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Portrait of Henry Hill

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain

Born in United States · Nationality American — Organised crime / Lucchese family / theft / extortion / narcotics / protected witness

Henry Hill

Organised crime and cartels

Documented profile covering 10 controversies, including “2008–2009: guilty plea to two counts of public intoxication” and “2009: arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Illinois”.

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Profile No. 2012 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Henry Hill

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain
10Documented controversies
10Sources
5 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

2008–26 March 2009

2008–2009: guilty plea to two counts of public intoxication

Conviction

Hill pleaded guilty in California to two minor counts of public intoxication and received probation.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Boston GlobeHenry Hill, 69; former gangster inspired 'Goodfellas'PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

14 December 2009

2009: arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Illinois

Investigation

Hill was arrested in Fairview Heights, Illinois, after an alcohol-related incident, on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Boston GlobeHenry Hill, 69; former gangster inspired 'Goodfellas'PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

August 2004–September 2005

2004–2005: cocaine and methamphetamine found in luggage, followed by 180-day sentence

Conviction

Drug paraphernalia and traces of cocaine and methamphetamine were discovered in his luggage at North Platte airport; Hill was subsequently sentenced to 180 days in prison for attempted possession of methamphetamine.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The Spokesman-Review'Goodfellas' figure faces drug chargePressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Smoking GunGoodfella Henry Hill In Drug BustPressMedium reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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04

September 1987

1987: convicted of cocaine trafficking while living under protected identity

Conviction

Under the name Martin Todd Lewis, Hill was found guilty in Seattle in a cocaine trafficking case.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    UPI'Wiseguy' convicted of drug chargesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

May 1980

1980: arrest in cocaine case followed by decision to become federal cooperating witness

Case dismissed / dropped

After his arrest in a cocaine trafficking case, Hill chose to cooperate with authorities, testified against former associates and entered the federal witness protection programme.

Attribution
Protagonist is a witness

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    CBS NewsOn The RunPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesHenry Hill obituary: Mob informant and subject of 'GoodFellas' dies at 69PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

années 1980

1980s: further convictions for burglary, assault and repeated drink-driving while in witness protection

Conviction

Press sources report that, while still protected, Hill was convicted of burglary, assault and three drink-driving offences, contributing to his removal from the programme.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesHenry Hill obituary: Mob informant and subject of 'GoodFellas' dies at 69PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

1978–1979

1978–1979: involvement in Boston College point-shaving scandal

No legal proceedings

Hill participated in the criminal scheme to manipulate point spreads in Boston College basketball games and subsequently became an important witness against other participants.

Attribution
Protagonist is a witness

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesHenry Hill obituary: Mob informant and subject of 'GoodFellas' dies at 69PressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit via JustiaUnited States v. James Burke, et al., 700 F.2d 70Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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08

11 December 1978

1978: participation in JFK Lufthansa heist, subsequently described to investigators

No legal proceedings

Hill acknowledged his involvement in the Lufthansa heist and subsequently provided authorities with information about the operation and its participants.

State of the evidence
Admitted by the person
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesHenry Hill obituary: Mob informant and subject of 'GoodFellas' dies at 69PressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Washington PostLufthansa Case Holds Clues for Point-Shaving InvestigatorsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

1972

1972: extortion conviction following assault on debtor in Tampa

Conviction

Hill and Jimmy Burke were convicted of extortion after assaulting a man in Tampa in connection with a gambling debt.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Biography.comHenry Hill - Death, Family & GoodfellasPressMedium reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

10

April 1967

1967: acknowledged participation in $420,000 theft from Air France terminal at JFK

No legal proceedings

Hill participated with Tommy DeSimone in the theft of $420,000 from the Air France terminal at JFK, an operation that marked a milestone in his rise within the Lucchese circle.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Biography.comHenry Hill and the Real-Life GoodFellas: The True Story Behind the MoviePressMedium reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesHenry Hill obituary: Mob informant and subject of 'GoodFellas' dies at 69PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)
  1. Jimmy Burke2 documented references
  2. Tommy DeSimone2 documented references
  3. Paul Vario1 documented reference

III. Has something changed?

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