| Richard M. Roberts | |
|---|---|
| New Jersey Police Detective for Essex County | |
| Born June 23, 1929 | |
| Nickname | Richie |
| Place of birth | Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Years of service | 1963 - 1971 |
| Rank | Detective |
| Other work | Prosecutor Criminal Defense Attorney (Office location 50 Park Place, Suite 1025, Newark, New Jersey) |
Richard M. "Richie" Roberts (born June 23, 1929) is a former detective, Essex County Prosecutor and is currently a defense attorney. He is most widely recognized for the arrest, prosecution and later defense of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas.
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Roberts was born in the Bronx on June 23, 1929 to a Jewish background. Roberts was raised by his grandparents in the Bronx until he moved to Newark, New Jersey with his parents when he was eight years old. He attended Weequahic High School, where he was a star football and baseball player.
Roberts served for six years in the United States Marine Corps after high school and reached the rank of Sergeant. He later enrolled at Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey, but failed during his senior year due to poor attendance. He later completed his undergraduate work at Rutgers University and received his law degree from the Seton Hall University School of Law. He became a detective with the Essex County police in 1963. Roberts eventually became an Essex County Assistant Prosecutor, heading the Bureau of Narcotics after passing the New Jersey Bar Examination in August 1971. After working as a prosecutor, Roberts became a criminal defense attorney, and still works as one as of 2010. The first person he defended was Frank Lucas.[1]
Roberts was portrayed by Russell Crowe in the 2007 film American Gangster.