1984 (18:26)

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In Newark, New Jersey, Rob Steffey and his friends make money by committing robberies and selling the items. They say they make more money than with real jobs.

6 Months Later (02:25)

Freddie Rodriguez's wife and children left him, and he struggles to stay off drugs. Steffey had another child with a different woman, Deliris Vasquez, but his girlfriend Angela feels like she cannot be jealous.

1986 (03:35)

Michael McGrath refused to show up for a court hearing and is arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison. Rodriguez is back on drugs, taking more than 20 pills a day.

9 Months Later (01:12)

Rodriguez is arrested and wished he never started doing drugs. Steffey has started doing drugs and regrets his life decisions.

1988 (00:40)

McGrath is serving his sentence at East Jersey State Prison. He decides to drop out of the documentary.

1992 (05:41)

Rodriguez is serving a 10-year sentence at Southern State Prison. Vasquez is doing sex work to support her drug addiction. Steffey is at Albert Wagner Correctional Facility, but close to being paroled.

5 Weeks Later (12:06)

Steffey is released from jail and finds a job at a car lot. Rodriguez is released but is scared about going home. Steffey and Vasquez renew their relationship.

3 Months Later (07:47)

Steffey gets in trouble with his parole officer because of his drug use. Rodriguez and Vasquez are doing and selling drugs together, while Vasquez's kids are around.

2 Days Later (03:23)

Rodriguez has a meeting with his parole officer and fakes his drug test. He and Vasquez send the kids out of the car so they can do drugs. Steffey gets drunk at a strip club.

3 Months Later (05:17)

Rodriguez gets an AIDS test; he is positive for HIV. Steffey gets a warning from the police. Vasquez's kids try to convince her to not leave and buy drugs.

1994 (02:31)

Rodriguez is sentenced to 15 years for armed robbery. Steffey is living in an abandoned building and using drugs heavily.

2000 (05:04)

Rodriguez is in his seventh year at Riverfront State Prison. Steffey is serving a sentence at South Woods State Prison for armed robbery. Vasquez is at Essex County Jail and her kids come to visit.

4 Months Later (23:46)

Steffey has been released from jail and gets a job as a stock person at a grocery store. Rodriguez is released after 10 years; his parole officer is strict. Vasquez returns home from a drug treatment center but starts using drugs again.

2 Month Later (12:40)

Steffey lost his job and is looking for a new one as his parole ends. Rodriguez is back on drugs and has a warrant out for his arrest. Vasquez is using again, but Steffey has remained clean.

3 Years Later (00:32)

Rodriguez has died three years after going to prison. He had said it was unlikely he would survive the sentence.

2002 (01:56)

Steffey was found dead with a syringe in his leg. His autopsy determines it was a heroin overdose.

2010 (01:07)

Vasquez is clean after 17 years on drugs. She gives drug prevention talks.

2019 (06:16)

Vasquez has her first Mother's Day since her mom died. Her kids are doing well, and her son is a police officer. Vasquez won the Newark Citizen of the Year Award for her drug prevention work.

2020 (04:16)

COVID-19 shut down Vasquez's drug support services. After being clean for 13 years, she overdoses and dies.

Credits: Life of Crime, 1984-2020 (01:50)

Credits: Life of Crime, 1984-2020