Richard Thomas Porter
Life
Born in the
Harlem section of New York City, Porter was the oldest of three children born to Velma Porter. He had a younger sister Patricia (born in 1966) and brother William Donnell (1977-c.1990). Porter began selling drugs at the age of 12, rising through the ranks of the drug trade in Harlem. He became known for his flamboyant and high-profile lifestyle. He was rumored to have never worn the same outfit twice and that he owned over a dozen luxury vehicles that he kept in a garage in
Manhattan during the height of his career as a drug dealer.
Death
Rich Porter was murdered on January 3, 1990, and his body was found in the vicinity of Orchard Beach,
Bronx the following day. Porter had been shot several times in the head and chest and at the time of his death police found $2,239 (equivalent to $5,446 in 2024) in his pocket. Porter's friend and former drug dealing partner
Alpo Martinez was charged with the murder and was later convicted.
On December 5, 1989, Porter's 12-year-old brother William Porter was kidnapped in Harlem on his way to school. The kidnappers cut William’s finger off in order to extort $500,000, later lowered to $350,000, in ransom money from Rich. William was eventually killed and his body was found on January 28, 1990, a mile away from where Rich's body was found, less than one month after Rich's murder.
In popular culture
The 2002 film
Paid in Full was based on the life and death of Rich, and his involvement in drug dealing along with
Azie Faison and
Alpo Martinez. His character was portrayed by fellow
Harlem native
Mekhi Phifer. Richard Porter and the kidnapping and murder of his 12-year-old brother are also the subject of an episode of
The FBI Files (Season 03, Episode 18) "The C-11 Squad".
