Frank Lucas, one of the most famous drug kingpins in
American history has died.
The Harlem drug kingpin whose life was portrayed in the hit
movie “American Gangster” died on Thursday night at the age of 88 in New
Jersey.
His death was confirmed by his nephew Aldwan Lassiter, who
said his uncle died of natural causes.
Lucas was a popular drug trafficker who operated in Harlem
during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was particularly known for cutting
out middlemen in the drug trade and buying heroin directly from his source in
the Golden Triangle. He used to smuggle heroin using the coffins of dead
American servicemen
According to TMZ, he was busted in the mid-1970s and all of
his enormous assets and wealth were seized. Lucas owned property across the
country in Chicago, Miami, Detroit, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and
even Puerto Rico.
When the DEA raided his Jersey home in 1975, agents found
more than $584,000 in cash.
Frank was convicted of federal and state drug violations and
sentenced to 70 years in prison. After 5
years in custody, he had his sentence reduced to time served plus lifetime
parole. He was later busted for drug dealing again and spent another 7 years
behind bars before being released in 1991.
