Sly Green

Donald "Sly" Green (fl. 1980s – c. 1997) is an American drug dealer and gangster. He was the founder of the L.A. Boys of Buffalo, New York.

Life

Green was born in Buffalo. He founded the L.A. Boys gang. They were named the "L.A. Boys" because they received their supply of narcotics from Los Angeles.

The gang were notorious for their violence and rambunctiousness. They were one of the most powerful gangs in the Buffalo area during the 1980s and 1990s, being estimated to have made millions off selling cocaine. One time during a high-speed car chase, leader Donald Green attempted to jump into the car of rival dealer "Fat Richard".

Green's brother Clayton "Iceberg" Green (b. c. 1954), was also a member of the L.A. Boys. He was arrested in a police raid in 2006, where they found cocaine.

Convictions

In 1991, Green was arrested on murder charges. There, he showed another inmate newspaper clippings on his gang, saying "These are my guys. This is what they're doing".

On March 30, 1994, under the presiding of John Thomas Curtin, 27 members of the gang were found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Court evidence of the seven-week long trial showed that Green was plotting to make US$50,000,000.00 off cocaine deals. Green appealed, and he was again found guilty on March 27, 1997. He filed for his trial to be extended, which was later denied on December 15. Overall, Green was sentenced to four life sentences, plus 110 years in prison.

Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. was often an adversary to Green and associates. He argued in the 1994 convictions, and later argued in a 1996 murder trial of George "Dog" Powell.

Legacy

In 2001, Green's case was covered in the seventh episode of docuseries The Prosecutors: in Pursuit of Justice.

Green is often mentioned by rappers Westside Gunn and Benny the Butcher, who also worked as drug dealers in Buffalo during the 1990s and 2000s. Benny the Butcher has a song titled "Sly Green", off the 2020 album Burden of Proof. Westside Gunn features Green on "Sly Green Skit", off the 2016 album FLYGOD.

References