Published on: September 17, 2025, 05:13h.
Updated on: September 17, 2025, 05:13h.
- John Berkery, notorious leader of the Philly Irish mob, passes away at 91
- K&A Gang leader tied to drug trafficking and gambling operations
- Years as a fugitive concluded with arrest at Newark International Airport
John Carlyle Berkery, a prominent figure in the Irish mob often referred to as Philadelphia’s “Public Enemy No. 1,” has passed away at the age of 91, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. His family chose not to disclose further details.
Berkery was primarily known for his leadership of the K&A crew, a North Philadelphia group that evolved from small-time burglary into extensive involvement in meth trafficking and illegal gaming.
During his reign in the 1960s and 1970s, the gang became integral to underground betting operations, bookmaking schemes, and union racketeering, creating connections between Philadelphia’s Irish mobsters and Italian organized crime families, motorcycle gangs, and figures from the Dixie Mafia.
The Pottsville Heist
Berkery first made headlines in 1959 with the infamous Pottsville Heist, during which the home of industrialist John B. Rich was robbed.
Authorities estimated that nearly $500,000 was taken, although Rich later testified that the losses were significantly less.
Two associates linked to the incident were later murdered; despite being investigated as a suspect, Berkery faced no charges. He was convicted for the burglary but successfully appealed, avoiding a retrial.
By the early 1960s, Berkery was labeled as Philadelphia’s primary criminal target. Over the subsequent decades, he established connections with local mob boss Angelo Bruno and his lieutenant Frank Sindon, who was a godfather figure to Berkery’s child. These relationships opened doors to larger rackets encompassing gambling operations that transcended neighborhood boundaries and labor unions.
Fugitive Years
In 1982, federal prosecutors charged Berkery along with nearly 40 associates in a conspiracy related to methamphetamine production. The case alleged that the revenues were funneled through illegal gambling and various rackets.
Before authorities could apprehend him, Berkery managed to flee the country, marking the beginning of a five-year period as a fugitive. He traveled between Ireland, England, the Bahamas, and various states in the US, using forged documents and aliases.
The chase concluded in June 1987 when federal agents captured him at Newark International Airport. He received a 15-year prison sentence following his conviction.
Two years later, he successfully requested a new trial due to errors in jury instructions, a move he initiated on his own, further enhancing his reputation as a resourceful jailhouse lawyer. Rather than risk retrial, he opted for a plea bargain.
A Legal Mind
In his later life, Berkery transitioned into a paralegal role, actively seeking to influence the narrative surrounding his criminal history. He took legal action against author Allen Hornblum for the portrayal of the K&A Gang, though the courts dismissed his claims.
Hornblum described Berkery as both shrewd and adept at surviving in a realm where many of his contemporaries met grim fates or faced life sentences.
The Inquirer obituary noted Berkery’s audacious communication while evading capture. He sent letters to federal agents complaining about the Irish weather and even proposed terms for his surrender, showcasing a blend of criminal cunning and flamboyance.