Parnell “Stacks” Edwards, The Driver Who Parked A Stolen Van In A No-Parking Zone
Police PhotoParnell “Stacks” Edwards, a musician and criminal who got involved in the Lufthansa heist.
Though he only plays a minor role in Goodfellas, Parnell “Stacks” Edwards — portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson — played a major role in pushing Jimmy Burke over the edge.
Born in the South Bronx in January 1947, Parnell Edwards filled a number of roles throughout his life. He was a bodyguard, a musician, a robber — and an associate of the Lucchese crime family, after getting involved with organized crime in the 1960s.
When it came time for Burke to put together a plan for the Lufthansa heist, he recruited Edwards to dispose of the stolen Ford Econoline van the crew used. Edwards showed up as planned, and he did drive the van away from the Lufthansa Airlines terminal, but rather than head straight for a car compactor in New Jersey as he was instructed, Edwards decided to take a little bit of a detour.
Edwards drove the stolen van — a van, keep in mind, that police were actively searching for — to his girlfriend’s apartment. But authorities didn’t find it right away. In fact, it was two days later when police finally found the van, parked in a no-parking zone in Canarsie, Brooklyn.
Police impounded the van and eventually discovered Edwards’ fingerprints on it. It didn’t take long for authorities to connect Edwards back to Burke’s crew, and soon enough, they found themselves under heavy surveillance.
Warner Bros. EntertainmentSamuel L. Jackson as Stacks Edwards, a minor role that was still important in the true story that inspired Goodfellas.
Burke quickly realized how bad his situation had become — and he blamed Edwards for it. Edwards had brought the crew under the scrutiny of the law due to his carelessness, and such mistakes, he decided, could not be tolerated.
Paul Vario ultimately gave DeSimone the order to take Edwards out, leading DeSimone and another gangster, Angelo Sepe, to track Edwards down and shoot him dead on December 18, 1978.
But it was just the beginning of Burke’s attempts to tie up loose ends and get the heat off him, and soon enough, more people involved with the heist found themselves on the wrong end of the barrel of a gun.
After this look at the true stories inspired Goodfellas, check out these images from some of the most brutal mob hits in history. Then, see some of the most striking photos of the Mafia in the 1980s.
