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Infamous drug kingpin Frank Lucas died on Thursday, he was 88. Lucas’ nephew Aldwan Lassiter confirmed his death to Rolling Stone.

TMZ reports Lucas, who died of natural causes, “bragged his heroin was among the purest on the street, and he infamously dubbed his product, “Blue Magic.” While he was at the top of the NYC drug trade, Frank rubbed elbows with elites from Hollywood, politics and the business world. 

Frank was finally busted in the mid-1970s and all of his enormous assets and wealth were seized. Lucas owned property across the country in Chicago, Miami, Detroit, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina — and even Puerto Rico. When the DEA raided Frank’s Jersey home in 1975, agents found more than $584,000 in cash. 

Frank was convicted of federal and state drug violations … and sentenced to 70 years in prison. Lucas ratted out others in the drug biz, and he and his family entered a witness protection program. After 5 years in custody, Frank had his sentence reduced to time served plus lifetime parole … but he was later busted for drug dealing again, and spent another 7 years behind bars before being released in 1991.”

NBC News — 2008 National Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo — Pictured: Frank Lucas, who the film “American Gangster” was based on, attends the 2008 National Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, NY on November 15, 2008 — Photo by: Curtis Means/NBC NewsWire

His life story was made famous by Denzel Washington in the 2007 film American Gangster.

 

Check out this interview of the North Carolina native where he talks in detail about his life.

 

Lucas was survived by seven children. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family.

Stars Who Lost/Almost Lost It All To Drugs
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