DEA Agents Sue Over 'American Gangster'

[Illiy]

DEA Agents Sue Over 'American Gangster'

By DAVID B. CARUSO,
AP
Posted: 2008-01-16 17:27:28
NEW YORK (AP) - A group of retired federal drug enforcement agents sued NBC Universal on Wednesday, saying the movie "American Gangster" falsely portrayed them as villains in the story of a Harlem heroin trafficker.

The suit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, claims that the movie defamed hundreds of DEA agents and New York City police officers by claiming at the end that Frank Lucas' collaboration with prosecutors "led to the convictions of three-q

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said he wasn't aware of any NYPD officers ever prosecuted in connection with Lucas.

"Hollywood is famous for distorting reality," Browne wrote in an e-mail. He brushed off the idea that the department would get involved in the case. "If we sued every time the movies made reality unrecognizable, there would be time for nothing else."

Korniloff said in the suit that he was a lead agent assigned to the case and was present when agents and police officers raided Lucas' home in Teaneck, N.J. in 1975 - a scene depicted in "American Gangster."

In the Ridley Scott film, which was released in November and also featured Russell Crowe and Josh Brolin, corrupt narcotics agents shoot the drug dealer's dog, assault his wife and brazenly steal currency stashed in the house while making the arrest.

The suit said that in real life, the search was carried out legally; nearly $585,000 in currency was seized in accordance with a valid search warrant.


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[countybear]

These men are demanding accountability in Hollywood's dramatizations of actual incidents. I support them and agree with their position, personally. We take enough black eyes from the media, we don't need any undeserved ones. If the truth remains untold in the "Based on a true story" movies, then let it be told in the Courtroom.

Bravo.

[BigDawg]

Good for them for standing up for their integrity and rights!!!!

[Hannibal]

You mean to tell me that not everything in the movies and on tv is real?

Wowwwwwww..... I had Nooooo idea!

[OXCOPS]

These men are demanding accountability in Hollywood's dramatizations of actual incidents. I support them and agree with their position, personally. We take enough black eyes from the media, we don't need any undeserved ones. If the truth remains untold in the "Based on a true story" movies, then let it be told in the Courtroom.

Bravo.

I see their stance, and wish them well, but I don't think they will get much, if anything. If anyone stays to see the credits of ANY movie, there is always that little disclaimer that says it is not meant to represent any real person, or place, or events. It can be BASED on a real event, but they add that disclaimer because they embellish the story for dramatic purposes.

[OffDuty]

I see their stance, and wish them well, but I don't think they will get much, if anything. If anyone stays to see the credits of ANY movie, there is always that little disclaimer that says it is not meant to represent any real person, or place, or events. It can be BASED on a real event, but they add that disclaimer because they embellish the story for dramatic purposes.

That's a good idea. Remember Fargo where it was based upon a true story but the Cohen brothers made the whole story up, and added that for 'effect'..