FBI digging at former home of famed New York mobster
NEW YORK — Jackhammers are digging under a New York City house once occupied by a famous gangster who is said to have buried victims in familiar places.
The digging started Monday in Queens’ South Ozone neighborhood. It was home to James Burke, a Lucchese crime family associate known as “Jimmy the Gent.”
A character based on Burke was played by Robert De Niro in the movie “Goodfellas.”
Burke died behind bars in 1996, two decades after authorities say he masterminded a nearly $6 million robbery at New York’s Kennedy Airport.
The Queens house is still owned by the Burke family, but others now live there.
An FBI spokesman confirmed agents were investigating but gave no details.
Burke owned a Queens saloon that fellow mobster Henry Hill described as Burke’s private cemetery.