Since American Gangster’s blockbuster release in theaters, the movie
has been surrounded by controversy. Billed as being based on a true
story, real-life characters have spoken out against the adaptation,
calling it little more than fiction.

Now, one New York City Drug Enforcement Agent is threatening to make it a legal issue, accusing Universal Pictures, the studio responsible for the flick, of making “false and defamatory statements,” according to TMZ.

Gregory Korniloff, a retired NYC DEA agent, sent a cease and desist letter through his attorney to the general counsel of NBC Universal and to the president of the studio.

Korniloff is demanding a retraction of statements made in the
movie. The letter claims that the movie — which portrays the life of
infamous ’60s and ’70s Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington)
— incorrectly states that a third of NY DEA agents were convicted on
charges related to Lucas. The letter also alleges that facts in the
movie are misleading including heroin being smuggled in Vietnam veteran
coffins and the amount of money stolen from Lucas’ home during a raid.

Korniloff was the case agent for the DEA and “personally
participated in the search of Lucas’ house … and the arrest of Lucas
on that same day.” Korniloff’s lawyer, Dominic Amorosa,
says the way the movie portrays that search “destroys the reputation of
honest and courageous public servants by deliberately misrepresenting
the facts.”

Other real-life characters and people close to the events aren’t happy with the way things were depicted in the movie. New York-based DEA agent Joseph Sullivan said the whole
thing is a pack of lies. He was at a raid on Lucas’ Teaneck, N.J., home
after two members of the Mafia ratted out the drug lord. “His name is Frank Lucas and he was a drug dealer – that’s where the truth in this movie ends,” Sullivan said.

NBC Universal did not respond to requests for comment.