White Boy Rick (Detroit, Wayne, Coleman: 2014, crimes, live)

[jonnynonos]

Anyone else see the special on White Boy Rick after the Super Bowl?

What do y'all think?

He might have done some awful things he was never prosecuted for but based on the law and what he was convicted of, I don't see why he is still in prison.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

He crossed the corrupt Wayne County/Detroit law enforcement machine and they are doing everything they can to keep him behind bars. Dealers who were convicted of pushing far more weight than Wershe have been released since.

It's a fascinating story, which the special just scratched the surface of.

I highly recommend reading "The Trials of White Boy Rick" which is excerpted here: White Boy Rick: Richard Wershe was a Detroit legend, and an FBI informant.

It lays out how many of Coleman Young's family members and cronies were involved in the 80s crack game. Cooperating against Gil Hill and other crooked cops is the main reason why Wershe can't get paroled.

[zthatzmanz28]

Ever wonder how 14 year old white kid was able to control the drug cartel of Detroit?

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Ever wonder how 14 year old white kid was able to control the drug cartel of Detroit?

He didn't. His image was largely puffed up by the media. According to the Chambers Brothers and other big-time dealers of the day he was small time.

[jackmichigan]

When I first read the title to this thread, I half-expected it to be about our Governor.

Now that I see that it's about Rick Wershe, I find it to be much more interesting. I remember seeing him being paraded around en route to the court room. Little did we know at the time that the moniker "White Boy Rick" was merely a media creation. It made for a compelling story. Unfortunately, in reading some of the many accounts since, it was neither accurate or a complete story. A bigger story would have been the unbelievable amount of corruption within the City of Detroit Police Department and within both the City of Detroit and Wayne County governments which led to his conviction. Today, the story should be about the lingering corrupt influences which are apparently keeping him behind bars.

I never liked or trusted Mike Duggan when he was part of the corrupt McNamara administration--in which Kwame Kilpatrick's father, Bernard, played a key role. I'd be very curious to learn of the role that Mr. Duggan played in the prosecution of Rick Wershe. Since that time, however, Mike Duggan has gone on to become Mayor of Detroit...and he seems to be doing a rather good job, compared to other so-called Mayoral leadership in the past. Perhaps Mike Duggan's second chance is appropriate. Rick Wershe deserves a second chance in life, too. The days of incarcerating drug offenders for inordinate lengths of time should be long gone, provided they can stay on the straight and narrow once released.

[Motownie]

His last name is my mothers maiden name..I don't think they're related but how wierd is that?

Btw why is he still in jail?

[jackmichigan]

Originally Posted by Motownie

His last name is my mothers maiden name..I don't think they're related but how wierd is that?

Btw why is he still in jail?

To date, the Parole Board has not allowed him to be released.

[jonnynonos]

In addition to the sources cited by Animated Martian, there are some good radio interviews with Wershe online and a documentary on YouTube called "The Rat King." I don't know the truth but there is definitely a lot of compelling evidence to suggest that he is being railroaded in one way or another.

Hopefully the Ch 4 thing at least tries to hold some of the members of the parole board accountable.

[lucky2balive]

like you said he did some awful things he wasn't prosecuted for...I know cops involved with his case...for what he was prosecuted for, legally, maybe not....but for what he did, he should die in prison

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by lucky2balive

like you said he did some awful things he wasn't prosecuted for...I know cops involved with his case...for what he was prosecuted for, legally, maybe not....but for what he did, he should die in prison

So he should be punished for crimes he wasn't convicted of?