As one of the most powerful crime bosses in Harlem, Bumpy Johnson’s life was full of power, and influence. While some considered him a criminal, others viewed him as a protector of his community.
His real name was Ellsworth Raymond Johnson, but people called him “Bumpy” because of a bump on his head. During his prime years, he controlled illegal activities in Harlem and also had strong connections with the Italian Mafia. His reign lasted for decades before he passed away on 7th July 1968.
Even though Bumpy is gone, his legacy lives on. If you are eager to delve deeper into the crime boss’ life story, you will find the details in this post.
Bumpy Johnson was born on 31st October 1905, in Charleston, South Carolina to parents William Johnson and Margaret Moultrie. Growing up, Bumpy had a tough childhood. He had an elder brother named Willie, who was accused of killing a white man. Fearing a lynch mob, they sent Willie to live with their relatives in the north.
Having a rough childhood made Bumpy made short-tempered. Instead of completing high school, he quit education and did a few casual jobs before meeting Gangster William Hewett. As Bumpy started working for William, it marked the beginning of his life of crime.
Bumpy’ criminal career began when he started working for William Hewett. In the 1930s, he caught the attention of Stephanie St. Clair, a powerful woman who controlled the illegal numbers racket in Harlem. She took him under her wing, giving Bumpy the responsibility to protect her business from rival gangsters like Dutch Schultz.
Bumpy helped St. Clair fight back against Schultz and gained more power in Harlem’s underworld. After Dutch Schultz was killed in 1935, Bumpy took full control of Harlem’s numbers racket.
Bumpy Johnson was married to Mayme Hatcher. The two tied the knot in 1948 and had a close relationship despite his dangerous lifestyle. They shared two daughters, Elease and Ruthie.
Bumpy passed away on 7th July 1968, at the age of 62. According to reports, he succumbed to a heart attack while having dinner at Wells Restaurant in Harlem. The waitress had served him food, when he fell from his chair, clutching his chest. As for his wife, she died in 2009, at the age of 94.
At the time of his death, Bumpy Johnson’s net worth was estimated to be around $50 million. As a crime boss, he made most of his money from illegal businesses. His main source of income was the numbers racket, an illegal lottery that was popular in Harlem. Besides that, he made additional money from drug trafficking, gambling houses, extortion, and loan sharking.
Despite his wealth, Bumpy spent time in and out of prison. He was arrested multiple times because of his illegal activities. The longest sentence he served was 15 years because of drug smuggling. Even while in prison, he controlled his operations through his associates.
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