Former Mobster, 'Goodfella' Henry Hill Arrested in Illinois Dust-up

By Alicia Cruz
Editor-in-Chief
Theblackurbantimes

“Goodfella” Henry Hill isn’t being much of a goodfella say Illinois police who arrested the former mobster-turned FBI informant on Sunday for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The Sunday scrap in the Drury Inn lobby landed Hill, now 66-yeas-old, at a Fairview Heights, Illinois police precinct where he was detained for several hours. Hill doesn’t seem too upset over the arrest and is blaming this latest run-in with the law on the alcohol.

He told The Associated Press that he doesn't remember much about the incident saying, "Ever drink too much? Well, that's what happened," Hill said. "I was in the hotel lobby and I guess I caused a little commotion. I don't remember too much. It's coming back a little bit, but I drank just one too many," Hill said. "I woke up a few hours later in a jail cell. It's a misdemeanor. It's not a big deal. I didn't fight with nobody."

Fairview Heights police Sgt. Steve Evans pretty much downplayed the incident when the Associated Press contacted him for comment saying Hill’s arrest only generated media attention “simply because of who's involved,” and added that it was simply a “routine arrest.”

Henry Hill’s life as a mobster for the Lucchese crime family was the basis for the 1990 box-office hit movie “Goodfellas.” Immortalized by actor Ray Liotta in the movie, Hill actually credits the actor for encouraging him to enter rehab in the fall 2006. Hill’s life of crime came to an end when Federal agents arrested him for drug trafficking and later as a material witness for the December 1978 Lufthansa heist at JFK International Airport. It was the largest robbery in American history.

The FBI got Hill to testify about murders and other mob related criminal activity involving members of the Lucchese crime family, of which he was a long-time associate after they played a surveillance tape starring members of his mob crew who were discussing having Hill “whacked” in order to prevent him from implicating them in the Lufthansa hiest. His testimony led to the convictions of 50 mob associates.

For his cooperation, Hill skipped prison and went straight to the U.S. Marshals' Witness Protection Program along with his wife and children. He and his family was removed from the program sometime in the early 1990s after several drug arrests. Hill’s wife, Karen was portrayed by actress Lorraine Bracco in the “Goodfellas” movie. She divorced Hill In 1989 after 25 years of marriage.

Alcohol and drugs have haunted Hill for years despite his many tries at rehabilitation. But despite his arrests and trysts with drugs, alcohol and prison it hasn’t all been bad for the former mobster. For a while he worked as a chef, marketed his tasty spaghetti sauce, Sunday Gravy, over the Internet and even opened a restaurant, aptly named 'Wiseguys', two years ago. Today he’s into art which he sells via Ebay. As a matter of fact, he was in the St. Louis suburb of Fairview Heights for a three-day showing of his artwork and signing autographs at Larry Flynt strip club when he was arrested Sunday.

Hill, currently free on bond, resides in Malibu, California with his fiancee Lisa Caserta.

CHECK OUT HENRY HILL LINKS BELOW

Stop by Henry Hill's personal website goodfellahenry.com. He's got everything from the "Wiseguy Weekly" to "Henry's Bookshelf" and "Threat of the Week." It's interesting. I can't say I've read his cookbook, but I'll get to it. Check it out: The Wise Guy Cookbook: My Favorite Recipes From My Life as a Goodfella to Cooking on the Run

Check out Henry Hill's artwork here on Ebay

Buy the book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family. It was riveting.