Thomas DeSimone was more than just a gangster; he was a force of nature, a whirlwind of violence and unpredictability who carved a bloody path through the New York underworld. His life, immortalized in the classic film “Goodfellas,” was a chilling testament to the brutal realities of organized crime. This is the true story of the man behind the movie myth.
A Violent Beginning: The Early Life of Thomas DeSimone
Thomas DeSimone was born into a world of crime. While sources differ on his exact birthplace, either New York or Massachusetts, his upbringing in New York City was steeped in the traditions of the American Mafia. His family tree was a veritable who’s who of organized crime, with his grandfather and uncle both serving as bosses in the Los Angeles crime family.
DeSimone’s own siblings were no strangers to the life. Two of his brothers were associates of the notorious Gambino crime family, and his sister, Phyllis, was the mistress of the infamous mobster James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke. It was a world where violence was a language, and loyalty was everything.
By the tender age of 15, DeSimone had already embarked on his own criminal career, joining the crew of Lucchese family capo Paul Vario. It was here that he would meet Henry Hill, the man whose life story would form the basis of “Goodfellas.” From the very beginning, DeSimone’s defining characteristic was his explosive temper, a trait that would both fuel his rise and seal his doom.
The Rise of a Psychopath: DeSimone’s Brutal Crimes
DeSimone’s reputation for violence was not just a matter of hearsay; it was a horrifying reality. Henry Hill, his close associate, would later describe him as a “pure psychopath,” a man who could kill without remorse or reason. His violent tendencies were not just reserved for his enemies; even his friends and associates were not safe from his unpredictable rage.
One of the most chilling examples of DeSimone’s depravity was the murder of Michael “Spider” Gianco. After Gianco, a young bartender, forgot DeSimone’s drink, the mobster shot him in the leg. A week later, when Gianco, still in a cast, dared to stand up for himself, DeSimone shot him three more times, killing him in cold blood.
This was not an isolated incident. DeSimone was known to use random people for target practice, and his hair-trigger temper meant that any perceived slight could have fatal consequences. He was a man who thrived on fear and demanded respect, and he was not afraid to use violence to get it.
The “Billy Batts” Murder: A Fatal Insult
Of all of DeSimone’s crimes, none is more infamous than the murder of William “Billy Batts” Bentvena. Bentvena, a “made man” in the Gambino crime family, had just been released from prison and was being honored with a “welcome home” party. It was here that he made a fatal mistake.
Bentvena jokingly asked DeSimone if he still shined shoes, a reference to DeSimone’s humble beginnings. For a man as insecure and hungry for respect as DeSimone, this was an unforgivable insult. He vowed to kill Bentvena, and a few weeks later, he made good on his promise.
At another nightclub, DeSimone, with the help of Jimmy Burke, brutally beat Bentvena, leaving him for dead. They stuffed his body in the trunk of a car, only to discover later that he was still alive. What followed was a gruesome and savage end for Bentvena, who was stabbed and beaten to death.
The Lufthansa Heist: A High-Stakes Robbery
In 1978, DeSimone was a key player in one of the most audacious robberies in American history: the Lufthansa heist. The target was the Lufthansa cargo terminal at JFK Airport, and the prize was an estimated $6 million in cash and jewels. It was a high-stakes operation that required precision and discipline, two qualities that were not exactly DeSimone’s strong suits.
The heist itself was a success, but the aftermath was a bloodbath. The plan began to unravel when one of the participants, Parnell “Stacks” Edwards, made a critical error, leaving a getaway vehicle in a no-parking zone. The discovery of the truck by police, complete with Edwards’ fingerprints, sent a wave of paranoia through the crew, particularly the heist’s mastermind, Jimmy Burke.
Burke, fearing that the loose ends could lead back to him, decided to eliminate anyone who could potentially talk. DeSimone, ever the loyal soldier, became Burke’s angel of death, carrying out a series of murders to silence the members of the heist crew. But even as he was eliminating others, DeSimone’s own past was catching up to him.
The Disappearance: A Mob-Style Execution
In January 1979, just weeks after the Lufthansa heist, Thomas DeSimone vanished. He was told that he was finally going to be “made,” a formal induction into the Mafia that he had craved his entire life. It was a lie. DeSimone was walking into a trap, a carefully orchestrated execution designed to settle old scores.
The order for DeSimone’s death came from the Gambino crime family. His murder of Billy Batts, a made man, was a cardinal sin in the Mafia, a violation of their code of conduct that could only be answered with death. His murder of Ronald Jerothe, a protege of the powerful Gambino captain John Gotti, further sealed his fate.
DeSimone was never seen again. His body was never found, but the message was clear. In the world of the Mafia, there are lines that even the most feared and violent men cannot cross. Thomas DeSimone had crossed them, and he paid the ultimate price.
The “Goodfellas” Legacy: From Mobster to Movie Icon
Thomas DeSimone’s story might have ended in an unmarked grave, but his legacy took on a new life on the silver screen. In 1990, director Martin Scorsese released “Goodfellas,” a cinematic masterpiece that brought the world of the Lucchese crime family to vivid, brutal life. At the heart of the film was the character of Tommy DeVito, a charismatic but psychopathic gangster played with terrifying intensity by Joe Pesci.
DeVito was, of course, based on DeSimone, and Pesci’s performance captured the essence of the man’s violent and unpredictable nature. The film, based on Nicholas Pileggi’s book “Wiseguy,” which was in turn based on the real-life accounts of Henry Hill, became a cultural phenomenon, and DeSimone, through the character of DeVito, became a household name.
The film took some creative liberties, of course. The real DeSimone was a physically imposing man, a stark contrast to Pesci’s smaller stature. But the core of the character, the explosive rage, the casual brutality, and the desperate need for respect, was all DeSimone. It was a chillingly accurate portrayal of a man who was both a product and a victim of the violent world he inhabited.
