Howie Winter

Howard Thomas Winter (March 17, 1929 – November 12, 2020) was an American mobster. He was a leader of the Winter Hill Gang.

Howie Winter
Born
Howard Thomas Winter

(1929-03-17)March 17, 1929
West Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedNovember 12, 2020(2020-11-12) (aged 91)
Millbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationCrime boss
Trucker
Years active1965–1979
PredecessorJames McLean
SuccessorWhitey Bulger
Spouse(s)Rosemary O'Brien
Children1
AllegianceWinter Hill Gang
Criminal chargeExtortion

Early life

Winter was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 17, 1929. He was of German and Irish descent. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Winter died on November 12, 2020 at his home in Milbury, Massachusetts.[1][2]

Irish Mob

Winter was the right-hand man to the originator of the gang, James "Buddy" McLean and took over the rackets, along with Joe McDonald, when McLean was killed during the Irish Mob Wars in 1965. In 1979 Winter, McDonald and other members of the Winter Hill Gang were arrested and indicted on federal "horse race fixing" charges. James "Whitey" Bulger then replaced Winter as boss of the gang.

Winter was released from prison in 1987 and he relocated to St. Louis where he was in contact with gang associate James "Gentleman Jim" Mulvey and close friend of Raymond L. S. Patriarca. In 1993, he was caught dealing cocaine. When the FBI informed him that Bulger had been an informant all those years and offered Winter a deal if he would inform on Bulger, Winter refused the deal telling the FBI that Mulvey has already informed him of that and he was no "rat", despite facing another decade behind bars, which he would serve, being released from prison in July 2002.[3]

Later life

Following his release from prison, Winter worked out of his home in Millbury as a property manager. In 2012, Winter was arrested on charges of extorting money from two people. He was released on bail and the trial is still pending as of 2015.[4]

Personal life

He married Rosemary O'Brien and he had two sons, Howard E. Winter (1950 – 2012), Gary J Winter (1951-2001).[5] Winter died of a heart attack, on November 12, 2020 in Millbury at the age of 91.[6]

Further reading
  • Bloom, Robert M. Ratting: The Use and Abuse of Informants in the American Justice System. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. ISBN 0-275-96818-9
  • Martini, Bobby and Keratsis, Elayne. Citizen Somerville: Growing Up With The Winter Hill Gang Boston, Massachusetts: Powderhouse Press, 2010. ISBN 9780982991503
  • Matera, Dary. FBI's Ten Most Wanted. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. ISBN 0-06-052435-9
  • Willis, Clint (ed.) Wise Guys: Stories of Mobsters from Jersey to Vegas. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003. ISBN 1-56025-498-X

References
Notes
  1. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/13/metro/former-winter-hill-gang-leader-howie-winter-has-died/ Former Winter Hill Gang Leader Howie Winter Has Died
  2. [https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/11/13/former-winter-hill-mob-boss-howie-winter-dies-he-was-91/ Boston Herald /2020/11/13/ Former Winter Hill mob boss Howie Winter dies he was 91/]
  3. "Locate a Federal Inmate: Howard Winter". Federal Bureau of Prisons. 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  4. "Howie Winter, former head of Winter Hill Gang, to be arraigned in Somerville District Court". Boston.com. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  5. Howard E. Winter on Legacy.com
  6. "Howie Winter, former Winter Hill Gang leader, dies at age 91". Mass Live. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
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