John Shea (mobster)
Encyclopedia
John "Red" Shea was an Irish-American mobster from Boston
involved in narcotics and an associate of crime kingpin Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang
during the 1980s and '90s. He was indicted on cocaine trafficking charges in 1990 and served 12 years in prison.
Shea wrote a book called Rat Bastards; The Story of South Boston's Most Honorable Irish Mobster about his experience with the Winter Hill Gang. The main theme of the book is that he is a "stand-up guy" who refused to accept a plea deal to testify against his associates; and consequently had to serve the full sentence for his conviction. Several top ranking former members of the Bulger crew have dismissed Shea's book as wildly embellished, saying he was a low level criminal who sold drugs under the supervision of the crew, but was nowhere near as powerful in Boston organized crime as Shea alleges in his book.
Actor and Boston native Mark Wahlberg
wrote the introduction to his book.
During a game of football with Wahlberg and actor Alec Baldwin
on the set of The Departed
, Baldwin accidentally fractured Shea's thumb.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
involved in narcotics and an associate of crime kingpin Whitey Bulger and 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...
during the 1980s and '90s. He was indicted on cocaine trafficking charges in 1990 and served 12 years in prison.
Shea wrote a book called Rat Bastards; The Story of South Boston's Most Honorable Irish Mobster about his experience with the Winter Hill Gang. The main theme of the book is that he is a "stand-up guy" who refused to accept a plea deal to testify against his associates; and consequently had to serve the full sentence for his conviction. Several top ranking former members of the Bulger crew have dismissed Shea's book as wildly embellished, saying he was a low level criminal who sold drugs under the supervision of the crew, but was nowhere near as powerful in Boston organized crime as Shea alleges in his book.
Actor and Boston native Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
wrote the introduction to his book.
During a game of football with Wahlberg and actor Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
on the set of The Departed
The Departed
The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
, Baldwin accidentally fractured Shea's thumb.