Frank Matthews’ 1973 Disappearance

Frank Matthews built one of the biggest drug empires in American history, skipped bail with

$20 million, and vanished without a trace in 1973. He's never been found.

By the early 1970s, Matthews was making an estimated $10 million a year - equivalent to $75

million today. His drug network stretched across 21 states from New York to Missouri

to Alabama. He was trafficking multi-million-dollar loads of heroin and cocaine.

What made Matthews different? He defied the Italian Mafia. He was the first

African-American crime boss to establish direct ties to the French Connection heroin pipeline

without going through the mob. In 1971, when the Mafia refused to work with him,