Midget Molley biography

But that same year, he also began running errands for a local drug dealer. By the time he was 14, his religious life was on hold indefinitely. Instead, he was selling heroin out on the streets.

At 18, Molley had dropped out of high school and committed himself to the criminal element of Atlantic City. He especially admired drug kinpin Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, also known as "Mr. Untouchable," and sought to emulate him. With the help of his brother Michael,

Molley started making his own drug runs into New York City and selling his wares on Kentucky Avenue.

In 1980, Molley went into prison for another attempted murder. He was sentenced to ten years, but served only six at Bayside State Prison before his release. Once on the outside, Molley married his long-time girlfriend, who then gave birth to their third child, Haneef. Now a husband and father of three, Molley tried to leave his life of crime behind. He graduated from culinary arts school, and became a sous chef for several New Jersey casinos and reputable private restaurants. The money was stable and the work was good, but the lifestyle didn't appeal to Molley. "I didn't have to go back into the lifestyle I was into for money; I was pretty good," Molley said. "I was just addicted to the street life...and I wanted to get into that."

Drug Kingpin

By 1986, Molley was heavily involved again in the cocaine and crack trade. Drawing on his previous experience as a dealer and hustler, he quickly installed himself in a leadership position, and began helming a drug ring that extended to California, Detroit and New York. At the height of his tenure, Molley was earning in the range of $1 million each month. Molley used this income to invest in several businesses—including a car detailing service, a limosine service, and a jewelry store—which he used as a front for laundering much of his money. He also used his cash to fuel his extravagant tastes for clothing, partying, women, and jewelry. He kept his family sheltered from his life of crime, housing them in a seven bedroom mansion in the New Jersey suburbs, and giving them everything they wanted.

As Molley felt more and more invincible, he began to flaunt his wealth. The final straw for law enforcement came January 1, 1989, when the kingpin stepped into Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino Ballroom sporting a custom-made gold crown worth an estimated $1.5 million. Surrounded by his most trusted distributors, Molley had crowned himself king of Atlantic City. The police saw this ostentatious display of wealth as a challenge to officials. Enraged police, who had been investigating Molley's criminal activity for 17 months, decided they had enough evidence to finally put the drug lord in prison.

Arrest and Incarceration

On February 14, 1989, a task force comprised of 180 federal, state and local law enforcement agents raided Molley's businesses and drug fronts around Atlantic City. They apprehended Molley, all those who had also participated in his illegal ventures, and all the profits from his business dealings, making it the largest drug ring bust in Atlantic City's history.