Frank Lucas' Son Plans $25 Mil Suit Against NYC For Harassment
April 20,2008
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The son of real life "American Gangster," Frank Lucas is set to sue the city of New York for $25 million, alleging he was victim of a bogus arrest, harassment by cops on Staten Island and use of excessive force.
According to the New York Daily News, the alleged abuse was said to have taken place on March 28th when Frank Lucas, Jr. was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in the fifth degree.
An aspiring hip-hop artist, Frank Lucas, Jr. said yesterday, "I have no desire to be 'American Gangster, Jr. As far as I'm concerned, I'm definitely not proud of a lot of things [my father] did to rise out of his circumstances."
Salvatore Strazzullo, the attorney representing the younger Lucas claims his client was initially a victim of racial profiling in last month's incident. According to Strazzullo, Lucas, Jr. was pulled over by plainclothes cops while in a car driven by his white manager, Gene Ragusa.
According to Lucas, "One officer said, 'You're Frank Lucas's son and a rapper? You got two strikes against you.'"
Strazzullo believes, "He's [Lucas Jr.] been tainted by his father's mistakes. The whole time they're saying, 'Look who's here, the American Gangster.'"
Cops claim a glassine bag with residue of weed was found in Ragusa's car. Both Lucas and Ragusa spent two nights in jail and the pair pled guilty on the condition that the charges will be dismissed if they stay out of trouble for one year.
On the topic of his father's reaction to his recent arrest, Lucas, Jr. said, "He was cool about the situation. He said, 'Watch yourself.' I felt like he was thinking that his name as the 'King of Smack' had played a part in bringing this on me."
Lucas, Jr. also has a 1997 conviction for assault
In related news, a lawsuit was filed against NBC Universal in February by federal agents who claimed the film American Gangster wrongfully portrayed them as criminals. The case was thrown out by a Manhattan federal judge.