Frank Lucas

1. Frank Lucas Presented by: Derek finney

3. Background • Born in La Grange, NC and raised in Greensboro • Witnessing his cousin’s murder by the KKK sparked his motivation to live a life of crime • Drifted through a life of petty crime (misdemeanors; punishable by fines or county jail for up to 1 year) • Fled to New York on advice of his mother • Engaged in ‘pool hustling’ in Harlem (use of deception/misdirection to win cash from inexperienced pool players)

4. Criminal profile • Believed that in order to be successful, he’d have to break the monopoly that the Italian Mafia held in NY • Had the drugs imported from Asia via dead soldiers coffins; approx. 6-8 kilos/unit • Had connections with the Five Families (original Italian-American Mafia families – Lucchese, Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Colombo) • Gained profit of no less than $300,000/kilo (2.2 lbs) • Allowed him to buy property all over the country, which gained him more money by making more connections

5. Crimes accused of committing 1975 – Lucas’ home is Teaneck, NJ was raided by task force from Group 22 of the US Drug Enforcement Administration; authorities found $584,683 just in cash laying around 1976 – convicted of both Federal and New Jersey state drug violations; sentenced to 70 yrs in prison - Once convicted, he provided evidence that led to more than 100 further drug-related convictions

6. Crimes accused of committing • 1984 – after being released for helping enforcements, he was caught exchanging heroin and $13,000 for one kilogram of cocaine • Released from prison in 1991 and has not returned since

7. Evidence against Most Recent Crime • Lucas physically had the ounce of heroin • Physically had the $13,000 on him • Was caught in the act of the trade • He was defended by his former prosecutor Richie Roberts and received a sentence of only 7 years

8. quotes • “The most important thing in business is honesty, integrity, hard work... family... never forgetting where we came from.” • “See, you are what you are in this world. That's either one of two things: either you're somebody, or you ain't nobody.”

9. Theory explaining deviance I’d say the theory that best describes Frank Lucas’ deviance is the differential-association theory. Lucas, through interaction with his connections, learned the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for this type of criminal behavior. This theory mainly focuses on just how individuals learn to become criminals, but not why. Differential-association explains that deviant behavior is learned. Frank Lucas did indeed learn his ways through interaction with his connections and in turn became what he was accustomed to being around. I believe that the witness of his cousin’s murder by KKK members was truly the reason why he wanted to live a life of crime. Ever since then, he made further efforts to get involved in theft and other sorts of trouble, including with specific people. He was basically forced to run away from his North Carolina hometown due to his actions that could have caused him to get taken out. Later in life, he felt the need to take part in the very successful but sketchy industry of drug trafficking. I think that he has now learned his lesson, as he has not been back in prison since his last visit of 7 years.

10. Rehab or deterrence? I believe that with the knowledge Frank Lucas had of the crimes he partook in, he should have been deterred and used as an example to others of what can happen if you mess around with that sort of thing. He was a very knowledgeable man and had endless connections with people all over the world. I do not believe that any type of classes or psychiatric help could steer him away from his never-ending want of more money and power that he already may have had. He was, at one point, an unstoppable force in the criminal world. Though, all great things must come to an end. Lucas truly was an American Gangster.