New York law enforcement attributed at least thirty unsolved murders to the Westies in the 1970s and 1980s, and they were known as an extremely violent group, even by gang standards. Nicky Scarfo the former head of the Philadelphia crime family pictured in the late 80s, One of the most blood thirsty and paranoid bosses of his time. NEW YORK -- The wife of a reputed West Side mobster and three members of his Irish gang were indicted Wednesday in the killing of a loanshark, and the Manhattan prosecutor said the gang was responsible for 28 murders. The three, James McElroy, 36, William Bokun, 29, and Kevin Kelly, 31, allegedly killed Leone in Guttenberg, N.J., on Feb. 11, 1984. According to our records, Mickey Featherstone is possibly single. Mickey Featherstone interview at 29 mins. : r/Mafia - Reddit I wonder how much of it was drugs. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. By the late 1970s, the Westies had also become an enforcement arm of the equally feared Gambino family, carrying out assigned executions and sharing in weekly profits. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration The institution kept Featherstone working on the ward, out of General Population, for his own safety. He is also working with Movie Director Sheridan on a movie about the Westies called Emerald City that will be out in 2008 He expects to make some fierce funds from this. Jimmy Coonan, the ruthless leader of the Westies in the 1970s. It was very difficult for police and prosecutors to convict men associated with this group because witnesses were terrified of the members and their willingness to quickly kill anyone who crossed them. This book is a lot more focused on one man's role (Mickey Featherstone) in the Westies, rather than the Westies as a whole. In this case, he was not only innocent of the crime, he also knew who had done it. Defense lawyers have complained in Federal District Court that Mr. Featherstone and other informers received highly beneficial deals from the Government to obtain their testimony in the Gambino trial and that the jury was not told that the informers were being freed. Julia Coonan pleaded innocent to conspiracy charges in state Supreme Court in Manhattan and Judge Peter McQuillan set $50,000 bail. Jimmy, a charismatic sociopath, is the leader. After effectively destroying the Irish mob in Manhattan, 38-year-old Mickey Featherstone entered the witness protection program and has lived under the radar ever since. Well never sell your personal information. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. Circumcision, Serial Killing, Criminal Behavior and American Medical Mr. Featherstone and his family are now in the Government's witness protection program, which provides for relocating them under a new name. The Irish Mob - Left to Right. Kevin Kelly (Westies), | Facebook Can you list the top facts and stats about Mickey Featherstone? Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. Mickey Featherstone: The Dangerous Hitman Currently Free In Witness Protection. This dichotomy was Mickey in essence. Free Podcast Hosting with custom domain. on our list, Other All NRE reports represent a moment in time. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. #7 Convicted ''One of your trademarks was the murder and dismemberment of your victims in order to terrorize and avoid detection,'' the judge said, adding that Mr. Featherstone had been ''hospitalized for alcoholic addiction and psychiatric problems.''. After all, Featherstone had killed men in neighborhood bars in front of witnesses multiple times and beat the charges. April 28 (UPI) -- A lost dog in Northern Ireland was found 26 days later after walking more than 40 miles to the home of his former owners. Through his work in the Westies, Art secured Billy Beattie and another Westies member . DeSantis Gets Chilly Reception in DC From Frustrated Florida Democrats 2 mo. ', Asked if she was a member of the Westies, he responded, 'She's hardly a member of anything at all.'. He never saw combat. Featherstone was born on West 43rd St.,[1] one of nine children. [2] After borrowing Coonan's gun, he shot dead Linwood Willis in a confrontation outside a bar in 1971, but was found not guilty due to insanity. Mr. Featherstone indeed served in Vietnam - as a stock clerk. The shooter, Featherstone learned, was Billy Bokun. The National Registry of Exonerations is a project of the Newkirk Center for Science & Society at University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. The Westies would also carry out some of the Gambino familys most gruesome dirty work. We start getting into the deep water on talking about the Westies and their activities in the late 1970's early 1980's. The ruthless reputation of the gang came to the notice of the Gambino family, and boss Paul Castellano, who summoned Coonan and Featherstone to a meeting in a Bay Ridge, Brooklyn restaurant in 1978. 229. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. British man breaks world record with 17 flesh tunnels on his face. The shooter, Featherstone had learned, was William Billy Bokun, the brother of Hollys alleged victim, John Bokun. I would say unlikely. Anyone can read what you share. Outside the courtroom, Coonan's lawyer Lawrence Hochheiser said, 'She's a housewife her only crime is being his wife.' This pic is of edna. In 1988, because of Featherstones testimony, eight of the gangs members were ultimately convicted of racketeering and other offenses related to their participation in a RICO criminal enterprise with Coonan himself getting 75 years in prison. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. Cookie Notice [4] Mickey Spillane, the mob leader in Hell's Kitchen at the time, was shot five times outside his apartment in August 1977, and Featherstone was arrested but acquitted for his killing. They said that over the years it has been steeped in gambling and loansharking. Mickey Featherstones Oldest Son Was in Kuwait before 9/11 and is now married to a School Teacher, His 2nd son Just received a Medal of Bravery from the armey his oldest daughter is married and has her own business and his youngest daughter is in college on a Athletic Schollarship. IRISHORGANISEDCRIMEFORUM-Mickey Featherstone and Family UPDATE He was a model prisoner, seen daily picking fine lint off of his perfectly made bunk to pass inspection, and starting arguments with others for not polishing their door frame brass. Witnesses described a man who looked a lot like Featherstone. After learning about Mickey Featherstone, read how Irish mobster Danny Greene took on the Cleveland Mafia or learn about mobster Frank The Irishman Sheeran. Public DomainJimmy Coonan (right) in a prison photo circa 1990. [1][2] He began spending time in saloons like Club 596 and Sunbrite that were hangouts for the Westies.[2]. Kelly is a fugitive who has been indicted for the attempted murder of a carpenter's union official. Coonan liked what he had seen from Featherstone, and recruited him as second in command, all while the Westies upped the violence, leaving behind a string of often dismembered corpses. But the Westies now had an enemy in Featherstone. Joey and Friend David Rafeli Owner/CEO at Rafaeli's Cigars. It didn't help his case that the shooter abandoned a car owned by Mickey's place of employment at the time. From a New York Times-bestselling author: A true story of Irish gangsters in Manhattan"A harrowing account of big city crime" (Library Journal). Feather stone was CONVICTED of murder in 86 so he was off the street minimum in 1985 in which Alite was 23 a steroid pimple faced wannabee in Queens and mixing with guys in Manhattans Hell's Kitchen? Login Wrongfully convicted of murder, Featherstone sought to clear his name by becoming a government witness. We have no records . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He was charged with three murders over the years, but was always able to get acquitted after pleading insanity. The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob - amazon.com His biological father is Jewish and mother Catholic. J.Coonan little girl.. not sure of the date this was posted. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. He had his wife Sissy record some conversations with Westie Billy Bokun, brother of John, in which he admitted to killing Holly. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. [1] In September 1986, Judge Alvin Schlesinger overturned Featherstone's conviction. Featherstone excelled in training and joined the special forces, but was disappointed to serve as a stock clerk while other recruits saw combat. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The DEA ranks him as one of the top 10 drug traffickers in US history. At first, it appeared that he had won. THE LORD'S OF HELL'S KITCHEN - The New York Times Ron DeSantis and other officials . In March 1986, Featherstone was found guilty, and faced a sentence of 25 years to life. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod. In the criminal underworld, trust is a slippery commodity. Morgethau said the gang began as gamblers and loansharks but have committed 28 murders, five of which have been solved. With this evidence in hand showing that Featherstones fellow gang members had turned on him and set him up, his conviction was overturned in September 1986, and Featherstone agreed to become an informant. The Westies - Billy Beattie & Mickey Featherstone - Later Days (podcast ''These conditions are imposed to protect you from a psychiatric breakdown and any resulting harm to the community in which you will live. We have no records of past relationships for Mickey Featherstone. The Wild Westies' last stand? - IrishCentral.com Scottish Island for sale with asking price of $188,000. How feared was Mickey Featherstonereally? Admitted Westies Killer Who Informed Is Free, https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/01/nyregion/admitted-westies-killer-who-informed-is-free.html. According to The National Registry of Exonerations, Francis "Mickey" Featherstone was a member of the violent Irish organized crime gang known as the Westies, who sought power in the underworld of New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood from the 1960s to the late '80s. Nine gang members, including two of the three indicted Wednesday, are awaiting trial or serving prison terms. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. Alleged Westie's boss Jimmy Coonan, taken in 2015 in prison. The became hired killers in the 1970s, authorities said. Featherstone was stunned to finally be convicted of a murder, and not just because he had dodged so many guilty verdicts in the past. Mickey Featherstone is a member of the following lists: People from Manhattan, 1947 births and American military personnel of the Vietnam War. Grasping defeat from the jaws of victory. DeSantis amid feud over self-governing privileges. As they were interviewing employees, Mickey Featherstone walked right into their midst - short, slight and light-haired. On Dec. 21, he received a suspended sentence with five years of probation after Federal and state authorities sent letters commending his cooperation to Judge Robert W. Sweet, who sentenced him in Federal District Court in Manhattan. April 28 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman won a $300,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket just three years after winning a $250,000 lottery jackpot. Kevin Kelly effectively took over the day to day running of the Westies when Jimmy Coonan moved to New Jersey. It's men like Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone who gave Hell's Kitchen its name. Aussie tourist 'very sorry' for drunken, nude rampage in Indonesia. [1] He was shocked at receiving his sentence of 25 years in prison, and concluded that he had been framed by his own gang. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. The Westies grew out of a Hell's Kitchen bootlegging mob formed by former Cotton Club owner Owen Madden, authorities said. In the late 1970s, the Westies began collaborating with the Gambino family and its notorious Mafia, with the Westies functioning as an enforcer arm of the Gambino ring carrying out assigned executions and sharing in weekly profits. There were witnesses to the shooting, all of whom described the shooter as a man fitting Featherstones description. He has since been living in anonymity in the federal witness protection program. Support The National Registry of Exonerations , The Contribution of Forensic and Expert Evidence to DNA Exoneration Cases, Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States, 2022, Government Misconduct and Convicting the Innocent, Witness Recantations: Preliminary Findings, May 2013, Exonerations in the United States: 1989 - 2012, Tell us about an Exoneration that we missed, Tell He was circumcised. Released to the streets of Hells Kitchen in 1975, Featherstone formed an association with another feared gangster, Jimmy Coonan, a stone-cold killer with a fierce reputation. Francis Mickey Featherstone, a leader of New York Citys Irish organized crime gang known as the Westies, was set up by other members of the gang to take the fall for the 1985 murder of Michael Holly. [1][2], When a group from New Jersey, called the Riley brothers, entered Hell's Kitchen a fight started with the outsiders. After providing the necessary information about the crimes of his fellow Westies, 38-year-old Francis Mickey Featherstone entered the federal witness protection program. Thanks to everyone who came out, we had a fantastic time. Featherstone and the other Westies became known as ruthless killers who enjoyed near complete impunity due to the fear they struck in potential witnesses. Francis T. "Mickey" Featherstone (born September 2, 1948) is a former Irish American mobster and member of the Westies, an organized crime syndicate from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan in New York City, led by James Coonan. Mickey Featherstones Oldest Son Was in Kuwait before 9/11 and is now married to a School Teacher, His 2nd son Just received a Medal of Bravery from the armey his oldest daughter is married and has her own business and his youngest daughter is in college on a Athletic Schollarship. Relationships. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an . But now, Coonan realized he could kill two birds with one stone. He made it clear that he is not in it for the money but to let the public be aware of the TRUTH and most of all how he was framed by his lawyers, the westies, friends, and the NYPD for the Holly Killing. Jimmy, a charismatic sociopath, is the leader. In the mid-1970s, these two longtime friends take the reins of New York's Irish mob, using brute force to give it hitherto unthinkable power. Is he still alive? Dose anyone know what Micky looks like now? Mickey Featherstone is an American Criminal. When Mickey returned to the notoriously violent, Irish dominated Hell's Kitchen area of New York, his violent tendencies continued. And now, in April 2023, Carlson is gone too, even more abruptly than his predecessor, though perhaps under a similar cloud.Once again, the ouster is being crowed about by liberals who really . Francis T. "Mickey" Featherstone is a former Irish American mobster and member of the Westies, an organized crime syndicate from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan in New York City, led by James Coonan. Privacy Policy. The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in federal court against Florida Gov. April 28 (UPI) -- A Nebraska high school said it broke a Guinness World Record when more than 1,000 students participated in a water balloon toss event. Mickey, whose memories of Vietnam torture him daily, is his enforcer. Some of the loons that the boards attract never cease to amaze me. [2] His mother helped with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and his father was a United States Customs Service officer. They pulled over, either to do cocaine or because one of them asked him to.
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