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‘The Real Rick Ross’ Awaits Prison Release

“Freeway” Ricky Ross, a drug kingpin originally sentenced to life for his involvement in a cocaine-dealing scandal with the CIA, will be released from prison next week. Ross’ sentence—first imposed in 1996, when he was caught purchasing more than 100 kilos of cocaine from an undercover agent—was drastically reduced after a series of appeals. Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Gary Webb helped with that through his “Dark Alliance” series for the San Jose Mercury News. It linked the C.I.A. to imported cocaine in Nicaragua, an offense related to the Iran-Contra scandal.

While Rick Ross the rapper denies stealing his persona from the drug dealer version of his name, Ricky Ross is looking for a book and film deal, and will soon start dealing with music through his new Wendy Day imprint. For more information on all this, head to his new Web site, www.freewayenterprise.com.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
05.01.09