FRANK LUCAS Ep. 6 | “American Gangster”

Infamous America

Black Barrel Media

Society & Culture, Documentary, True Crime, History

4.7 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2026

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Frank Lucas experiences a rough ride in the second half of the 1980s, and he hits rock bottom in the early 1990s. But when he is at his lowest point, one of his brothers throws him a lifeline. Frank finally leaves the heroin business, but he still struggles in the legitimate world… until he achieves worldwide fame as the subject of the Hollywood film “American Gangster,” though the movie stirs up nearly as much controversy as it does money at the box office. 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 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. For more details, please visit www.blackbarrelmedia.com or @blackbarrelmedia on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There were dark times ahead for Frank Lucas.
0:14.2	He was no stranger to difficulty, but nothing like the pit he was approaching.
0:18.9	He had been released from prison in 1981, after serving just six
0:22.9	of a possible 70 years for conspiracy to distribute heroin. His two sentences had been reduced
0:29.4	because he cooperated with investigators and prosecutors like Richie Roberts to bring down
0:34.9	crooked cops and other dealers.
0:37.7	But when Frank was released, he was 51 years old.
0:41.1	He had no marketable skills.
0:43.5	Most of his criminal connections were dead or in prison.
0:47.0	Two of his brothers were in prison for their roles in his heroin operation.
0:51.2	His family was scattered.
0:53.1	His wife Julie and their daughter Francine were spending most of their time in Puerto Rico.
0:58.3	Julie was Puerto Rican and she found safety with her family when Frank's world fell apart.
1:04.2	Frank's son, Frank Lucas Jr., was living in Las Vegas with famous boxer Joe Lewis. Frank had tried to get the family back together,
1:12.8	but that effort imploded when his hotel room had been raided by the DEA. Frank had gone back to
1:18.8	selling heroin on the streets as his only way to make money. And luckily for him, he didn't have any
1:24.6	heroin on him when DEA agents kicked down his hotel room door.
1:29.8	Now it was March of 1984. Frank was back on his own, and he met a mysterious woman at a bar
1:36.5	who propelled him toward his rock bottom moment. The mysterious woman was Angelina Esperon. It sounded like there was a little bit of mutual
1:50.0	flirtation happening as she started leading Frank down a particular path. Esperone knew who he was,
1:56.6	and she said he was an inspiration to people like her. She was in the drug game too, but on a much smaller level.
2:03.8	She wanted to increase her business,
	...

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