Frank Lucas - Original Gangster: The Real Life Story of One of America’s Most Notorious Drug Lords

ORIGINAL
GANGSTER

The Real Life Story of One of Americas
Most Notorious Drug Lords

Frank Lucas
with Aliya S. King

ST. MARTINS PRESS NEW YORK

The names of some of the individuals have been changed even in instances where it is not specified in the text. Some characters are composites.

ORIGINAL GANGSTER . Copyright 2010 by Frank Lucas with Aliya S. King. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. For information, address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

ISBN 978-0-312-54489-8

First Edition: June 2010

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I would like to dedicate this book to all the kids who will read it, including Richard Robertson, my four sons and four daughters, and especially my youngest son, Ray. Please learn from my mistakes that I have made throughout my life and do not go the route that I took. Please stay in school, finish high school, and earn the highest-level degree in education that you can. This is the way to go in life.

Sincerely,

Mr. Frank Lucas

I would like to acknowledge the following people. First of all my mother, Mahelee Lucas. Please rest in peace, I love you always. My father, Fred, who is also deceased, please rest in peace. Thank you both dearly.

My partner, Julie Farrait (Lucas), my children, Betty Lucas, Ruby Lucas, Tony Walters, Candace Lucas, Frank Lucas, Francine Lucas-Sinclair, and Ray Lucas. I love each and every one of you in my own special way. Thank you for supporting and being there for me throughout the years.

My brothers, Ezell, Larry, and Leevon Lucas. Also, to my brothers who have passed away, Vernon Lee and John Paul, please rest in peace. I appreciate all your family support and help.

My in-laws, Ernesto and Julia Farrait. Rest in peace and thank you for being there for Francine when her parents could not be.

My brothers-in-law, Ernesti Farrait and Cesar Farrait, thank you for always being there for Julie and me throughout the years.

My grandchildren, thank you for making life so tranquil. I am honored.

Madrina Gachon, who was the God Mother of All. Thank you for being there, too.

Mr. Bumpy Johnson, the one and only boss. Bumpy, thank you for teaching me, but now I look back and I think I would have been better off without the knowledge you gave me. Rest in peace.

The great champion boxer Joe Louis and his wife, Martha Louis. Thank you for everything you did for my family and me. I know you are up there still looking down on me and wishing me the best in life. Rest in peace.

Also, I would like to acknowledge the people at Universal Studios and Imagine Entertainment: Grant Gullickson, Ron Howard, Sarah Bowen, Ridley Scott, Brian Grazer, and Jim Whitaker. Thank you for all your help in making my life appear on the big screen and making American Gangster one of the all-time classics.

The one and only Denzel Washington. I love you, Denzel. You played my character to the T in the movie American Gangster. Thank you for spending time with me to learn and understand the character that you portrayed in the movie. I appreciate it.

I would also like to thank the entire cast who played in the movie American Gangster, especially, Armand Assante, Cuba Gooding Jr., Common, Ruby Dee, James Brolin, and T I. You guys all portrayed my lifestyle the way it was back in the 1970s.

Richard M. Roberts, my friend forever. Thank you, Richard, for everything that you have done, did, and still do for me.

Marc Jacobson and Nick Pileggi are also to credit for getting my story and the movie made. Marc, you are an incredible writer. Nick, you are the best Godfather anyone could ever have. Thank you both.

Aliya S. King, for writing my life story: you were the best writing partner anyone could hope forspending over six months with me during the process. All the draft copies and rewrites of the book you spent so much time working onI really appreciate it. Aliya, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Marc Gerald and Andy Roth at The Agency Group. Thank you so much for putting together all the pieces of my book and speaking engagements. It is a great honor to work with both of you.

My attorneys, Hayes Michel, Irving Tobin, and Howard Wasserman. Without your help this book would not have been completed. Thank you for all your help and support.

Ebury and St. Martins Press, for the publication of my life story. Thank you so much.

My managers, Michael A. Graziano, Dorsey James, Anita Seabron-Davis, Dr. Lori Melman, Darnell Davis, and Louis G. Schornstein. Thank you for persevering and giving up so much time to help me get this book done. I really appreciate it. Michael, my friend and my primary contact guy, I love you, buddy, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Cates and Ralph White, the best security guys ever. Alamo Al, the best driver of them all. Al, thank you for driving me to all my events. Thank you to Timothy Drake Green and his partner Alexis Culcleasure.

The one and only Pam Frazier. You are the best, and thank you for all your help.

My great-great-goddaughter, Gianna Rose. You are such a special person to me. I know your parents, Michael and Lori, are truly blessed to have you.

Derrick Sosa Dicker, for putting together the Frank Lucas Clothing line. I truly appreciate your hard work and effort and for making the line become a reality. I look forward to everyone wearing FLthe Frank Lucas clothing in the near future.

Lastly, Bodine, Cookie, and Ricky. Thank you for your help and support.

I ts been more than seventy years. But I can see the whole thing as clear as a bell. I wasnt but six years old and I was wearing those redfooted pajamas with the flap on the butt. Something woke me up with a start. It was early morning, summer of 1936.

I looked toward the front door of the one-room shack I shared with my parents in rural North Carolina. My favorite cousin, Obadiah Biden, had been staying with us. We usually slept together on a straw pallet on the floor. But when I woke up, Obadiah wasnt there.

There was a group of loud, angry men yelling outside our house and Obadiah was on his way to the front door to see what was going on.

My father was away for a few days and we were alone with my mother. I remember getting out of bed, listening in fear to the sounds of men yelling out for my cousin to come to the door. In front of me was a chair with a shirt hanging on it. I put it on over my pajamas to cover myself up. I even remember that the shirt was much too big for me and hung down to my knees. I think it was either my fathers shirt or Obadiahs.

Obadiah, whats going on? I asked, rubbing my eyes and trying to sit up.

Stay here, Frank, my cousin told me.

Come out here, nigger! NOW! I heard a man scream. The harsh sound of the mans voice made me jump. My blood went cold and I watched my cousins fearful face as he stood by the door.

If you dont come out here right now, were coming in to get you! another of the men yelled out.

Obadiah opened the front door and was snatched up by the three men who had come to our home looking for him. All of them were white and beefyperfect examples of what you would call rednecks.