#9: The Real William "Billy Batts" Bentvena, Gambino Crime Family Soldier

In this episode, we cover a mobster who is probably most well-known for enjoying a good shoe shine. That’s right, we’re talking about none other than William “Billy Batts” Bentvena.

“Billy Batts” was a soldier within the Gambino Crime Family from the 1950’s through the early 1970’s, and was one who rubbed elbows with some very famous Cosa Nostra members including of course his good friend, one John Joseph Gotti.

Bentvena’s lasting legacy is in my opinion not as a significant individual contributor to the mob, though he was tied up in a pretty significant event as we’ll discuss.

His name is really only remembered as a result of the repercussions of his brutal murder, which was famously portrayed in the classic mob film, Goodfellas. "Now go home and get your fucking shine box!" is one of the most memorable lines in movie history.