Thread by @_ValTown_, “Mister Untouchable” turned FBI Informant (We don’t praise SNITCHES but I like [...]

“Mister Untouchable” turned FBI Informant

(We don’t praise SNITCHES but I like telling stories)

Nicky Barnes.

Thread below.

Leroy “ Nicky “ Barnes Jr. was born in Harlem in 1933. His folks came up from the south during the Great Migration which turned Harlem into a predominately black community.

Harlem in those days were known for its music , theater, in the middle of the renaissance it was the place to be . And it was the dwelling place for many famous African Americans.

That was only the place to be at night. When the sun came up Harlem was very different. Dangerous, Drugs, Police.

Nicky grew up with an abusive, alcoholic father who often punched on his mother. When he was a teenager he picked up a zip gun and tried to shoot him, but the gun blew up in his hand.

That was the last time he saw his father. He turned to the hustle, and in the midst of trying to make ends meet , he picked up a new drug habit. He became a heroin addict

Nicky became an avid user of heroin, becoming a junkie and committing petty crimes which often got him in trouble with the law. ( I love how 140 characters doesn’t exist anymore I can type my ass off ) . Anyways he got in trouble with police ALOT.

Nicky used Heroin, Cocaine, even morphine ( which is used in war to numb soldiers if their limbs get blown off ) . Anything out there sold in Harlem Nicky used. He used drugs from age 19-26. Majority of his adult life.

Nicky was going to jail on petty charges like Larceny, Possession of Methadone, Possesion of Heroin , etc etc. Only got caught using the product which is pretty stupid. He got two and a half to five years in Prison. And he had no choice but to get CLEAN.

During his time in Prison he had to go through withdrawal from drugs. Cold turkey, which is often fatal and can kill a person if they aren’t resilient enough to deal with the torture. No drug program in jail He lost weight, had diarrhea, knee cramps , large pupils, sweating.

After that torture, Nicky vowed to stay off the “Smack” and get focused. He was released in 1962. New mindset, he decided to be the predator and not the prey of Harlem’s streets.

Nicky left Prison with no education, no job nothing. But he had a connection with the Mafia.

While he was in Jail he met with Mafia Man Matthew Madonna who introduced him to the Italians. The Italians needed someone to distribute for them in the black community, and Nicky was perfect for them.

The Italians were pushing Heroin into the Black community since the 1950’s and 1960’s . Heroin was one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Italians got their drugs from the French then they distributed it to everybody else who wanted to get high.

The Italians took a chance on Nicky which is rare because who gives an addict more drugs with the chance of relapse? No one.

People would begin to line up at a spot starting at dusk. Lines of people would be waiting for their product. Cops would roll by and say nothing.

While Nicky was becoming a force in the drug trade, Malcolm X , who was a former drug dealer and user himself, began teaching the masses in Harlem. And surprisingly Nicky took heed to his teachings

Nicky joined the Nation of Islam when he got locked up again in 1965. Studying the teachings, he decided instead of uplifting his community, he needs to just get out and get his own.

He gets out four years later a more focused criminal. Using less Street people he turned his drug business into a family affair. Which often doesn’t turn out well.

Nicky’s long time partner named Joe Gallo was gunned down in Little Italy in 1972. But he didn’t worry, he called Madonna again and was given the green light in becoming the main source of heroin in Harlem. The first time the community ever seen a black man in charge of that.

Nicky created a group called “The Council” which was a clique of six other major drug dealers in New York including himself. So 7 , which they thought was a lucky number. They had a code that they lived by, certain shit like

“Can’t sleep with the wife of a council member”

They went legit, or tried too. And it worked for a while, they leased buildings, opened stores, anything needed to clean their drug money. For meetings they met in Lefrak City houses in Queens

7 dealers, 7 words. Treat my brother as I treat myself.

By the mid 70’s Nicky was a kingpin in Harlem, he was making money rapidly. They went from family affair, to really big business.

They became Powerful and began not to care about law enforcement, A group of FEDS went to Frederick Douglas boulevard and the cop asked them

“Do you know who we are?”

Their response was

“Yeah we know who you are, if you not here to buy get the fuck off my block”

The Council moved 25 to 50 kilos a month, roughly about 5% of the national total. Bringing in 10 million dollars a year. Which is 52 million dollars in U.S. currency today

They also were the first to bring food into the community during the holidays. As a mask to cover his dealings and boost his public image, they served turkeys during thanksgiving, stuff like that.

The heroin was cut and measured by naked women so they could make sure drugs weren’t being stolen. ( Where New Jack City got that from )

It was a shift , get naked , cut and measure , bag it up , get paid, put ya clothes back on then go home. Couple of y’all would do that today

In 1974 Nicky was charged with stabbing a man to death. But Nicky remembered from his early days dealing that he was to always have a slick lawyer. So he got off on the murder. And the witness died two days before taking the stand.

In 1977 New York Times wanted to do a segment on Nicky, they told him they would use a mugshot if he didn’t agree to take a photo with them. Thus where this came from . This picture led to his downfall and he didn’t even know it.

President Jimmy Carter saw the picture on the Sunday magazine and he threw a bitch fit. Immediately called his attorney general and they pursued Nicky.

If you look closely on that magazine cover, it says June 1977, by October he was arrested and put to trial. And by 1978 he was sentenced to life. Fast.

The Council stopped paying his legal fees and money was drying up on the streets of Harlem. While he was locked up he received news that one of the Council members was sleeping with his wife. Huge violation. So he decided to get them back.

His man Tito went around bragging to everyone that he had Nicky Barnes Woman, and Nicky knew that since he couldn’t hurt them on the outside, he was gonna hurt them in other ways. SNITCHING.

Nicky went on the stand and worked with then U.S. Attorney and former Mayor of New York Rudi Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani advocated for him to get his life sentences reduced because of his wonderful help for the FBI. Sad. He did get his sentenced reduced to just 35 years and he got out in ‘98

He snitched on 109 PEOPLE. 5 Council members including his wife and some other people who were locked up or about to go on trial. Making him one of the best FBI Informants of all time.

And he doesn’t regret ANY of it.

Now in his 80’s he is in the FBI Witness Protection and will never come back to Harlem. Ever. Had he not snitched, he would’ve been considered a legend in New York City, sadly he is nothing but a Rat.

If you liked this thread check out my last three! https://twitter.com/_valtown_/status/905466086908416000