Overview of Freeway Rick Ross
Ricky Donnell “Freeway Rick” Ross is an American author and former drug kingpin who became famous for his extensive cocaine distribution network in the 1980s.
Birthday and Background
Born on January 26, 1960, in Troup, Texas, Ross grew up in Los Angeles after moving there with his mother in 1963.
Bio
Ross’s life story is marked by significant transformation:
- Grew up in South Central Los Angeles
- Functionally illiterate during high school
- Expelled from Dorsey High School
- Began drug dealing after failing to secure a tennis scholarship
- Established a massive cocaine distribution network by 1983
- Distributed cocaine across multiple states including New York, Ohio, and Miami
- Estimated to have made nearly $300 million from drug sales
Career Highlights
- Pioneered crack cocaine distribution in Los Angeles
- Sold up to $3 million worth of drugs in a single day
- Involved in the Iran-Contra affair
- Wrote Freeway Rick Ross: The Untold Autobiography in 2014
- Transformed from drug kingpin to philanthropist
- Served time in prison, released in 2009
Legal Challenges
- Sentenced to life in prison, later reduced to 20 years
- Served approximately 4 years after cooperating with authorities
- Released in September 2009
Conclusion
Rick Ross transitioned from a notorious drug dealer to an author and motivational speaker, using his life story to discourage youth from criminal paths.