Paul Castellano was the boss of the Gambino crime family from 1976 until his murder in 1985. He rose to power after the death of previous boss Carlo Gambino. During Castellano’s reign, he made the Gambino family immensely powerful and wealthy through control of construction unions and waste management operations. However, Castellano’s lust for money and power ultimately led to his downfall.
The Gotti Coup
In the early 1980s, Capo John Gotti began to grow dissatisfied with Castellano’s leadership. Gotti thought Castellano was too greedy and was not sharing enough of the profits with the soldiers and captains. Additionally, Castellano’s demand for a 10% cut from the family’s profits angered many. Gotti also believed that Castellano was not strong enough when dealing with the other Five Families of New York.
Gotti decided that the only solution was to take out Castellano and seize control of the Gambino family for himself. However, Gotti knew he needed support from within the family to pull off a coup. He found an alliance with Frank DeCicco, Sammy Gravano, and others who were also unhappy with Castellano.
The Murder of Paul Castellano
On December 16, 1985, Paul Castellano and his bodyguard Thomas Bilotti arrived at Sparks Steak House in Manhattan for a dinner meeting. As Castellano exited his car, four men wearing long white trench coats approached and shot him six times. Nearby, Bilotti was also assassinated. The gunmen, believed to be from the Gambino family, then fled the scene.
The murders had been orchestrated by John Gotti, who immediately took over as boss of the Gambino family. Gotti had tipped off law enforcement about Castellano’s meeting at Sparks Steak House, allowing the assassins time to carry out the hit and escape. The tipoff proved to be the snitch that ultimately brought down Paul Castellano.
John Gotti’s Rise to Power
With Paul Castellano out of the picture, John Gotti became the new boss of the Gambino crime family. Gotti wasted no time in exerting his influence and power. He appointed Frank DeCicco as underboss and promoted Sammy Gravano to consigliere.
Gotti was a charismatic leader and earned the respect of many mobsters. He hosted lavish parties, dressed stylishly, and was often seen around New York City’s top restaurants and nightclubs. This flamboyant behavior earned him the nickname “The Dapper Don.”
Under Gotti’s leadership, the Gambinos continued their stronghold over construction, waste management, and other rackets. According to Gravano, the family was earning between $500,000 to $800,000 per week under Gotti’s control.
Why Did John Gotti Betray Castellano?
John Gotti decided to snitch on Paul Castellano for several key reasons:
- Gotti was unhappy with Castellano’s leadership and greed.
- Castellano’s demand for a 10% tribute angered capos like Gotti.
- Gotti felt Castellano was not strong enough in dealing with other families.
- Gotti had ambitions to become boss himself and saw an opportunity to seize power.
- By snitching, Gotti could tip off law enforcement to stay away at the time of the hit.
Essentially, Gotti saw a chance to get rid of a boss he didn’t like and take over the lucrative Gambino family operations himself. The tipoff allowed him to orchestrate Castellano’s murder without interference from police.
Aftermath of the Castellano Hit
In the short term, Gotti’s power play worked flawlessly. He took over the Gambino family and ruled over their criminal enterprises with an iron fist for several years. However, his betrayal of Castellano and openly flamboyant lifestyle also proved to be his undoing.
In 1992, Gotti was convicted of murder and racketeering charges and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He died of cancer in prison in 2002. Gravano, Gotti’s underboss, eventually turned state’s evidence and testified against him after being arrested himself.
Paul Castellano’s death marked the end of the Gambino family’s golden era. After Gotti’s imprisonment, the family’s power and influence declined. Infighting over control also weakened the organization over the following decades.
While Gotti succeeded in taking out his boss, his betrayal and lust for power ultimately led to the decline of the once mighty Gambino crime family.
Conclusion
Paul Castellano’s murder outside Sparks Steak House marked the end of his reign as Gambino family boss. John Gotti orchestrated the hit after tipping off law enforcement so they would stay away. Gotti saw Castellano as weak, greedy, and ripe for removal. By snitching on Castellano’s location, Gotti ensured his assassins could kill the boss and allow Gotti to seize control.
While the tipoff allowed Gotti to become Gambino boss in the short term, his betrayal of Castellano ultimately set into motion Gotti’s own downfall and the decline of the Gambinos. Gotti’s hunger for power and notoriously high profile marked the end of the Gambino’s golden era of influence and wealth.
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