This heist propels Henry, Jimmy, and their friend Tommy DeSimone to a higher echelon within the mafia.
Henry and his pals pull of a major heist, stealing nearly half a million dollars from Air France. Kennedy Airport in New York and hijacking airline cargo becomes a major mafia pastime.
During the '60s and '70s, the mafia has great influence at John F. Jimmy's true passion, however, is hijacking. Paulie introduces Henry to Jimmy Burke, who teaches Henry the illegal cigarette business. Henry is reliable, loyal, and quick to recognize and act on an opportunity. Paul Vario is even more impressed with the adult Henry than he was with the child. As he comes of age, he throws himself into wiseguy schemes with gusto. Given these role models, it is no surprise Henry grows up to believe that honesty is for the weak and vulnerable he perceives law-abiding citizens as fools, as prey. Many judges, lawyers, and policemen are also on the wiseguys' payroll. Wiseguys offer an alternative to scraping out an honest living in difficult economic times many otherwise honest men and women are willing to accept a bribe now and again to earn a little extra money. In this insular neighborhood, even the legitimate businessmen are willing to cover for their wiseguy neighbors who are admired as entrepreneurs and are unafraid to bend the rules. Henry believes that his wiseguy friends are invulnerable, as indeed they seem to be. He neglects his schooling, and when the truant officer sends a letter to his parents, the Varios respond by threatening Henry's mailman to ensure Henry never receives another such letter. Henry feels accepted and approved of for the first time in his life. He quickly earns the approval of his elders, who allow him to drive their cars and drink their booze, making Henry feel like an adult. Henry is industrious, clever, and willing to hustle to run whatever errands the men need. As these men are criminals by nature, they have no qualms about luring young Henry into the life. The impressionable boy is introduced to the wealth and power that is granted the men in the Varios' employ. Henry is drawn to the mafia lifestyle as a young boy, taking a job at Tuddy Vario's cabstand at the age of eleven. Henry's heyday takes place during the 1960s and 1970s during which time he works under prominent mob boss Paul Vario in the Brownsville-East New York section of Brooklyn. Wiseguy is the true story of Henry Hill, a member of the Lucchese organized crime family in New York. Nicholas Pileggi's non-fiction book, Wiseguy, is the basis for the hit movie, GoodFellas, directed by Martin Scorsese (1990).
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