The Big Heist
The Real Story of the Lufthansa Heist, the Mafia, and Murder
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3.9 • 18 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
This Pulitzer Prize-winner’s account of the heist that inspired Goodfellas reveals the rest of the story that couldn’t be told—until now (Publisher Weekly).
One of the biggest scores in Mafia history, the Lufthansa Airlines heist of 1978 has become the stuff of mafia legend—and a decades-long federal investigation. Now Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony DeStefano sheds new light on this unsolved case using new evidence revealed during the 2015 trial of eighty-year-old mafioso Vincent Asaro.
For the first time, Asaro speaks out on his role in the brazen heist that removed millions of dollars from John F. Kennedy International Airport. This authoritative account goes behind the headlines and Hollywood movies, taking readers inside the ranks of America’s infamous Mafia families—with never-before-told stories, late-breaking news, and bombshell revelations.
“A comprehensive account…impressive.”—Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Veteran Mafia chronicler DeStefano (Gangland New York: The Places and Faces of Mob History) serves up a comprehensive account of the legendary 1978 heist at New York's JFK Airport, including the recent indictment of Vincent Asaro, an elderly member of the Bonanno crime family, who was charged and acquitted in 2015, decades after the theft. DeStefano traces the arc of Asaro's Mafia career before delving into allegations made by his cousin Gaspare Valenti, a fellow organized-crime associate, who testified that Asaro took part in the robbery. Though the book melds an impressive amount of material into a coherent narrative, it's not all that suspenseful, especially for those familiar with the crime, which is documented in other accounts such as Nicholas Pileggi's Wiseguys (1985). DeStefano's insights into the more recent material, such as the trial of Asaro, aren't enough to sustain interest.
Customer Reviews
Excellent account, a great read
Enjoy your journey.