Richard Wershe Jr. filed a $100 million lawsuit Tuesday against the FBI, the Detroit Police Department, and federal prosecutors for coercing him into becoming an informant.
Filing the lawsuit one year after he was released from prison, the man known as "White Boy Rick" accused former FBI agents, ex-Detroit police officers, and former federal prosecutors of child abuse. Wershe claims he was pressured into becoming a teen informant before his arrest in 1988 for cocaine possession.
"Listen, the justice system hasn't been fair to me over the last 33 years," he said during a press conference. "I'm not blaming the people that are in office now. I'm not blaming the U.S. Attorney's office that's here now. I'm blaming the people from the past, the people that did it to me -- the retired FBI agents, the retired [Detroit Police Department] officials, the retired U.S. attorney that released my grand jury testimony."
Wershe served over 32 years in prison after receiving a life sentence at 17-years-old, which is the longest sentence given to a minor for a nonviolent offense in Michigan's history. His story was the basis of the 2018 film, White Boy Rick, starring Matthew McConaughey.
The Detroit Police Department, FBI, and U.S. Attorney's Office have declined to comment on the allegations. Look above to view White Boy Rick's press conference.
Source: The Detroit News
