'White Boy Rick' granted parole by Michigan prison officials

Credit: Peter Dazeley

Credit: Peter Dazeley

After nearly 30 years, “White Boy Rick” will be walking out of a Michigan prison next month.

The Michigan Parole Board on Friday unanimously voted to grant parole to Richard Wershe, who has been in prison for 29 years, WJBK reported.

Wersche, who turns 48 next week, was serving a life sentence for possession with intent to deliver more than 650 grams of cocaine, the Detroit Free Press reported. Known on the streets as "White Boy Rick," Wershe began serving his prison sentence in 1988, when he was 17. The sentence was later adjusted to allow Wershe a shot at parole, WJBK reported.

He will remain in the custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections until at least mid-August. Then he will have to serve an additional 22 months in a Florida prison in a separate case involving a stolen car scheme, the Free Press reported.

Florida prison officials will be responsible for Wershe’s transfer to serve time for the crime he was convicted of in 2006 while he was incarcerated there as part of the witness protection program, WJBK reported.

About the Author