Praise for White Devil
“Bob Hallorans White Devil opens with a bang and doesn’t let up. Hallorans in-your-face narrative, honest and straightforward, packs power and punch, not to mention the elegance and integrity of old-school, gumshoe reporting. The book is daring and dangerous, full of that gritty, no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners storytelling found in any classic Boston crime book. Open White Devil and enter the hell Halloran has created with this incredible, haunting read.”
—M. WILLIAM PHELPS,
New York Times bestselling author
The events, locations, and conversations in this book, while true, are recreated from the author’s memory. However, the essence of the story, and the feelings and emotions evoked, are intended to be accurate representations. In certain instances, names, persons, organizations, and places have been changed to protect an individual’s privacy.
Copyright © 2016 by Mom’s Basement Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
BenBella Books, Inc.
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First E-Book Edition: January 2016.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Halloran, Bob, author.
White devil : the true story of the first white Asian crime boss / Bob Halloran.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-940363-79-0 (trade cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-940363-89-9 (electronic) 1. Gangsters—Massachusetts—Boston—Biography. 2. Organized crime—Massachussetts—Boston. 3. Chinatown (Boston, Mass.)—Social conditions. 4. Willis, John, 1971- I. Title.
HV6452.M4H35 2016
364.1092—dc23
[B]
2015030748
Editing by Erin Kelley
Copyediting by Karen Levy
Proofreading by Michael Fedison and Lisa Story
Cover design and illustration by Rodrigo Corral
Design Jacket design by Sarah Dombrowsky
Text design and composition by John Reinhardt Book Design
Printed by Lake Book Manufacturing
Distributed by Perseus Distribution
To place orders through Perseus Distribution:
Tel: (800) 343-4499
Fax: (800) 351-5073
E-mail: [email protected]
Significant discounts for bulk sales are available. Please contact Aida Herrera at [email protected].
A dedication with devotion to my lovely wife, Eileen. Years of love have come and gone, and many more will follow.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
IMET JOHN WILLIS at FCI Cumberland, a medium-security federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland, in the winter of 2014. After being cleared through security, I was taken to a small room with a table and two chairs. I sat with my back to the window overlooking the prison yard and facing the visitors’ room where several families spent time with dozens of inmates. It was a casual atmosphere with children playing and guards providing plenty of freedom to mingle.
After a few minutes, John walked in unaccompanied by a guard. He wore an orange jumpsuit, and he wasn’t handcuffed. I don’t think I expected him to be restrained, but I found myself surprised to be left alone in a room with a criminal known to have a violent past. I stood up and John shook my hand with a friendly greeting. And then we talked for three hours.
He
