Legendary drug kingpin Frank Matthews (pictured above) started off making good money in the numbers racket but he wanted to make more. Even when he was a fabulously wealthy drug lord, it seemed as if he could never make enough money. Yet, the money did not really seem to matter to him. He would leave bags of cash lying around (up to $13 million) like many college students leave clothes and personal items stewn around their apartments.
Matthews aspired to make more when he realized, his piece of "policy bank" earned him $100,000 dollars annually in the 70's. But, there were 18-year old drug punks making more by just turning over a load of narcotics.
Matthews managed to get an audience with two big Italian crime families, the Bonnanos and the Gambinos. The godfathers listened to Matthews pitch but turned him down. Normally, this would have left the typical aspiring young black drug dealer out in the cold, but Matthews was not typical. Instead, he hooked up with Harlem numbers operator Raymond Marquez-who put him in touch with a Cuban cocaine dealer.
In less than a year, he became New York City's biggest dealer, exhibiting brilliant business skills and the ability to forge productive relationships with other gangsters.
In dealing with fellow Blacks, Matthews worked to project a Robin Hood image but if someone crossed him, he employed two of the most efficient killers to enforce his will.
By the early 1970's, Matthews organization was handling multi-million dollar shipments in at least 21 states. According to the US government, "Matthews controlled the cutting, packaging and sale of heroin in every major East Coast city."
As his drug empire grew, Matthews began to play the role of the "Black Caesar." Decked out in his large sable mink coat and leather safari suits, the cigar smoking drug kingpin could be seen traveling about Harlem with a harem of beautiful women. He also maintained several of his mistresses in the six apartments he owned in New York. Black Caesar was a regular patron of Harlem's most popular clubs and got the best tickets to see Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Cab Calloway. He paid cash for his fleet of Cadillacs and bought dozens of expensive tailored suites.
He also traveled frequently to Las Vegas where he lost as much as $190,000 in one session at the gambling tables. He was also using his contacts in Las Vegas to launder money. Matthews was treated like a king in Las Vegas.
Black Caesar was chauffeured in a Rolls Royce to a front row seat at Madison Square Garden where he enjoyed watching his idol Muhammad Ali's latest big fight. He also traveled frequently to Atlanta on business. At the local Playboy Club, he met with one of his mistresses, a blonde Playboy bunny.
Eventually, Matthews and his family moved into a multi-million dollar home and he sent his three kids to private school. Paul Castellano, the godfather of the powerful Gambino crime family did not take kindly to having a young flamboyant black man moving into the neighborhood. Castellano was contemplating whacking Matthews but before he could put his plan in motion, he got killed.
During this time, Matthews was generating $600,000 per day in drug profits and he had a net worth of $60 million dollars.
Matthews was the only black man affiliated with the "French Connection," pipeline, this deal made him a fortune.
Instead of reinvesting his profits into his drug business, he began to invest in real estate and he put additional funds in overseas money laundering havens. Authorities estimated that Matthews was putting at least $1 million dollars per month into a special savings account.
In 1972, Matthews drug supplier was arrested in Miami. Matthews was arrested a few weeks later and faced 50 years in prison.
On July 2, 1973, Matthews was scheduled to appear in court but he never showed. Matthews disappeared with $20 million dollars in cash. His girlfriend, Denise Brown, accompanied him.
Matthews aspired to make more when he realized, his piece of "policy bank" earned him $100,000 dollars annually in the 70's. But, there were 18-year old drug punks making more by just turning over a load of narcotics.
Matthews managed to get an audience with two big Italian crime families, the Bonnanos and the Gambinos. The godfathers listened to Matthews pitch but turned him down. Normally, this would have left the typical aspiring young black drug dealer out in the cold, but Matthews was not typical. Instead, he hooked up with Harlem numbers operator Raymond Marquez-who put him in touch with a Cuban cocaine dealer.
In less than a year, he became New York City's biggest dealer, exhibiting brilliant business skills and the ability to forge productive relationships with other gangsters.
In dealing with fellow Blacks, Matthews worked to project a Robin Hood image but if someone crossed him, he employed two of the most efficient killers to enforce his will.
By the early 1970's, Matthews organization was handling multi-million dollar shipments in at least 21 states. According to the US government, "Matthews controlled the cutting, packaging and sale of heroin in every major East Coast city."
As his drug empire grew, Matthews began to play the role of the "Black Caesar." Decked out in his large sable mink coat and leather safari suits, the cigar smoking drug kingpin could be seen traveling about Harlem with a harem of beautiful women. He also maintained several of his mistresses in the six apartments he owned in New York. Black Caesar was a regular patron of Harlem's most popular clubs and got the best tickets to see Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Cab Calloway. He paid cash for his fleet of Cadillacs and bought dozens of expensive tailored suites.
He also traveled frequently to Las Vegas where he lost as much as $190,000 in one session at the gambling tables. He was also using his contacts in Las Vegas to launder money. Matthews was treated like a king in Las Vegas.
Black Caesar was chauffeured in a Rolls Royce to a front row seat at Madison Square Garden where he enjoyed watching his idol Muhammad Ali's latest big fight. He also traveled frequently to Atlanta on business. At the local Playboy Club, he met with one of his mistresses, a blonde Playboy bunny.
Eventually, Matthews and his family moved into a multi-million dollar home and he sent his three kids to private school. Paul Castellano, the godfather of the powerful Gambino crime family did not take kindly to having a young flamboyant black man moving into the neighborhood. Castellano was contemplating whacking Matthews but before he could put his plan in motion, he got killed.
During this time, Matthews was generating $600,000 per day in drug profits and he had a net worth of $60 million dollars.
Matthews was the only black man affiliated with the "French Connection," pipeline, this deal made him a fortune.
Instead of reinvesting his profits into his drug business, he began to invest in real estate and he put additional funds in overseas money laundering havens. Authorities estimated that Matthews was putting at least $1 million dollars per month into a special savings account.
In 1972, Matthews drug supplier was arrested in Miami. Matthews was arrested a few weeks later and faced 50 years in prison.
On July 2, 1973, Matthews was scheduled to appear in court but he never showed. Matthews disappeared with $20 million dollars in cash. His girlfriend, Denise Brown, accompanied him.
courtesy of : the 'Panache Report'..
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