Richard Wershe Jr: Judge Dismisses $100 Million Lawsuit by 'White Boy Rick,' a Drug Dealer, Against FBI and Detroit Police

    In a recent legal setback, a man who spent over three decades behind bars on drug-related charges, claiming he was framed by the police, faced the dismissal of his $100 million civil lawsuit against the FBI and the city of Detroit. 

    This individual, Richard Wershe Jr., aged 54, whose life story served as the inspiration for the 2018 movie "White Boy Rick," starring Matthew McConaughey, saw his case dismissed due to a delay in filing.

    The court, in this instance, determined that Wershe had not acted with the necessary diligence in seeking protection or filing a claim during his lengthy imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Kay Behm's opinion highlighted that Wershe's own allegations indicated his claims were time-barred and thus warranted dismissal.

    Wershe's defense attorney, Nabih Ayad, expressed disappointment with the ruling and confirmed their intention to appeal to the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Both the FBI and the city of Detroit refrained from commenting on the matter.

    Wershe's involvement as a confidential informant commenced at the age of 14 during the 1980s when Detroit was grappling with a crack cocaine epidemic. His lawsuit alleges that his role as an informant led to him being shot, subjected to multiple attempted assassinations, and ultimately imprisoned for an extended period. 

    According to court documents, he was frequently confronted by law enforcement, sometimes daily, and even at his home. He claimed to have been coerced into entering drug houses in unfamiliar areas and purchasing drugs from dangerous dealers and their associates.

    In November 1984, Wershe survived a point-blank shooting that left him with a severe injury, requiring hospitalization. 

    Shockingly, his handlers from the task force used this moment not to offer comfort but to pressure him into providing false information about the incident, further endangering his life. Despite this, Wershe continued his role as a confidential informant after recovery.

    Wershe alleges that Detroit police officers set him up when he was 17. During a traffic stop in 1987, he and a friend were confronted aggressively by officers, leading to Wershe fleeing the scene. 

    Upon capture, he claimed that the officers beat him with their pistols, resulting in hospitalization. Soon after, a 911 call reportedly tipped off the police about a significant amount of cocaine, which was later used as evidence against Wershe in the case that resulted in his 32-year, 7-month imprisonment.

    The moniker "White Boy Rick" stuck to Wershe when he faced his initial criminal charges, gaining notoriety as a supposed drug kingpin. 

    While incarcerated in 1991, he again served as an informant, participating in "Operation Backbone" to expose corrupt Detroit police and politicians. In 1992, he testified before a grand jury against gang members.

    Wershe was granted parole in Michigan in 2017 but was subsequently transferred to a Florida prison, serving an additional five years before his release on July 20, 2020. The following year, he initiated his civil lawsuit.

    Wershe expressed bitterness about missing important moments in his family's lives during his incarceration and believed that he was imprisoned for so long because he exposed corruption within the city of Detroit.

    In another news, Chicago police attacker, Esmeralda Aguilar walks free under controversial no cash bail law. See detailed story here.

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