Vincent Asaro: Mobster Charged in Heist That Inspired ‘Goodfellas’ Dies at 86

The death of Vincent Asaro, a name closely associated with New York’s underworld, at the age of 86 signals the end of an era in the history of the mafia in the city. On July 10, 1937, in Ozone Park, Queens, Vincent Asaro was born. Because of his ancestors’ connections to the mafia, Vincent Asaro was destined to become involved in organized crime.

Asaro was detained by the FBI on January 23, 2014, and he was charged with federal racketeering in connection with the 1978 Lufthansa robbery. Charges also included involvement in the pornographic industry, theft of $1.25 million worth of gold salts, and ordering the murder of a cousin who gave evidence in court. Along with Asaro, Jerome, Thomas DiFiore, Giacomo Bonventre, and John Ragano, a soldier, were also detained.

Vincent Asaro: Mobster Charged in Heist That Inspired ‘Goodfellas’ Dies at 86

Mobster charged in the heist that served as the inspiration for “Goodfellas” dies at 86. According to individuals familiar with the case, Vincent “Vinny” Asaro, one of the suspected mafiosos who was at one time believed to be responsible for the 1978 theft of a Lufthansa cargo building from JFK, has passed away, the New York Post reported on Sunday. At age 86, Asaro.

According to the Post, it was not immediately obvious what caused his death, which occurred three years after his release from prison on humanitarian grounds. Asaro had a stroke in 2019 that left him with aphasia and a partial paralysis, according to a judge’s decision on the “extraordinary and compelling” reasons for his release.