Famous Drug Kingpin Frank Lucas Dies At 88

Frank Lucas, one of America’s most infamous drug kingpins, has passed away in New Jersey with confirmation from his brother. If you’re unfamiliar, Lucas was famously portrayed by Denzel Washington in the 2007 movie “American Gangster.”

Lucas was born and raised in North Carolina before moving to New York City, where he eventually got into the drug trade and made a name for himself. His rise in power began in Harlem, where he started dealing heroin in the ’60s and ’70s, boasting about cutting out the middlemen by buying his product directly from Southeast Asia.

While at the top of the NYC drug trade, Frank befriended numerous Hollywood celebrities, politicians and businessmen, furthering his own elite status.

Frank was finally busted in the mid-1970s and had all of his assets and wealth seized, including properties he owned in Chicago, Miami, Detroit, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico. Lucas was convicted of federal and state drug violations and sentenced to 70 years in prison. 

Lucas eventually snitched on many of his counterparts in the drug game and was entered into a witness protection program along with his family. He spent five years in prison before his sentence was reduced to time served plus lifetime parole. He got out only to get back to prison shortly thereafter for drug dealing again and spent another seven years behind bars before being released in 1991.

According to TMZ, Frank Lucas was being transported to a hospital for an unknown health issue and died on the way. He is survived by seven children.