HEROIN KING OF BALTIMORE: THE RISE AND FALL OF MELVIN WILLIAMS

Heroin King of Baltimore - The Rise and Fall of Melvin Williams
I have a weakness for documentaries, especially those whose subjects I am not too familiar with, and those which teach me something new. "Heroin King of Baltimore - The Rise and Fall of Melvin Williams" is one of such films. It takes a fascinating look at a quite a smart human being who was apparently pushed to violate the law, and then find redemption.

Melvin Williams was a gifted, young African-American that was meant to triumph in whatever he did. Growing up in Baltimore, he sold newspapers in his early years, and being in the streets, he also got hooked on gambling during that time. He was master at playing dice - he studied the game in detail -- and was kicked out of school. By age 15, he was already a millionaire. With this sudden flush of money, a time came in which he had to hire a bodyguard, especially because he made some people really angry. As time passed by, he is sold by an informant - and good friend -- to the DEA, and is accused of cocaine trafficking - at...

DEacon from wire's true story
Great show. LIked seeing the historical footage of the area and hearing about him growing up and getting into the "life"

Check it out.
Sometimes in life it's good to get a different perspective. It's good to see someone who has been in a worse position than you, so that you can appreciate what you have just a little bit more. Every once in a while it's good to see someone like that make the most out of the second chances they've been given as well. It's empowering, enlightening and cause for celebration. Melvin Williams is one of those types of people and his documentary is quite fascinating to watch.

Melvin Williams was a child genius, and a professional gambler by age twelve. By teaching himself how to control dice, playing cards, and being a pool shark, he was a millionaire by the age of fifteen. He was a force to be reckoned with and a powerful figure on Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore. After Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down, the City officials would call on Williams, now age twenty-seven, to help stop the riots. The police were left bewildered that someone like Williams could get the rioters to...

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