John Gotti
John Gotti, often referred to by his nicknames “Dapper Don” and “Teflon Don,” was a prominent figure in organized crime in the United States, specifically within the Gambino crime family. Born into a large Italian family in the 1940s, Gotti exhibited a keen intelligence but was drawn to criminal activities from a young age, starting with a high school gambling operation. He became a key member of the Gambino family, gaining notoriety for his violent methods and flamboyant lifestyle, which included a fondness for expensive attire and media attention.
Gotti's rise to power culminated in the assassination of then-boss Paul Castellano in 1985, leading to his own promotion as the head of the Gambino family. His leadership, characterized by brazen public appearances and a disregard for the Mafia's traditional secrecy, ultimately attracted significant law enforcement scrutiny. In the late 1980s, an extensive federal investigation led to Gotti's conviction on multiple charges, including murder and racketeering, resulting in a life sentence.
Despite his imprisonment, Gotti attempted to maintain control of the Gambino family's operations, but his absence and the subsequent lack of effective leadership contributed to the disorganization of the crime family. Gotti passed away in 2002 from throat cancer while still incarcerated, leaving behind a complex legacy that continues to influence organized crime today.
John Gotti
- Born: October 27, 1940
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: June 10, 2002
- Place of death: Springfield, Missouri
American organized crime boss
Major offenses: Murder, conspiracy, racketeering, robbery, loan-sharking, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, and tax evasion.
Active: May, 1969-April, 1992
Locale: New York, Queens, and Manhattan, New York
Sentence: Life in prison without the possibility of parole
Early Life
John Gotti (GOT-tee) grew up in a large Italian family, one of thirteen children. He emerged in high school as a student who demonstrated above-average intelligence; however, he showed little interest in academic endeavors. His criminal interests developed early when he initiated a high school gambling operation. He eventually organized his own street gang and was involved in several minor crimes after dropping out of school.
Criminal Career
Gotti eventually sought membership in Italian organized crime, also called among insiders La Cosa Nostra (meaning “this thing of ours”). A high-ranking member of Carlo Gambino’s crime family, Aniello Dellacroce, eventually served as Gotti’s mentor, sponsoring young Gotti as a member of organized crime. Gotti established himself as a regular at popular mob locales, including Bergin Hunt and Fish Club in Queens and the Ravenite Social Club in Manhattan. Gotti initially became a soldier in the Gambino family, serving as a hit man, among other roles. His first major arrest and conviction took place in 1967 for hijacking trucks at New York’s Kennedy Airport, and he served half of a seven-year plea-bargain sentence.
Gotti’s use of violence escalated during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter of John McBrantney in 1974 and served two years. The victim was a suspect in the killing of Carlo Gambino’s nephew. Gotti then planned several armored-car hijackings during the 1980’s. The first robbery netted $300,000; the second, $700,000. Gotti escaped prosecution even though he was recognized by one of the armored-car drivers.
Gotti was charged with assault and robbery in 1984. The victim initially claimed that he was robbed of $325 during an argument over a double-parked car. However, the victim claimed a memory lapse and could not identify Gotti; charges against Gotti were dropped. Next, Gotti was arrested and prosecuted for the murder of John O’Connor; the verdict of not guilty enhanced Gotti’s moniker, Teflon Don (in reference to Teflon pans because criminal charges did not “stick” to him).
Gotti represented the blue-collar members of organized crime. His cronies viewed mobster activity in the old Mafia tradition (that is, through the use of robbery, extortion, and murder). His faction resented Paul Castellano’s appointment as head of the Gambino family in 1976; to Gotti and colleagues, Castellano represented the white-collar faction involved in legal business fronts. In addition, Castellano always demanded a lucrative cut of his members’ profits. His disdain for direct involvement in street crimes angered those who earned their living the “old-fashioned” way. Gotti’s mentor, Dellacroce, was a restraining figure in any attempt to eliminate Castellano, but when Castellano did not attend Dellacroce’s funeral in early December, 1985, his display of disrespect angered Gotti and his blue-collar faction. Later that month, Gotti and his cohorts assassinated Castellano in front of Sparks Steak House. Shortly thereafter, the Gambino family greeted Gotti as their new boss.
Gotti reveled in media attention and wore expensive suits (thus his nickname Dapper Don); many in the crime family felt that his arrogant style drew too much attention to the Mafia. An attempt was made to kill Gotti with a car bomb; however, only his underboss, Frank DiCiccio, was killed. After DiCiccio’s death, Sammy Gravano became underboss in the Gambino organization.
Legal Action and Outcome
In the late 1980’s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was determined to prosecute the Mafia. The FBI used electronic surveillance to watch Gotti around the clock and collected a great deal of evidence, including that which implicated both Gravano and Gotti in a number of murders. Authorities arrested the men on multiple counts of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, as well as loan-sharking, conspiracy to commit murder, and murder.
An exhaustive effort by the federal government during the criminal investigation ensured the conviction of Gotti at trial. Moreover, authorities received the help of Gravano, who violated the Mafia’s code of Omerta (silence) by serving as a government witness against Gotti. His damaging testimony assured Gotti’s last conviction. On April 2, 1991, he received a sentence of life imprisonment at the Federal Maximum Security Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. Gotti received consecutive, rather than concurrent, sentences for racketeering and murder. Gotti died of throat cancer at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, in June, 2002.
Impact
The death of Paul Castellano and imprisonment of John Gotti disorganized the Gambino crime family. Gotti appointed his son, John, Jr. (known as Junior), and his brother as his heirs apparent. Gotti tried to maintain control of the family’s business from inside federal prison, but Junior never measured up to his father’s charismatic leadership.
Senior Mafia leadership was reluctant to step forward and seize power. After the successful targeting and prosecution of Gotti, they feared the limelight and media attention one earns as Mafia boss. While Gotti’s imprisonment was an important setback for the Gambino family, his leadership holds lasting impact for modern-day Mafia ventures, whose emerging leadership cannot seem to resist the temptation to seize control and maximize organized crime profits.
Bibliography
Abadinsky, Howard. Organized Crime. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2006. An in-depth analysis of organized crime from a historical and theoretical perspective.
Lyman, Michael D., and Gary W. Potter. Organized Crime. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004. A comprehensive textbook, including the essentials of organized crime theory and practice.
Mustain, Gene, and Jerry Capeci. Mob Star: The Story of Gotti. Royersford, Pa.: Appha Books, 2002. An insightful, popular book on the life and times of Gotti.