In the 1960s, three inmates—Earl, Rocco, and Carlito—control a criminal enterprise from inside a New York prison. Their network operates efficiently, extending beyond prison walls. However, their ultimate ambition lies outside. Upon their release, they seek to establish dominance in Harlem’s lucrative drug trade, a territory embroiled in a power struggle between the Italian Bottolotta crime family and black gangsters led by Hollywood Nicky.
Rocco introduces Earl and Carlito to Artie Bottolotta, the patriarch of the crime family. Initially resistant to working with blacks and Puerto Ricans, Artie is reluctant to include them in his operation. However, recognizing their potential and street influence, he ultimately agrees to a heroin distribution deal, giving the trio a foothold in Harlem’s narcotics market. During their meetings, they also cross paths with Artie Jr., the heir to the Bottolotta empire, who harbors deep-seated prejudices and volatile tendencies.
As Carlito and his associates cement their position, trouble arrives in the form of Reggie, Earl’s younger brother. Reggie, reckless and impulsive, struggles to find his place in the operation. His erratic behavior quickly jeopardizes their delicate arrangement with the Bottolottas. His actions culminate in a violent confrontation when Artie Jr. corners Reggie with a straight razor, restraining Carlito as he prepares to deliver a fatal strike. The situation escalates until Rocco intervenes, de-escalating the moment with a calculated assurance that they will handle Reggie in their own way. Though the crisis is averted for the moment, the seeds of distrust between both factions are sown.
Carlito’s life takes another turn when he meets Leticia, a striking woman whose brother, Sigfredo, immediately recognizes the type of man Carlito is. Suspicious of his intentions and lifestyle, Sigfredo challenges Carlito, leading to a tense standoff. However, Carlito earns his respect, proving his commitment to Leticia. Despite this, Sigfredo remains wary, ultimately choosing to walk away rather than fully accept Carlito into the family.
Meanwhile, tensions reach a boiling point when Reggie, ousted from the crew, retaliates by orchestrating a brazen kidnapping of Artie Jr. With the aid of two accomplices, he seizes Artie Jr. outside his residence, holding him for ransom. Once the money is secured, Artie Jr. is freed but quickly apprehended by the police, who return him to his father.
The repercussions are swift and brutal. Artie Sr. assumes Carlito, Rocco, and Earl played a role in the abduction, despite their innocence. Seeking revenge, he places a contract on their heads, unleashing a wave of violence that threatens to engulf them. Enter Nacho Reyes, a seasoned hitman assigned to eliminate the trio. However, Carlito and his trusted ally, Colorado, manage to locate Reggie and his crew, uncovering his whereabouts before the Bottolottas strike.
The confrontation is inevitable. Carlito and Nacho track Reggie down to a rundown apartment where Earl is already waiting. The air is thick with tension as guns are drawn. Nacho, wielding two revolvers, stands prepared, while Carlito mirrors him, his weapon trained on Reggie. Unapologetic, Reggie refuses to take responsibility for the chaos he has caused. His arrogance proves fatal. In the ensuing standoff, Reggie is shot dead, and Nacho departs, leaving Carlito and Earl to settle their unfinished business.
With Reggie’s reckless influence eliminated, Carlito, Rocco, and Earl resume operations under the Bottolotta family, their heroin trade expanding with even greater efficiency. However, their ambitions extend beyond mere survival. Carlito and Earl devise a daring plan to shift the balance of power. They bribe corrupt Harlem cops, orchestrating a calculated raid against the Bottolottas, resulting in the family’s elimination. With their former employers eradicated, the trio seizes control, ensuring Harlem’s underworld belongs to them.
Their ascent, however, is not without consequence. With wealth and power secured, Earl decides to leave the life behind, retreating to the islands for his wedding. Carlito and Rocco accompany him, temporarily stepping away from their empire. Carlito reunites with Leticia, contemplating a different future, one removed from the violence that shaped him. For now, he embraces the illusion of peace, though the shadows of his past linger, waiting for the moment they will call him back.
