New York City – On July 2, 1973, Frank Matthews, history’s first African American drug kingpin, jumped bail in New York City with $15 to $20 million – the equivalent of $80 million to $90 million in today’s money. It is believed he took his beautiful mistress, Cheryl Brown with him. Though Matthews is undisputedly the longest missing fugitive in DEA history, another figure from the ’70’s, Assata Shakur, was just recently placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list. A 66-year old Black woman, Shakur’s reward is set for two million dollars. The reward for 69-year old Frank Matthews, the target of one of the largest manhunts in U.S. law enforcement history, is a mere $20,000. He remains at large and his disappearance is a complete mystery. He has never made any “Most Wanted” list.

Many believe Shakur was erroneously convicted for the murder of a state trooper. But there is no mistaking the fact that the narcotics Matthews helped funnel into Black communities across America continues to leave a trail of devastation, betrayal, death and despair. In each case it has been forty years. And so goes the continued urban legend of Frank Matthews, perhaps the most authentic American Gangster of them all.

Award-winning crime author Ron Chepesiuk goes into depth to investigate the unsolved disappearance of Matthews with his new book, “Black Caesar: The Rise and Disappearance of Frank Matthews, Kingpin” from Strategic Media Books. With an undercover reporting style that leaves no stone unturned, Chepesiuk’s determined crack at unraveling one of the crime world’s biggest unsolved mysteries makes for a fascinating and intriguing read.

Matthews’ literally dominated the heroin market in the ’70’s. A country boy from North Carolina, Matthew operated out of New York with a drug empire that spanned 21 states with overseas contacts for heroin and cocaine. A boss of bosses, the DEA ranks him as one of the Top Ten drug traffickers in United States history. A young man in his twenties at the time, Matthews was one of the first major independents who challenged the La Cosa Nostra for supremacy in the criminal underworld. The streets deemed him, “Black Caesar” as he was the first black man bold, astute and confident enough to control an interstate organization of its size, independent of the Mob that ruled all.

Chepesiuk follows the trail left cold, retracing Matthew’s criminal path with the nose of a bloodhound. His interviews with DEA agents, Federal Marshals, aging ex-drug kingpins, friends, families and associates are perhaps the most in-depth gathering of details about this nefariously historic figure ever compiled. The book explores a host of nagging questions. How was Matthews able to operate for several years without being detected? What was his relationship with La Cosa Nostra? Why did the CIA get involved in the Matthews investigation? What happened to Cheryl Brown? Why has the mystery of his disappearance been so difficult to solve? And while the questions are explored and answered, “Black Caesar: The Rise and Disappearance of Frank Matthews, Kingpin” colorfully captures the vivid imagery, drama and intrigue of the era, entangling the reader in a real life thriller.

“Ron Chepesiuk is to true crime books what Nas is to the hip-hop world,” offers SethFerranti author of “Gorilla Convict: The Prison Writings of Seth Ferranti,” who provides the gripping foreword for the book. “He writes like a lyrical poet examining issues in popular culture in both a historical and scholastic context.”

A two-time Fulbright Scholar, film producer and author of several true crime books, including “Drug Lords,” “Sergeant Smack” and “Queenpins,” Ron Chepesiuk (www.ronchepesiuk.com) is also a consultant to the History Channel’s “Gangland” documentary series and the executive producer and co-host of popular radio show “Crime Beat” (http://www.artistfirst.com/crimebeat.htm). An authoritative crime historian, Chepesiuk is a native of Thunder Bay, Canada currently based in South Carolina. He brings a wealth of insight and observation to the account of the missing Frank Matthews. He has also written a screenplay based on the Frank Matthews story.

Dead or alive, we may never know the ultimate truth about Matthews, but thanks to Chepesiuk, every speculation in between is resolved in “Black Caesar: The Rise and Disappearance of Frank Matthews, Kingpin.” The FBI may be targeting Assata Shakur, but Frank Matthews is the true gangster Most Wanted!

Follow the Frank Matthew’s trail at http://www.FrankMatthewsBook.com.

For more exciting true crime book by Strategic Media Books, go to
http://www.strategicmediabooks.com .

Chepesiuk will be conducting a two-month blog tour this coming July and August via Partners in Crime Tours (http://www.partnersincrimetours.net/). Follow Ron Chepesiuk at www.ronchepesiuk.com.

Durham, North Carolina – If anyone can cover a story and uncover the truth when it comes to real life crime and bigger-than-life gangsters, award winning author/ filmmaker Ron Chepesiuk can. Having recently exposed the lies behind “The American Gangster/Frank Lucas” saga with the book and DVD “Sergeant Smack: The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and His Band of Brothers” Chepesiuk is back on the scene and joining him is noted Detroit-based filmmaker/director Alan “Al Profit” Bradley. The beat this time – the greatest getaway story in gangster history, the mystery of drug kingpin, Frank Matthews.

In 1973, Frank Matthews, history’s first African American drug kingpin, jumped bail in New York City with $15 to $20 million and a beautiful girlfriend. Nearly four decades later, the fate of Frank Matthews, the money and the girlfriend, Cheryl Brown, remain a complete mystery!

The trailer for the new DVD documentary, co-produced by Studio August and Strategic Media Books, “Frank Matthews Story: The Rise and Disappearance of America’s Biggest Kingpin,” garnered over 150,000 views in less than four hours on WorldStarHipHop.com, indicating a ‘mob’ of interest in this true life legend! “It’s as if Matthews dropped off the face of the earth,” explains Mike Pizzi, a retired U.S. Marshal who was involved with the hunt for Matthews, the fugitive, for several years.

“Frank Matthews Story: The Rise and Disappearance of America’s Biggest Kingpin” features rare archival footage, interviews with Mike Pizzi, detectives, retired gangsters and other sources who have never spoken publicly about Matthews. The one hour and 25 minute documentary includes exclusive footage and rare photos of Matthews and his crew.

Chepesiuk and Bradley explore several intriguing issues, including how was Matthews able to operate for several years without being detected; what was his relationship with La Cosa Nostra; why did the CIA get involved in the Matthews’ investigation; what happened to Cheryl Brown and why has the mystery of his disappearance been so difficult to solve?

Frank Matthews’ crime empire rivaled the Italian Mafia. When he boldly built himself a mansion in Staten Island’s most exclusive neighborhood, right across the street from mobsters Paul Castellano and Three Finger Brown, he found himself on the verge of a war with La Cosa Nostra. Matthews also battled militant Black Muslims for control of the streets in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

“Frank Matthews was a one-of-a-kind legend in the drug trade,” Bradley explains. Bradley (http://www.alprofit.com) is the noted director of several documentaries about urban gangsters, including “Rollin’,” “Motown Mafia” and “Murder City.” “Matthews emerges as an almost mythical figure when it comes to true crime stories. Our documentary offers some fascinating insight behind this truly mysterious man.”

“The $15 to $20 million dollars he disappeared with is roughly equivalent to $100 million today,” adds Chepesiuk. “What happened to Frank Matthews? That’s the most intriguing question in organized crime history,” ponders Chepesiuk (http://www.ronchepesiuk.com), who has spent five years researching the Frank Matthew story. “Amazingly, despite one of the largest manhunts in US history, there is still no proof as to whether he is alive or dead.”

Dead or alive, Frank Matthews made a defiant mark in history. “Frank Matthews Story: The Rise and Disappearance of America’s Biggest Kingpin” is available for DVD purchase and instant digital download at http://www.frankmatthewsmovie.com as well as on Amazon.com and wherever DVD’s are sold.

The documentary will be screened March 23, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. EST at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, North Carolina, and on April 11, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. EST at The Museum of the American Gangster in New York City. Both events are open to the public.

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