Freeway Ricky Ross

S1 E2: Illiterate, but athletically inclined, “Freeway” Ricky Ross went from being potentially a star athlete to the crack king of Los Angeles in the 70s and 80s when drugs were turning the City of the Angels into the ‘Hood’ from hell. At the height of his reign Ross was pulling in $2-3 million daily and had close ties to some of the most notorious international drug smugglers on the scene. But his world began to crumble in the latter part of the ‘80s with a series of arrests and mishaps in his substantial empire. Although Ross had revolutionized narcotics distribution and had acquired several properties throughout South Central to house his operations, things began to go downhill in 1996. Set up by two business associates working undercover for the DEA, Ross was busted and then sentenced to life in prison without parole. This episode will chronicle Ross’ rise and fall in narcotics distribution as well as his connection to the government Contras Scandal.