frank lucas (september 9, 1930 – may 30, 2019) was an american drug trafficker. he operated in harlem, new york city during the late 1960s and early 1970s. he was known for cutting out middlemen in the drug trade and buying heroin straight from his source in southeast asia. in 1976, he was jailed for 70 years but was released five years later in 1981. he was again jailed in 1984 and released in 1991. he was played by denzel washington in the 2007 movie "american gangster". he was born in la grange, north carolina and grew up in greensboro, north carolina.