James Martorano
James "Jimmy" Martorano (born December 10, 1941) is an American organized crime figure with ties to the Winter Hill Gang of South Boston, Massachusetts and a member of the Patriarca crime family as of 1995.[1] Martorano is the younger brother of notorious "hitman" and later government witness, John Martorano.
James Martorano was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. His father was an immigrant from Riesi, Sicily, Italy. His Irish-American mother was a full-time homemaker. The Martorano family soon moved to East Milton, Massachusetts. He went on to attend Mount Saint Charles Academy with his brother John, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Martorano attended Thayerlands Elementary School in Braintree, Massachusetts and enrolled in Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island where he graduated. At Mount Saint Charles he played football with future CBS News television journalist Ed Bradley, whom he affectionately referred to as "Big Ed." James and John Martorano both graduated from Milton High School in 1959. His graduating high school year book quote was "Popularity is Glory".[citation needed]
He later went on to achieve a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College after accepting an athletic scholarship, something his brother John turned down after many potential offers. In 1976, as an associate of the Winter Hill Gang of Boston, Martorano was convicted of loansharking, extortion and fixing horse races.[2][3] Martorano was convicted due to information provided to federal authorities by fellow gang members, James Bulger and Stephen Flemmi.[4] After Martorano was sent to prison, his friend and informant Stephen Flemmi said, "Jimmy does good time." Martorano studied law while incarcerated.[1] He made several appeals of his conviction and was granted a new trial in 1980.[5] This decision, however, was reversed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals. http://openjurist.org/620/f2d/912/united-states-v-martorano. After his release, he worked as paralegal.[1]
In 1995, Martorano and six other men were indicted as active participants in activities of the Winter Hill Gang and Patriarca crime family.[6][7] Charges against Martorano included racketeering, extortion and conspiracy.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Rakowsky, Judy and Matthew Brelis, "US panel indicts Bulger, Salemme", The Boston Globe, January 1, 1995, pg1
- ^ "United States of America, Appellee, v. James Martorano, Appellant", United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. - 557 F.2d 1, Argued Dec. 13, 1976
- ^ "$100,000 BAIL IN RACE-FIX CASE", The Boston Globe, December 14, 1979
- ^ Bloom, Robert M, Ratting: the use and abuse of informants in the American justice system, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, ISBN 0-275-96818-9
- ^ "UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. James MARTORANO, Defendant-Appellant", United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit, 610 F.2d 36, Argued March 15, 1979. Decided Dec. 6, 1979.
- ^ Jasper, William F. "FBI Covering for Criminals", New American, 22 June 1998
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph, "New Indictment Cites Talk of Killing Gravano Family", The New York Times, March 19, 1992
