Henry Hill was an American mobster who became an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and played a significant role in bringing down several high-ranking members of the Mafia in the 1980s
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Hill had early ties with organized crime, working as a low-level gangster for the Lucchese crime family
Throughout his career, he was involved in various illegal activities, including racketeering, gambling, and drug trafficking
In 1980, Hill was arrested and faced a long prison sentence for drug-related charges
Faced with the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars, he decided to cooperate with the FBI and entered the Witness Protection Program
Hill's testimony provided crucial evidence in many cases, leading to the conviction of numerous mobsters, including Paul Vario and James Burke
Hill's life and experiences were later chronicled in the book "Wiseguy" by author Nicholas Pileggi, which served as the basis for the critically acclaimed film "Goodfellas" directed by Martin Scorsese
The movie further popularized Hill's story and cemented his status as a cultural icon
Hill's post-mob life was filled with various struggles, including drug addiction and numerous failed businesses
He passed away in 2012 at the age of 69
Overall, Henry Hill's involvement in organized crime and subsequent cooperation with the FBI had a significant impact on dismantling the Mafia and inspired the creation of one of the most iconic films in American cinema.
In 1980, Hill was arrested and faced a long prison sentence for drug-related charges. Faced with the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars, he decided to cooperate with the FBI and entered the Witness Protection Program. Hill's testimony provided crucial evidence in many cases, leading to the conviction of numerous mobsters, including Paul Vario and James Burke. Hill's life and experiences were later chronicled in the book "Wiseguy" by author Nicholas Pileggi, which served as the basis for the critically acclaimed film "Goodfellas" directed by Martin Scorsese. The movie further popularized Hill's story and cemented his status as a cultural icon. Hill's post-mob life was filled with various struggles, including drug addiction and numerous failed businesses. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 69. Overall, Henry Hill's involvement in organized crime and subsequent cooperation with the FBI had a significant impact on dismantling the Mafia and inspired the creation of one of the most iconic films in American cinema.