The real Henry Hill

Henry Hill Jr. (June 11, 1943 – June 12, 2012) was an American mobster associated with the Lucchese crime family of New York City between 1955 and 1980. In 1980, Hill was arrested on drug charges and became an FBI informant. He testified against his former mafia associates, resulting in 50 convictions, including those of captain Paul Vario and James Burke. He had entered Witness Protection in 1980, but was removed in the early 1990s. Hill's life was documented in the book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family by Nicholas Pileggi which was adapted by Martin Scorsese into the film Goodfellas in 1990. Hill was portrayed by Ray Liotta.

William "Billy Batts" Bentvena was released from prison in 1970. Bentvena saw Tommy DeSimone and jokingly asked him if he still shined shoes. DeSimone leaned over to Hill and Burke and said "I'm gonna kill that fuck." Two weeks later DeSimone pistol-whipped Bentvena. DeSimone screamed, "Shine these fucking shoes!"

The Lufthansa heist was a robbery at John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 11, 1978. $5.8m was stolen, making it the largest cash robbery on American soil at the time. Hill did not directly take part in the heist. Jimmy Burke was given 12 years in prison for the Boston College point shaving scandal and later sentenced to life for murder. Burke died of cancer in prison. Paul Vario died of respiratory failure on November 22, 1988, at age 73 also while in jail.

Henry Hill died of heart disease on June 12, 2012, a day after his 69th birthday.

Major Mexico/US tunnel busted

A haul of drugs being smuggled from Mexico to California was seized from a cross-border tunnel equipped with ventilation, lighting and an underground rail system. The tunnel connected warehouses in Tijuana and San Diego, extending about 610 metres. The raid netted 590 kg of cocaine, 39 kg of methamphetamine, 7.7 kg of heroin, 1 kg of fentanyl and 1,360 kg of pot. No arrests were made. The tunnel had a rail-cart system, forced air ventilation, high voltage electrical cables and panels, an elevator at the tunnel entrance, and a drainage system.

The average depth of the tunnel was 31 feet. The length of more than 14 football fields surprised authorities. It went under several warehouses in San Diego and was beside a section of Trump's wall.

The discovery came a little over two months after a 4,309-foot-long tunnel was found in the same area.

See ----->El Chapo tunnel master 'Quirino' busted

'High Risk' convict Justina Ellis on the lam - Busted

Justina Ellis was picked up without incident by the VPD.

Vancouver Police are searching for a high-risk offender. Justina Ellis, 37, did not return to her East Vancouver halfway house and now has a Canada-wide warrant. She won a court battle to label her a 'dangerous offender' in 2019. The Yukon woman claimed she has lived a life of abuse caused by white colonialism. Ellis is five feet four inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Her background includes multiple robberies and violence. She's indigenous and is considered dangerous. The public ought not approach her.

McMillions

“McMillions” had a bombshell for the finale: Jerry Colombo’s mother was the informant whose tip broke the case wide open.

See ----->The McDonald’s Monopoly sweepstakes fraud - 'McMillions'

Gangsters turn to Trump, Coronavarus to get out of Jail

Paul Schiro, 82, feels the “the epidemic has accelerated the urgency and necessity” of his request. The mobster has been in custody since 2002. He was convicted as part of the Family Secrets prosecution, that decimated the Chicago mob. Schiro’s attorney pointed to changes in the law created by the First Step Act, which was signed by Trump in 2018. Schiro was sentenced in 2009 to 20 years in prison when he was 71. He is not due to be released until April 2024. One of Schiro’s co-defendants, Joey “the Clown” Lombardo, died in jail last fall at the age of 90. Another mob hit man, Anthony Calabrese, was shot down for clemency by Trump in 2018.

25 years in prison for 'Doctor Money' Gallagher

'Doc' lured seniors through his weekly radio broadcasts.

W. Neil “Doc” Gallagher liked to tell radio listeners his investment advice was guided by scripture. Cops claim he ignored the part “Thou shalt not steal.”

Gallagher, 78, faces civil and criminal charges saying he stole more than $19m from senior citizens, who put their faith in him.

“The Money Doctor” pitched his retirement-planning services through weekly broadcasts that blended investment talk with cheery Christian tidings. He bought airtime for his shows on three Dallas-area AM stations. In 2016, he published “Jesus Christ, Money Master,” a book offering faith-based financial advice.

Starving monkey ‘gangs’ brawl in Thailand as tourists MIA

Monkey “gangs” have taken to the streets of Thailand to brawl over food as tourism has dried up. Usually well fed, times are tough. Street fights are breaking out regularly in Lopburi, an area famous for it's monkeys. Each “gang” has around 500 members. They steal anything they get their hands on.

Charges dropped against 11 Vagos bikers

A month after eight members of the Vagos MC were acquitted in a long running racketeering trial, federal prosecutors dropped all charges against each of their co-defendants, except one. Local biker John Halgat is still facing drug and gun charges.

See ----->Vagos bikers walk for HA killing

Recidivist ponzi scammer wants out of jail to tend elderly mother

Wayne R. Ogden, 55 cheated hundreds of investors of an estimated $18.6m in three Ponzi schemes. He wants release early due to “compassionate, extraordinary circumstances.” Ogden’s 81-year-old ailing mother has no one else to care for her he says. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons denied Ogden’s early release request, saying he didn't meet agency criteria. Ogden is turning to Trump's First Step Act to get outta the can.

When Ogden was sentenced in 2013, prosecutors were certain he would re-offend when he was released.

“The public at least will get a 10-year break from a remorseless, conscienceless serial thief.” Ogden has been ordered to pay $18.6 million in restitution.

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine released from prison early due to COVID-19

The rapper was serving his sentence in a private jail.

Tekashi 6ix9ine was ordered freed from a Manhattan federal lockup four months early by a judge who cited his asthma and the greater danger of the coronavirus outbreak. Prosecutors did not oppose the action. Tekashi 6ix9ine's testimony against members of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods earned him leniency from charges that could have subjected him to a minimum 37 years.