FRANK LUCAS Ep. 5 | “Mr. Untouchable”

Infamous America

Black Barrel Media

Society & Culture, Documentary, True Crime, History

4.7 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 April 2026

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1975, the law finally takes down Frank Lucas. Frank faces decades in prison, and he makes a decision to work with New Jersey prosecutor Richie Roberts to reduce his sentence. When Frank returns to Harlem, his empire is in ruins, his family is scattered, and his prospects for the future are bleak. The early 1980s are a pale reflection of Frank’s heyday in the early 1970s. Check out these great books about Frank Lucas, Bumpy Johnson, and Harlem crime: “Harlem Godfather” by Mayme Johnson and Karen E. Quinones Miller “Original Gangster” by Frank Lucas and Aliya S. King Go to Surfshark.com/infamous or use code INFAMOUS at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shipping and 365-day returns: Quince.com/infamousamerica Thanks to our sponsor, Mood! For 20% off of your first order, use the promo code INFAMOUS at Mood.com Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to INFAMOUS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Expedia and Visit Scotland.
0:04.6	Start your story in Scotland.
0:06.9	Experience the pool of wide, untamed landscapes and fresh cuisine that feels rooted in place.
0:13.6	Discover castles steeped in legend.
0:16.6	And feel the genuine warmth from locals you meet in a place that will stay with you long after you leave.
0:23.2	Start planning your own Scottish holiday.
0:25.7	Today at expeedia.com.uk slash visit Scotland. January 28, 1975, was a cold winter evening in T-neck, New Jersey.
0:48.6	At the home of Frank Lucas, Frank and his family were going about their evening with no
0:52.9	immediate concerns. Frank must have been
0:55.6	concerned in general because any drug trafficker in New York at that time had to have been concerned.
1:01.6	The DEA and the NYPD had been on a role for the past three years. They had arrested many of the top
1:08.5	dealers or caused them to flee and exile.
1:11.8	Four months earlier, the agencies started going after Frank's operation.
1:16.5	The DEA arrested one of Frank's heroin suppliers from Thailand in September 1974.
1:22.4	They arrested the other on January 19, 1975, 10 days before they surrounded Frank's house. Frank must have known his time was
1:31.5	coming. He just didn't know when. The when was January 28th. 20 officers from a joint DEA-N-YPD
1:40.3	task force descended on Frank's house in Teaneck. They pounded on the door and demanded entry.
1:47.3	Inside, they found Frank's son and daughter and quickly led them out of the house.
1:52.3	Agents swarmed the house and confronted Frank and his wife Julie. In a rage, Julie started throwing
1:58.7	bags of money out of one of the windows.
2:04.0	The agents arrested her for obstruction of justice.
2:07.7	They arrested Frank for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
	...

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