At the height of his drug empire in 1972, Frank Matthews better known as Black Caesar was operating out of nearly every region in the country.With a foothold in 21 states, it was perhaps no surprise that Matthews was eventually caught and arrested in Florida, for attempting to sell 40 pounds of pure cocaine. But on July 2, 1973, when he was set to appear in court, Matthews vanished along with his girlfriend and $20 million and has never been seen again.Frank Matthews Early Start With CrimePublic DomainFrank Matthews downfall began after a 1973 arrest in Las Vegas. Frank Larry Matthews was born on February 13, 1944, in Durham, North Carolina. He was raised by his aunt after his mother died when he was four, and at some point, he earned the moniker Pee Wee.He was a fairly good student but dropped out of school when he was in seventh grade. Instead, Matthews started a gang that stole chickens from farms around Durham. After one such attempt, a farmer caught Matthews, who assaulted him.Matthews was arrested and charged with theft and assault. He spent a year in reform school in nearby Raleigh, and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after his release. Soon, he was running a numbers racket.Graduating From Bookmaking To DrugsThrough his racket, Matthews became closely connected to members of the Black Mafia, an organized crime family dealing large amounts of drugs. He was arrested in 1963 for drug-related crimes but avoided jail by agreeing to leave the city. Soon after, he moved to the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn where he returned to his numbers game. But the numbers proved to be less fruitful than they had once been, and so Matthews turned back to drug dealing. By then, the Italian Mafia was the leader of wholesale drugs, and he attempted to work for the Gambino and Bonanno families before meeting Spanish Raymond Marquez, who gave him his first kilo of cocaine and a guarantee for more in the future if he sold it all.The partnership proved to be one of the most successful in drug crime history. Frank Matthews frequently received shipments of cocaine and heroin from South America. By the 1970s, he was handling millions of dollars worth of drugs, making nearly $10 million in 1972 according to the IRS.Eventually, Matthews had his operation running throughout New York City, Philadelphia, and a number of other major cities, eventually becoming the wholesaler to the Black Mafia.Expanding His EmpirePublic DomainFrank Matthews Staten Island home was surrounded by homes of the Italian Mafia.Before heading west, Matthews made a full life for himself and his wife and children in New York. He purchased a home at 925 Prospect Place in Brooklyn and a home at 101 East 56th Street. Both homes were heavily protected and surrounded by guards.To afford the homes and lifestyle, Matthews often went to Las Vegas to have money laundered at the casinos for a low fee. He was arrested while there, but he was released soon after, leaving for a meeting in Atlanta for drug dealers in Black and Latino communities. When the DEA caught wind of the meeting, they began to monitor the attendees and especially Matthews. At the meeting, it was decided that the leaders would begin to sell a wider range of drugs, possibly to throw off investigators from their larger operations and to unseat the Mafia as the kingpin of the drug trade. On another trip to Las Vegas in 1972, the DEA received a tip that gave them the legal action to tap his hotel phone lines. After overhearing his conversation about a coming transaction, the transaction never happened, and Matthews entered a feud with a member of the Genovese crime family after the drugs were not delivered.But this was the beginning of the end for Matthews career.The Empire Crumbles And Frank Matthews EscapesThe same year, police were finally able to arrest Frank Matthews in Florida. He was charged with attempting to sell 40 pounds of cocaine. Matthews flew back to Las Vegas one last time, where he was arrested again.Public DomainFrank Matthews escaped sentencing in 1973 and remains at large.A federal magistrate set Matthews bail at $5 million, but when Matthews agreed not to fight extradition to New York, it was cut in half. Once in New York, it was reduced again to $325,000. Charged with six counts of tax evasion and conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, he faced up to 50 years in prison. But then on July 2, 1973, Matthews never arrived at his court hearing in Brooklyn. It is rumored that Matthews took $20 million and his girlfriend and fled outside the U.S. to avoid conviction. He left behind his entire family, including his wife, three sons, and the mansions throughout New York, including a recently purchased home in a Staten Island neighborhood popular with the Italian Mafia.The FBI put out a bounty for Matthews for $20,000. At the time, it was the highest amount set by the agency, used only one other time for the capture of the infamous bank robber John Dillinger.Today, there are many theories about what happened to Frank Matthews. Some believe he escaped to Venezuela to hide out with Spanish Raymond Marquez. Others believe he may have been captured by other crime families or the Black Mafia. More believe he is still alive, and he would be 71 years old today in 2022. Frank Matthews became one of the most infamous drug dealers in history, and not just because of his escape, but because of the sheer size and capacity of his operation. Despite that, his whereabouts, and what became of his operation, remain unknown. After reading about Frank Matthews, learn about Rafael Caro Quintero, the Narcos drug lord still on the run. Then, read about the deadliest mafia hitmen in history and the gruesome stories behind them.The post Inside The Multi-Million-Dollar Drug Empire Of Frank Matthews, The Black Caesar Who Rivaled The Mafia appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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After many years outside, a cat tried home life for the first time, found trust, and never looked back. TigrouChatonsOrphelinsMontrealFor years, a tabby cat roamed the streets, blending into the neighborhood and surviving on the kindness of a caring family.They set up shelters on their porch for stray cats and provided food and fresh water. The tabby always kept his distance, never letting anyone get close. After enduring many harsh winters, his body grew weary, and the toll of the street life began to show.When an animal rescuer noticed the exhausted cat, she decided to take a chance on him. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealLittle was known about his past, but he was visibly terrified of people, carrying the weight of experiences that had left their mark on him.With the help of a humane trap, the rescuer was able to catch him and bring him to Chatons Orphelins Montreal, a volunteer-run rescue. He received medical care and was named Tigrou, French for Tigger. "Completely lost and scared by all the changes, he had no idea that his life was about to change for the better," the rescue shared. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealAt the vet clinic, Tigrou retreated to a corner of his kennel with a sad look on his face. He was estimated to be around eight years old and had been living with a severely infected mouth. "Every meal must have been painful for him."After a much-needed dental procedure, Tigrou recovered beautifully. Though he was left with very few teeth, he was finally free from pain. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealWhen Tigrou arrived at his foster home, he began learning how to live alongside humans for the first time. Terrified, he hid in corners or tucked himself under furniture.His foster family gave him all the time and space he needed, allowing him to adjust at his own pace. Slowly, Tigrou started to warm up to them. "After years of wandering alone outside, everything was new to him. But with positive reinforcement, trust began to grow." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealTreats became the key that showed Tigrou human hands weren't something to fear. Little by little, the distance between him and his people shrank, and eventually, he allowed touch. "We even catch him rolling onto his back and playing with catnip toys. He's making progress every day and gradually coming out of his shell.""He's had such a difficult life, but now he's learning what it feels like to be cherished." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealAs his fear faded, curiosity took its place. Tigrou began exploring his surroundings, inspecting rooms, and claiming cozy spots as his own.He now strolls through the house with growing confidence. "When he thinks we're not watching, he plays on his own with toys and curls up to nap by the window. He's sweet and gentle. We're starting to see his teddy-bear personality come through." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealWith warm beds and hearty meals, Tigrou continues to blossom. While sudden movements can still startle him and he sometimes seeks out a hiding spot, he's becoming more comfortable each day and has embraced his role as the house supervisor.He enjoys watching birds and neighbors through the window, completely content with the comforts of indoor life. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealThanks to those who gave him a fresh start, Tigrou is truly thriving.Instead of hiding in makeshift shelters, he now sinks into his fluffy bed for naps, no longer sleeping with one eye open. The fear that once clouded his face has faded, replaced by slow blinks and soft purrs shared with the people he trusts. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealShare this story with your friends. More on Tigrou and Chatons Orphelins Montreal on Instagram @chatonsorphelinsmontreal and Facebook.Related story: Cat Makes Guy His Forever Human By Standing on Him After Waiting Nearly Half a Year for a Home

Fond en 2006 et rachet par PlayStation en 2021, Bluepoint Games, studio spcialis dans les remakes et les remasters, ferma officiellement ses portes ds le mois prochain.