Richard Wershe Jr., known as "White Boy Rick," became an FBI informant at the age of 14 during the crack epidemic in Detroit. By 1987, he was arrested for possession of eight kilos of cocaine, leading to a life sentence under Michigan's 650 Lifer Law. The documentary features interviews with journalists, police, and federal agents, examining Wershe's connections to Detroit Mayor Coleman Young and City Council member Gil Hill. It questions the reasons behind his continued imprisonment despite changes to the law in 1998.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Richard Wershe Jr., a key figure in Detroit's drug scene.
Find out how Wershe Jr. influenced major arrests in the 1980s.
See the impact of the 650 Lifer Law on juvenile offenders.

Did You Know

Richard Wershe Jr. was 14 when he started working as an FBI informant.
He was sentenced to life in prison for possessing eight kilos of cocaine in 1988.
The 1978 '650 Lifer Law' mandated life sentences for over 650 grams of cocaine.
Wershe Jr. became one of the longest-serving non-violent juvenile drug offenders.
The documentary won the Audience Choice Award at the 2017 FREEP Film Festival.

Perfect For

True crime enthusiastsDetroit history buffsDrug policy analysts

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Richard Wershe Jr.?

Richard Wershe Jr., also known as 'White Boy Rick', was a 14-year-old FBI informant and alleged cocaine kingpin in Detroit during the 1980s.

What law contributed to Richard Wershe Jr.'s life sentence?

Wershe Jr. was sentenced to life in prison under the 1978 '650 Lifer Law', which mandated life sentences without parole for those found with over 650 grams of heroin or cocaine.

What award did the documentary White Boy win?

White Boy earned the Audience Choice Award at the 2017 FREEP Film Festival.

Awards & Festivals

DOC NYC

2017 • Official selection

Freep Film Festival

2017 • Award

Awards & Festivals

Comments

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