To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Francis T. Featherstone - National Registry of Exonerations Pre 1989 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. After providing the necessary information about the crimes of his fellow Westies, 38-year-old Francis Mickey Featherstone entered the federal witness protection program. Updated: Nov. 17, 2021 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. '', ''During the 40 years of your life,'' Judge Sweet told Mr. Featherstone, ''you have experienced violence as a child, as a student in our city schools, as a soldier in Vietnam, as a criminal on the streets and as a killer and an enforcer of one of the most feared gangs in our city.'' [1] His testimony at Coonan's racketeering trial during 198788 helped to bring down Coonan's gang. Thiscourtroom dramatells the story of ajury of 12 men as they deliberate the conviction or acquittal of an 18-year old defendanton the basis ofreasonable do, Joe Poletto continues his conversation with Billy Beattie, founding member of the notorious Westies and Art Ruffles, FBI special agent in charge of the organized crime unit. Sissy Featherstone had regular interactions with Billy Bokun, and she was able to record Bokun describing the shooting of Michael Holly while wearing a wig, as well as expressing his belief that Kevin Kelly had asked him to wear the wig in order to eliminate Featherstone as a competitor for power within the Westies. [1][2] He began spending time in saloons like Club 596 and Sunbrite that were hangouts for the Westies.[2]. In neighborhood saloons, Featherstones paranoia and violence kept pace with his level of inebriation, but he largely managed to evade consequences for his violent escapades. Mickey Featherstone, The Hitman Who Took Down The Westies [3][4] He received a medical discharge in 1967 after just a year, claiming to have hallucinations. On April 25, 1985, Billy Bokun (John Bokuns brother), wearing a wig to look like Featherstone, approached Holly on a crowded street and killed him, firing five bullets into his back. He was charged with three murders over the years, but was always able to get acquitted after pleading insanity. 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. It's men like Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone who gave Hell's Kitchen its name. He was in the westies but went into witness protection in the 80s or 90s. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. #opensource #serverless. One day you're a made man, the next, you're sleeping with the fishes. After weaseling out of three murder charges, and most likely being responsible for countless others, an internal dispute within the Westies would result in Featherstone finally and ironically going to prison for a murder he didn't really commit. He was blond haired and baby-faced. 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. Books of The Times; The Rise and Fall of a Thoroughly Vicious Gang Mickey Featherstone was second-in-command to Jimmy Coonan, leader of the Westies, an extremely violent Irish mob that operated in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, in the 1970s and 1980s. She was able to record Bokun describing the shooting of Michael Holly while wearing a wig as Featherstone. 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. 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. DeSantis amid feud over self-governing privileges. Neil Patmore is a former police officer, and private investigator. It's men like Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone who gave Hell's Kitchen its name. 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. Kevin Kelly effectively took over the day to day running of the Westies when Jimmy Coonan moved to New Jersey. Less than three months later, the three killers drove the victim to New Jersey 'where Kelly took out a pistol and shot Leone two times in the back of the head,' the district attorney said. The three, James McElroy, 36, William Bokun, 29, and Kevin Kelly, 31, allegedly killed Leone in Guttenberg, N.J., on Feb. 11, 1984. Grasping defeat from the jaws of victory. 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. Westies Part 2 Jimmy Coonan goes down - Gangland Wire 'That's the way they get the message out.'. He went on trial with Coonan for the killing of a barman, but they were acquitted in December 1979 after one witness killed himself and another refused to testify. Florida Democrats skewered Gov. April 28 (UPI) -- An isolated private island off the coast of Scotland is for sale with an asking price of about $188,000. 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 . Disney sues Florida Gov. Nevertheless, his temper was infamous and if alcohol was involved, he was especially prone to violence. Alligator removed from South Carolina resident's garage. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Back in Hells Kitchen, Featherstone soon found himself involved in more serious forms of criminal mischief. So she cant better her life due to her family history? He never saw combat. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Featherstone, This week we finish up our series with Justin Rimmel from Mysterious Circumstances talking about the downfall of one of the most violent gangs in the history of NYC. Led by Jimmy Coonan and, From an introduction made by his long time friend Tom Sheer, Joe Poletto was introduced to Art Ruffles, special agent in charge of the FBIs organized crime unit in charge of the Gambino, DeMeo and Westies cases. But the Westies eventual downfall would come thanks to Mickey Featherstone himself, after he was framed for the murder of Michael Holly by Coonan in 1985. Congrats to him for being the first multi-million dollar illiterate trader. They said that over the years it has been steeped in gambling and loansharking. In April 1986, Featherstone was convicted of Hollys murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Well never sell your personal information. Judge Sweet, noting that Mr. Featherstone had already served the equivalent of a five-year sentence on a murder charge that was later dismissed, said the probation on the racketeering charge included conditions that the defendant take part in counseling and rehabilitation programs. Jimmy, a charismatic sociopath, is the leader. The Westies - Billy Beattie & Mickey Featherstone - Later Days (podcast Feb 13, 2011 #28. Featherstone and the other Westies became known as ruthless killers who enjoyed near complete impunity due to the fear they struck in potential witnesses. Thanks to everyone who came out, we had a fantastic time. The Westies have been linked with the Gambino crime family for the last eight to 10 years, Morgenthau said. In 1984 Vincent Leone, Jimmy McElroy and Kevin Kelly were travelling in Leone's car in New Jersey. The car driven by the shooter had been abandoned on the street, and it was traced to the trucking company where Featherstone was employed at that time. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Courtroom. Mickey, whose memories of Vietnam torture him daily, is his enforcer. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration Any word on Mickey Featherstone? : r/Mafia - Reddit 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. Mickey Featherstone was second-in-command to Jimmy Coonan, leader of the Westies, an extremely violent Irish mob that operated in Hells Kitchen, Manhattan, in the 1970s and 1980s. Outside the courtroom, Coonan's lawyer Lawrence Hochheiser said, 'She's a housewife her only crime is being his wife.' He spent periods of time back in a mental hospital, but always returned to involvement with the Westies. ''Mickey has always lied,'' Mr. Moresco said. In 1977, a Westies member named John Bokun was shot and killed, and the Westies attributed this killing to Michael Holly, who moved out of town immediately after Bokuns death. After all, Featherstone had killed men in neighborhood bars in front of witnesses multiple times and beat the charges. 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. Coonan's former underling, Francis 'Mickey' Featherstone, has pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering charge and is cooperating with authorities, leading to the recent spate of arrests. Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over control of Reedy Creek 10 American Mobsters Who Were Not Italian Americans Judge Sweet stressed that Mr. Featherstone testified as a major witness in a trial that ended early this year in the conviction of seven members of the Westies, including James Coonan, the gang's leader, who received a sentence of 75 years in prison. It's men like Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone who gave Hell's Kitchen its name. He was born on the upper West Side and his mother worked with the VFW and his father was a U. S. Customs officer. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. At 17, Featherstone lied about his age and joined the army with dreams of becoming a Green Beret. The Westies by T. J. English - Audiobook - Audible.com April 29 (UPI) -- An Australian tourist facing possible flogging after being accused of going on a drunken nude rampage in the Indonesian province of Ache says he felt "almost possessed" at the time. 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. In the latest indictment, Julia Coonan, 44, wife of imprisoned Westies leader James Coonan, was charged with scheming to murder the loanshark, he said. Mickey Featherstone - Wikipedia This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Joey and Friend David Rafeli Owner/CEO at Rafaeli's Cigars. 2 mo. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. Mickey Featherstone Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net ''This sentence is an act of trust which you have earned,'' the judge told Mr. Featherstone. Featherstone returned with a rifle and shot one of the brothers John Riley in the arm, for which he was arrested and probationed. Those who knew him in the neighborhood often crossed the street when they saw him coming their way. He was a house mom for his first couple of yrs in the WPP and he is now a day trader investing only personal funds. April 28 (UPI) -- The PGA Tour's Mexico Open was briefly interrupted when a swarm of bees sent a group of golfers ducking in the grass. Mickey Featherstone girlfriend, wife list. Morgenthau said in their heyday there were 30 Westies, but that number has been reduced to 10 or 15 as many of them have been jailed or killed. In late November, McElroy and Kelly also paid a visit to their leader, Morgenthau said. 1 killed in shooting at Massachusetts house party, Heavy shelling in Kherson, Kharkiv destroys residences, Cuba postpones International Workers' Day parade over fuel shortages, Democrats, Republicans remain split on debt ceiling plan, SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches following aborted mission, delays. The District Attorneys office agreed to work with Featherstones wife, Sissy Featherstone, to see if they could obtain evidence confirming Featherstones claims. He had his wife Sissy record some conversations with Westie Billy Bokun, brother of John, in which he admitted to killing Holly. Federal officials said Friday that Mr. Featherstone was released from custody on Dec. 23, two days after he was given probation on a racketeering charge involving the Westies, a gang that terrorized an area of Manhattan west of Eighth Avenue between 42d and 57th Streets. Lol. American military personnel of the Vietnam War. But now, Coonan realized he could kill two birds with one stone. The Westies: Inside the Hell's Kitchen Irish Mob - amazon.com Francis (Mickey) Featherstone, an admitted killer who turned informer, has won his freedom, largely in return for testifying against his former associates in a violent gang called the Westies. 'They shared in the proceeds of gambling and loansharking on the West Side and they also have been used as hired guns for the Gambino family,' he said. 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. 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. Left to Right. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. How feared was Mickey Featherstonereally? Outside the courtroom, Coonan's lawyer Lawrence Hochheiser said, 'She's a housewife her only crime is being his wife. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. At first, it appeared that he had won. Then in 1985, Coonan, fearing a power grab by Featherstone, set him up to take a fall for murder. Some of the loons that the boards attract never cease to amaze me. Featherstone's penchant for violence and intimidation caught the eye of Coonan and Featherstone became Coonan's right-hand man by 1976. Coonan held Holly responsible for Bokuns death, but his murder was repeatedly put off over the years. 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 [1] Rather than serving his sentence he instead told prosecutors that Bokun had committed the murder, and he became an informant. J.Coonan little girl.. not sure of the date this was posted. 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. Featherstone was given 25 years to life for Holly's murder. When Mickey returned to the notoriously violent, Irish dominated Hell's Kitchen area of New York, his violent tendencies continued. 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. Jimmy Coonan, the ruthless leader of the Westies in the 1970s. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod. Privacy Policy. Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an . gb1993 2 yr. ago In May 1977, Jimmy Coonan owed a substantial amount of money to loan shark Ruby Stein and decided to forgive his own debt by murdering Stein. Relationship history. Put this image on your website to promote the show -, Report inappropriate content or request to remove this page. 11/2=60yr old scumbag, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, http://www.visitmonmouth.com/sheriff/up 007web.jpg. Kevin Kelly - The Irish Mob Defense Lawyers' Complaints. After deciding to cooperate with the authorities, Mr. Featherstone pleaded guilty to a Federal racketeering charge, admitting his participation in four murders, five murder conspiracies and additional acts of loan-sharking, drug dealing and other crimes. The man the gang judged responsible for the murder, Michael Holly, skipped town to escape the heat, but returned a few years later. Micky and His Wife Missy are very happy living in a 2.5 millon home in Southwestern section of America where it seldom rains and almost never snows. Billy Bokuns attorney was Kenneth Aronson, the same attorney who had represented Featherstone in Hollys murder trial. Help us build our profile of Mickey Featherstone! Many people mistakenly underestimated Featherstone, given his small stature, making him even more dangerous. The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence. He also said he'd been ordered to carry out the murder in a wig, which he believed was meant to make him look like Mickey. on our list, Other By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Dog missing for 26 days walked 40 miles to his former home. ''And he's in a pickle now where he has to lie.'' Mr. Moresco's own life is deeply enmeshed in that of the Hell's Kitchen where he grew up in. Tucker Carlson out at Fox News: What it took to topple Tucker. 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. Francis "Mickey" Featherstone, a leader of New York City's 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. He had been informed by Westies member Kevin Kelly the night before Hollys murder that Holly was going to be killed. According to our records, Mickey Featherstone is possibly single. Admitted Westies Killer Who Informed Is Free - New York Times THE LORD'S OF HELL'S KITCHEN - The New York Times Francis Mickey Featherstone was born on West 43rd Street on Sept. 2, 1948. Meet Mickey Featherstone, The Deranged Hitman Who Turned Informant And Helped Bring Down The Westies. Morgethau said the gang began as gamblers and loansharks but have committed 28 murders, five of which have been solved. 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. The Westies : Inside New York's Irish Mob - Google Books [2] His conviction eventually came in February 1982, after using counterfeit currency at a massage parlor - he was traced because the girl remembered seeing his name tattooed on his forearm, and he was sentenced to six years. A Federal prosecutor, Mary Lee Warren, said Friday that the Government had fulfilled its obligation to bring Mr. Featherstone's cooperation to the judge's attention but made no recommendation about the sentence. This is legendary NYC drug kingpin Frank Mathews. Yet to those closest to him, Mickey was kind, devoted and generous to a fault. The Irish Mob - Left to Right. Kevin Kelly (Westies), | Facebook He came back home and moved his way up in the Westies, making a name for himself as a killer. No one couldve predicted that Featherstone, perhaps the gangs most violent and dedicated member, would be the one to put an end to the Westies, and perhaps the Irish mob in Manhattan, once and for all. With this evidence, Featherstones conviction was overturned in September 1986 according to The National Registry Of Exonerations, and Featherstone agreed to become an informant. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Through his work in the Westies, Art secured Billy Beattie and another Westies member . 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. 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. But the Westies now had an enemy in Featherstone. The shooter, Featherstone learned, was Billy Bokun. 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. This book is a lot more focused on one man's role (Mickey Featherstone) in the Westies, rather than the Westies as a whole. Anyone can read what you share. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. It didn't help his case that the shooter abandoned a car owned by Mickey's place of employment at the time. Mickey Featherstone : r/Mafia - Reddit Dose anyone know what Micky looks like now? Because of men like Featherstone, convictions of Westies members became increasingly difficult to secure because potential witnesses were terrified of them and their willingness to swiftly kill anyone who crossed them. DeSantis Gets Chilly Reception in DC From Frustrated Florida Democrats TwitterFrancis T. Mickey Featherstone was a member of the Irish mob until he was framed for a murder he didnt commit and turned informant. Even among his murderous peers, he was known as a brutal killer. Mickey Featherstone is a member of the following lists: People from Manhattan, 1947 births and American military personnel of the Vietnam War. Ron DeSantis and other officials . Seems like a quiet shy guy but in reality he's a stone cold killer. Nine gang members, including two of the three indicted Wednesday, are awaiting trial or serving prison terms. 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. Mickey Featherstone news, gossip, photos of Mickey Featherstone, biography, Mickey Featherstone girlfriend list 2022. Featherstone was convicted in 1986, but his conviction was reversed later that year when the actual shooter was identified. Featherstone committed several mob killings before he was convicted in 1986 of a murder he had not committed. She said the Government explained the scope and value of his cooperation, along with the severity of his offense. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Mickey Featherstone dating history - Who's Dated Who? Facing almost 25 years in jail, he became an informant and brought down Coonan's gang. Public DomainGambino boss Paul Castellano. By the mid 1980s, Featherstone was convinced that Coonan, living in New Jersey, had sold the neighborhood out to the Mafia, and bad blood festered. The Registry also maintains a more limited database of known exonerations prior to 1989. Nebraska students toss water balloons for Guinness World Record. Reality of Hell's Kitchen Is Playwright's Material Mickey Featherstone: The Dangerous Hitman Currently Free In - Grunge [4] He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge and received a suspended sentence of five years' probation from Judge Robert W. Sweet due to his cooperation with the authorities. On March 25, 1977, Westie John Bokun was shot dead by police after an argument with another Hells Kitchen resident, Michael Holly. Public DomainJimmy Coonan, the ruthless leader of the Westies in the 1970s. Wrongfully convicted of murder, Featherstone sought to clear his name by becoming a government witness. 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. 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. [3] To his disappointment, he was pulled from combat duty, he was involved in criminal mischief with his friends and was disciplined for many drunken pranks. Contract murders are a relatively new enterprise, they said. Or, as was the case with Mickey Featherstone, you find you've been chosen as the fall guy for a power grab within the gang. For more information, please see our Ron DeSantis for assailing Disney, which employees tens of thousands of their constituents, just to court MAGA voters. He had been discharged from the army in 1967, suffering from hallucinations, and spent years in and out of a mental hospital. District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said the gang was linked with the Gambino crime family, New York's strongest Mafia group, and served as 'hired guns' for the Gambinos, whose reputed leader, John Gotti, is standing trial in Brooklyn. Circumcision, Serial Killing, Criminal Behavior and American Medical
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