Apparently Johnson believed this myth and when Fatico failed in his duty, Willie Boy decided he would get even by becoming a paid government informant. Size twenty-one neck, gravel voice. His death was done as a favor from Pitera to Gotti and the Gambino family. He worked as an FBI informant from 1966 to 1985, and he was murdered by the family in 1988. He was the type of guy who, if he got shot, he would almost try to rip the bullets out of his own chest and then get really pissed off. It was Johnson who let the FBI know that Angelo believed he was a "dead man" when he realized Paul Castellano and Neil Dellacroce, his uncle, were going to find out about his role in dealing narcotics from the FBI recordings. Mr. Danny Boy Johnson of South Boston died Friday, April 23, 2021, at the age of 74. Bracco gained fame playing Karen Hill, the wife of wiseguy Henry Hill in the movie Goodfellas, and Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Tony Sopranos psychiatrist in the HBO series The Sopranos. Giacalone grew up in Ozone Park and claimed that she often walked past the Bergin clubhouse and its assortment of mobsters and mobster wanna-bes. They were working on their own "fool proof' case and were upset when they learned that Giacalone was threatening to reveal Johnson's informant status. In court papers and pretrial testimony, Mr. Johnson was characterized by Federal prosecutors as a longtime informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but Mr. Johnson denied that he had cooperated with the authorities. In 1966, Johnson was imprisoned for armed robbery. Joaquin Murrieta, a Mexican bandito of an earlier time, used her boulders and ravines to hide from the law for many months. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Plate's murder helped Dellacroce win an acquittal in his case. Johnson's last recording was as a guest on fellow Texan Kirk Franklin's 2000 album The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin. The contract was given to Eddie Lino, an ex-Bonanno associate and one of the shooters in the Castellano killing. Allan May, quoting from the memoir of Retired Lieutenant Remo Franceschini of the Queens District Attorney's Squad, describes Johnson thusly:[4], He was real stocky, about five feet nine inches and well over two hundred pounds, looked like a professional wrestler. Reluctant at first, Johnson finally agreed to talk in return for the government dropping some counterfeiting charges. A stone for Willie Neal Johnson will be placed in the Half Mile of History heritage trail. (Bracco gained fame playing Karen Hill, the wife of wise guy Henry Hill in the movie, Giacalone repeated to the judge Johnson's statement to Agent Abbott that he and his family would be slaughtered. Willie Boy was used as an errand boy and to collect overdue loans. "This is Willie Boy begging for his life, for lack of a better phrase." (Johnson was murdered in 1988.) He grew up in New Jersey and was a standout football player at Lincoln University. Nickerson bought Giacalones argument and Willie Boy was carted off to the Metropolitan Correctional Center where he would spend the next two years. Known throughout the gospel circuit as "The Country Boy" for his rootsy, blues-driven style, singer Willie Neal Johnson was born and raised in Tyler, TX; he began performing with his five siblings while still a child, and was still in his teens when he was tapped to join Rev. However, Fatico soon broke this promise. ", Johnson reported that "no personal recrimination will be made on any FBI agent as they would have to be approved by Big Paul and at this time Gotti and Ruggiero are lucky they have not been clipped themselves.". Later, it was discovered that one of the jurors had been bribed. After his release from prison, the FBI approached him about becoming an informant. Anyone whose heard of my second favorite gangster of all time, John Gotti, surely at some point has heard of Wilfred Johnson aka Willie Boy Johnson. Dauber was suspected to have been involved in 30 Gangland slayings. Johnson was a gospel singer from Tyler known as "Country Boy." Johnson felt the mob was not living up to its obligations. Wilfred "Willie Boy" Johnson (29 September 1935-29 August 1988) was a Gambino crime family associate of mixed Italian and Native American descent. August 29, 1988 Willie Boy was a John Gotti associate, they met in prison and he often did jobs for the Gambino family, he was murdered by Pitera in the Flatlands section . Top FBI officials, fearful of losing one of their top informants and destroying the confidence of other informants about the FBI's ability to keep a bargain, fought back. Justice on Fire is OConnors detailed account of the terrible explosion that led to the firefighters deaths and the terrible injustice that followed. Johnson also wanted to pay back the Gambinos for their dishonesty. He was 65 and was survived by his wife, three sons, five daughters and his mother, Luretia. However, as his FBI handler, Special Agent Martin Boland, noticed, Johnson refused to discuss his background or childhood in any detail. Johnson reported to his FBI handlers that "John Gotti is on the carpet with Big Paul Castellano over the drug bust. Copyright The National Crime Syndicate 2014 - 2023. They test the patience and resourcefulness of agents." But nothing will happen to you.' Mr. Johnson was born in Halifax County on Feb. 26, 1947 to the late Mr. Otis . The wiseguys who included about 130 Gambino soldiers and 20 captains were part of the motorcade that proceeded to the Queens cemetery, a 125-year-old burial ground that houses the citys most legendary mobsters, such as Carlo Gambino and Charles Lucky Luciano. Because Johnson was only half-Italian from the wrong side of the family, he could . WILLIE JOHNSON OBITUARY. "Not true, your honor," protested Johnson. They backed out of the case citing "administrative and procedural differences." His assassin or assassins escaped. On this day in 1988 the FBI informant, Willie Boy Johnson was ambushed as he made his way to his car, which was parked outside his Brooklyn home. Johnson was born as one of five children in Canarsie, Brooklyn. As a result of this accident, Johnson sustained head injuries that would plague him with persistent headaches for the rest of his life. Gottis brother Peter, who was also indicted two weeks ago, along with 17 other Gambino gangsters on waterfront extortion and labor-racketeering charges, was a no-show. Willie Boy, represented by lawyer Richard Rehbock, sat near John at the defense table as Gottis attorneys, Bruce Cutler and Barry Slotnik, ripped apart the prosecutions turncoat witnesses James Cardinali, Salvatore Polisi, and Matthew Traynor. However, he brought in money as well as anyone else. I dont know how he fell for this, but he did. He said the Government and prosecution in the Gotti case had isolated Mr. Johnson, who was never granted bail, in prison for 19 months in an effort to make him cooperate and discredit him with his co-defendants. The information also revealed that Willie Boy had provided information that allowed the FBIs Gambino Squad to build their narcotics case against Gene Gotti, Angelo Ruggiero, and the others. Became Bonanno boss after Galantes murder. Mr. Cardinali also testified that Mr. Johnson and another co-defendant, John Carneglia, had told him of murders in which they were involved. * Wilfred "Willie Boy" Johnson Ratted on Gotti and other Gambinos from 1966 to 1985. Gotti bided his time in reacting to the disclosed information. But Ill forgive you. In 1966, he was imprisoned for armed robbery, and Carmine Fatico broke his promise to look after Johnson's wife and children. After Johnson's release from Green Haven, his FBI control agent, Martin Boland, was transferred. Pitera, suspected in as many as thirty killings, was acquitted, but was later convicted of six other murders. Allan May's e-mail address is: AllanMay@worldnet.att.net, On the night of November 29, 1988, near the impoverished Marlborough neighborhood in south Kansas City, an explosion at a construction site killed six of the citys firefighters. Size twenty-one neck, gravel voice. Pitera had carried out the hit as a favor to John Gotti as the FBI were trying to get Willie Boy to . To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. [citation needed]. Willie Boy asked John to swear on his dead son's head, and John did. A year after the arrests Giacalone won headlines by getting Gotti jailed on a RICO indictment. One of his first tips was where they could find the body of Bonanno capo Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato, a murder in which Johnson may have been involved. Gotti was a 17-year-old high school dropout and Johnson was a street thug perpetually in trouble with the law. The Legend of Willie Boy. The suspects are charged with the 1986 killing of Wilfred (Willie Boy) Johnson, who, authorities said in 1985, was informing on John Gotti, the reputed head of the Gambino crime family. Johnson stood before the judge with his fists clenched so tight that his white knuckles clearly showed the words true and love that were tattooed on them. A glass door to the pen enabled other inmates to taunt him. Hearing the shooting, Johnson's wife ran out screaming. Talk about dysfunctional! Refused witness protection and, in 1988, was killed in a hail of bullets outside his Brooklyn home. Don't be fooled by that smooth exterior". In addition to supplying information that resulted in Gotti's arrest, he helped solve several burglaries and provided information that led to the arrest of Gambino Family associate Salvatore Polisi. Officers tried to convince him to enter the Witness Protection Program, but he refused. Overall, I really do feel bad for Willie Boy. As a young man, Johnson was physically imposing. In 1992, Bonanno capo Thomas "Tommy Karate" Pitera and Vincent "Kojak" Giattino were indicted and tried for the murder of Willie Boy Johnson. Giattino was found guilty. Agents told The Post they planned to keep their distance from the cemetery in a show of respect, but a van was parked a block away from the funeral home as mourners gathered. But nothing will happen to you. Willie Boy asked John to swear on his dead sons head, and John did. However, efforts by Thomas Sheer and James Kossler were turned back by the decision of Eastern District U. S. Attorney Raymond J. Dearie to support Giacalone. The detectives arrested him for attempted bribery and Johnson was soon indicted. Executed in his Manhattan office on Lucianos orders. He worked as an FBI informant from 1966 to 1985, and he was murdered by the family in 1988. But for veteran crime writer and crusading editor J. Patrick OConnor, the factsor a lack of themdidnt add up. The contract was given to Eddie Lino, an ex-Bonanno associate and one of the shooters in the Castellano killing. On March 28, New York City police detectives and DEA agents arrested Johnson, John Gotti and his brother Gene just after 4 a.m. as they played cards at the Bergin Hunt & Fish Social Club. Willie Boy, then known as "Indian Bill," was a 27-year-old Paiute Indian from Fish Springs. Johnson was hit once in each thigh, twice in the back, and at least six times in the head. Johnson was also rumored to be dealing in drugs again. The two struck up a friendship and when Gotti joined the Gambino Family, he remembered Johnson. Mr. Johnson, who according to his lawyer, Richard A. Rehbock, was an operating engineer at a construction site on Staten Island, walked down the stairs of his house at 7233 Royce Place in a row of attached three-story, red-brick houses and crossed Royce Place to the corner of Royce Street, where his 1988 black Mercury was parked, Captain Casey said. by T. C. WEIR. Sammy Gravano discussed a meeting that took place between the two there: It was up on the ninth floor, Sammy said. Johnson's FBI handlers tried to convince him to enter the Witness Protection Program, but he refused, and publicly denied being an informant. He could never . At the racketeering trial, James Cardinali, who was called a hired killer by the prosecution, testified that he had beaten a competing Staten Island numbers operator with sticks and hammers in 1982 at the request of Mr. Johnson. These physical traits led him to become an enforcer for the family. 1 drawing : colored pencil, felt tip pen, and water-soluble crayon on gray paper ; 50 x 65 cm (sheet) She argued before Judge Nickerson that due to Gottis role in the Piecyk assault case he should have his bail revoked on the RICO indictment. Johnson was hit once in each thigh, twice in the back, and at least six times in the head. Johnson was hit once in each thigh, twice in the back, and at least six times in the head. She cradled his head in her lap, but Willie Boy was dead. To the FBI, Wilfred Johnson became BQ 5558-TE. On Sept. 26, desperately in love with . And then an assistant U.S. attorney, in a turf battle with the FBI, deliberately blew his cover - and his chances for staying alive. On May 3, 1998, Gotti approved the killing of Francesco Oliveri, who was held responsible for the killing of another Gambino man. Junior Gotti was also absent, serving a six-year prison sentence. Gotti was entombed in a condo-like cloister inside St. Johns Cemetery, a 243-acre swath straddling Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village that holds the graves of people from all walks of life, from average citizens to Medal of Honor recipient Louis E. Willett (1945-1967) to bodybuilder Charles Atlas (1892-1972) to city Mayor John Hylan (buried there in 1936), as well as several Brooklyn and Queens congressman. Johnson was buried in the Middle Village of Queens. During the trial Gotti went back and forth daily to the courtroom for months with Johnson. An Interview with Philip A. Genovese you might also like. The antagonist, Willie Boy, shot and killed the shaman, William Mike, and eloped with William Mike's daughter, Carlota, who met her demise at the hands of the pursuing posse. During their altercation, Mike was shot through the left eye and died instantly. 36:11. Why the hell they were fighting on a school roof is beyond me but I digress. I will never testify, Johnson stated. John told Willie Boy, You did a bad thing for all them years. We're in the business of preserving the history of the Italian-American Mafia through On This Day Mafia Timelines, Videos, Quizzes and a Knowledge Base of facts. Seven of the 10 indicted were soon rounded up and arraigned. Although banned from the Bergin, Johnson was back living in the old neighborhood with his wife and children and working at a construction job. The information also revealed that Willie Boy had provided information that allowed the FBI's Gambino Squad to build its narcotics case against Gene Gotti, Angelo Ruggiero, and the others. Abbott advised Johnson that his best bet was to take a plea, testify, and go into the Witness Protection Program. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. She cradled his head in her lap, but Willie Boy had been died instantly. Boss from 1963 to 1978. He was 59. Captain Casey said there were no suspects. Bonanno crime family chief who organized the French Connection heroin-smuggling scheme and was shot to death in 1979 by rival gangsters at a Brooklyn restaurant. During his 16 years as an informant, Johnson provided information on all the different New York Mafia crews that he worked with, and the FBI used that information to make many arrests. The trial ended in March 1987, on Friday the thirteenth. Now you're in fkin' trouble.'". Ratted on Gotti and other Gambinos from 1966 to 1985. Willie Boy did that -- cut him up in three pieces,' Pitera allegedly told federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents, according to Shapiro. Johnson was a friend of Gambino crime boss John Gotti even though . In the late 1960s, Johnson would turn against the Gambino family. You might also like FBI handlers that `` John Gotti even though fkin ' trouble. ' '' as else. 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