Crystal Mangum

Crystal Gail Mangum is an American former stripper from Durham, North Carolina, who was incarcerated for murder from 2013 until her release in February 2026. In 2006, she came to attention in national news reports for having made false allegations of rape against lacrosse players in the Duke lacrosse rape hoax. Mangum's work in the sex industry as a black woman, while the young men she accused were white, generated extensive media interest and academic debate about race, class, gender, and the politicization of the justice system. In December 2024, Mangum admitted to fabricating the assault.