Real life wiseguys get pinched for the Lufthansa heist in 1981

Just when they though they were safe…

Vincent Asaro and four other members of the Bonanno crime family were taken into custody today for their involvement in the 1981 Lufthansa heist at Idlewild Airport(now JFK) that netted the crew almost $6 million dollars.

The other “Goodfellas” that were arrested included Asaro’s son Jerome, Bonanno family capo Thomas DeFiore, John Rigano and Jack Bonventre on several charges including racketeering, extortion, robbery and solicitation to murder.

According to the Feds, the family was ratted out by a cousin and participant in the heist who feared the family planned on whacking him in order to keep the lid on this 35 year old crime.

The FBI reopened the case after the informant led them to the burial site of Paul Katz, who was allegedly killed by Asaro and James “Jimmy The Gent” Burke and buried under a cement floor in an Ozone Park, Queens basement.

Jimmy The Gent was portrayed in the movie “Goodfellas” by Robert DeNiro, who was allegedly the mastermind the Lufthansa heist. Burke died from cancer in prison in 1996 while serving 20 years for murder.

-Sha Be Allah(@KingPenStatus)