'Freeway' Ricky Ross
- Actor
- Producer
Ricky Donnell Ross, a k a "Freeway Rick," was a drug kingpin in the
1980s in South Central Los Angeles, supplying cocaine to other parts of
the country. In the course of his rise, prosecutors estimated Ross
exported several tons of cocaine nationally and made more than $600
million in the process.
Ross dropped out of Dorsey High School in Los Angeles his senior year.
He played for the tennis team, but, because he was illiterate, was
unable to get a scholarship to attend college.
In 1996, Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted
of selling 100 kilograms of cocaine to a federal agent. The same year,
a series of articles published by the San Jose Mercury News and written
by Gary Webb exposed the connection between Ross's main cocaine source
and the CIA as part of the Nicaraguan Contras scandal that funded the
rebels.
Because of a legal technicality, the U.S. federal court of appeals
reduced Ross's life sentence to 20 years and he was released from
prison in 2010.
Ross, who has since reformed, lives in Los Angeles with his wife and
two children, speaking to high school students and community groups of
staying away from drugs.
1980s in South Central Los Angeles, supplying cocaine to other parts of
the country. In the course of his rise, prosecutors estimated Ross
exported several tons of cocaine nationally and made more than $600
million in the process.
Ross dropped out of Dorsey High School in Los Angeles his senior year.
He played for the tennis team, but, because he was illiterate, was
unable to get a scholarship to attend college.
In 1996, Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted
of selling 100 kilograms of cocaine to a federal agent. The same year,
a series of articles published by the San Jose Mercury News and written
by Gary Webb exposed the connection between Ross's main cocaine source
and the CIA as part of the Nicaraguan Contras scandal that funded the
rebels.
Because of a legal technicality, the U.S. federal court of appeals
reduced Ross's life sentence to 20 years and he was released from
prison in 2010.
Ross, who has since reformed, lives in Los Angeles with his wife and
two children, speaking to high school students and community groups of
staying away from drugs.