3 ms·

This is just like the movie Goodfellas, except Tom Hayes (a.k.a. "Henry Hill") was not smart enough to, in a timely manner, seek out the prosecution and rattle

This is just like the movie Goodfellas, except Tom Hayes (a.k.a. "Henry Hill") was not smart enough to, in a timely manner, seek out the prosecution and rattle everybody out in exchange for entering the Witness Protection Program or some form of clemency. From what I have read in different cases involving a criminal group or simply a group of teenagers vandalizing a place, it does help to be the first one to talk to the police. Once the police / prosecution has enough information to make a case, they don't need anybody else. (For those who have not seen the movie, it's a good movie to watch.)

gvb 11y ago
He did "enter a “supergrass” (informer) deal in the U.K." and ratted out everybody. After ratting out everybody (and avoiding extradition to the US), he withdrew from the plea deal and gambled that the UK jury would be sympathetic. On Oct. 9, as the SFO was finalizing its case against Hayes and his co-conspirators, a white envelope arrived. It was from Hayes’s lawyers. “As a matter of courtesy we are now in a position to advise that Mr. Hayes will plead Not Guilty to all Counts,” the letter said. “Accordingly he now formally withdraws from the process.” Having avoided extradition, the natural born trader was taking the biggest risk of his life, reneging on the deal and entrusting his fate to random jurors in a London courtroom.
- eric_h 11y ago
  Seems as though that was the worst gamble he ever made. His other gambles were with others' money (essentially just gambling his job) - this one was for 14 years of his life.
MaxScheiber 11y ago
Off-topic nitpick: I wouldn't quite go that far with regards to your characterization of Hill. Hill entered the Witness Protection Program because he was convinced that Jimmy the Gent was going to kill him, and if I remember correctly, he had to be convinced to do so by the prosecutor of his case.

gvb 11y ago

He did "enter a “supergrass” (informer) deal in the U.K." and ratted out everybody. After ratting out everybody (and avoiding extradition to the US), he withdrew from the plea deal and gambled that the UK jury would be sympathetic. On Oct. 9, as the SFO was finalizing its case against Hayes and his co-conspirators, a white envelope arrived. It was from Hayes’s lawyers. “As a matter of courtesy we are now in a position to advise that Mr. Hayes will plead Not Guilty to all Counts,” the letter said. “Accordingly he now formally withdraws from the process.” Having avoided extradition, the natural born trader was taking the biggest risk of his life, reneging on the deal and entrusting his fate to random jurors in a London courtroom.

eric_h 11y ago
Seems as though that was the worst gamble he ever made. His other gambles were with others' money (essentially just gambling his job) - this one was for 14 years of his life.

MaxScheiber 11y ago

Off-topic nitpick: I wouldn't quite go that far with regards to your characterization of Hill. Hill entered the Witness Protection Program because he was convinced that Jimmy the Gent was going to kill him, and if I remember correctly, he had to be convinced to do so by the prosecutor of his case.