Leroy (Nicky) Barnes, the former Harlem drug merchant dubbed "Mr.
Untouchable" in a New York Times Magazine cover story, was so feared
in the late 1970s that the federal judge presiding
over his trial decided, on his own, to keep the names of jurors secret for
their own protection. His was the first anonymous jury.
Called the John Gotti of his
day by one federal prosecutor, Barnes was found guilty of heroin
trafficking in 1977. While serving life in federal prison
four years later, however, Barnes cooperated with
federal prosecutors and helped convict more drug dealers and murderers than superstar
turncoat underboss Salvatore (Sammy Bull) Gravano. Unlike Gravano, who received a five
year prison term, Barnes was still in jail more than 20 years after his conviction.
Despite much praise from many law
enforcement officials, including former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani,
Barnes served a total of 21 years in prison,
finally winning his freedom in August 1998, was
released many years and
four Presidents after it had been promised. He was given
a new identity, and relocated under the federal Witness
Protection Program.
Ironically, his key mob drug supplier, Matthew Madonna, was released from
prison three years before Barnes, after serving 20 years of a 30 year rap.
In 2003, Madonna, by
then a powerful Luchese capo, was hit with a parole violation for
associating with his wiseguy pals and sent back for a relatively brief
refresher.
In early
2007, Barnes co-authored a book about his life entitled what else,
"Mr. Untouchable."
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