‘Gangster’ film spurs libel suit

NBC Universal was sued for $55 million by former federal drug agents who say they were libeled in the film “American Gangster,” a drama about crime and illegal narcotics in 1970s New York.

The class-action suit was filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court by three former Drug Enforcement Administration agents on behalf of 400 current and former colleagues who worked in New York City from 1973 to 1985. They say the film falsely claims three-quarters of New York’s DEA agents were convicted of crimes stemming from a major trafficking scheme depicted in the movie.

Universal denied the agents’ claims, saying the officers portrayed in the film are identified as members of the New York City crime unit. “The end legend specifically refers to members of ‘New York City’s Drug Enforcement Agency’ ” and not federal DEA agents, the studio said.