Rick is suspicious of his son and confronts Ricky when he finds thousands of dollars in illicit cash underneath his bed, causing a rift between them. Ricky is asked to sell drugs to keep up appearances, becoming captivated by his extravagant new lifestyle, and eventually gains enough credibility as a 'legitimate' drug supplier. They convince Ricky to become an undercover informant behind Rick's back in exchange for money and immunity for his father. News of Rick's activity attracts the attention of the FBI and he is questioned by two agents, Alex Snyder and Frank Byrd, who see Ricky as a potential asset due to his connections with the criminal underworld. Ricky becomes good friends with Johnny's brother, Boo, which earns him the favor of Johnny and his crew. Rick manufactures gun parts and sells guns illegally to make ends meet, and involves his son in the sale of a pair of silenced Egyptian Kalashnikov rifles with local gangster Johnny Curry. His dissatisfied daughter, Dawn, leaves their home, leaving Rick alone with his son, Ricky.

In 1984, Rick Wershe is a struggling single father living in Detroit during the height of the crack epidemic and war on drugs. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $25 million, $4 million short of its $29 million budget. White Boy Rick premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on Augand was released in the United States on September 14, 2018, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film is loosely based on the story of Richard Wershe Jr., who in the 1980s became the youngest FBI informant ever at the age of 14. The film stars Richie Merritt, Matthew McConaughey, Bel Powley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry, Rory Cochrane, RJ Cyler, Jonathan Majors, Eddie Marsan, Bruce Dern, and Piper Laurie.

White Boy Rick is a 2018 American crime drama film directed by Yann Demange and written by Andy Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller.

Crack solidwork 2015