Henry Hill

Henry Hill was an American criminal who rose to prominence in the Lucchese crime family. His life, from his teenage years working for the mob to his arrest for cocaine trafficking in 1980, was chronicled in Nicholas Pileggi's 1985 biography, Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family. This book served as the basis for Martin Scorsese's acclaimed 1990 film, Goodfellas.1

Hill was involved in various criminal activities, including fencing stolen goods and participating in the 1978 Lufthansa heist, a major cash and jewels theft at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Although he was never a "made" man due to his partial Italian heritage, he was a trusted associate. The film Goodfellas depicts the allure of the mob lifestyle, the violence associated with it, and how Hill's involvement ultimately led to his downfall and entry into the witness protection program.12