Artie "Sweetmeat" Higgins (1927-) was a Marcano crime family associate who was the boss of the black market racket in the Southdowns district of New Orleans.
Biography[]
Artie Higgins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1927 to a family of Irish descent, and he became an associate of the Marcano crime family. He became the boss of the black market racket in the Southdowns district, operating under Tommy Marcano's watch; he tricked businessman Grant Purdue into allowing him to hijack his trucks and sell their goods, while Purdue collected insurance payments. In 1968, Lincoln Clay dismantled Higgins' rackets with the assistance of Purdue, and Clay confronted Higgins at Wilcock's Saloon after killing most of his crew. Clay proceeded to force Higgins to work for him, and Higgins and his racket entered Clay's service.