James Martorano
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Martorano 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. Martorano is the younger brother of notorious "hitman" and later government witness, John Martorano,
James Martorano was born in Somerville, Massachusetts
. His father, Patriarca crime family associate Luigi Martorano, was an immigrant from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His English-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".
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. Martorano was convicted due to information provided to federal authorities by fellow gang members, James Bulger
and Stephen Flemmi
. After Martorano was sent to prison, his friend and informant Stephen Flemmi said, "Jimmy does good time." Martorano studied law while incarcerated. He made several appeals of his conviction and was granted a new trial in 1980. 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.
In 1995, Martorano and six other men were indicted as active participants in activities of the Winter Hill Gang and Patriarca crime family. Charges against Martorano included racketeering, extortion and conspiracy.
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
figure with ties to the Winter Hill Gang
Winter Hill Gang
The Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
of South Boston, Massachusetts
South Boston, Massachusetts
South Boston is a densely populated neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located south and east of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. One of America's oldest and most historic neighborhoods, South Boston was formerly known as Dorchester Neck, and today is called "Southie" by...
and a member of the Patriarca crime family
Patriarca crime family
The Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England crime family and the Providence crime family, is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of the Italian-American Mafia or "La Cosa Nostra"...
as of 1995. Martorano is the younger brother of notorious "hitman" and later government witness, John Martorano,
James Martorano was born in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. His father, Patriarca crime family associate Luigi Martorano, was an immigrant from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His English-American mother was a full time homemaker. The Martorano family soon moved to East Milton, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
. He went on to attend Mount Saint Charles Academy
Mount Saint Charles Academy
Mount Saint Charles Academy is a private Catholic junior/senior high school located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. -History:...
with his brother John, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
.
Martorano attended Thayerlands Elementary School in Braintree, Massachusetts
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
and enrolled in Mount Saint Charles Academy
Mount Saint Charles Academy
Mount Saint Charles Academy is a private Catholic junior/senior high school located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. -History:...
in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
where he graduated. At Mount Saint Charles he played football with future CBS News television journalist Ed Bradley
Ed Bradley
Edward Rudolph "Ed" Bradley, Jr. was an American journalist, best known for twenty-six years of award-winning work on the CBS News television program 60 Minutes...
, 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".
He later went on to achieve a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
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
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
horse races. Martorano was convicted due to information provided to federal authorities by fellow gang members, James Bulger
James J. Bulger
James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger, Jr. is a former organized crime figure from Boston, Massachusetts.Local folklore depicted Bulger as a Robin Hood-style social bandit dedicated to protecting the neighborhood and its residents. Bulger allegedly masterminded a protection racket targeting drug kingpins...
and Stephen Flemmi
Stephen Flemmi
Stephen Joseph "The Rifleman" Flemmi is an Italian-American mobster and close associate of Winter Hill Gang boss James J. Bulger. Beginning in 1965, Flemmi was a top echelon informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation...
. After Martorano was sent to prison, his friend and informant Stephen Flemmi said, "Jimmy does good time." Martorano studied law while incarcerated. He made several appeals of his conviction and was granted a new trial in 1980. 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.
In 1995, Martorano and six other men were indicted as active participants in activities of the Winter Hill Gang and Patriarca crime family. Charges against Martorano included racketeering, extortion and conspiracy.