Oliver Joseph Johnson aka “Proposition Joe” (1936-1984) was a gangster from the Avenue in West Baltimore.
Oliver was born in Baltimore in 1936 to poor parents. Oliver real name was Oliver Burley but his stepfather (Joseph Alexander Johnson) change his name to Oliver J. Johnson.
“Proposition Joe” Johnson made his name as a gambler on the Avenue. He was the one who taught Melvin “Little Melvin” Williams him how to move loaded dice in and out of backroom crap shoots, or how to anticipate a series of shots In a game of one-pocket.
In 1969 “Proposition Joe” was arrested and indicted on charges of illegal trafficking in the drug methadone. Mr. Johnson, who was arrested by federal narcotics agents at a motel near Laurel on June 20, was accused of purchasing about 10.76 grames of the drug, an amount estimated by local sources to be worth between $1,100 and $3,300, depending on how it is packaged and whether it is cut with other sub stances’. The indictment did not identify the person from whom the alleged purchase was made, but an affidavit that accompanied Mr. Johnson’s original arrest warrant alleged that it was the wife of a Mississippi physician who manufactured the drug in his laboratory.
In 1984 “Proposition Joe” was shot to death by Marando Warthen.
Robert F. Chew was an American acting coach and actor. He was best known for portraying drug kingpin Proposition Joe on the HBO drama series The Wire.
“Proposition Joe”
Baltimore Mobtown 