Black Underworld

BUMPY JOHNSON:

Drug kingpin Frank Lucas (who Denzel Washington will be portraying in the upcoming film, American Gangster) says- Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (above, very top photo, front) the most famous of all Harlem gangsters, saved my life. "I was hustling up at Lump's Pool Room, on 134th Street. Eight-ball and that. So in comes Icepick Red. Red, he was a tall motherfucker, clean, with a hat. A fierce killer, from the heart. Freelanced Mafia hits. Anyway, he took out a roll of money that must have been that high. My eyes got big. I knew right then, that wasn't none of his money. That was my money.

"'Who got a thousand dollars to shoot pool?' Icepick Red shouted. I told him I'm playing, but I only got a hundred dollars . . . and he's saying, 'What kind of punk only got a hundred dollars?' I wanted to take out my gun and kill him right there, take his damn money.

"Except right then, everything seemed to stop. The jukebox stopped, the pool balls stopped. Every fucking thing stopped. It got so quiet you could've heard a rat piss on a piece of cotton in China.

"I turned around and I saw this guy -- he was like five feet ten, five feet eleven, dark complexion, neat, looked like he just stepped off the back cover of Vogue magazine. He had on a gray suit and a maroon tie, with a gray overcoat and flower in the lapel. I never seen nothing that looked like him. He was another species altogether.

"'Can you beat him?' he said to me in a deep, smooth voice.

"I said, 'I can shoot pool with anybody, mister. I can beat anybody.'

"Icepick Red, suddenly he's nervous. Scared. 'Bumpy!' he shouts out, 'I don't got no bet with you!'

"Bumpy ignores that. 'Rack 'em up, Lump!'

"We rolled for the break, and I got it. And I wasted him. Icepick Red never got a goddamn shot. Bumpy sat there, watching. Didn't say a word. Then he says to me, 'Come on, let's go.' I'm thinking, who the fuck is this Bumpy? But something told me I better keep my damn mouth shut. I got in the car. A long Caddy. First we stopped at a clothing store -- he picked out a bunch of stuff for me. Suits, ties, slacks. Nice stuff. Then we drove to where he was living, on Mount Morris Park. He took me into his front room, said I should clean myself up, sleep there that night.

"I wound up sleeping there six months . . . Then things were different. The gangsters stopped fucking with me. The cops stopped fucking with me. I walk into the Busch Jewelers, see the man I robbed, and all he says is: 'Can I help you, sir?' Because now I'm with Bumpy Johnson -- a Bumpy Johnson man. I'm 17 years old and I'm Mr. Lucas.

"Bumpy was a gentleman among gentlemen, a king among kings, a killer among killers, a whole book and Bible by himself," says Lucas about his years with the Robin Hood of Harlem, who had opposed Dutch Schultz in the thirties and would be played by Moses Gunn in the original Shaft and twice by Laurence Fishburne (in The Cotton Club and Hoodlum). Bumpy Johnson remains the most power black gangster in US history.

"He saw something in me, I guess. He showed me the ropes -- how to collect, to figure the vig. Back then, if you wanted to do business in Harlem, you paid Bumpy or you died. Extortion, I guess you could call it. Everyone had to pay -- except the mom-and-pop stores."

With Bumpy, Frank caught a glimpse of the big time. He'd drive downtown, to the 57th Street Diner, waiting by the car while his boss ate breakfast with Frank Costello. Frank accompanied Bumpy to Cuba to see Lucky Luciano. "I stayed outside," Frank remembers, "just another guy with a bulge in my pocket."

"There was a lot about Bumpy I didn't understand, a lot I still don't understand . . . when he was older, he'd lean over his chessboard in his apartment at the Lenox Terrace, with these Shakespeare books around, listening to soft piano music, Beethoven -- or that Henry Mancini record he played over and over, 'Baby Elephant Walk' . . . He'd start talking about philosophy, read me from Tom Paine, 'The Rights of Man' . . . 'What do you think of that, Frank?' he'd ask . . . I'd shrug. What could I say? Best book I remember reading was Harold Robbins's The Carpetbaggers."

In the end, as Frank tells it, Bumpy died in his arms: "We were at Wells Restaurant on Lenox Avenue. Billy Daniels, the singer, might have been there. Maybe Cockeye Johnny, J.J., Chickenfoot. There was always a crowd around, wanting to talk to him. Bumpy just started shaking and fell over."

Lucas says, "There wasn't gonna be no next Bumpy. Bumpy believed in that share-the-wealth. I was a different sonofabitch. I wanted all the money for myself . . . Harlem was boring to me then. Numbers, protection, those little pieces of paper flying out of your pocket. I wanted adventure. I wanted to see the world."  To read more about Frank Lucas, click here: Crew Boss

Source: New York Magazine

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According to Mayme Johnson (Bumpy Johnson's widow, 2nd photo) drug lord Frank Lucas (American Gangster) was little more than a flunky to Bumpy Johnson (above), and a flunky whom Bumpy never fully trusted. Frank -- Bumpy, said -- was a liar, and it’s easier to trust a thief than a liar. A thief, Bumpy reasoned steals because he needs money; a liar lies for the hell of it. 

When I heard that Lucas wrote a magazine article a few years back claiming that he was Bumpy’s right hand man, and that Bumpy died in his arms, I was upset. He lied.

Now I understand that there’s a movie coming out starring Denzel Washington called “American Gangster” which tells the life of Frank Lucas and will perpetrate that lie. I’m now furious.

Now why would Frank tell such a lie? Because he figures that since Junie Byrd, Nat Pettigrew, Finley Hoskins and Sonny Chance have all died, there’s no one alive to reveal the fact that he’s lying. Maybe he’s figured I’m dead, too. Well, he’s wrong – I’m 93, and old – but I’m still kicking (not as high as I once did), and I have all of my mental faculties.

There have been legends, myths, and rumors flying around about Bumpy for decades, and I’ve never spoken to confirm or deny any – even when the movie “Hoodlum” was released in 1997, and contained all kinds of factual errors about the man I love. But now I’ve finally decided to speak out. To set the record straight. To tell the truth and damn the devil. To let the world know about the real Bumpy Johnson.

Harlem Godfather: The Rap On My Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson will be the first complete biography of a man who for years was Harlem’s best kept, and most cherished secret. While most of the world is familiar with -- and fascinated by -- the organized crime organizations of the Italian, Irish, Jewish and Russian communities, this will be a rare glimpse into the organized underworld of African Americans.

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(BUMPY JOHNSON'S CONNECTION TO BILLIE HOLIDAY)

Bumpy Johnson's widow Mayme Johnson (above, second photo) reveals the following in her upcoming book:

I was born in North Carolina, not far from Ashville. My parents were sharecroppers, and we were poor. Very poor. And I knew from a very early age that I didn’t like being poor. And people started telling me, at a very early age, that with my looks I wouldn’t have to be poor long. I was what they called light, bright, and damn near white, with straight light-brown hair that hung down my back. By the time I was 14, men were already beginning to notice me.

When I arrived in New York. I went out a lot during that time. Men were always asking me out, and I often went. I wasn’t going to bed with them, but I did let them take me out and show me a good time. Nothing wrong with that. And I was always most attracted to men who had money. I always said you don’t need a man who doesn’t have money because you can do bad by yourself.

Harlem hustler John Levy might have been good looking and a sweet talker, but John was a man who took money from women. Hell, he’d want to pimp me and I’d want to pimp him. Wasn’t going to work. And – I found out later – if John didn’t get what he wanted from a woman fast enough, he’d beat the hell out her. He hooked up with blues great Billie Holiday in the late 40’s and it was a shame the way he treated that poor woman. He used to beat her right out there on the street, on Seventh Avenue. It was she who put up most of the bankroll for him to open the Vets Club. And years later, I can remember him bringing her to a party Bumpy (center) and I had after we moved into the Lenox Terrace. She was all bruised, and looked like she was crying, and John – bold as day – said “Bumpy, come here. I got something to show you.” He pulled out a pair of her exquisite and expensive jade earrings - crusted in gold - from his pocket and offered to sell them to Bumpy right in front of everybody. Billie didn’t say anything, she just averted her eyes in shame.

Bumpy was disgusted – John was his boy from way back, but Bumpy liked Billie and didn’t think John had to embarrass her like that, selling her jewelry at a party right in front of her. Bumpy pulled out fifty dollars and gave it to John, then snatched the earrings out his hand. I think he did it so John wouldn’t go around hawking it to other people at the party and shame poor Billie even more. After the party Bumpy gave me the earrings and said he never wanted to see them again. I still have those earrings. John was a real bastard.

Source: "Harlem Godfather: The Rap On My Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson by: Mayme Johnson and Karen E. Quinones Miller

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"HARLEM UNDERWORLD AFTER DARK"

*The following is an excerpt from Mayme Johnson's upcoming book, "Harlem Godfather: The Rap On My Husband Ellsworth "Bumpy Johnson," by Mayme Johnson and Karen E. Quinones Miller.

It wasn’t unusual for a gunshot victim to be wheeled into the operating room of Sydenham Hospital in Harlem in 1952. Especially in the wee hours of the morning when club hoppers with too much to drink took their nine-to-five frustrations out on whoever was available.

But this was no usual gunshot victim. This was my husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson.

The man who, according to legend, almost single-handedly fought the infamous Jewish hoodlum Dutch Schultz when that notorious madman tried to take over the Harlem numbers rackets. The man who was as well-known for his charity to children as for his deadly temper when he was crossed by other gangsters. The man who was the undisputed King of the Harlem Underworld. The man to whom I’d been married only three years. And from the looks of things, the 45-year-old man who was about to take his last breath.

“Bumpy,” Detective Philip Klieger yelled as he trotted alongside the gurney towing the bloodied half-conscious man, “You know you’re not going to make it. Tell me who shot you so we can bring him to justice.”

But see, my husband lived by the gangster code. Bumpy opened his eyes and momentarily focused on the detective, and his slackened lips curled into a snarl. “A man can only die once, and dead men make no excuses,” he managed to get out before falling into full unconsciousness.

In June 1952, the tall dark-skinned Robert "Hawk" Hawkins was determined to make someone take himself seriously. He desperately wanted to be accepted by the Harlem hustlers. He needed to make a name for himself.

The Vets Club, which was located at 122nd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, was owned by John Levy – the abusive boyfriend/manager of jazz great Billie Holiday, and Vincent Nelson – one of the most successful pimps in Harlem. By 3 a.m. the joint would be jumping and the folks would be stomping. There was always a good time and a good crowd at The Vets.

On this particular night jazz great Sarah Vaughn was there sipping champagne, along with the Brown Twins, a popular jazz duo. The gorgeous vamp Margherite Chapman, who would later marry baseball slugger Willie Mays (she was a lot older than him, but she lied to him about her age) was there also, along with a couple of black Hollywood starlets who wished they looked as good as Margherite, and R&B diva Dinah Washington was holding court to her usual entourage of ten or twelve.

It was about 5:30 a.m. when the already half-drunk, Hawk sauntered over to the bar and ordered a scotch, then proceeded to loudly talk about his take for the night – the trick money his “bitches” had turned over to him after a night of whoring.

“Man, why don’t you cool out? Can’t you see there’s ladies in here? Show some respect,” Bumpy said irritably as he clinked the ice in his watered down glass of ginger ale. As bad as Bumpy was, he didn’t smoke or drink, and he didn’t like men cursing around women they didn’t know.

To be honest, I don’t believe Hawk even looked up to see that it was Bumpy, because he would have been stupid to say what he said next. “Ni**er, who the fuck is you to tell me to cool out?” he yelled in his heavy southern accent.

Bumpy looked him up and down and then said quietly, “I’m about to be your worst nightmare. Now haul your behind outta here before someone has to carry you out.”

This time Hawk did look up before saying anything else, and that’s when he realized who it was he’d been addressing. Intoxicated, but not stupid, Hawk turned to leave but stumbled over a chair on the way out. Someone snickered and Hawk angrily whirled around to say something, but Bumpy looked at him with an icy stare and said, “You still here?”

Ego bruised, Hawk left. Bumpy bought a round of drinks for the ladies as an apology for the rudeness for the younger man, and the merriment continued as it had been before the intrusion.

An hour later most of the party-goers were gone, and my husband was standing at the bar talking to the bartender, and the club owners John Levy and Vincent Nelson when he suddenly felt a nudge on his shoulder and turned around. Hawk, had topped off the scotch he’d already imbibed with cheap wine, and armed with liquid courage and a borrowed revolver he had come back to seek his revenge.

“What you got to say now, ni**er?” he screamed as he shakily pointed the gun at Bumpy’s head. “You so fucking bad, what you gotta say now?”

Bumpy was out on bail and carried no knife or gun, and because he was backed up against the bar, there was no way he could escape.

“Man, why don’t you go home and sleep it off?” Bumpy said calmly as he stretched his hand out behind him, hoping to grasp something on the bar that he could use as a weapon. “You were wrong and you got called out on it. It’s over now.”

“Ain’t shit over,” Hawk yelled as he stepped back and tightened his finger on the trigger to take his shot. But just then Bumpy managed to grab a potted plant and smashed it into the side of Hawk’s face. It was enough to throw off Hawk’s aim, and the bullet meant for Bumpy’s head slammed into the right side of his chest instead. Bumpy slumped to the floor – eyes closed -- and for a moment Hawk stood over him as if just realizing what he’d done. But when Bumpy reopened his eyes, and Hawk realized he was still alive, Hawk flew out the door.

“Bumpy, are you alright?” the bartender asked as he, Vince, and Levy rushed over to the fallen man.

“I’m fine,” Bumpy said in a weak and shaky voice. “Just help me to my feet.”

Levy and the bartender half-carried Bumpy to Vince’s car, and they sped off to Sydenham Hospital on 124th Street and Manhattan Avenue. .

As Vince helped Bumpy up the stairs another gambler and pimp, Gershwin Miles, called from across the street. “Bumpy is that you? You alright, man?”

“Naw, man. I’ve been shot,” Bumpy managed to yell back to his friend.

No lie, it seemed like all of Harlem must have been listening because within ten minutes the hospital was filled with people trying to see what had happened to Bumpy.

I was home asleep when Vincent called me to tell me what happened. I almost had a heart attack right there in bed when he said, “Mayme, you’d better hurry. The doctors aren’t sure he’s going to make it.”

The operation took six hours, and when it was over Dr. Wardrow came over and told me, “Mrs. Johnson. Had the bullet been one one-tenth of an inch to the left it would have pierced his heart and we wouldn’t be here speaking now because your husband would be dead. And to be honest, we’ve done all we can, but it’ll still be touch and go for the next few days. I suggest that you pray for your husband’s survival.”

“Dear Lord,” I said. “I know that my husband hasn’t always been the most upright citizen, but he’s always been an upright man. And I love him very much, Dear Lord. Please don’t take Bumpy away from me.”

I stayed on my knees for another fifteen minutes sending up prayer after prayer. When I got up and turned to face Hoss Steele, Nat Pettigrew, Junie Byrd, Vince Nelson, John Levy, Ricky Williams and George Rose I was surprised and touched to see tears in their eyes – these men were considered to be some of the toughest men in Harlem, and they were on the verge of breaking down with emotion. Suddenly Ricky cleared his throat and spoke. “Look, the doctors done all they could, and Mayme got the God thing in hand, let’s go get out in the street and kill that punk motherfucka Hawk.”

Without another word they all walked out the hospital and got in their cars and sped off. They never did find Hawk, though. We found out later that once he ran out the Vets Club he got in his car and drove to Albany, New York and hid out there before finally high-tailing it back to North Carolina.

After weeks of touch and go, Bumpy would make a full recovery.

Al Capone may have ruled Chicago. Lucky Luciano may have run most of New York City. But, when it came to Harlem, the man in charge was my man, Bumpy Johnson.

Photo Credit: New York Magazine

What you didn't see in the film "American Gangster."

While still barely a teenager, Frank Lucas began the peripatetic existence that took him to Wilson, North Carolina where he ran into trouble. "I was going with a white girl named Ann, who was the boss's daughter," Lucas recalled. "The boss got mad at me. We were supposed to get paid every two weeks but he wouldn't pay me, so I burned the warehouse down. I had to run. I arrived in Harlem with no money, nothing."

"I used my wits to survive. I spent the first year robbing people with intimidation until I met Bumpy Johnson." One time, I screwed up. "He told me to go and sell a truckload of liquor for him." I did but blew the money in a card game before I could give it to Bumpy. He didn't kill me."  Source: "Gangsters Of Harlem," by Ron Chepesiuk

DRUG LORD NICKY BARNES & TEE:

Nicky Barnes (center) and his "bottom woman" Thelma (Tee), who later became his wife, on the right. Tee had no fear in regards to Barnes. When Barnes' needed a weapon smuggled, Tee would hide a small pistol between her legs and smuggle it in to Barnes. Tee also reorganized the drug mills, under her management, profits tripled. When the cops had Barnes under surveillance, Tee would sneak out the back and pick up the drug shipment across town. The council had a lot of respect for Tee because she was "ride or die." Barnes kept Tee in furs and gave her an unlimited charge card, Barnes also paid the rent on her lavish penthouse. She was one of the few black women to shop at Saks Fifth Avenue on a regular basis. Barnes also took Tee overseas to shop and they were known to give the best boat parties in New York. Tee is interviewed in Damon Dash's documentary, "Mr. Untouchable." Photo credit: Beverly James & NY Magazine.  Source: "Gangsters Of Harlem," by Ron Chepesiuk

FRANK MATTHEWS: (ORIGINAL GANGSTA)

Legendary drug kingpin Frank Matthews (pictured above) started off making good money in the numbers racket but he wanted to make more. Even when he was a fabulously wealthy drug lord, it seemed as if he could never make enough money. Yet, the money did not really seem to matter to him. He would leave bags of cash lying around (up to $13 million) like many college students leave clothes and personal items stewn around their apartments.

Matthews aspired to make more when he realized, his piece of "policy bank" earned him $100,000 dollars annually in the 70's. But, there were 18-year old drug punks making more by just turning over a load of narcotics.

Matthews managed to get an audience with two big Italian crime families, the Bonnanos and the Gambinos. The godfathers listened to Matthews pitch but turned him down. Normally, this would have left the typical aspiring young black drug dealer out in the cold, but Matthews was not typical. Instead, he hooked up with Harlem numbers operator Raymond Marquez-who put him in touch with a Cuban cocaine dealer.

In less than a year, he became New York City's biggest dealer, exhibiting brilliant business skills and the ability to forge productive relationships with other gangsters.

In dealing with fellow Blacks, Matthews worked to project a Robin Hood image but if someone crossed him, he employed two of the most efficient killers to enforce his will.

By the early 1970's, Matthews organization was handling multi-million dollar shipments in at least 21 states. According to the US government, "Matthews controlled the cutting, packaging and sale of heroin in every major East Coast city."

As his drug empire grew, Matthews began to play the role of the "Black Caesar." Decked out in his large sable mink coat and leather safari suits, the cigar smoking drug kingpin could be seen traveling about Harlem with a harem of beautiful women. He also maintained several of his mistresses in the six apartments he owned in New York. Black Caesar was a regular patron of Harlem's most popular clubs and got the best tickets to see Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Cab Calloway. He paid cash for his fleet of Cadillacs and bought dozens of expensive tailored suites.

He also traveled frequently to Las Vegas where he lost as much as $190,000 in one session at the gambling tables. He was also using his contacts in Las Vegas to launder money. Matthews was treated like a king in Las Vegas.

Black Caesar was chauffeured in a Rolls Royce to a front row seat at Madison Square Garden where he enjoyed watching his idol Muhammad Ali's latest big fight. He also traveled frequently to Atlanta on business. At the local Playboy Club, he met with one of his mistresses, a blonde Playboy bunny.

Eventually, Matthews and his family moved into a multi-million dollar home and he sent his three kids to private school. Paul Castellano, the godfather of the powerful Gambino crime family did not take kindly to having a young flamboyant black man moving into the neighborhood. Castellano was contemplating whacking Matthews but before he could put his plan in motion, he got killed.

During this time, Matthews was generating $600,000 per day in drug profits and he had a net worth of $60 million dollars.

Matthews was the only black man affiliated with the "French Connection," pipeline, this deal made him a fortune.

Instead of reinvesting his profits into his drug business, he began to invest in real estate and he put additional funds in overseas money laundering havens. Authorities estimated that Matthews was putting at least $1 million dollars per month into a special savings account.

In 1972, Matthews drug supplier was arrested in Miami. Matthews was arrested a few weeks later and faced 50 years in prison.

On July 2, 1973, Matthews was scheduled to appear in court but he never showed. Matthews disappeared with $20 million dollars in cash. His girlfriend, Denise Brown, accompanied him.

The authorities have been looking for them ever since.

Frank Lucas (Denzel is portraying him in American Gangster) says, "Some say Frank Matthews is dead but I know for a fact he's living in Africa, like a king, with all the money in the world."

Source: "Gangsters Of Harlem," by Ron Chepesiuk

(THE LINK BETWEEN "AMERICAN GANGSTER & "FATAL VISION")

The grisly, ritualistic-style murders of which Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald (third photo) was convicted took place in MacDonald's home located in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, on February 17, 1970, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. in the morning. At the time, MacDonald was a captain in the Army (Green Berets) and assigned to medical duties at Womack Army Hospital, Ft. Bragg. Incredibly, Army investigators decided within fifteen minutes of arriving at the crime scene, that Dr. MacDonald had "staged" the entire massacre and then stabbed (and clubbed) himself-repeatedly-in order to make it "appear" that he was a victim of outside assailants who entered his home. This version of events appeared in the book and film, titled "Fatal Vision."

A drug trafficking ring (that extended to Vietnam) wanted to hang the crime on Jeffrey MacDonald. Why? Allegedly, Dr. MacDonald became aware of them smuggling drugs in military coffins and in the cavities of dead soldiers and the traffickers thought he was going to blow the whistle on their operation. Simply stated, according to some legal scholars, the people who murdered Jeffrey MacDonald's wife and children were part of a huge drug pipeline operation (headed by American Gangster's Ike Atkinson) that ran from Vietnam straight into Ft. Bragg and other military bases around the United States.

According to Helena Stoeckley (an informant), many high ranking Army officials (including two Ft. Bragg generals) were involved in the drug running/distribution operation, along with some members of the Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and some members of the Fayetteville Police Department. The lead CID investigator at the MacDonald crime scene, the person who said that MacDonald had "staged" the massacre of his family, was William Ivory, a man Helena Stoeckley identified as being involved with a Fayetteville Police detective named Lieutenant Rudy Studer in drug dealing. Stoeckley said she would tell authorities everything about Ivory and Studer's illicit activities if given immunity from prosecution. She never got it.

Beyond shielding corrupt Army officials who were involved in the Vietnam pipeline operation, there were at least 15 teenage children of upper rank Army officers at Ft Bragg who were enmeshed in the local drug culture, including the daughter of an Army colonel who decided to focus the CID's investigation of the MacDonald murders exclusively on Jeffrey MacDonald as the sole suspect. Even more telling, the daughter of that colonel was known to be person who often associated with Helena Stoeckley and her druggie friends.

Helena Stoeckley was a drug informant from approximately 1968 until 1972. Helena told authorities that drugs, primarily heroin, were being smuggled into this country in the body cavities of dead soldiers being returned by air from Vietnam to the United States. She named Ike Atkinson, first photo, (the same man who helped Frank Lucas smuggle drugs in American Gangster) as the ring leader. Atkinson was portrayed as 'Nate,' by actor Roger Guenveur (2nd photo) in the film "American Gangster." Atkinson is considered the biggest drug trafficker ever to operate out of Southeast Asia.

When Atkinson returned stateside, he was located in Goldsboro, N.C., supposedly working out of Johnson Air Force Base. Helena added, they were smuggling drugs in the same manner into Johnson Air Force Base.

She also advised authorities that Atkinson was in the service, but subsequently got out and continued his business in drugs with the same contacts. Authorities didn't pay much attention to Atkinson because he wasn't in their jurisdiction.

Helena said, after the MacDonald murders, that there were contacts in Vietnam who continued to put the drugs in the G.I.'s bodies, in plastic bags after the autopsies were complete, The bodies were sewn up and shipped to Pope Air Base, Ft. Bragg, Johnson Air Base, and other bases which she did not name.

Jeffrey MacDonald has spent the last 28 years in prison.

Source: Ken Adache @ Rense.com

(MURDER-FOR-HIRE BY COLUMBIAN DRUG LORDS)

A sequel to the "Rayful Edmond Story," entitled "Ray," has just been released. This DVD focuses on Edmond's operating a drug empire from behind bars.

Rewind: Rayful Edmond, III was the biggest drug dealer in Washington, D.C. history, earning $70 million per month from drug proceeds and employing 150 street soldiers and enforcers.

Fast Forward: According to the DVD, after he was incarcerated, he continued selling drugs from prison. His supplier was his cell mate Chucky, the third largest Columbian cocaine dealer in the world. One of their drug deals went bad and Edmond's was in debt for $7 million dollars. His Columbian suppliers put out a contract on his life. At that instant, Edmond's turned government witness to protect his life and his testimony led to the arrest of 50 people. He is allegedly in the witness protection program behind bars in a private location.

FEMALE GANGSTA/HIT WOMAN (ONCE-MOST FEARED WOMAN IN U.S.)

Shauntay Henderson was the leader of the 12th Street Gang in Kansas City, MO., and police say she is responsible for 5 cold blooded murders and witnesses are to terrified to testify against her. She reportedly had a 'hit list' she carried out. This woman is so dangerous, she's only the eighth woman in history to be added to the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. Henderson was even known to disguise herself as a boy to carry out hits.

After an extensive FBI manhunt, she was captured, now rumors are surfacing that Shauntay Henderson may have been a female enforcer/hit woman for local drug syndicates/cartels. Similar to the "New Jack City," character "Keisha," portrayed by actress Vanessa Williams.

Click here to read her entire story: "Female Gangsta/Hit Woman"

According to Bumpy Johnson's widow, Mayme (2nd photo): "Life as Bumpy Johnson's girlfriend was dizzying and glorious. We were out at theaters, clubs and gambling joints almost every night and he introduced me to a whole bunch of celebrities I'm positive I would have never met had it not been for him."

"Bumpy was good friends with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and he also introduced me to Sugar Ray's wife. Edna Mae used to be a Cotton Club dancer. She was a pretty woman, and in fact she was on the very first cover of Jet Magazine. Edna was a pleasant enough woman but at times she was hard to be around because she was always showing off. She was so very materialistic. I remember one time she was boasting to me about a beautiful mink coat Sugar Ray had bought her and she mentioned the fact that it cost him $10,000. She didn't realize that my solid gold watch which weighed almost 1/2 pound, covered with diamonds and rubies cost more, a gift from my husband. When I brought this to her attention, her eyes widened but she couldn't bring herself to ask me more about it."

"One evening, I met Bumpy for a Georgia Skin card game. Bojangles was in attendance and he was drunk and mad that he lost all his money. He said, "I know ya'll n**gers been cheating me and I'ma kill all y'all motherfuckers up in here right now if you don't give me back my money. Then he pulled out a pearl-handled gun and shot a couple of bullets into the ceiling. Most of the gamblers just sighed and gave him his money back. But then, Bojangles turned and pointed the gun at Bumpy. Bumpy looked Bojangles in the eye and said, "I know you drunk, man, but I also know you ain't that damn drunk." Bojangles grinned and put the gun back in his pocket.

Source: "Harlem Godfather," by Mayme Johnson & Karen E. Quinones Miller

(FEARED DRUG ENFORCER/HIT MAN)

Burly and intimidating was the way Reggie Brown aka Rockn' Regge was described, calculating, cold and unforgiving are terms which also apply to this once powerful leader of an east side drug gang responsible for countless deaths during the mid to late '80s. While Reggie Brown did not create "Best Friends," it was his deeds that led to the organizations fierce reputation on the bloody streets of Detroit. While Best Friends was a drug gang headed by Richard "Maserati Rick" Carter and his best friend Demetrius Holloway, Reggie rose to prominence as the leader of the gangs enforcement arm known as the "Wrecking Crew." Best Friends was formed after a series of battles with rival drug dealers.

In an effort to rectify this situation, Carter approached Reggie "a man known for his propensity for violence," with an offer of protection. Carter would finance the formation of a security team in which Brown would direct it's movements on behalf of Best Friends drug wing. Brown agreed and began recruiting a crack team of shooters who were outfitted with high powered assault rifles, automatic pistols, body armor and bullet proof vests paid for courtesy of Carter, Holloway and teenage drug sensation White Boy Rick Wershe. Reggie's recruiting efforts started close to home where he counted his 3 brothers Ezra "Wizard," Gregory "Ghost" and Terrance "Boogaloo" as his closest aides.

Less than a year after it was founded, the wrecking crew was the most feared enforcement arm in the Detroit underworld taking on upstart groups like Pony Down and small but well run operations by former clients of Carter's like Big Ed Hanserd and James Lamont. During the course of these battles, allies were loss none closer or more devastating to Reggie than the loss of his two younger brothers Ezra and Gregory within a week of one another in December of 1986. The death of Ezra and Gregory did nothing to deter the two remaining brothers from continuing along the path of violence which had caused their loss but instead seemed to light a fire which would rage out of control for the next 7 years.

(BLACK FEMALE KINGPIN)

Carol Preston (above, far left) was the first black female kingpin on the East Coast, she was also responsible for a vast network of smugglers (including herself). Preston served 14 years in the Federal Penitentiary before being released.

(RIPPING OFF DRUG DEALERS FOR $4 MILLION)

A gang of police impersonators abducted and tortured cocaine traffickers, forcing them to hand over multimillion-dollar stashes by holding their families hostage or threatening to squeeze their testicles with pliers, authorities said Tuesday.

An indictment unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charged eight men with robbery conspiracy, drug dealing and an array of other crimes.

Since the spring of 2003, the gang injured about 100 people while committing 100 holdups targeting large-scale traffickers in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, investigators said.

The take: $4 million in cash and more than 1,650 pounds of cocaine worth $20 million, which authorities say the men sold on the streets of New York. Sometimes abduction attempts led to shootouts between the robbery crew and associates of the drug dealers, authorities said.

The scheme "was breathtaking in the scope of its crimes and in the danger it posed to our communities," said U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell.

Authorities seized several kilograms of cocaine, more than 20 handguns, handcuffs, police scanners and vehicles equipped with lights and sirens.

The men, court papers said, "were particularly sophisticated in their tactics," often conducting surveillance on the drug dealers for weeks before arming themselves with handguns and making "a police-style car stop" in cars equipped with lights and sirens. Other times, the gang gained entry into victims' homes by identifying themselves as police officers, then holding entire families hostage at gunpoint for days on end.

The victims were handcuffed, bound with duct tape and subjected to various means of torture during interrogations, including "simulated drowning through repeated submerging of victims' heads in water for extended periods of time," the court papers said.

One victim told investigators that during a 2005 abduction, two of the defendants "applied a pair of pliers to the victim's testicles and threatened to squeeze the pliers if the victim did not talk," the papers added.

Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson described the crime spree as "a dangerous dance of alleged criminals preying upon alleged criminals, who themselves profited from the desperation of drug abusers."

The defendants, all from the Dominican Republic, were ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty Tuesday in Brooklyn. If convicted, each faces a sentence of 40 years to life behind bars.

Major Benjamin Coxson was a flamboyant underworld figure -- a car thief, a gangland fixer and a candidate for the mayor of Camden. Allegedly, Muhammad Ali bought Coxson a brand new limousine to campaign in.

Underworld sources claim the Muslims ordered Coxson killed for failing to broker a major heroin deal ($200,000) between the New York Mafia and the local Muslim mob. He was murdered by Philadelphia's Muslim mob along with his companion Louise Luby, and her daughter, Lita, at his home in Cherry Hill NJ on June 8, 1973.

Philadelphia crime figure Ronald Harvey, who was convicted of the Nation of Islam- murder of two women and five children in Washington DC in January of 1973, is suspected of carrying out the murder of Major Coxson and the Lubys. Harvey was never charged with the crime however, and died in prison.

Rewind:

We reported last week that the Feds may indict rapper Young Jeezy before August due to drug trafficking allegations brought to their attention by a former Black Mafia Family (BMF) soldier.

Fast Forward:

Our law enforcement source reveals: The Feds are even more determined to bring Jeezy down since a urban blog reported this week that Jeezy allegedly paid $750,000 in cash to buy his former (famous) girlfriend an Atlanta mansion and then gave her the deed to the property. According to reports, he also bought this woman a six figure condo and it's rumored, he also bought her a Ferrari.

Jeezy also drives a $250,000 Lamborghini despite sluggish record sales.

Our source adds: "Law enforcement and the IRS is wondering, where did the money come from for this extravagant lifestyle?"

Stay tuned.

Lydia Harris (2nd photo) is the former wife of Michael "Harry O" Harris; an imprisoned drug kingpin who helped launch "Death Row Records."

According to Lydia, "When I was married to Michael, I got to know a male friend of his named Dee." They were from the same hood. Dee had been sent up after he and a friend were arrested by federal agents for transporting AK-47's. Mike got to know Dee better in prison and took him under his wing."

"After Dee got paroled, Mike had him accompany me to a meeting with Suge Knight and a woman named Kim; a friend of Suge's. We made it through the meeting okay but as we were leaving the building, Suge said something disrespectful to Dee and immediately drew his fist back to hit him. Dee turned around and ran right out of his shoes to his car. Suge was close behind."

"Dee opened the door and jumped in, slid across the seat and came out on the other side with a .357 Magnum in hand! Then he pointed it directly at Suge's head. Suge stopped dead in his tracks."

The drama wasn't over because Kim then snatched open the door of Suge's car and grabbed her 9mm and aimed it at Dee and screamed to Suge, "I got him! What do you want me to do?"

And then my cell phone rung, it was Mike asking how the meeting went. Well, what could I say? Everything had gone crazy and everybody had gone nuts and it was broad daylight and I was standing between two people who were holding loaded guns and Mike asked me to hand the phone to Suge. He asked Suge what was going on and Suge lied and said that Dee had disrespected me, this was news to me.

What had I gotten myself into? This was my first real taste of business in the macho world of entertainment and it was my initiation into Suge's world of sabotage, bullying and power and it was a clue to the unacceptable behaviors that had sentenced Suge, Dee and Mike to prison.

Source: "Married To The Game," by Lydia Harris

DID A BLACK HIT MAN KILL NBA HOPEFUL/DRUG DEALER: KARLTON HINES?

Rewind:

Wayne Perry (second image-third photo) had the juice, when people saw him coming, they quickly crossed the street because his reputation proceeded him. He may be the most feared drug enforcer in history.

When Wayne Perry arrived in a town, usually, somebody would be found dead the next day.

Perry worked mainly for the "Alpo" drug cartel. He was Alpo's personal bodyguard/security chief.

On the streets of Washington, D.C. he was considered a freelance hit man who used various methods to allegedly kill and torture. Perry was also known to use diamond studded brass knuckles to break jaws.

Other cartels and Italian crime families became impressed by Perry's reputation and reached out to him.

Perry is currently serving a long prison stretch and alleges that his former boss-Alpo, snitched on him.

Fast Forward:

Rumors are currently circulating that Wayne Perry may have been the alleged trigger man in the unsolved Karlton Hines (1st photo) murder.

At 15, Karlton Hines had a NBA body and stood 6’5. He was so versatile, he could play power forward and guard. He was also an unselfish player and passed the ball around.

He received over 35 letters from colleges around the world but Karlton was intent on going to Syracuse.

He was an All-Star and many considered him the best high school basketball player in the country. His skills were similar to Lebron James.

His dunks were so fierce and ferocious; he was nicknamed ‘Dunking Hines.’

But something went terribly wrong, four months before graduation, after an altercation with a coach, Karlton quit basketball. The lure of the streets became too great and Hines became a big time drug dealer. He wore over $100,000 in bling at all times and had a fleet of luxury cars.

Karlton was having custom-made seats put in his Lexus; accompanied by his crew, he went to the shop to pick up the car. One of the detailers was trying to talk Karlton into purchasing a car alarm system. He asked Karlton to come with him, he would show him how the system operated on another car, as they approached the car, shots rung out.

When the shots stopped, Carlos, a member of Karlton’s crew screamed, I’ve been hit. Other members of the crew rushed to his aid, that’s when they saw Karlton lying on the ground, they tried to resurrect him but it was too late, Karlton was dead.

Karlton Hines died on April 8th , 1994 at the age of 25. $5,000 was found in his pockets. The killer or killers were never apprehended.

(BLACK FEMALE SECRET AGENT)

Before becoming a black female "special agent," for the government, Dorothy Proctor was a con woman, Harlem hustler and she worked as a cutter in numerous drug mills.

When she was hustling in Harlem, she often came across drug kingpin Frank Matthews (2nd photo), they ran in the same circles until Matthews disappeared on the run (from authorities) with over $12 million in cash, he hasn't been seen since.

Dorothy soon hooked up with a stick-up king named Cadillac Richie. They were involved in a dozen stickups, sometimes netting $30,000 per heist.

On the side, Dorothy was learning the trade of being a drug mule. She specialized in pick-up, delivery, muling, stashing, weighing, mixing, collecting and negotiation.

She was thrown into a world of furs, designer cars and clothes, expensive jewelry and fine wines. Dorothy also enjoyed lavish meals. She attended Broadway shows, Super Bowls and concerts. She also went overseas to shop.

Dorothy had become a celebrity in the drug world.

Any guilt over her profession would fade over bottles of Moet and Chandon champagne, with Beluga caviar and Oysters Rockefeller. Dorothy enjoyed the jet set lifestyle.

Dorothy would languish in the drug trade for five years.

*Part II of this story will appear in the near future.

In the Baltimore underworld of drugs and crime, police say Kevin Armstead (above) is a 5'2 kingpin. A real life episode of "The Wire." At 25, Kevin Armstead already has a lengthy rap sheet for gun crimes, drug dealing, and sex offenses involving minors. He also has ties to the Bloods street gang.

Cops say Armstead is a hardcore criminal and a longtime drug dealer with a main base of operation in Baltimore, Md.

Ricardo Paige, meanwhile, was a hardworking handyman, who was trying to rid his tough neighborhood of drugs and violence.

Paige often did renovation work on run-down row houses in North Baltimore.

The houses that Paige worked on were the type of places that drug dealers like Armstead loved to use as stash houses to hide drugs while their minions would sling the contraband on street corners.

Paige would always dispose of any drugs or paraphernalia he would find while he was working, and cops say that soon caught the attention of Armstead and his men, who believed Paige threw out a cache of their cocaine. That's why on March 20, 2007, cops say Armstead and two of his thug friends kicked down the back door of a row house that Paige was working on and demanded to know what had happened to their stash.

Paige pleaded for his life and tried to run, but he couldn't get away; he was shot several times and was killed.

Cops believe Armstead is now moving back and forth between Baltimore and New York City.

Cops also say that Armstead's family members, some of whom work in the bail bonds business, are helping Armstead stay on the loose by providing him with stolen Social Security numbers, aliases, and fake IDs.

Armstead is also wanted for failure to register as a sex offender.

"BLACK NYPD COP BUSTED FOR ROBBING DRUG DEALERS"

The off-duty Queens cop who allegedly schemed to rob drug dealers is a hip-hop fanatic who drove luxury cars, flashed wads of cash and claimed he was pals with rap superstars 50 Cent and Ja Rule, sources said yesterday.

In 2005, officer Donald Medard even rolled up to the 104th Precinct station house in Maspeth recently behind the wheel of a silver Mercedes-Benz SL500 Roadster, police sources said.

The luxury sports car sells for $93,675 - more than double the 30-year-old cop’s NYPD salary.

“He was coming across like he was a big rap promoter,” said a cop who asked not to be named. “He was always saying he was going away to certain trips … promoting this and that.”

Medard’s street smarts, black belt in karate and work ethic made him seemingly a perfect fit for his precinct’s special narcotics enforcement unit, which targets drug dealers.

But prosecutors say he planned to prey on the same drug dealers during his off time - teaming up with ex-cons in a plot to rob the hoodlums.

Medard and three pals were arrested in Washington Heights early Tuesday after cops found guns, a ski mask and bulletproof vest inside his SUV, police said.

He told cops he was one of the city’s Finest - and then went to grab his 9-mm. Glock service weapon “in a manner that led the arresting officer to fear for his life,” a prosecutor said.

In a videotaped confession, one of Medard’s alleged cohorts, Claude Dorsica, 20, of Elmont, L.I., said the crew was planning to commit robberies, prosecutors said.

“We have reason to believe the defendant was part of a plan to shake down and rob drug dealers in the area,” Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said at Medard’s arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Medard, an Army veteran who joined the NYPD in 2003, has been charged with gun possession. Cops were checking if he is linked to any unsolved robberies and asked drug dealers to come forward with information.

Medard was stopped 1:30 a.m. by cops at W. 180th St. and Audubon Ave. after a 911 caller told police someone in a black GMC Yukon had committed an assault.

Cops spotted a 9-mm. semiautomatic pistol, a .380-caliber gun and .45-caliber gun in the SUV, court records show. The loaded guns’ serial numbers had been scratched off, sources said.

Even before his arrest, Medard had raised the suspicions of fellow cops because he often carried a bulletproof vest home with him, sources said.

“He was known to have three or four vests [in his station house locker] and he would always come in to work with his vest,” a cop said. “Why do you need four?”

Medard also was outspoken about his desire to leave the NYPD, telling several cops he dreamed of breaking into the hip-hop industry. He distributed flyers touting rappers performing at nightspots including Manhattan’s Club Exit, and claimed to be near signing a $1 million rap contract, sources said.

“He definitely didn’t like working for the NYPD. He felt they were racist to some degree,” a cop said, adding that Medard had blasted officers who he believed had pulled him over while driving because he is black.

Medard’s wife, Kimberly, refused to bring their children, ages 8 and 9, to his arraignment. But she still defended him.

“I guess the police believe their story, but I believe mine,” she said through the door of her Queens Village apartment. “I believe him. I believe in him.”

Medard was being held on $10,000 bail. If he comes up with the cash, authorities will scrutinize where he got it.

Ja Rule’s attorney said the rapper did not know Medard, and 50 Cent’s representatives did not return calls.

Source NY Daily News

On June 12, 2008: Black Mafia Family member, Fleming “Ill” Daniels revealed a stunning allegation: According to Fleming, Atlanta hip-hop superstar Jay “Young Jeezy” Jenkins (1st photo) received kilos of cocaine from BMF. Jeezy has not been charged with a crime in relation to the allegation.

Update:

Since this story broke two weeks ago, allegedly, several incarcerated members of The Black Mafia Family want to come forward to exchange information on Young Jeezy for reduced prison sentences.

Also, a highly placed law enforcement source revealed, the Feds (allegedly) may be looking to indict Young Jeezy (for drug related crimes/trafficking) before August.

(GANGSTER DISCIPLES)

When Larry W. Woods, Jr. (above) was sentenced to 111 years in jail for killing a restaurant manager, police thought justice was served. But on July 9, 2001, Woods escaped from prison and hasn't been seen since. Woods was a high ranking soldier in the Gangster Disciples and police theorize, the gang may be aiding his escape and helping him avoid capture.

BLACK UNDERWORLD TIDBIT: (BLACK DRUG RINGS DIVERSIFY)

Black drug lords across the country are now diversifying. They are buying the Rolls Royce of weave hair (Remy Indian Human Hair) by the kilo at wholesale and reselling it for $45.00 per ounce; less risk because this is legal and very profitable. Enough hair for a full lace front weave is 8 ounces (nearly $400 per pop). Remy lace front wigs are worn by every major urban female celebrity in music and film.

Update: Rap music impresario Alton "Ace Capone" Coles (1st photo) was convicted last week of using his record company as a front for a multimillion dollar drug-distribution network that brought more than a ton of cocaine and a half-ton of crack onto the Philadelphia market between 1998 and August 2005.

Before his arrest in August 2005, Coles was well known on Philadelphia's rap music scene, staging weekly parties at clubs, hosting after-concert parties for rap stars who performed in the city, and promoting CDs and DVDs featuring rappers who performed for Take Down Records.

He drove around the city in a blue Bentley that he obtained in a trade - for a Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes-Benz - with local rap star Beanie Sigel according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

And he "starred" in a 31-minute rap music video called "New Jack City: The Next Generation."

A former girlfriend of Coles', Kristina Latney, also testified for the prosecution, admitting that Coles used her as a straw buyer for properties and luxury automobiles purchased with drug proceeds.

Latney was one of five women linked romantically to Coles during the trial.

Two other girlfriends, Asya Richardson, 27, and Monique Pullins, 24, were codefendants. They were convicted of related charges yesterday.

Pullins, whose bail was denied after the verdicts were announced, was convicted of the most serious crime: conspiracy to distribute cocaine. She faces a sentence of from 10 years to life. She was also convicted of maintaining a stash house where Coles kept drugs, and of using the telephone for drug trafficking.

Richardson was convicted of two counts of money laundering in connection with the purchase of a $488,000 house near Mullica Hill that she shared with Coles for just two weeks before his arrest in August 2005.

When agents raided Thompson's home outside Salem, N.J., where Morris was staying on Aug. 5, 2005, they found $559,321 in cash stashed throughout the house.

Source: George Anastasia @ The Philadelphia Inquirer

FRANK LUCAS (AMERICAN GANGSTER)

Former black gangster (kingpin) Frank "Superfly" Lucas second photo, made his bones in 1965: For Lucas, the incident, was strictly business. Because, as Lucas recalls, "when you're in the kind of work I was in, you've got to be for real. You've got to show what you're willing to do."

"Everyone, Goldfinger Terrell, Willie Abraham, Hollywood Harold, was talking about this big guy, this Tango. About six five, 270 pounds, quick on his feet . . . He killed two or three guys with his hands. Had this big bald head, like Mr. Clean. Wore those Mafia undershirts. Everyone was scared of him. So I figured, Tango, you're my man.

"I went up to him, asked him if he wanted to do something, some business. I gave him $5,000 worth of merchandise. Because I know he was gonna fuck up. That's the kind of guy he was. Two weeks later, I go talk to him. 'Look, man,' I say. 'Hey, man, when you gonna pay me?'

"He started cursing, saying he was going to make me his bitch and he'd do the same to my mama too. Well, as of now, he's dead. No question, a dead man. But I let him talk. A dead man got a right to say what he wants. Now the whole block is there, to see if I'm going to pussy out. He was still yelling. So I said to him, 'When you get through, let me know.' "

"Then the motherfucker broke for me. But he was too late. I shot him. Four times, bam, bam, bam, bam.

After I killed that boy," Frank Lucas goes on, gesturing toward the corner on the other side of 116th Street, "from that day on, I could take any amount of money, set it on the corner, and put my name on it. Frank Lucas. I guarantee you, nobody would touch it."

Once Frank saw guys writing policy numbers, carrying big wads, his course was set. Within a few months, he was a one-man, hell-bent crime wave. He stuck up the Hollywood Bar on Lenox and 116th, got himself $600. He went to the Busch Jewelers on 125th Street, stole a tray of diamonds, broke the guard's jaw with brass knuckles on the way out. Later, he ripped off a high-roller crap game at the Big Track Club on 110th. "They were all gangsters in there, Cool Breeze, a lot of them. I walked in, took their money. Now they was all looking for me." I would have been murdered if Bumpy Johnson didn't have the contract cancelled.

Source: NY Magazine: The Return Of Superfly.

In Related News:

Apparently the upcoming film "American Gangster," based on the life of former drug kingpin Frank 'Superfly' Lucas, (first photo) will not stay true to form and document his long term affair with Billie Mays (stepdaughter of Willie Mays). This is a serious omission because back in the 70's, Billie Mays was the most sought after Black woman in this country among rich Black men, kingpins and athletes (Walt "Clyde" Frazier). Lucas always bragged about being a good lover and he always had a crowd of good looking women around him. He considered Billie Mays is greatest conquest. When Frank went to jail, Billie stayed faithful to him but it drove her mother crazy. She hated Frank because she thought he was a born liar and a drug dealer.

According to authorities, "Lucas was a loud, flamboyant style of a gangster who wanted to show he deserved the moniker of Super Fly." "Frank did not have the slickness of a Nicky Barnes. He was a country boy-a big loudmouth but he did have charisma."

As "Superfly," Lucas looked and acted the part. He wore custom-made suits, sable coats and plenty of bling and he drove a fleet of luxury wheels-Rolls Royces, Mercedes Benz's and Corvettes."

Authorities claim, Superfly was most likely illiterate. An informant stated Lucas couldn't count. "If he had twenty pounds of $100 bills, he would just know from experience that he had a million dollars."

At the mere mention of rival Nicky Barnes' name, Lucas explodes. He says, "Nicky was a fifty-kilo, dope-sniffing junkie." He did not handle the three-thousand kilo loads we were moving." Lucas' dislike of Barnes was so intense, he once put out a contract on him.

This ruthless gangster would do anything to protect his empire. This included eliminating blood relatives. Lucas gave his brother Shorty an assignment, he messed up. Lucas was about to put a contract out on Shorty but he had another brother who got killed. Lucas didn't want his mother to grieve over losing two sons in a short period of time, so the contract was cancelled.

Source: "Gangsters Of Harlem," by Ron Chepesiuk

According to Bumpy Johnson's widow, Mayme, "The Italian crime syndicate (Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia and Joey Adonis) gifted Bumpy with $6000 and car keys to a brand new Lincoln Continental when he was released from prison in 1947.

Bumpy said, "Nice, but I prefer Cadillacs." No problem," Joey Adonis said. "Take the Lincoln now, I'll replace it with a Cadillac in a couple of weeks." Bumpy said, "This car will come in handy because I'm going to be swinging back in action in a couple of days." "Yeah? That's nice. What kind of action is that? "Same kind of action I was in before I went up." Joey said, "You got the okay for that Bumpy?" "What kind of okay you talking about." "From our friends. You talked this over with our friends?" "Man, "Bumpy said standing up, "I don't need to talk it over with nobody. I'm going back in business for myself like always."

A few days later, Bumpy was called to a meeting with mob boss Fat Tony. He was accompanied by his crew. Fat Tony informed Bumpy, they wanted a percentage of all of Bumpy's upcoming illegal activities but Bumpy stood his ground and refused.

A few weeks later, Lucky Luciano called Fat Tony from Naples and told him, leave Bumpy Johnson alone. "When I served time with him in Dannemora in 1938, an inmate tried to shank me, Bumpy pushed me out the way and slugged the guy." "This is an order! Do not ever extort money from Bumpy Johnson." The mob backed off and Bumpy was free to operate.

Source: Harlem Godfather," by Mayme Johnson & Karen E. Quinones Miller

(CRACK KINGPIN)

From September 1999 to March 2003 Lincoln White (above) imported 1.7 tons of cocaine into the United Kingdom. After converting the drug into crack his domestic couriers, who were well paid, supplied the whole of Britain. His empire was valued at $170 million.

White not only had a network of couriers, he also employed enforcers, airline workers and former girlfriends were used to transfer thousands of pounds of crack aboard planes.

The educated druggist lived an average lifestyle as he drove a Peugeot 205 and lived in a £1,000-a-month rented flat in east Dulwich, south London. He also shunned bling.

He was convicted of conspiracy at Kingston Crown Court, for importing and distributing the class 'A' drug.

He was convicted of drug dealing and slapped with a 25-year prison sentence last year.

Officials say, White was the biggest crack cocaine importer, manufacturer and distributor ever arrested in the U.K.

In the same style as "Cocaine Cowboys," rapper Rick Ross brought in Chris Larceny to direct this true story of the top 10 black drug kingpins in the late 1989's and early 1990's in Miami, Florida. In this DVD, Ross narrates the stories of notorious drug figures: Kenneth "Bobbie" Williams, Corey "Bubba" Smith, Bo-Diddly, Bunkie Brown, Big Ike, Convertible Burt, Rick Brownless and Willie Falcon.

In Related News:

Former drug kingpin Nicky "Mr. Untouchable" Barnes is currently at war with Frank "Superfly" Lucas over his depiction in the upcoming film, "American Gangster." These two men were bitter rivals in the drug trade and still have an intense hatred for each other. At their peak, Barnes was sitting at a red light in his Ferrari when Lucas pulled up beside him in a customized Caddy. They both glared at each other. Later, it was rumored that Lucas took out a murder contract on Barnes which was never executed. Their only common trait? Both men are in the Witness Protection Program and neither seems to be buried very deep within the program because Barnes was accessible to Damon Dash during the production of his documentary "Mr. Untouchable" that will set the facts straight, according to Barnes-and Lucas was a visible consultant on his biopic "American Gangster."

According to Sandra Rose:  A confidential source has revealed the real reason behind Jay Z's "concept" album "American Gangster". The source who is close to Jay Z's camp, said Jay Z was "hurt" and "disappointed" that he didn't get the plum role of the Harlem numbers runner-turned-heroin dealer. The insider also said Jay Z felt slighted when the film's producers nixed his offer to record the soundtrack for the movie.

"He was assed out," said the insider. "They f*cked with his ego big time. Jay is not a man who can take no for an answer." The source also said Jay Z called in favors and tried to pull rank by going to Denzel Washington, who was eventually given the role. "The truth has never been told: Jay Z wanted the role years ago when Universal Studios first purchased the rights to "The Return of Superfly," said the insider, referring to the New York magazine article by Mark Jacobson.

The insider also claimed Jay Z entered into negotiations with then director Antoine Fuqua only to be turned away when Denzel expressed interest in the screen play. "Word gets around Hollywood fast when there's a good script, and Denzel wanted in on that project. Jay wasn't even taken seriously after Denzel's name got mentioned, but they kept stringing him along."

According to the insider, when Universal Studios cancelled production of "American Gangster" in 2004, Jay Z felt it was a sign from God. "He felt like if he wasn't going to be in it the movie shouldn't be made at all."

When production on the movie began anew in 2005, Jay Z changed tactics. "By then they had spent so much money on this thing, Jay just wanted to be involved in any way he could cause he thought [the movie] was going to be a block buster," said the source. Jay Z visited the set often and convinced his friend Denzel to talk to the producers on his behalf. "He wanted to do the soundtrack to the movie so bad, and initially everyone involved thought it was a great idea," said the source. "But nothing ever got signed - just a lot of talk.

"Once Jay realized they were stroking him again, he went into the studio to record his own soundtrack. He was in a race against time cause he wanted [the album] to compete with the movie," said the source. In September, Jay Z announced his new "concept" album "American Gangster" which he claimed was "inspired by" the movie. "Bullshit," said the source, - "At this point he doesn't want that movie to do well. Why you think all those clear studio copies of the movie are flooding the streets? This the first time a movie ever got bootlegged way before the movie was in the theaters. Only somebody with a studio copy could have done that."

"BUMPY JOHNSON & SIDNEY POITIER"

According to Bumpy Johnson's widow, Mayme Johnson, 'Few people know that Bumpy was the godfather to Sidney Poitier's oldest daughter.'

Mayme Johnson not only criticizes the accuracy of the upcoming film, "American Gangster," but she also complains about the accuracy of the 1997 film "Hoodlum," based on her husband.

"Hoodlum," never let the audience in on the fact that Bumpy was involved in much more than number running. He had a hand in almost every illegal enterprise operating in Harlem.

Nor did the film show Bumpy’s close relationships with luminaries of the day, including Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Billie Holiday, Sugar Ray Robinson, Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Joe Louis, Billy Daniels, Sarah Vaughn, Ethel Waters, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Imiru Baraka."

(FIRST BLACK SYNDICATE & BLACK HIT MEN)

Black Mob Queen:

We reported in the past that the first black syndicate "The Forty Thieves," was run by a black woman, Stephanie "Madam Queenie," St. Clair, above. The Forty Thieves remains one of the most feared and ruthless black drug organizations in U.S. history. They dealt in drugs, loan sharking and enforcement.

Madame Queen's numbers bank brought in over $100,000 a year in the 1920's, which kept her in silk gowns, as well as enough for her to purchase and fabulously furnish a number of expensive brownstones and maintain a stable of fine cars as well as a flat in the ritzy Colonial Parkway Apartments on Edgecomb Avenue. It was also enough to earn her the distinction of being the largest female banker in the world.

The first black hit men in U.S. history worked for "The Forty Thieves," and they were no joke! The Italian mafia refused to do battle with them, they were just that feared.

White gangster Dutch Schultz attempted to takeover the Harlem numbers racket in the 1930's. It all started from a loan being repaid rapidly by a black Harlem numbers banker. Surprised by such a rapid repayment of a $40,000 loan, Schultz investigated various numbers operations and decided to muscle in on this lucrative racket.

BLACK UNDERWORD" (BMF GENERAL TO PLEAD GUILTY)

BMF:

The alleged co-founder and head of the Black Mafia Family (BMF) is expected to plead guilty to charges of running a continuing criminal enterprise in federal court yesterday. Federal prosecutors accuse Big Meech, born Demetrius Flenory and his brother Terry "Southwest T) of running a massive, multi state cocaine ring, which distributed thousands of kilos each month. The brothers then allegedly laundered over $270 million dollars in drug proceeds through a number of fake businesses, while purchasing millions in jewelry, cars and other luxuries. Although Big Meech or his brother have been charged with a violent crime, several high-profile murders and shootings have been attributed to BMF including the murder of Sean "Diddy" Combs’ bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones.

MR. UNTOUCHABLE FILM REVIEW:

Mr. Untouchable is the true-life story of a Harlem drug lord Nicky Barnes. Marc Levin and Damon Dash do a great job capturing the true essence of Nicky Barnes. This documentary is informative and insightful and I enjoyed it more than "American Gangster." The film also includes testimony from Tee, police officers, journalists and prosecutors. Purchase it from amazon.com. ****

IN RELATED NEWS:

The fruits of their fathers’ drug-dealing were shared with the daughters (Nicole and Ebony Barnes): A $10,000 toy train set, and so many Barbie dolls they gave them away to friends. So were the penalties for their Dad's crimes. When the girls were young, their father were imprisoned. Their mother was, too. Nicole and Ebony Barnes were placed in foster care. Nicole is pictured above as a toddler with her parents (Nicky & Tee).

Ebony Barnes said that “it’s hard for us to think of ‘Mr. Untouchable’ as being the same person as our dad.” She added, “By the time we were old enough to understand what he had done, we had so many positive experiences with him.”

What if her own children, when they are old enough and learn the truth about their grandfather, decided to emulate him?

“I would say maybe Grandpa did it, but look at all the effects that it had,” Ebony Barnes said. “It affected a lot of people’s lives. For anyone to say that lifestyle is glamorous, there’s obviously negative consequences.”

Source: Sam Roberts @ The NY Times

PREACHER HEATLEY:

The Black Hand of Death also known as the "Preacher Crew," was headed by Clarence "Preacher Heatley," pictured above in black suit.

If you say the word extortion in Harlem, the next words would probably be "The Preacher Crew" aka "The Family" and "The Black Hand Of Death!"

They were called the most ruthless men in Harlem, extorting drug dealers all over the country, if they didn't pay, they would be killed by torture.

They've been accused of numerous murders dating back to the 70's.

When individuals were ordered to be murdered, acid was poured on their bodies to remove tattoos that could possibly identify them. Their bodies were then dismembered and left in a crumbling abandoned building. Crew members were then ordered to scrub down the killing room with boric acid after each murder.

After three decades of allegedly terrorizing, extorting, murdering and torturing Harlem’s major drug dealers, "The Preacher Crew," was captured by the F.B.I.'s C11 squad. This secretive elite squad was formed to apprehend the "Preacher Crew."

The leader, Clarence "Preacher" Heatley allegedly cooperated with the F.B.I., snitching on his own crew!

The Preacher crew's chief lieutenant: Mr. John Cuff aka "Captain Jack Frost," pictured above in the background (is rumored to be the only man Preacher feared). Frost was sentenced to life plus 145 years after preacher's testimony.

In Related News:

Black Kidnap & Murder Ring:

According to writer Ron Chepesiuk, Preacher Heatley (above, fourth photo) operated a crime syndicate for nearly 20 years (70's-90's) in New York.

Preacher was operating his kidnapping business in Harlem with ruthless efficiency. Drug dealers were reportedly paying Preacher $20,000 to $30,000 to be left alone. Authorities believe that the crew's kidnapping business was hauling in $1 million annually.

The "Preacher Crew," also served as an assassination squad for other Harlem gangsters. The crew picked up murder contracts in the drug trade for a standard fee of $5,000 per hit.

But once the crew fulfilled the contracts, it would turn on those who took out the contract. The contractors were weak, Preacher figured, because they had to rely on outsiders to do their dirty work.

Preacher recruited John Cuff (a former cop) to serve as his "Merchant Of Death." Cuff was known as "Big Cuz," on the streets and he became Preacher's right hand man. Cuff also acted as Preacher's bodyguard and driver.

Cuff allegedly loved his job. "He liked to kill people by strangling them."

Preacher ordered Cuff to lure Anthony (Malik) Boatwright, one of his top henchmen, to the basement of his apartment building. Preacher thought that Boatwright was becoming too big within his organization, a potential rival.

Boatwright was known as a janitor who cleaned up murder scenes after Preacher had someone tortured and killed.

Boatman came to Preacher's apartment in 1994, when suddenly, two of Preacher's men jumped him and proceeded to use a circular saw on him, dismembering him.

Preacher and his crew were natural born killers.

Preacher also kept his crew under strict control and some reports have compared his gang to a cult. He forbade his members from using drugs, fighting with each other, or stealing money from the crew.

Preacher's story is now available on DVD.

FORMER DRUG KINGPIN: NICKY BARNES

Former drug kingpin, Nicky Barnes reveals in his book, "Mr. Untouchable," on the morning of his drug arrest, the prosecutors claimed, dog sniffing dogs, "Prince" and "Duke," sniffed my vehicles in the garage and let out a distinctive bark, a sure sign that drugs had recently been in the trunk.

Then they claimed the dogs gave off that same bark as they sniffed my penthouse, indicating the lingering scent of heroin in my pad. Thus, the barking of Prince and Duke linked the apartment to the cars in the garage to the overall conspiracy.

To demonstrate the abilities of Prince and Duke, the prosecutors brought these different boxes to the courtroom and when the dogs approached the box that had narcotics, they let off a special bark. Seemed pretty convincing. But, now it was our turn.

My lawyer had the boxes cleared from the courtroom, then he brought in his own box with his own goods. When he put that box in front of Prince and Duke, the dogs went up the wall with it! But when my lawyer lifted out the goods from inside? It was aspirin.

Case dismissed!

I laughed so hard, I just had to go to the bathroom to relieve myself. The two cops taking a piss weren't too happy. They just looked at me with scorn as I washed my hands.

"Hmm," I said, "there's no more paper towels. I need a handkerchief." I reached into my right suit pocket and pulled out a roll of hundreds. "Nope, that's not a handkerchief." Then I looked in my left pocket and pulled out another roll of hundreds. "Nope. That's not a handkerchief either.

IN RELATED NEWS:

Drug lord Nicky Barnes reveals in his book, “Mr. Untouchable,” “When I was on top of my game, everyone wanted a piece of me.  People said the song, “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” was based on me.  Every time I walked into a bar, someone would play that song on the jukebox and the crowd would part as patrons stared at me. 

Fame had its ups and downs.  Got me front tables at the Copa.  When I was locked up, my top lietuenents put a million in cash in my stash house.  Life was good until I was informed that fellow kingpin Frank Lucas had put a hit out on me. 

Two years before my arrest, the Feds took down Lucas, king of the Country Boys, sending him away for life on narcotics conspiracy.  Given Frank’s little bullshit jealousies, I wouldn’t be surprised if he told his prison bitch, “Yeah, I’d like to knock that motherfucker Barnes off.”

If anyone was going to get hit, it was Lucas.  Because a few months after his bust, the Country Boys got swept up, too.  And the buzz on the wire was Frank flipped on them. Snitching on his brothers and cousins to get a lesser sentence.

Denzel Washington (pictured above) will portray Frank Lucas in the upcoming film, “American Gangster," also starring, Russell Crowe.

RUSSIAN MOB & BLACK WOMEN:

We are receiving reports that Russian mobsters seem to have a fascination for gorgeous black women and are often seen in the company of black women. The Russian Mafia is the most ruthless of all mafia families. If there is a disagreement or retaliation in business dealings, allegedly, they will not hesitate to take your entire family out, including your friends.

BLACK UNDERWORLD: THE BEGINNING (MADAME ST. CLAIR)

As we stated in the short story Original Gangstas, Madame Stephanie St. Clair (first photo) was responsible for bringing the numbers (policy) racket to the United States in the 1920's.

St. Clair was a black French woman from Martinique. In 1922, St. Clair took $10,000 of her own money and opened up a numbers bank in Harlem. She became known as Queenie throughout Harlem.

Queenie recruited blacks to support her and her growing numbers game.

Within a year, she was worth more than $500,000 dollars with more than 40 runners and 10 comptrollers in charge.

For a short time, St. Clair was the wealthiest black woman in America. It was unheard of for a black woman to have this type of money, especially in the 1920's, when the racial climate was extremely violent. The following year, St. Clair's wealth surpassed $1 million.

Gangster Dutch Schultz sent two hit men after St. Clair, he wanted to take over her operation; she escaped assassination by hiding under her bed.

St. Clair may have brought the numbers game to New York but Casper Holstein (second photo) refined it and organized it.

Holstein worked as a janitor at an investment firm, while mopping, he would often observe how business was run. He would eventually cultivate an interest in the stock market and began studying the system and its numbers. One day, he sat in a closet, studying clearance house totals, surrounded by mops and brooms, Holstein came up with a way to organize and fine tune St. Clair's operation. He quit his job.

Holstein would run the administrative end of St. Clair's business, similar to a Wall Street firm.

Holstein would eventually branch out to head his own numbers operation. He would become known as the "Bolito King." Soon, he became the richest black man in the country, grossing $12,000 per day. He was not selfish with his wealth, he became a humanitarian and a philanthropist by building dormitories at black colleges, donating money to black causes; supporting a Baptist school in Liberia and Harlem's poor children. He also contributing to black artists, publications and hurricane relief funds. At the time of his death, Casper Holstein was worth over $2 million dollars.

Much is not known regarding St. Clair's death.

The mob eventually muscled their way into the lucrative numbers racket, leaving numerous dead bodies in their wake.

*To read part two of this story and the eventual organization of the black underworld (Nicky Barnes, Frank Matthews, etc.) click on the following link, Original Gangstas

*Source: Crimelibrary.com

In Related News:

'The first time a wealthy African-American was kidnapped and held for ransom'

Stephanie "Queenie" St. Clair may have brought the numbers racket to the United States but Casper Holstein (above) refined it and modernized it. Holstein was the wealthiest numbers banker in Harlem in the 1920's. Within a few years, he earned an estimated $2 million dollars from his operation.

Holstein's style and appearance inspired confidence, he looked like a conservative banker. He always wore expensive tailored suits with a fedora and designer shoes. He was also a bachelor and despite being Black in the 1920's, Holstein wined and dined Senators and Congressmen. He was a disciplinarian who never smoked, drank or chased women. Holstein was chauffeured in a Lincoln Sedan and was often seen at the racetrack where he placed sizable bets. He also owned three of the best apartment buildings in Harlem, a fleet of expensive cars, a home on Long Island and several thousand acres of Virginia farmland. Holstein also ran a social club called the "Turf Club."

On September 28, 1928, a bizarre event changed his life forever. A little after midnight, Holstein left the Turf Club and was chauffeured in his new Lincoln sedan to a home of an acquaintance. When he arrived, as he was crossing the street, suddenly, a automobile pulled up and several white men with guns jumped out. The men pretended to be cops. "We want you to come to headquarters." Suddenly, Holstein was viciously hit across of the head with a butt of a gun. He was then gagged and bound. Over the next few days, he was asked a variety of questions regarding the numbers rackets before he was eventually released.

The kidnappers called associates of Holstein demanding a ransom but this was more of a smokescreen than anything else, they never followed through and had no interest in actually collecting a ransom.

People speculated, "Italian mobsters, racketeers and bootleggers were planning to expand their operations and had their enforcers hold Holstein hostage for information before releasing him."

"BLACK GANGSTA KEY TO-ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ "

In 1962, Frank Lee Morris (2nd photo) and two brothers, Clarence (3rd photo) and John Anglin (4th photo), all convicted of bank robbery, escaped from the notorious island prison in San Francisco Bay renowned for its high level of security.

At least 100 armed troops joined the military police in their hunt for the three convicts who are wearing blue prison uniform. Police have warned members of the public not to approach the men.

Alcatraz Island is only a mile from the mainland. But the waters of San Francisco Bay are treacherous and very cold and should the escapees fall in, there is little chance of survival.

Frank Lee Morris, Clarence and John Anglin were never recaptured and opinion is divided as to whether they succeeded in their escape, were drowned or eaten by sharks.

At the time, this was called the greatest prison break in history. What few people know is: "Harlem Godfather," Bumpy Johnson (1st photo) helped with the escape plot.

Johnson was serving time in Alcatraz during the escape and according to author Don Nevi, who wrote the book, "Successful Escape From Alcatraz," a source told him that Bumpy Johnson was the only inmate in the prison with strong enough connections to help with the escape.

Source: "Harlem Godfather," by Mayme Johnson & Karen E. Quinones Miller

MR. UNTOUCHABLE (NICKY BARNES)

Before Guy Fisher (a member of Nicky Barnes' crew got pinched for a year bid) he had purchased a Bronx garage. A solid investment because if one of them got caught with drugs in the car, they could plead ignorance in court-I don't know who the car belongs to, I was just working on it.

Once Guy went away to prison, the place became the unofficial headquarters of the Nicky Barnes' crew.

Nicky had a big problem with Wally Fisher (Guy's little brother) messing up the engine of his Citroen sports car.

Wally presented himself as a street hustler but Barnes didn't trust him one bit. Barnes' said, "If you dropped a dollar out of your pocket, he'd take it."

One time, Wally greeted Barnes with, "Yo Nick, how's business?" Barnes said, "Mr. Barnes to you motherfucker."

Barnes had a bad feeling about Wally and didn't like him one bit even if he was Guy's little brother. He was a scrawnier version of Guy and he seemed to think he had the same access to Barnes that his brother did. Always talking too much about the wrong things out in the open and asking about things he shouldn't.

While Guy was in jail, someone broke into his apartment and stole his drug stash before it could be moved for safe keeping. All of the evidence pointed to Guy's brother, Wally.

Barnes had many reasons for putting a hit out on Wally. Barnes said, "Behind the dumb grin lay a treacherous, untrustworthy motherfucker."

Barnes would later find out that Wally also had something to do with his arrest up in the Bronx.

But he couldn't kill Guy's brother because it went against the rules of the seven member "Council." Family members of Council members couldn't be targeted for murder.

Barnes adds, "By not putting a contract out on Wally, right then I made my biggest mistake. With the power of death over Wally Fisher, I chose to give him life."

Source: "Mr. Untouchable," by Nicky Barnes

DRUG KINGPIN: FRANK LUCAS

People are wondering, will the upcoming film, "American Gangster," starring Denzel Washington stay true to form by featuring Willie Mays stepdaughter (Billie) as drug kingpin's Frank Lucas' alleged mistress?

During the 70's, the very beautiful Billie Mays was a jet-set globe trotting playgirl who was allegedly involved with some of the richest black men of her day. She was often seen in furs stepping out of limos or private jets.

Lucas stole her away from NBA legend, "Walt "Clyde" Frazier pictured above. Frazier got the nickname Clyde for dressing like Clyde from "Bonnie & Clyde" fame. Frazier favored pin-stripped suits and fedoras. He also had a passion for Rolls Royce's.

Despite being married, Lucas lavished expensive gifts on Billie Mays, including a $140,000 Van Cleef diamond bracelet.

FRANK WARD (BLACK GODFATHER ON THE WEST COAST)

"The Mack" began as a script entitled "Black Is Beautiful" which was written by a Black guy and based on his own life. Producer Harvey Bernhard didn't like that title and changed it to "The Mack." Bernhard met an actor named Max Julien and decided he was perfect for the script which Julien rewrote with his friend Richard Pryor whom he'd met doing stand up in New York.

"The Mack" was the first feature film directed by Michael Campus.

Before filming began in Oakland, California, Campus was savvy enough to involve Frank Ward, the local Crime Boss, in the production (The film is dedicated to Ward, who was killed before it's completion).

Bumpy Johnson may have been the "Black Godfather," on the East Coast but Frank Ward was the "Black Godfather," on the West Coast.

Once Ward put his seal of approval on "The Mack" the crew had access to locations the likes of which had never been seen by white people before.

During filming the Ward Brothers were major criminals in Oakland, and partnering with them gave the film an authenticity that grounds it.

Although the filmmakers had the Ward Brothers' assistance, they didn't get the same respect from the Black Panthers — leading to some disrupted shooting days.

Ward and his brother drove gold plated Caddy's and had a stable of over 100 hookers working for them. They invested in real estate and housed their women in their apartment complexes. They also taught the women how to steal from big department stores.

The Ward Brothers also employed a top law firm to keep them out of trouble.

Frank Ward was so charismatic and good looking (pretty boy Creole) that he allegedly had a serious relationship with actress Carol Speed who starred in "The Mack."

Ward's "main woman" was visiting relatives in Los Angeles when she heard a murder contract had been taken out on Ward's life. She rushed back to the bay area to warn him. She was in his Rolls Royce talking to him (in Berkeley) when someone ambushed them, killing them. After the funeral, Frank's brother quickly returned to New Orleans and was never seen or heard from again.

To read more about the Ward brothers, click on the following link: Kingpins

ALPO: TEENAGE KINGPIN

As we reported in the past: Alpo, Rich and AZ headed one of the most ruthless and successful drug cartels in history. And, all three young men were under the age of 18. Alpo (above) was the first black man in this country to purchase a Lamborghini. Their story was portrayed in the film, "Paid In Full."

The trio loved to race Porsche 944's up and down 7th Avenue at 3:00 when they weren't holding court on a rooftop roller skating rink on 151st street. They also hosted lavish yacht parties on New York harbor where they would knock back cases of champagne.

Unlike Alpo, AZ kept a low profile and refused to conduct business with outsiders. He was quoted as saying, "Your only friends are your money, your gun and your girl!"

Alpo would later be convicted and serve time for killing Rich Porter but he also had ongoing friction with his other drug partner, AZ.

AZ believed that Alpo stole $35,000 from his house during a Christmas party in 1986.

When Rich Porter's little brother (Darnell was kidnapped and later killed). It was determined that Darnell's Uncle John was involved in the kidnapping.

John had approached Preacher Heatley (featured yesterday in Black Underworld) to see if he could help him do the kidnapping. Preacher agreed to help and sent Malik Boatwight (who he later murdered) to assist John.

Alpo's story will be featured in a upcoming DVD, pictured above, due out in the next few months.

It's rumored that he's currently in the Witness Protection Program. Hopefully, the DVD will shed light on that.  To read more about Alpo, click on the following link: Teenage Kingpins - Panache Report

Source: "Gangsters Of Harlem," by Ron Chepesiuk

BLACK QUEENPIN:

Odessa Madre (above with her lawyer) was a Washington, D.C. black mob queen from the 1940's to the mid 1980's.

Madre was involved in bookmaking, drug trafficking, numbers running and prostitution (Madam). She was often seen around town in a Cadillac or being chauffeured in an expensive car, decked out in one of her mink coats and she was the proprietor of five thriving brothels.

Her career spanned nearly 50 years. This woman was so powerful, when two white policemen refused her payoffs, they were demoted and reassigned.

In the 40's, Madre earned a staggering $100,000 per year. She was also very generous and colorful.

She was so regarded for her wealth, that she was the only African-American allowed to shop in major segregated department stores.

She also owned a club (Club Madre) where Nat King Cole, Count Basie and Moms Mabley performed.

Madre was also known for her high end parties, where bowls of cocaine and other drugs were on open display.

Madre would become a major figure in organized crime and rumors continue to persist that Madre was also a lesbian.

Odessa Madre would die of kidney failure in 1990.

Sources: Courtland Milloy & Steve Gibson

"The Black Mafia," is one of the bloodiest crime syndicates in modern US history. From its roots in Philadelphia's ghettos in the 1960's, it grew to become a disciplined, ruthless organization based on fear and intimidation. Also known as, "Black Brothers, Inc." it held regular, minuted meetings, appointed investigators, treasurers and enforcers and controlled drug dealing, loan sharking, numbers rackets, armed robbery and extortion. Sam Christian was the founder and the most feared man on Philly's streets. Source: Sean Patrick Griffin.

We profiled former drug kingpin Freddie Myers a few months ago. We currently received additional information, as follows: Allegedly, when Myers did a 24-year stint for drug trafficking, one of his women had an affair with his underboss. Also, through the 1970s and '80s, Freddie Myers, aka NY Freddie, was the king of heroin in Harlem. Taking in as much as $9 million per week in heroin sales, Myers used his intelligence and Mafia connections to revolutionize the way the drug game was played. More information on Freddie Myers will follow, next week.

"THE BROOKLYN DON"

Calvin Klein along with his friends tell his true life story (in the above film) of how they controlled the most murderous neighborhoods in Brooklyn. He is said to be responsible for launching Jay Z's Career and currently manages Akon. Find out about his drug wars, robberies, and murders that got him locked up for 14 years in a federal prison. This DVD features Calvin Klein telling all, as well as Akon, Jimmy Henchman, Pee Wee Kirkland, and a host of other street legends discussing the true life of a Brooklyn Don.

This story is based on true life situations dealing with real street life pertaining to drug wars, robbery, death and incarceration. After being released from federal prison after serving 14 years, Calvin Klein is home to tell his story.

In Brooklyn during the '80s and early '90s, one of the main names ringing out in the streets was Calvin "Klein" Bacote's. He's the guy Jay-Z is talking about in "Allure" when he raps, "I never felt more alive/ Than ridin' shotgun in Klein's green five."

Klein was recently released from a federal correctional facility after serving 13 years on drug charges, and one of his first steps in turning his life around was fulfilling his goal to enter the music business. He recently worked with DJ Clark Kent to put out the mixtape Streets Is Talking Volume One.

Klein has started his own label, Shut Em Down Entertainment, for which he currently has a roster of four MCs — including rappers Natural and St. Laz — and is seeking distribution. "I'm into hip-hop obviously, but I kind of like digging into the R&B and reggae," he said. "I'm open to music, period. I grew up in a family of music."

While growing up, Klein not only ran across a young Shawn Carter, he also rubbed shoulders with other icons.

"The original 50 Cent from Brooklyn, God bless the dead," Klein said, when asked who gave him his street moniker. "We would just hang out on the streets, and I used to wear a lot of Calvin Klein as far as attire — jeans, shirts, and stuff like that. My [real first] name is Calvin, and being that I wore Klein's a lot, you just attach that on the back of my name. I didn't really like the name, but it stuck at some point. It is what it is."

Klein said he hears the reality of his life in much of today's hip-hop, even from MCs who haven't been through what he's been through.

"Most of those guys have seen so many things that you can't live out most of these things rappers talk about," he said. "They living it out through the life they saw in their neighborhood. That's just like having your way of your freedom of speech. I don't knock them. If they don't tell our story the way the story supposed to be told, then no one is going to know where we are really coming from."

"GANGSTA SUPERSTAR"

Frank Lucas (American Gangster) gave his assessment of Pee Wee Kirkland: "Pee Wee handled whatever he did well. He was a superstar. That's all I can tell you."

Coming Attraction:

Former Harlem drug kingpin, Pee Wee Kirkland was once one of the feared players in the game. He was also known as "The Bank Of Harlem," and he was an out-of-the-stratosphere talent on the basketball court (drafted by the Chicago Bulls) but he chose to embrace the gangsta lifestyle instead of the NBA.

Pee Wee grew up on the Harlem streets, hustling and gambling before he reached teenhood. He was also an expert crap shooter.

Kirkland told F.E.D.S. magazine that a Jewish friend taught him the antique and luxury car business. He learned how to invest his illegal earnings well.

Through his "Bank Of Harlem," he would lend people $100,000 and in thirty days get back $150,000 dollars. Kirkland also learned the business of money laundering and how to hide his money offshore so the law couldn't find it. Eventually, he entered the diamond business and became the only African-American in Harlem to own a jewelry store.

During his drug dealing years, he had more money than he knew what to do with and the lifestyle it gave made him a prominent figure in Harlem. A stylish dresser, he drove a Rolls Royce often crowded with beautiful women and he wore a $373,000 king's crown engraved with Pee