What happened to Frank Lucas' wife, Julianna Farrait? Unknown facts
The former couple is known for associating with the American drug business. Frank Lucas died in 2019, but his wife is reportedly alive. So, what happened to Frank Lucas' wife, Julianna Farrait? She joined Frank's illegal empire and stood by him through wealth, crime, and downfall. Julianna was arrested multiple times, and her life remains tied to his legacy of power and crime.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- What happened to Frank Lucas' wife, Julianna Farrait?
- Who is Frank Lucas?
- What happened to Frank Lucas's mother?
- What happened to Bumpy's wife?
- What did Bumpy Johnson's wife say about Frank Lucas?
- What happened to Frank Lucas's brothers?
- What happened to Frank Lucas's daughter?
Key takeaways
- Julianna Farrait was deeply involved in Frank Lucas’s drug empire and faced multiple arrests.
- She remained loyal to Lucas throughout his rise and fall in the criminal world.
- Though some reports say she died before Frank Lucas, her attendance at his 2019 funeral shows she was alive at that time.
Profile summary
| Full name | Julianna Farrait Rodriguez |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 1941 |
| Age | Over 80 years |
| Place of birth | Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5'5" |
| Height in centimetres | 165 |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Separated |
| Husband | Frank Lucas |
| Children | Francine Lucas-Sinclair |
| Famous as | Frank Lucas' wife |
What happened to Frank Lucas' wife, Julianna Farrait?
Julianna was the wife of notorious drug lord Frank Lucas. She was involved in his drug empire and served prison time in the 1970s. After her release, she briefly separated from Frank but later reunited with him. In 2010, she was arrested again for drug trafficking.
She received a five-year sentence in 2012 and was released around 2017. Julianna kept a low profile after prison. Farrait reportedly lived in New Jersey. It is unclear if she is still alive. There are conflicting reports on whether she has passed away or is dead.
Some sources have stated that she has since passed away, though the exact date and circumstances remain unclear. Her legacy remains tied to Lucas's criminal past.
What nationality is Julianna Farrait?
Julianna Farrait is Puerto Rican. She was born in 1941. She grew up in Puerto Rico. Later, she moved to the United States. She became known as the wife of drug kingpin Frank Lucas.
Source: Getty Images
Is Julianna Farrait still alive?
It is unclear if Julianna Farrait is still alive. She attended her husband Frank Lucas’s funeral in June 2019, which is her most recent confirmed public appearance. This contradicts earlier reports that she had died before him. Since then, there have been no verified updates about her status.
Who is Frank Lucas?
Frank Lucas was a notorious American drug trafficker. He operated in Harlem, New York City, during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Lucas became famous for smuggling drugs from Southeast Asia. He used American military planes during the Vietnam War.
He built a powerful drug empire. Lucas claimed he bought directly from the source and cut out middlemen. His wealth and lifestyle drew attention. He was arrested in 1975 and later became an informant. His story inspired the 2007 film American Gangster, where Denzel Washington played his role.
What happened to Frank Lucas and his wife?
Julianna Farrait, young and ambitious, met Frank Lucas on a flight from Puerto Rico to New York. She had simple tastes and a quiet charm. He was a rising drug dealer with bold ambition. They connected instantly. The two married in 1967 and later had a daughter, Francine, in 1985.
Source: Getty Images
Lucas showered her with luxury. He wanted her to “look the part” of a kingpin’s wife. Together, they embraced flashy clothes and wealth. But this glamorous image would later attract the wrong kind of attention.
The coat that changed everything
In 1971, Julianna bought Frank a $125,000 chinchilla coat and a $40,000 matching hat. He wore it to a boxing match at Madison Square Garden. The look was bold. It caught the eyes of police and federal agents in the crowd.
Though law enforcement already suspected Lucas, the coat made him stand out. It was a turning point.
As Frank later said,
I left that fight a marked man.
Arrest, prison, and witness protection
In 1975, police raided their New Jersey home. Julianna threw nearly $600,000 out the window in panic. Both were arrested. Frank got 70 years in prison, and Julianna served six months. She later entered witness protection with their daughter.
But crime pulled them back. Julianna was arrested in the 1980s for her role in a drug deal arranged by Frank. She served for over four years. Frank served another seven.
Julianna’s final arrest and passing
In 2010, Julianna was caught trying to sell drugs at a hotel in Puerto Rico. She was sentenced to five years in 2012. In court, she asked for mercy, hoping to care for her aging husband.
According to New York Post, she pleaded,
I want to apologize to my husband…My husband is 81 years old, and I would like to spend what time he has with him,” she said then, as reported by the New York Post.
Unfortunately, the judge ignored her request for a lenient sentence, urging her to make better choices for herself and her family. She urged her to envision and work towards a lawful and happy life.
Source: Getty Images
Frank Lucas' cause of death
Frank Lucas, the notorious drug kingpin who inspired the film American Gangster, died at the age of 88. According to his nephew Aldwan Lassiter, he passed away from natural causes at a care facility in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
Julianna and Frank Lucas's children
Frank and Julianna Lucas had one daughter together named Francine Lucas. She was born in 1985. Francine later spoke publicly about her life, including her time in witness protection and her parents’ criminal past.
Frank Lucas had six other children from earlier relationships. Their names and details have mostly remained private. Francine is the most well-known. She created Yellow Brick Roads, a program to support children with incarcerated parents.
Frank Lucas' net worth
At the height of his drug empire in the 1970s, Frank had an estimated net worth of $52 million. He claimed to have earned up to $1 million per day from selling drugs, which he imported directly from Southeast Asia.
Much of his wealth was hidden in offshore accounts. He also owned several properties, expensive cars, and valuable assets. However, after his arrest and multiple prison sentences, Lucas lost most of his fortune. At the time of his death in 2019, his net worth was reportedly about $1,500,000.
What happened to Frank Lucas's mother?
Frank Lucas’s mother, Mahalee Lucas, lived a modest life in North Carolina. She raised Frank and his siblings under difficult conditions. His father was largely absent, and his cousin’s murder by the Ku Klux Klan deeply affected the family.
Frank often said that witnessing his mother struggle to provide pushed him into crime. He wanted to make money to support her and lift the family out of poverty.
What happened to Bumpy's wife?
Bumpy Johnson married Mayme Hatcher in 1948, six months after meeting her. She had been a waitress at a Harlem nightclub. Mayme stayed loyal to him throughout their marriage.
What did Bumpy Johnson's wife say about Frank Lucas?
Mayme strongly disputed Lucas's portrayal of their relationship. She rejected his claims of being Bumpy’s trusted protégé and even said:
Frank wasn’t nothing but a flunky, and one that Bumpy never did really trust.
What happened to Frank Lucas's brothers?
Frank Lucas had three brothers: Ezell, Lawrence, and LeVon. They were alive at the time of his death. Reports say they served time but were not in prison later. They reportedly moved to different states. Rumors about their disappearance remain unconfirmed. Little else is publicly known about them.
What happened to Frank Lucas's daughter?
Francine Lucas-Sinclair is Frank Lucas’s daughter. She entered witness protection as a child. Later, she became a mortgage broker. She also founded a nonprofit called Yellow Brick Roads. Today, she lives a private life in Atlanta and supports the children of inmates.
Julianna and Frank appeared in American Gangster (2006), where she was portrayed as a former Puerto Rican homecoming queen. The film showed her as Eva, a fictional version of Julianna. Since then, many have asked, "What happened to Frank Lucas' wife, Julianna Farrait?" Viewers were also surprised by how young she looked in the movie.
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Grace Waruguru (Lifestyle editor) Grace Waruguru is a lifestyle reporter and holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya (Class of 2010). She has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. Currently based in Nairobi, Kenya, Grace started working at Tuko.co.ke in October 2020 and as a content creator at Brand2D (June 2022 - May 2023). In 2023, Grace finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: Wagachuhi@gmail.com
Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a creative writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She began her career as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. Sharon has written articles and blog posts for MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, and Industry Biz. She joined Tuko.co.ke as a Lifestyle Writer in October 2024, covering entertainment, sports, education, and finance. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.
