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Joe Barboza
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DOB 9-20-32.
One
of the most fearsome Mob killers of the 1960’s, he dreamed of becoming
the first Portuguese-American inducted into LCN. Little did he know that
behind his back the Mafia referred to him as “the nigger.” Had a
falling-out with his LCN masters in 1966, and while he was in jail on a
gun charge, they began killing off his little East Boston crew.
Flipped in 1967, then
decided to make up a story to protect his friends and screw some people
he didn’t like. Went into Witness Protection Program, was relocated to
California where he murdered again. Witnesses sent out to testify for
him included Ted Harrington, now a federal judge in Boston. Barboza was
murdered by Boston Mafia capo J.R. Russo in San Francisco in 1976. |
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Joe Barboza as a boxer, 1961. |
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Two years later, Joe Barboza
knew he was on the Mafia’s Hit Parade. So he flipped and began telling
stories, one of which was about the Deegan murder. But Jimmy the Bear
was still his friend, so he made up a story to protect him, and also to
settle some scores with some local North Enders and Mafia types who he
felt had not shown him the proper respect. Barboza lied to send
four men to prison for more than 30 years for a crime they did not
commit, and that the FBI knew they did not commit. Asked about the
miscarriage of justice by a Congressman shortly before his death,
crooked FBI agent H. Paul Rico said, “What do you want from me,
tears? |
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