After making us go gaga over his performances in 'Dallas Buyers Club' and 'Interstellar'; Matthew McConaughey is now back in 'White Boy Rick', based on a true story. The film revolves around the life of a 14-year-old FBI informant and drug dealer in 1984 Detroit.

'White Boy Rick', for a long time, remained one of the most discussed crime cases in the history of the United States of America. However, who is the 14-year-old 'White Boy Rick'? Let us try to understand what happened to him and why his case holds significance today.

Imagine a 14-year-old boy becoming an informant for the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States. Originally, Richard Wershe Jr., Rick was assigned the task of collecting confidential information within the progressively dark neighborhood of Detroit. Before that, he had never been involved with drugs. During the mid-1980s, Rick became a trustworthy source of information for the Bureau and at the same time, he had established his place amongst the Curry Brothers, a drug squad that had been a target of FBI.

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At times, Richard J. Wershe Sr. (Rick's father) was listed as an FBI informant too in the official documents, however, the inside story always came from the younger Wershe. His father, most of the time, was just satisfied to have received the money from the FBI for all the confidential information his son shared about the mafias. 

Rick, however, was at a high risk of public exposure after having worked for years with the FBI. In a sudden move, the Detroit FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office dropped him as an agent without giving him any notice. For years, without any work, Rick's financial conditions worsened. He then resorted to the only option he knew – Drugs!

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By the time he was 18, Rick had become a high-profile drug dealer. However, luck didn't favor him and he was caught by the Detroit Police. Rick had more than 17 pounds of cocaine in his possession at the time of his arrest. In no time, his case became a matter of scrutiny in the Detroit media. Captivating, dubious and dramatic stories revolved around the life of the baby-faced teenager and Rick's crime soon became a local anecdote.

As per the Michigan law (which no more exists), Rick was convicted and given an involuntary life sentence. No federal prosecutor spoke in favor of him. 

In order to save Rick, the truth about the teen informant had to come out in public. The truth remained hidden and the FBI informant was only remembered as a drug dealer. Though he admitted to selling drugs, people still believe that the punishment given to him was uncalled for.

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“I told on the wrong people,” Rick testified later.

This is how one of the most productive drug informants once associated with the FBI, was sentenced to life. Not only had he helped to bust a number of nefarious police officers, he saved the lives of hundreds of people residing in Detroit. 

After spending over three decades behind the bars, Rick aka Richard Wershe Jr. was released from the Michigan prison last year. He is now being housed at a Florida prison. It has been reported that Rick's final release date will be April 20, 2021.