From inside the Federal Witness Protection Program, the "Black Godfather" explains how he went from being a small-time hustler and heroin addict to the one gangster that the Feds cannot touch.
LEROY "NICKY" BARNES is the most famous black syndicated drug lord in history. Convicted of narcotics conspiracy in 1977 by the nation's first anonymous jury. Released in 1998 with a recommendation for parole from U.S. attorney Rudolph Giuliani in his file, Barnes's landmark cooperation with the U.S. Government served to indict over fifty major drug traffickers. An inspiration for a hit song ("Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown"), a slew of films (Live and Let Die, New Jack City and Pulp Fiction) and a generation of hip-hop artists, he is currently in the Federal Witness Protection Program.
TOM FOLSOM is a producer and director of documentary films. His work has appeared on A&E, MSNBC and Showtime. He lives in New York City.