 Early mugshot of a hijacker and future crime boss |
John Joseph Gotti was born in 1940 , one of thriteen children, to poor hardworking parents that would eventually live in Brooklyn. Both his mother and father had immigrated from the Naples region of Italy. While they were laborers, their son would captivate the media and climb the dangerous ladder of the underworld. Gotti would never forget his roots or what he knew he was born to be in life. In his youth he and childhood pal Angelo Ruggiero would roam the streets and eventually lead the Fulton-Rockaway Boys street gang. The crew burglarized, stole cars and created mayhem. Gotti never made it through junior high school and when he did leave, reportedly took their classmates money through bookmaking and loansharking. During his youth he apparently stole a delivery truck and overturned it during the process. It was said to impress the local gangsters. As a result of the accident, his foot was injured and he developed a bounce with his step. It was also reported that Gotti was hurt when his idol Albert Anastasia was murdered that year. As the 1960s dawned Gotti would get married and team up with Gambino Brooklyn capo Carmine "Charlie Wagons" Fatico and his brother Danielle "Danny Wags". They were well aware of Gotti emerging as a leader in his street gang. It was said that Fatico groomed Gotti. He recognized that "Johnny Boy" was "good with his hands", using him as a debt collector and muscle for his many gambling dens and after hours clubs. The Fatico crew specialized in bookmaking, loansharking, robbery and especially hijacking. His knickname, "Wagons", indicates his speciality for stealing trailers or "wagons". These trailers were being hauled from JFK International Airport and contained a wide variety of hot merchandise or as it is called on the streets "swag". Gotti would serve several small stretches in prison for hijacking and was constantly hauled in for questioning. By 1970 the Fatico crew had picked up their belongings and moved to Ozone Park, Queens. Gotti, who by now was developing taste for his wardrobe, kept his mouth shut and continued to earn. He was still without his "button" or official membership. In 1973 Carlo Gambino's nephew, Emmanuel "Manny", had been kidnapped by an Irish gang operating out of the west side of Manhattan. It was a popular racket of the time and the crew demanded a ransom. Gambino was reported to have denied, possibly stalling, their request. His nephew was found dead and Gambino wanted revenge. He called upon the Fatico brothers. The brothers assigned Gotti and Ruggiero to the task. Gambino, allegedly, was well aware of Gotti's reputation. Gotti had been unofficially running the Fatico crew, despite lacking official membership and had pegged the interest of Gambino underboss Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce. Gotti, Ruggiero and Gambino associate Ralph "Ralphie Wigs" Gallione gathered on May 22, 1973. They found James McBratney, a west side hoodlum and who Gambino believed killed his nephew. More recent news suggest otherwise. On that fateful night, at Snoope's Lounge on Staten Island, McBratney was murdered. Gallione was later dealt the same. Gotti and Ruggiero had "made their bones". Gotti and Ruggiero were hauled into court in 1974. Their 1975 trial proved interesting. Gotti and Ruggiero had in all actuality committed or conspired to commit murder in the first degree. To show Gambino's power in the judicial system, Ruggiero and Gotti plead down to attempted manslaughter. They were both sentenced to four years for murder! Gotti served his time at the upstate Green Haven State Correctional Facility. In July 1977 Gotti and Ruggiero were released. After the 1976 death of Carlo Gambino the memberships books in the five la cosa nostra families had been reopened. Gotti and Ruggiero received their "buttons". By now Fatico had seen enough of prison bars and the streets, he retired. Gotti was now the acting capo over his crew and held court at the Bergen Hunt and Fish Club in Ozone Park, Queens. Gotti would then travel to the Ravenite Social Club and pledge his allegiance to underboss Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce. |
 John Gotti, murder suspect, 1974 |
His crew, who he was said to have ruled with a fist, stayed true to their colors. Gone was the underground gay bars that Fatico had once extorted, still there was bookmaking, loansharking and hijacking. Also a growing number of associates, which included the sickly Anthony "Tony Roach" Rampino, the Carneglia brothers, Salvatore "Crazy Sal" Polisi, William Bautista, Pete Tambone, Richard Gnomes, Wilfred "Willie Boy" Johnson, Pete, Eugene, Chris and Richard Gotti. Johnson would be uncovered as an FBI informant, operating for nearly a decade, which led to his murder in August 1988. In addition was Salvatore Ruggiero, brother to Angelo, who was operating a heroin racket. Following Salvatore's death by plane crash in 1982, while a fugitive, Angelo inherited the riches and so did Gotti. In 1983 Ruggiero had been indicted with Eugene "Genie" Gotti and several others for heroin trafficking. The FBI had bugged his phone since 1980 and Ruggiero was a known talker. The FBI had long been listening in on Gotti and company at The Bergen Club. Those wiretaps did prove that apparently Gotti knew none of this or at least never spoke of it. It was said that Gambino crime lord and boss Paul Castellano was said to have been furious. He was also being watched and bugged by the FBI. The tapes were converted to transcripts. Castellano wanted a copy of them and knew it was his right. Ruggiero, using both Dellacroce and Gotti as buffers, refused to hand them over. Ruggiero knew he had bad mouthed Castellano and discussed in detail his heroin operation. Castellano had banned "open" narcotics dealing among "made" members and violaion was punishable by death. Gotti and Dellacroce continued to stall. For the record Gene Gotti was sentenced to 50 years for his part in 1989. Ruggiero was severed because of lung cancer and died that same year. There had long been a slight faction of white collar and blue collar wiseguys. It was thought that the lionshare of illegal profits from blue collar crews in Manhattan and Queens was handed over to Dellacroce. It had created a loyalty problem and Gotti was the leader. He paid homage to Dellacroce only and gave words to Castellano. He, among others, had felt that Dellacroce was unfairly passed up as boss when Gambino chose Castellano to lead in 1976. Dellacroce was now suffering from inoperable brain cancer. The FBI, for whatever reason, bugged his Staten Island and taped him on his death bed. He is repeatedly heard scolding Ruggiero and reminding him that Castellano is the boss. Gotti is heard agreeing with him. Castellano let it be known that Ruggiero and possibly Gotti would be murdered. Ruggiero for dealing in narcotics and Gotti for failing to watch over his crew. If Gotti was not murdered, he would definetly be "broken down and shelved" or demoted to soldier. He even went on to hint that once Dellacroce dies, the faction would end and the Ozone Park crew would be no more. Castellano had recently shown his seriousness with the December 1983 murder of Brooklyn soldier Roy DeMeo. He had refused to see Castellano regarding a stolen car ring case he had been indicted on. Gotti then put out "feelers" and attempted to see who was dissatisfied with Castellano as boss. He gathered capos Frank DeCicco and Joseph Armone, soldiers Sammy Gravano and Robert "DB" DiBernardo. All of them had previously shown signs of loyalty to Castellano but now things had changed. Castellano had become greedy and taking more than his fair share of profits. He manipulated unions and allowed companies controlled by him to grab multi-million dollar construction contracts. It was said that DiBernardo, who made his profits from pornography and shaking down shipment of construction supplies, was a cash well for him. Gravano had been making a name for himself in the construction rackets as well. DeCicco was one of the closest to Castellano, having been groomed under capo James Fialla, controlling garbage hauling. Armone was his eyes and ears for his criminal empire. They, which now included the support of The Commission ousted Bonanno LCN Family, agreed to wait until Dellacroce's death. |
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Castellano was faced with a double knockout during this time. He had been indicted in 1984 on the Roy DeMeo trial and was indicted on The Commission Case the following year. He was still demanding Ruggiero's transcripts and nothing was being done. Castellano, argubaly, was the most powerful mob boss in country. He didnt have a clue of the events unfolding underneath him and most certainly the plans of John Gotti. On December 2, 1985 Dellacroce died under the registered name Timothy O'Neil at a Jamiaca, Queens hospital. Many attended his wake but not Castellano. He would later claim "press coverage" and his upcoming trials. This event set Gotti into an enraged tail spin and now was the time. On that day Gotti and Castellano's fate had been determined. Frank DeCicco then scheduled a meeting with Castellano and his driver-newly appointed underboss Tommy Bilotti. They, along with capos Fialla, Danny Marino and Dellacroce's son Armand, would have dinner at Sparks Steakhouse in Mid Town Manhattan. The date would be December 16 and the time, around, 5:30 PM. It was an opportunity for Castellano to pay his respects to the Dellacroce family. It was a time for Gotti to act. As Castellano emerged from his Lincoln limousine, shots rang out and he was dead. Bilotti was killed too. John Gotti was now the new boss of the Gambino syndicate. He had done it without Commission approval and the underworld was rocked. They would later be rocked more when the Gotti persona emerged. The only one to stand in his way was consigliere Joe N. Gallo. Gotti beat him to it, all the caporegimes voted for Gotti and Gallo was sent packing. He would be convicted for bribery and die in prison. Armone, who also was sent to prison in 1986, would serve as consigliere with newly appointed Bronx based captain Frank Locasio serving as acting on his behalf. Frank DeCicco was the new underboss, Ruggiero was promoted over the Queens crew and so was Gravano in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. DiBernardo took over as official leader that year for the retiring Ettore Zappi but later dissapeared. In April 1986 DeCicco was blown away by a car bomb which was orchestrated by the Genovese and Lucchese networks. Officially Armone was said to have been underboss but was in prison. His role was filled by Locasio on an acting basis and later in 1991 when Gravano became official underboss. In 1986 Gotti went on trial for assaulting and robbing an average pedestrian the previous year. Upon realizing his error in filing charges against Gotti, the victim recanted and Gotti was released. He was now operating at the Ravenite Social Club, dropping into Manhattan's night life and attracting the FBI. He was also demanding that capodecinas check in with him and fight their way through a crowd of onlookers, on a weekly basis. One capo refused, the soon to be imprisoned Castellano suopporter Anthony "Nino" Gaggi from Brooklyn and Gotti was overheard making threatening remarks about him. The FBI tapes spun from his Ozone Park club as well. In 1988 Gotti went on trial, with several others, for ordering the shooting assault of union official John O'Connor. This time former associates Bautista and Polisi showed their faces as witnesses. One time Philadelphia LCN Family underboss turned government witness Phillp "Crazy Phil" Leonetti was also brought on the stand. Gravano paid a juror and Gotti was acquitted. Gotti and Gravano let lawyer Bruce Cutler believe it was because of his obnoxious prowess. Cutler earned an ego and reputation with Gotti, his courtroom tactics dubbed "Brucifying" by the mob boss. |
 Gotti in prison c. 1998 |
Gotti went on a rampage, not to mention with increased riches came increased gambling debts, Gravano would later claim he handed over an average monthly take of $20,000 from construction rackets. Gotti had already presumably had DiBernardo, who he would later refer to as a "pimp", killed. He eliminated Bobby Boriello and capo Thomas DeBrizzi. He promoted Gambino son and Manhattan Garment District overlord Tommy Gambino as capo. Gotti was enjoying his respect, public image which consisted of Brioni suits and hand painted ties, and riches. It would only last so long as "The Tefelon Don" and "The Dapper Don" became a cult figure to America. He was heralded as a heroe in Queens and Brooklyn. He found one enemy in Genovese crime boss Vincent Gigante, who was still demanded his head for the unsanctioned murder of Castellano and an ally in Bonanno head in Joseph Massino. On December 11, 1990 Gotti, Gravano and Locasio were arrested and indicted on multiple RICO violations and thirteen murders. The tapes and Gotti's mouth at the apartment above the Ravenite had hooked him. This time he would not return to his beloved streets or his modest Howard Beach, Queens home. The trio would be housed at the Manhattan Correctional Center. Upon hearing the tapes, which recorded very little of the tight lipped Locasio, Gotti was overheard discussing rackets, murders and mayhem. All three of the defendents heard them and Gravano turned colors when Gotti was heard describing him as a mad dog killer. Gravano had committed or conspired in nineteen murders in his criminal career. Gotti was overheard discussing the murders of Thomas DeBrizzi, Paul Catellano, Tommy Bilotti, Robert DiBernardo, Louis Milito and Louie "Louie Dib" DiBono. All them Gravano knew of or had actually overseen. Gotti sealed his fate with his mouth. In mid 1991 Gravano sat waiting for his trial. He was fumed with his common murderous rage. Gotti had refused to apologize for his comments. He crossed the line and "switch governments". He agreed to testify against Gotti, also pummeling Locasio's chances and would receive a five year sentence for his life of crime. On June 23, 1992, after Gravano was sent "into the wind", Gotti and Locasio received life without parole in a Brooklyn federal courtroom by Judge I. Leo Glasser. Locasio was shipped to the federal prison at Terre Haute, IN. Gotti, because he refused to admit he was the head of the Gambino LCN Family and would maintain control over the operations, was sent to Marion Federal Prison at Marion, IL. For his refusal, despite his boasting over FBI bugs that he was the boss, he was given 23 hour lockdown. He took it on the chin, he knew who he was and what he had become in life. Gotti's life in prison was not pleasant. He was allegedly involved in two very nasty fights with fellow inmates. His lawyer and mouth piece Bruce Cutler denied the allegations. In 1999 he received surgery for dental repair. In that year his family visited him, which by law has to be videotaped and was later mysteriously released to the public. In 2000 he was diagnosed with cancer, which supporters say was brought on by the poorly performed surgery. In late 2001 he was shipped to the Federal Prison Medical Facility at Springfield, MO and by years end the press reporting that his days were numbered. As of this writing, ( January 2002 ) he is still alive and seen as the boss of the Gambino LCN Family. John "Johnny Boy" Gotti left a remarkable mark on our society. He was what we, the public, wanted a gangster to be-flashy and well dressed. Our society wanted him to be a hero of the working class. When the FBI tapes rolled it displayed a different picture than the Andy Warhol portrait of him that was dispalyed on the cover of a 1986 issue of Time Magazine. Under his persona and suits, he was a hardened criminal. A man with rage and vicious tendencies. He was a criminal and sponge of society. He was no hero. Since his imprisonment, Gotti installed a committee consisting of loyal capos Lenny DiMaria. Nick Corozzo and John "Jackie" D'amico. In 1998 all three were sent to prison for various offenses for up to eight years. The only one to have escaped was D'amico, who gained a year sentence for gambling, his first jail time ever. In late 1998 he installed his son John "Junior",who was also sentenced to seven years and left the throne to his uncle Pete. Currently Peter Gotti serves as acting head and is said to have brought stabilization to the once powerful syndicate. A syndicate and boss that once was a front page headline or within a news crew camera angle. A place where they should not have been seen. John Gotti succumbed to cancer on July 10, 2002 at the Federal Prison Hospital at Springfield, MO |