Richard Wershe Jr. was an FBI informant at 14 and sentenced to life in prison by 19. A film about Wershe's life is set to open nationwide on Sept. 14 with Richie Merritt and Matthew McConaughey starring in "White Boy Rick."

Before you head to the theaters, however, here's a bit more background on the youngest informant in FBI history:

Richard Wershe Jr. was born in 1969 and grew up on Detroit's east side as the city gained a national reputation for crime and violence.

in 1969 and grew up on Detroit's east side as the city gained a national reputation for crime and violence. His father also was an informant and Wershe first began reporting to the police and FBI with his father by his side before going solo.

and Wershe first began reporting to the police and FBI with his father by his side before going solo. Wershe's nickname, "White Boy Rick," was a term made up by reporters covering his case, not a street name.

was a term made up by reporters covering his case, not a street name. By 16, Wershe was no longer needed by the FBI but found himself unable to escape the life he'd entered. He started dealing drugs without FBI knowledge.

without FBI knowledge. At age 17, Wershe was caught by federal authorities with about 16 pounds of cocaine .

. At the time, anyone found with more than 650 grams of cocaine in Michigan was sentenced to life without parole . Even though this law was repealed in 1988, Wershe was the last person convicted under the law to be granted parole — he only got out in 2017.

. Even though this law was repealed in 1988, Wershe was the last person convicted under the law to be — he only got out in 2017. After being paroled in Michigan, Wershe was sent to Florida, where he was convicted for his role in a car theft scheme

where he was convicted for his role in a car theft scheme .

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