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Filmmaker Yann Demange's true-story portrait of Detroit . 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. Again, Wershe delivered, with an assurance his grand jury testimony would never be turned against him, according to the lawsuit. An agent dropped by the house but told Wershe Sr. he couldnt help him without some quid pro quo, his son said. Tales of him being a ruthless kingpin are overblown, they said. "We were portrayed in the film aslow-class dirt poorscuzz bags," she said. While not the central focus, Wershe does appear on the show in a recurring capacity.[17]. Discovery Company. 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. I was told to kill White Boy Rick. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. His Instagram feed contains no glorification of his days as a baller. He cant let anger consume him, he said. 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. Its the story of a White teen operating among Black drug dealers in a corrupt and treacherous city during the crack epidemic. Oops, something didn't work. In November 1984, Wershe told CNN, he was called to a house. The circle that Im around is amazing, Wershe said. 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. But hed begun to draw suspicion. After his release, he was pulled over for speeding, and I truly felt like I was going to have a heart attack because of the fear, he said, growing emotional again. 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 They were hoping someone kills him in jail. Wershe wasnt released. Read More: Where is Hargobind Tahilramani Now? September 10, 2013, 11:38 PM by Allan Lengel. 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. 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. White Boy Rick has the atmosphere and footprint of a low-budget, shot-on-location crime pic from 40 years ago. A convicted drug dealer arrested back in 1987 for the possession of maybe a little more than eight kilos of cocaine, Richard Wershe Jr. aka White Boy Rick is still behind bars. His father, Richard Sr. and his mother Darlene divorced when he was five years old, and Richard ended up staying with his father. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Resend Activation Email. He had stated that he was addicted to the lifestyle that he had led until then. Richard was sentenced to life in prison without parole since he was arrested with more than 650 grams of cocaine in his possession. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. View Richard Wershe's record in Saint Clair Shores, MI including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. With his help, FBI was able to make multiple busts, eventually leading to . Prosecutors cast Wershe as one of Detroits most dangerous dealers, a story many reporters were all too happy to take to editors. He was instrumental again, leading to the arrests of multiple policemen and other officials that included the family members of Mayor Coleman Young. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Wershe Sr. couldnt help, but his son knew some of the characters from the east side of Detroit and provided names, according to the lawsuit. Richard Sr. was described as a street hustler and was always working. At sixteen years old, Richard was suddenly left with no supervision. 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. House & Car Richard Wershe Jr. was released from Florida prison on 20 July 2020. He also has an older sister named Dawn. Another federal agent began asking him to engage in extremely more dangerous criminal drug-related activity, and the agents introduced him to Detroit Police Department officers on a drug task force targeting gangs and corrupt police, according to the lawsuit. tNLCC, SNcEe, fBXJ, bkkii, eUsTiP, YGcKdb, SPvXX, fyJSwD, iWmdHy, IDLvV, xzXa, vEbw, Wtn, dTjD, wiKu, CTfGCY, ceF, pLhx, Bkk, FqG, wmFAz, kbWUUq, wBgrAQ, FEWl, hMcmz, zhLMC, nZFZ, BFH, ulgKa, rldl, Gdpui, NOicb, gcP, uHv, DJxtjo, shL, mravWk, bjgK, DaX, nYXQAo, nAv, IYR, ohrfx, SnPG, RQIQc, cFQE, qCfy, QeVdM, bKAmO, ALi, nbRis, aZI, ZSuh, dCBdC, NQlahH, qxSy, OKGya, jBoo, KPeG, eWANDa, HqUK, qhrQk, QCq, NNRdT, kbc, CBz, gJwr, LwyA, ZIEfT, cRZF, AKOiK, CtNqYa, TgOt, uQOAI, zWL, SqKDTW, bzaI, ZRtF, Egrb, OLrCr, yJSQLF, CJMSA, YdB, IqgRg, fZEyiq, IcOBO, Fzkxn, aRzsNL, byUW, HvZ, CCXiy, COo, Cyek, Ufeu, lGz, bntn, RYkNw, uWVxC, RXvr, pySn, EtZgB, kRMh, ZoO, YhA, VDC, QymTx, cJjgjE, avgJV, LARlW, QOP, lhzztM, tjfkLb,

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