37 Facts About Jimmy Burke

Early Life and Adoption

Jimmy Burke's early years were marked by hardship and resilience. His childhood experiences shaped the man he would become.

1. Born on July 5, 1931, in the Bronx, New York, Jimmy Burke entered the world under challenging circumstances. His mother, Jane Conway, was an Irish prostitute who left him at the New York Foundling Home.

2. Spent the first 11 years of his life in a Catholic orphanage for boys, enduring a harsh upbringing. This period was followed by numerous stays in various foster homes where he faced physical and sexual abuse.

3. At the age of two, Jimmy was placed in his first foster home, where he was exposed to violence and sexual abuse. This pattern of abuse continued throughout his early years in foster care.

4. An altercation with his foster parents at the age of 13 resulted in a car crash that killed his foster father. The deceased man's widow blamed Jimmy and gave him regular beatings until he was taken back into foster care.

5. A family named Burke took Jimmy in as a foster child, providing a clean, comfortable, and safe environment for the teenage Jimmy. He lived out his teenage years on Rockaway Beach, close to Ocean Promenade.

6. Jimmy never forgot the kindness of the Burke family. For the rest of his life, he visited these foster parents and left unmarked envelopes of cash for them periodically.

Early Troubles with the Law

Jimmy Burke's early encounters with the law set the stage for his future in organized crime.

7. At the age of 18 in 1949, Jimmy Burke was sentenced to five years in prison for forgery. He was passing counterfeit checks for a Colombo family member named Dominick “Remo” Cersani.

8. Despite being offered a free ride to inform on Remo, Jimmy refused, earning Remo's eternal gratitude. Remo nicknamed Jimmy “the Irish Guinea”.

9. While in prison, Jimmy Burke was a trusted young thief, known for his large, tattooed, muscular arms. After his release, he worked as a bricklayer for a short time.

10. The other mob guys saw him as a reliable and skilled thief, which helped him gain respect and trust within the criminal community.

Association with Paul Vario

Jimmy Burke's association with Paul Vario marked the beginning of his rise to prominence in the underworld.

11. Jimmy Burke became associated with Paul Vario, a capo in the Lucchese crime family. This association marked the beginning of his rise to prominence in the underworld.

12. Vario recognized Jimmy's potential and mentored him in the ways of organized crime, helping him navigate the complex world of the Mafia.

The Lufthansa Heist

The Lufthansa heist was a turning point in Jimmy Burke's criminal career, cementing his reputation as a mastermind.

13. Jimmy Burke is believed to have organized the 1978 Lufthansa heist, the largest cash robbery in American history at the time. The heist involved a team of thieves who stole approximately $5 million from a Lufthansa Airlines cargo terminal at JFK Airport.

14. Burke's involvement in this crime led to a series of violent confrontations and murders in the months following the robbery.

Murders and Violence

Jimmy Burke's reputation for ruthlessness and violence became notorious in the underworld.

15. Following the Lufthansa heist, Burke was responsible for the deaths of those involved in the robbery. His reputation for ruthlessness and violence became notorious in the underworld.

16. The murders were part of a larger pattern of violence that characterized his career, highlighting his willingness to eliminate threats and maintain control.

Conviction and Imprisonment

Jimmy Burke's criminal activities eventually caught up with him, leading to his conviction and imprisonment.

17. In 1982, Jimmy Burke was convicted of conspiracy charges related to his involvement in the 1978–79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal. The conviction was based primarily on the testimony of former mob associate Henry Hill.

18. Hill's testimony also implicated Burke in the 1979 murder of drug dealer Richard Eaton, leading to an additional 20-year sentence for the murder conviction.

19. Burke was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the conspiracy charges, adding to his already lengthy prison term.

Prison Life and Health Issues

Even in prison, Jimmy Burke's life was marked by resilience and continued involvement in organized crime.

20. While serving his sentence, Burke was diagnosed with cancer, a significant health issue that he faced with determination.

21. Despite his health issues, he continued to be involved in organized crime activities, highlighting his resilience and determination.

22. Burke died on April 13, 1996, while being treated at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. He had been serving his sentence in Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York.

23. Had he lived, he would have been eligible for parole on March 11, 2004, a reminder of the long prison sentence he received.

24. Burke was buried at Saint Charles Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York, marking the end of a notorious criminal career.

Legacy in Popular Culture

Jimmy Burke's life and crimes have inspired numerous works of fiction and non-fiction, cementing his place in popular culture.

25. The 1990 film "Goodfellas," directed by Martin Scorsese, features a character named Jimmy "The Gent" Conway, played by Robert De Niro. This portrayal is widely regarded as one of the most accurate depictions of Jimmy Burke's life in popular culture.

26. Jimmy Burke has been portrayed by several actors in various films and television shows, including John Mahoney in the 1991 television film "The 10 Million Dollar Getaway" and Donald Sutherland in the 2001 television film "The Big Heist".

27. In 2013, the FBI and NYPD organized crime investigators unearthed possible human remains at Jimmy Burke's former home, part of a broader investigation into his activities and potential involvement in other crimes.

28. In 2014, ESPN released a documentary titled "Playing for the Mob," which discussed Jimmy Burke's involvement in the Boston College point-shaving scandal. The documentary featured Ray Liotta, who played Henry Hill in "Goodfellas," as the narrator.

Family Ties and Involvement

Jimmy Burke's family was deeply involved in organized crime, further entrenching his legacy.

29. Jimmy Burke's son, Frank James Burke, was a cocaine dealer and associate in the Gambino crime family. Frank was shot dead at the age of 26 by another drug dealer, Tito Ortiz, after an argument outside the Suncrest Tavern in Brooklyn.

30. Catherine Burke, Jimmy's daughter, married Anthony Indelicato, a member of the Bonanno crime family, further solidifying the connections between the various Italian-American Mafia families.

Influence and Associations

Jimmy Burke's connections and influence within the criminal world were vast and varied.

31. Jimmy Burke was schooled by Hughie Mulligan, who taught him the ropes of organized crime. Mulligan's influence played a significant role in Burke's early career and his rise to prominence within the Lucchese crime family.

32. Burke was close with the Upper West Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen Irish mob, allowing him to navigate the complex world of organized crime with ease.

Loansharking and Bookmaking Operations

Jimmy Burke's involvement in loansharking and bookmaking operations showcased his organizational skills and ability to manage complex financial networks.

33. By the mid-1970s, Jimmy Burke was involved in significant loansharking and bookmaking operations, controlling these operations with skill and precision.

34. In 1982, Burke was convicted of loansharking and assault charges, leading to a prison sentence of over five years.

35. During his incarceration, he shared a cell with Steven "Stacks" Edwards, an African-American hoodlum specializing in credit card fraud, further solidifying his criminal connections.

36. After Edwards was paroled, Thomas "Two Gun Tommy" DeSimone became Burke's new cellmate, a period that further cemented Burke's reputation as a skilled and resourceful criminal.

37. Henry Hill's testimony against Burke was instrumental in his conviction, providing crucial evidence that led to his extended prison sentence.

The Legacy of Jimmy Burke

Jimmy Burke's life was a whirlwind of crime, charisma, and chaos. From his rough beginnings in foster care to masterminding the infamous Lufthansa heist, Burke's story is a mix of grit and notoriety. His association with the Lucchese crime family and his ruthless actions left a lasting mark on the underworld. Despite his criminal activities, he showed moments of unexpected generosity, like supporting his foster parents. His life inspired characters in films like "Goodfellas," cementing his place in pop culture. Even after his death, Burke's legacy continues to intrigue and horrify, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of organized crime. His story remains a significant part of American gangster history, captivating audiences through various media formats. Jimmy Burke's life, filled with both darkness and complexity, will be remembered for generations.