They soon built a reputation as a fearsome crew, and carried out contract killings for gangsters all over New England, including the Patriarca crime family and the Winter Hill Gang.
George was a best friend of Harold Hannon, who was found strangled and beaten to death in Boston Harbor by McLean gang associates.
However, when they realized that he was still alive, they dumped him on a hospital lawn, and went to report to Winter Hill Gang boss James "Buddy" McLean.
In October 1961, Buddy McLean, Alex Rocco, and corrupt police officer Russell Nicholson found Bernie in front of the Morning Glory cafe in Charlestown and shot him dead.
Soon afterwards, Russ Nicholson was taken from the street and murdered by Bernie's brothers Punchy and Georgie; McLean was killed in 1965; Rocco became an actor and died in 2015.