Mob Star_ The Story of John Gotti Part 36

Former U.S. Attorney Andrew Maloney, back in private practice with a top Manhattan law firm, was elated. He was confident that with the testimony of one-time underboss Sammy Gravano, who nurtured the Pape-Radonjich deal, Radonjich would be made to pay.

"As imperfect as it is, we consider the jury system sacred and when someone tampers with it, he deserves the maximum possible penalty under the law," said Maloney.

Less than two months later, however, Gravano became a less than ideal witness when he was caught returning to a life of crime and arrested for drug trafficking. Radonjich was cut loose and returned to his Serbian homeland.

Breaking Gotti's rule about making admissions. Failla pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill Thomas Spinelli, the Failla soldier who broke a Gotti rule about grand jury testimony. He got seven years, and died on August 4, 1999, at age 80, at a federal prison hospital in Forth Worth, Texas, about six months before he would have been released.

Corrao also departed from Gotti rules, pleading guilty to bribing NYPD detective William Peist for inside information. He got 70 months. In November 2001, after serving his sentence, Corrao succ.u.mbed to kidney failure at age 64.

Peist went to the can too, and was released just before Christmas, 1999.

Dominick Borghese, who helped dispatch William Ciccone, the poor soul whom the paranoid Gotti crew mistook for an a.s.sa.s.sin, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill Spinelli, a murder that resulted in his promotion to "made man." He got seven years.

More than a year after Failla and Borghese pleaded guilty to the Spinelli murder conspiracy, Joe Watts, the unmade man who was Paul's pal, Sammy's pal, and then Gotti's pal, admitted taking part, too. He got six years, one less than the others because he did a little bit of secret spying for the FBI against Gotti and the others during a 13-month period in 1994-95.

In time, Watts also would be called to account for the torture murder of Ciccone. He would beat that charge, but go down for tax fraud and, in June 2002, money-laundering charges. He took a six-year plea deal as Borghese, who helped him kill Ciccone, was waiting in the wings to testify against him, after emulating Gravano and making a deal for himself.

Tommy Gambino, severed from the 1992 trial that ended with Gotti's conviction, was found guilty when he finally went to trial, but of lesser racketeering charges. He served five years and returned to his Family and his Garment Center businesses in May of 2000.

Gotti's 1992 codefendant, Frank LoCascio, went to prison for life, a lot of it in a prison hospital and some in solitary after authorities learned that Gotti supposedly had enlisted jailed members of a white-supremacy group to kill him. Gotti turned on LoCascio after learning that Gravano and LoCascio talked about turning on him had they won the 1992 case.

Retired consigliere consigliere Joe N. Gallo showed great staying power, until shortly after he got out of prison in June 1995. He died three months later at his home in Queens, at age 83. Joe N. Gallo showed great staying power, until shortly after he got out of prison in June 1995. He died three months later at his home in Queens, at age 83.

Would-be adopted son and a.s.sistant press secretary Lewis Kasman served six months for lying to the Eastern District grand jury and resumed his role as Gotti's unofficial spin doctor, especially after Gotti was diagnosed with head and neck cancer a second time.

Gotti pal Carlo Vaccarezza saw his upscale restaurant, Da Noi's, go south very fast. With more FBI agents than customers in the place on some days, Vaccarezza went south, too, to Miami. He helped his old camera-shy acquaintance, actor Mickey Rourke, open a joint on South Beach. Before long, however, he packed that in, and was last heard scouting Chicago.

Another Gotti pal, Lisa Gastineau, became a boutique manager and did some modeling on the side. "I have great affection for him," was all she wanted to say when contacted. "I was really disappointed to learn he was never coming home."

On the other hand, John Gleeson-the young prosecutor when the Gotti saga began, the sage one when it ended-became a federal judge on October 24, 1994, third anniversary of his dramatic face-to-face with Gravano, the first underboss to testify against his boss in court.

The former midshipman, Bruce Mouw-for getting Gotti and a decade's worth of other accomplishments as boss of the Gambino squad-was given the Justice Department's highest award for employee achievement. He helped case-agent George Gabriel and a.s.sistant U.S. attorney Laura Ward to build cases against the Gotti remnants, then retired.

Gabriel became head of a squad of Long Island-based FBI agents. Ward became a Criminal Court judge in Manhattan. Robert Morgenthau remained District Attorney of Manhattan, and the nation's most influential local prosecutor.

The first important lawyer in John Gotti's life, Michael Coiro, was convicted again, this time for lying to the Eastern District grand jury about his one visit to Nettie Cirelli's place. He was released in February 1998, then moved back to Florida to resume retirement.

The most prominent lawyer in Gotti's life, Bruce Cutler, was convicted of criminal contempt for violating an order by the 1992 Gotti trial judge against out-of-court prejudicial statements. He got three months' home detention. A state court panel then suspended him from practicing law for three more months.

He returned with a flourish to represent "young John" Gotti in 1998. Cutler's bald pate was glistening as he rushed into court just as a pretrial conference for Junior was about to begin. He beamed and shook hands all around, then kissed his handcuffed client on the cheek.

Another key lawyer in Gotti's life, Gerald Shargel, was already on the case, handling the pre-trial legal arguments as well as the negotiations that led to Junior pleading guilty in 1999.

Inside the court, Cutler let Shargel handle the legal arguments. But outside, he expounded, "I came today to announce to the court and the world that Jerry and I will be representing John Gotti's son at trial. We helped his father together, and we have a wonderful relationship. It's great to be back in the arena."

Cutler expounded when a reputed Gotti sketch of a lion fetched $2,500 in a Miami charity auction-a Leroy Nieman self-portrait got $700; a Muhammad Ali drawing got $600. "People love John," Cutler said. "He did it (drew the sketch) to help needy, hungry children. And the lion. It's one of his credos: It's better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a lamb."

Fifteen years after he was the star defense witness at Gotti's 1987 trial, Matthew Traynor, who admitted lying from the witness stand, is still in prison. After five years in federal prison, he's doing 7 to 14 years for bank robbery and 14 more for parole violation.

By contrast, two more characters from the 1987 trial, Crazy Sally Polisi and Dominick Lofaro, got probation and were released from prison that same year.

Nicholas Corozzo and Lenny DiMaria, the "other guys" in the 1987 Gotti case, fashioned plea deals to satisfy various indictments against them and are due out of prison in 2004 and 2005.

Heroin dealers Gene Gotti, John Carneglia, and Anthony Rampino fared worse. Gene and Carneglia are in federal prison until 2018. Rampino is in state prison until 2012.

After getting away with feigning insanity for three decades, Gotti nemesis Vincent "Chin" Gigante, long-time boss of the Genovese Family, was convicted of labor racketeering and put away for 12 years, thanks again in part to testimony by Gravano.

The Gigante trial was Gravano's last trip to the witness stand for the government. It helped promote sales of his life story, which had come out a few months before. Later in 1999, however, the Arizona Republic Arizona Republic disclosed that he was living in the Grand Canyon state, and Gravano gave its reporter some quotable words. disclosed that he was living in the Grand Canyon state, and Gravano gave its reporter some quotable words.

"I'm not running from the f.u.c.king Mafia," he said. "I was a boxer. I know what it's like to get hit. I know what it is to fight. You lose your fear. I could go to Montana and live 20 years in a cabin and be scared to death. Or I can live here ... I choose to live here."

At the time, Gravano ran a Phoenix construction company. He and his supposedly estranged-wife Debra also operated a Scottsdale restaurant. But these were not their most lucrative operations. On the side, they and their two adult children were also running an illegal party-drug business.

State authorities caught up with them first and later the federal government weighed in. For his part, Gravano pleaded guilty and is headed off to prison for a good long time.

Jack D'Amico, who served on a three-capo committee that helped Junior carry out his father's wishes from prison during the mid-1990s, was indicted in the same case that led to Junior going away for six or so years. D'Amico pleaded guilty too, but only to bookmaking, and he served 17 months before getting out in September 2001.

The summer Junior and D'Amico went away, a woman who mounted an impressive Gotti fan club on the Internet and ran it for four years, called it quits and closed the site. She took down hundreds of upbeat items and photos of Gotti, Junior, Victoria, and Cutler.

In a last message to Gotti fans, Melissa (Ravenna) Angelini wrote, "Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end."

The end for John Gotti went on a long time. The first stories hinting that the end was near appeared in the fall of 2000. In the meantime, various treatment crises prompted more stories and transfers between a prison hospital and a hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Each time, his lawyers and spokesmen kept saying what a fighter he was and how, even as they complained about this or that condition of confinement, he never complained about anything. Even if he were no longer in charge of orchestrating public opinion, how the public perceived him remained a large part of the John Gotti story.

If his Family has its way, he will be buried next to his son Frank and father John Sr., in a famous old cemetery in Queens where several infamous gangsters, including Carlo Gambino and Aniello Dellacroce, are buried.

These gangsters from Gotti's life, and most others there, lie in crypts marked only by their names and dates of birth and death. No slogans, no last words. No use giving writers anything to work with. But Gotti leaves his warehouse of tape-recorded words, including those he employed to describe the way he believed things went in his crime Family after he went away for good.

"If I had to give a mark, a grade on how every situation was handled-the lawyers and everything else, jobs and getting jobs and working and all that-I can't put a pa.s.sing mark on one incident," he told brother Peter in 1998, in prison, before the cancer came.

Naturally, he had his reasons why, and no one who ever knew John Gotti or came to know him would be surprised. "Why do you think this group of people fell apart without me?" he asked, before providing, as he often did, his own answer: "Everyone became their own boss, set their own moral codes, set their own reasons, their own rhymes, and that's the end of it ... that's the end of the ballgame."

POSTSCRIPT.

ON JUNE 10, 2002, three days after we finished this book, John Gotti died, giving us this last-second opportunity against a tight publishing deadline to make a few last comments.

We had every reason to suspect it, because we have been on the story 17 years and seen what happens in the media when a big Gotti headline comes along, but we were still amazed at the amount of coverage his death generated. Front-page stories and full-page photographs. Lengthy obituaries. Lots of essays by columnists. Much man-on-the-street. Many sidebars on this or that aspect of the man and his legacy. It went on several days, with follow-ups about disputes that erupted over shipping his body home to New York from the prison hospital where he died in Springfield, Missouri.

We didn't measure the inches, but from the memory of our partic.i.p.ation in that story, too, the death of Frank Sinatra-a big hero in New York who had a much longer time at the top-didn't get near the attention Gotti's did.

Naturally, we contributed. The New York Daily News New York Daily News published our obituary on Gotti and excerpts from one of our other books. The published our obituary on Gotti and excerpts from one of our other books. The New York Post New York Post excerpted this book. excerpted this book. The New York Times The New York Times invited us onto its op-ed page. Reporters and broadcasters from Los Angeles to Auckland and New York to London called to ask for our comments. invited us onto its op-ed page. Reporters and broadcasters from Los Angeles to Auckland and New York to London called to ask for our comments.

All of it was evidence that for all the bad he did, Gotti was good on one level-as we said earlier, he lived up to our expectations of what a gangster is. The Gambino crime family is in ruins, because of him, but he looked, sounded, and acted like a gangster, and with such enthusiasm that we all became at least interested in his story, if not captivated. Our expectations come from our gangster movies, and Gotti was right off the big screen.

Ordinary people picked up on that, and used movie terms to talk about him. "He played that tough-guy role to his dying breath," the former warden of the prison hospital where he died told the Daily News Daily News.

Meeting expectations, Gotti became part of our popular culture-he often was a case of life imitating art imitating life, but people were interested enough to pay attention. This is why the media gave us terrible new details about the suffering and indignity of his last few months of surgically imposed silence. It is why we learned he was to be buried in a crypt alongside son Frank, the boy on the minibike, in that Queens cemetery where so many gangsters lay. It is why we were told that while Roman Catholic officials would not grant his relatives' wish for a Ma.s.s of Christian Burial, they would permit a church memorial service, but with no coffin present.

n.o.body asked us, but we think his Family should have been able to say good-bye the way they wished. Death is always a sad ending, even for the villain's family.

So long, John Gotti. You were a great story.

Gene Mustain Jerry Capeci June 14, 2002

INDEX.

A.

Abbamonte, Oreste Abbott, James (FBI Agent) Agnello, Carmine Ain, Stewart Alesandro, Patricia De Anastasia, Albert (boss) Andrea Doria Apalachin Conference Arc Plumbing and Heating Corporation, Gotti's "employment" at Armone, Joseph Arnold, Miriam (witness of Jimmy McBratney murder) attorneys. See also See also U.S. attorneys U.S. attorneys Blakey, G. Robert Cohn, Roy Coiro, Michael Cutler, Bruce appeals Judge Nickerson's decision to deny bail to Gotti "Brucification" of defendants complaints of press coverage during federal trial disqualified from federal case against Gotti RICO trial Slotnick, Barry audio bugs Augello, Anthony (Colombo soldier) B.

babania, information on Salvatore Ruggiero's drug dealings Bartels, John R.

Bartley, Kirke Battista, William (Billy) beatings, Collado, Antonio Beatty, George Bergin Club Cardinali, James dice game arrests fight between Gene Gotti and John Gotti gambling hall Gotti's rise to captain position Gotti's visibility, Fourth of July celebration informants relationship between Dellacroce and Gotti taped conversations used in O'Connor case Berkowitz, David Bilotti, Thomas events leading up to murder murder Gotti voted control of Family after Gotti's behavior after Gotti's behavior leading up to naming as underboss by Castellano rise to power under Paul Castellano Blakey, G. Robert (lawyer) Bonanno, Joseph Bonavolonta, Jules bookmakers Borriello, Bartholomew Borriello, Bobby bosses. See also See also families; underbosses Anastasia, Albert families; underbosses Anastasia, Albert Castellano, Paul appointment as boss death discussion with Dellacroce about Caiazzo-LaForte affair events leading up to murder family boycott of wake indictment as beneficiary of conspiracy murder naming Thomas Bilotti as underboss receipt of Mercury Pattern Service problem from Gambino relinquishment of control over Gambino Family to Aniello Dellacroce rise to power taped account of Apalachin Conference taped conversation with Joe Gallo "White House" bug Colombo, Joseph Dellacroce, Aniello a.s.signment by Gambino to be underboss consent to make Gotti captain death high profile pretrial hearing relationship with Gotti during Bergin days soldier years tax case Fatico, Carmine loan-sharking cases Galante, Carmine Gambino, Carlo Genovese, Vito Gigante, Vincent Mangano, Philip Maranzano, Salvatore Ma.s.sino, Joseph (boss of Bonanno Family) Persico, Carmine Riggi, John (boss of DeCavalcante Family) Salerno, Anthony show of respect for Gotti after Costellano murder BQ 11766-OC.

belief that Gotti was dealing in drugs Gene Gotti's position in Family dealings hijacking information on Piecyk case Salvatore Ruggiero's continued contact with Gotti targeting by Giacalone Brownsville Stompers Brownsville-East New York, childhood years bugs. See also See also informants; surveillance informants; surveillance Angelo and Langella's Brooklyn restaurant bug Castellano's "White House" bug conversations about money-making ventures drug dealings Nettie Cirelli's apartment conversation between Frank LoCascio and John Gotti conversation with Sammy about jury tampering Gotti discusses murders Gotti talks of murdering DiBernardo, Milito, and DiBono revelation of tapes to prosecutors Nice N EZ Auto School Ravenite Social Club audio bug conversation about promoting John Jr.

conversation between Michael Coiro and John Gotti after Coiro is found guilty video surveillance Burke, Jimmy, dinner with Michael Coiro C.

Caan, James Caiazzo-LaForte affair Capone, Al captains Armone, Joseph Carrao, Joseph Failla, James Gaggi, Anthony Gotti's a.s.signment as captain LaForte, Joseph Mosca, Ralph Cardinali, James beating of Antonio Collado bus thief capture cocaine addiction conversation with Diane Giacalone dealings with District Attorney's office dinner between Jimmy Burke and Michael Coiro drug dealing involvement in fight between Gene and John Gotti meeting with Special Agent Paul Hayes murder of cocaine dealer murder of Michael Castigliola parole terms prison time relationship with Gotti relationship with Willie Boy RICO trial testimony sandbagging of Diane Giacalone Carneglia, Angelo Carneglia, Charles Carneglia, John Carmine Agnello beating charged for murdering Albert Gelb FBI-Strike Force investigation for drug dealing indictment pleads Fifth Amendment Sparks case sentencing subpoena cases. See also See also indictments indictments Carneglia, John Coiro, Michael conversation with Gotti after his guilty verdict Gleeson's prosecution of Dellacroce tax case Armond indictment federal case against Gotti closing arguments DeCicco's murder during trial Gotti plans for jail time upon losing appeal for bail Gotti surrenders to prison time indictment Judge Leo Gla.s.ser disqualifies Cutler and Shargel from case jury deliberation jury selection Lewis Schilero's testimony of Cosa Nostra-speak press coverage Salvatore Gravano's testimony sentencing sequestering of jury tape revelations Gambino, Tommy James McBratney murder loan-sharking cases against Carmine Fatico Northwest Airlines case O'Connor, John, F.

Piecyk case against Gotti arrest of Gotti and Colletta BQ 11766-OC on Cutler, Bruce (attorney for Gotti) decision to not testify against Gotti Gotti's post-trial celebration interview with Stewart Ain Judge Ann Dufficy denies request to withhold jury names in case mysterious call between Gotti and "Frank"

opening arguments press coverage testimony at trial visit with Sgt. Anthony Falco tax-evasion Velvet Touch caper Coiro's defense prevents prison time dismissal Zuccaro, Peter, armed robbery Castellanna, Peter Castellano, Paul appointment as boss death discussion with Neil about Caiazzo-LaForte affair events leading up to murder family boycott of wake indictment as beneficiary of con-spiracy murder Gotti takes control of Family after Gotti's behavior after Gotti's behavior leading up to naming Thomas Bilotti as underboss receipt of Mercury Pattern Service problem from Gambino relinquishment of control over Gambino Family to Aniello Dellacroce taped account of Apalachin Conference taped conversation with Joe Gallo "White House" bug Castigliola, Michael Cavallo, Jackie celebrations following RICO trial acquittal Cestaro, Philip Cestaro, William Cherkasky, Michael (federal prosecutor) childhood years, John Gotti arrests Brownsville-East New York Fulton-Rockaway Boys gang gambling northeast Manhattan perceptions of Mafia South Bronx Ciccone, Jeffrey, murder Cirelli, Mickey Cirelli, Nettie, use of home for Gotti's talks Clark, Ramsey (Attorney General) closing arguments, federal case against Gotti The Club, Fatico brothers code designations. See See informants informants Cohn, Roy (lawyer) Coiro, Michael (attorney) aid to Angelo to sell Salvatore's last load plan to buy a secret Gambino Family report case against for aiding Angelo and Gene Gotti consoling of Angelo after Salvatore's death dinner with Jimmy Burke indictment learns of informants and informs Gotti crew relationship with Queens House of Detention aids Gotti cases reputation as mob lawyer Collado, Antonio Colletta, Frank, confrontation with Romual Piecyk outside Cozy Corner Bar Colombo Family indictment, Southern District Colombo, Joseph (boss) Commission indictment Congress, approves plans to add agents Conroy, Jack Consalvo, Carmine construction businesses, surveillance bug conversations about Corozzo, Nicholas Corrao, Joseph Cotter, Patrick Cozy Corner Bar Crazy Sally Polisi crew leaders crew members, DeVita, Sal Crime Capital, Commission indictment charges criminal record. See also See also drug dealing; murders drug dealing; murders during early years of marriage hijackings John F. Kennedy International Airport kidnapping teen years Crystal Room, arrest after brawl Curro, Andrew RICO trial testimony Cutler, Bruce appeals Judge Nickerson's decision to deny bail to Gotti "Brucification" of defendants Cardinali, James Edward Maloney McBratney case witness Sally Polisi strategy to rattle Giacalone complaints of press coverage during federal trial disqualified from federal case against Gotti RICO trial D.

D'Amico, Jack Dapolito, Frank Davis, Lawrence (witness of Jimmy McBratney) Day, Sheri DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Magnuson, Edward Dearie, Raymond J. (U.S. attorney) deal with Polisi to get Coiro press release of Gotti indictment support of Giacalone Death Hill deaths. See also See also murders murders Anastasia, Albert Bilotti, Thomas Castellano, Paul DeCicco, Frank Gotti's discussion of with Bobby Borriello Gotti's discussion of with Gene Gotti investigation of Dellacroce, Aniello DiSimone, Tommy Gambino, Carlo Gotti, Frank (son) John Favara murdered as revenge for Ruggiero, Angelo Ruggiero, Salvatore and Stephanie Spione, Joseph DeCicco, Frank arrest at Bergin Club for dice game gambling at Bergin Club Gotti considers a replacement for Gotti promotes to underboss Gotti's meeting with after Castellano murder murder of Gotti's discussion of with Bobby Borriello Gotti's discussion of with Gene Gotti investigation of wake Dee Dan Company Dellacroce, Aniello (underboss) a.s.signment by Gambino to be underboss consents to make Gotti captain death high profile Manhattan D.A.'s detective squad pretrial hearing relationship with Gotti during Bergin days soldier years tax cases underboss years Dellacroce, Armond Dellacroce, Buddy Dellentash, Alfred DeMeo, Roy DePetris, David DeVita, Sal (crew member) DiBernardo, Robert DiBono, Louis, plan to murder dice game (Bergin Club), arrests DiCicco, Frank DiGiorgio, Francisco (father-in-law) DiGiorgio, Victoria L. See See Gotti, Victoria (wife of John Gotti) Gotti, Victoria (wife of John Gotti) digs (slang for Quaaludes) DiMaggio, Joe DiMaria, Leonard DiMucci, Dion DiSimone, Tommy district attorneys. See also See also attorneys; U.S. attorneys attorneys; U.S. attorneys Bartley, Kirke Santucci, John Donohue, Thomas, arrest of Gotti after attack on Romual Piecyk Doyle, Raymond drug dealing. See also See also money-making ventures money-making ventures babania, information on Salvatore Ruggiero's drug dealings Cardinali, Jamesy cocaine addiction meeting with Special Agent Paul Hayes murder of cocaine dealer murder of Michael Castigliola prison time FBI-Strike Force investigation Gotti, Peter Gotti, Vincent Jerogae, Ronald Polisi, Salvatore Reiter, Mark Traynor, Matthew Drug Enforcement Administration agents. See See DEA agents DEA agents Dufficy, Ann, denies request to withhold juror names in Piecyk case Duffy, Judge Kevin Thomas Duke duties as boss (Gotti's), treatment of subordinates E-F.

Eastern District NYPD-DEA-FBI RICO investigation "White House" bug electronic surveillance, Justice Department's removal of cap on Ernst, April

Failla, James (captain of Gambino Family) meeting with Gotti after Castellano murder meeting with Gotti before Castellano murder Families. See also See also bosses bosses initiation into as soldier nicknames omerta politics structure Fapiano, Robert, arrest Fatico, Carmine (boss) Fatico, Daniel Favara, Janet Favara, John FBI.

arrest of Gotti, Sammy, and Frankie at Ravenite Fox, Jim informants. See See informants informants leak through Conroy occupation of Death Hill Strike Force investigation drug dealings wiretapping of Angelo Ruggiero's phone surveillance conflict with Queens D.A. office federal cases closing arguments DeCicco's murder during trial Giacalone, Diane F.

Gotti plans for jail time upon losing appeal for bail Gotti surrenders to prison time indictment Judge Leo Gla.s.ser disqualifies Cutler and Shargel from case Judge Nickerson orders witness names be kept secret Lewis Schilero's testimony of Cosa Nostra-speak press coverage Sammy Gravano turns evidence against Gotti sentencing sequestering of jury tape revelations federal prosecutors, grand jury subpoenas of Gambino Family soldiers Feldman, Mark Fiore, Carmine, recorded conversation with Peter Mosca about "being made,"

Fourth of July celebration, Gotti's visibility Fox, Jim (FBI boss) Franzese, Michael (mobster), offends Gotti Fratianno, Jimmy (the Weasel) Fulton-Rockaway Boys gang G.

Gabriel, George arrest of Gotti, Sammy, and Frankie at Ravenite revelation of DiBono murder conversation serves Gotti subpoena Gaggi, Anthony (captain for Castellano) Galante, Carmine (Bonanno boss) Galione, Ralph Gallo, Joe N.

bail release (Gambino Family hierarchy case) lead defendant Gambino hierarchy case taped conversation with Castellano Gambino Family hierarchy case Armone's public renouncement of a life in crime Gallo and Armone defendants Gallo's release on bail Mercury Pattern Service problem Gambino, Carlo (boss) Gotti's pa.s.sing of orders from Gambino, Emanuel, kidnapping of Gambino, Thomas (son of Carlo Gambino) gambling, John Gotti Bergin Club gambling hall losses at Bergin Club conversations with Angelo Ruggiero motivation to deal in drugs owed to Joseph Carrao operations teen years telephone room (Vito Maccia's Candy Store) gangs Brownsville Stompers Fulton-Rockaway Boys Mau Mau Chaplins Ozone Park Sinners Garbarino, John A. (Judge) Garment Center gas-tax ripoffs Gelb, Albert Genovese, Vito (boss) Giacalone, Diane case against Armond Dellacroce charges concerning Gelb murder conversation with James Cardinali Cutler accuses of creating carnival atmosphere knowledge of FBI-Strike Force wiretapping of Angelo Ruggiero's phone motion to revoke bail for Gene and John Gotti prosecution of Peter Zuccaro armed robbery case protest to back off by Sheer and Kossler receipt of Wahoo files from Storey redirect of Cardinali during RICO trial request for witness name secrecy during federal case response to Cutler's appeal for bail revelation of Willie Boy Johnson as an informant RICO trial summary sandbagging by Cardinali strategy of Cutler to rattle her during RICO trial targeting of source Wahoo Gigante, Chin Gigante, Vincent (boss) Gla.s.ser, Judge Leo, disqualifies Cutler and Shargel from federal case Gleeson, John (prosecutor) closing argument at federal case against Gotti jury tampering prevention plan in Brooklyn case prosecution of Coiro case RICO trial role Gomes, Richard Gotti, Angela (daughter of John Gotti) Gotti, Frank (son of John Gotti) minibike accident and death wake Gotti, Gene (brother of John Gotti) conversations with Gotti about DeCicco's murder with Tony Roach after Tony's arrest at Bergin Club wiretap with Angelo Ruggiero dispute with Gambino captain FBI-Strike Force investigation for drug dealing fight with John Gotti at Bergin indictment nicknames Source BQ 11766-OC's information on Sparks case sentencing Gotti, John Joseph Sr.

Gotti, John Jr. (son of John Gotti) barroom arrest birth response to press coverage of Piecyk case wedding Gotti, Peter (brother of John Gotti) bus thief capture drug dealings position as manager of Bergin Club Gotti, Richard (brother of John Gotti) position as manager of Our Friends Social Club Gotti, Victoria (daughter of John Gotti) birth marriage to Carmine Agnello Gotti, Victoria (wife of John Gotti) Family background grief over death of son Frank marriage to John Gotti response to press coverage of Piecyk case separations from John during marriage Gotti, Vincent (brother of Gotti) arrest for drugs jail sentence meeting with Dominick Polifrone grand jury subpoenas of Gambino Family soldiers Gravano, Salvatore (Sammy) arrests decision to turn evidence against Gotti fixing of RICO trial case promotion to consigliere consigliere reads transcripts of Nettie Cirelli apartment tapes testimony at federal case against Gotti Greater Blouse, Skirt and Undergarment a.s.sociation Green Haven Correctional Facility Gotti's jail time Gotti's release from activities during parole parole terms Guidici, Frank Guliani, a.s.sociate Attorney General Rudolph W.

Gurino brothers of Arc Plumbing, arrest as result of Angelo bugs Gurino, Anthony Gurino, Caesar Gurino, John Jr., murder of Vulcano H.

hearings 1986 pretrial pretrial hearing at Dellacroce's house Helmsley Palace Hotel, meeting with recording industry executives heroin tapes hijackings career (Gotti's) during early years of marriage John F. Kennedy International Airport lobster, Source BQ 11766-OC provides insider information on men's suits, Source BQ 11766-OC provides insider information on Hoffa, Jimmy Hoffman, Jeffrey, examination of Cardinali during RICO trial Howard Beach home Family life memorial service for Salvatore Ruggiero I.

ice cream company (failed money-making venture) inauguration of Gotti Indelicato, Alphonse "Sonny Red"

indictments. See also See also cases cases Carneglia, John Castellano, as beneficiary of conspiracy Coiro, Michael Colombo Family (Southern District) Commission federal case against Gotti Gotti, Gene Gotti, John Rampino, Anthony Ruggiero, Angelo informants Bergin informants Cardinali, James, dealings with District Attorney's office code designations Coiro learns of and informs Gotti crew gambling losses information information that suggested Gotti dealt drugs Leonetti, Philip Lofaro, Dominick account of Peter Mosca's story of being made meeting with Gotti O'Donnell, Kenneth Source BQ 11766-OC belief that Gotti was dealing in drugs Gene Gotti's position in Family dealings hijacker information lobster hijacking information on Piecyk case men's suits hijacking information Salvatore Ruggiero's continued contact with Gotti Source BQ 5558-TE account of murder of Joseph Spione account of murder of Tommy DiSimone arrest of Gotti for McBratney murder belief that Gotti was not involved in drug dealing FBI agent changes Gene Gotti's position in Family dealings indicted for bribing Detective Holder information on Gene Gotti's position in Family dealings information on Salvatore Ruggiero's drug dealings Our Friends Social Club reports to Queens detective squad Salvatore Ruggiero's drug dealings targeting by Giacalone Yudzevich, George investigations Eastern District-NYPD-DEA-FBI RICO investigation FBI-Strike Force investigation drug dealings wiretapping of Angelo Ruggiero's phone Vito Maccia's Candy Store telephone room arrest of Peter Schiavone Gotti's bets Guidici, Frank Irish-American gang (Westies) Italy history of Mafia Italian-American Civil Rights League J.

jail sentences, Gotti, Vincent Jamaica Auto Salvage Jerogae, Ronald John F. Kennedy International Airport, hijackings Johnson, Lyndon (President) Johnson, Willie Boy gambling at Bergin Club gambling hall Giacalone's revealing as an informant jail time with Gotti at Green Haven Correctional Facility murder juries federal case against Gotti deliberations selection sequestering RICO trial Sparks case tampering Gleeson plan to prevent in Brooklyn case Piecyk case Sparks case Justice Department, removal of cap on electronic-surveillance applications K-L.

Kasman, Lewis kidnapping Gambino, Emanuel kidnapping career Velvet Touch caper dismissal of case Kossler, James

La Cosa Nostra LaForte, Buddy LaForte, Joseph (captain) Langella, Gennaro LaRossa, James (attorney for Castellano), account of events before Castellano murder LaRuffa, Tommie laws, Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act lawyers. See See attorneys; U.S. attorneys attorneys; U.S. attorneys legalization of wiretapping surveillance Leonetti, Philip, roll over to informant Lewisburg prison Gotti's time at release from in 1972 Light, Marty (a.s.sistant District Attorney) Lino, Edward Little Pete murder plot loan-sharking case against Carmine Fatico Plate, Anthony lobster hijacking LoCascio, Frank arrest at Ravenite promotion to acting underboss taped conversation with Gotti at Nettie Cirelli's Lofaro, Dominick (made soldier for Ralph Mosca) Gotti promotes to run gambling operation informant meeting with Gotti RICO trial role work against Gotti for Organized Crime Task Force Louis, Joe Lucan, Martin Lucky Lady gang gang M.

Mad Hatter, The (Albert Anastasia) Mafia, during Gotti's childhood Magnuson, Edward Maloney, Andrew belief RICO trial was fixed sacrifice of racketeering case against Tommy Gambino to get Gotti Maloney, Edward attempted murder Bruce Cutler's examination at trial wired meeting with Cestaro Mangano, Philip (boss) Manhattan D.A.'s detective squad, investigation of Neil Dellacroce Gotti childhood years Maranzano, Salvatore (boss) Ma.s.sino, Joseph (boss of Bonanno Family) Mau Mau Chaplins McBratney, James Bruce Cutler's cross-examination of witness at RICO trial murder case against Ruggiero, Galione, and Gotti Angelo Ruggiero receives hung jury verdict Gotti's probation officer's report of Gotti's account of murder murder of at Snoope's Bar & Grill arrest of Gotti at Nevermore Social Club in Maspeth arrests of Angelo and Galione Gotti's bragging McDonald, Edward McMa.n.u.s, Red (witness of James McBratney murder) media. See See press coverage press coverage men's suit hijacking, Source BQ 11766-OC provides insider information on Mercury Pattern Service Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) Milito, Louis, murder mistrials, Sparks case money deliveries money-making ventures. See also See also drug dealing drug dealing construction gambling operations gas-tax ripoffs ice cream company recording industry, Helmsley Palace Hotel meeting Montiglio, Dominick Morgenthau, Robert (District Attorney) lobbies to jointly prosecute Gotti prosecution of Gotti for O'Connor shooting Morton, George Mosca, Peter Mosca, Ralph (captain for Gotti) Moscatiello, Anthony arrest as result of Angelo bugs Gotti's display of anger over phone searched by FBI Mouw, Bruce (FBI Agent) Gambino Family investigations meeting with D.A. Santucci over surveillance conflict surveillance of Gotti's Ravenite headquarters audio bug video surveillance murders. See also See also criminal record; deaths; drug dealing criminal record; deaths; drug dealing Anastasia, Albert Bilotti, Thomas events leading up to Gotti voted control of Family after Gotti's behavior after Gotti's behavior leading up to Castellano, Paul events leading up to family boycott of wake Gotti voted control of Family after Gotti's behavior after Gotti's behavior leading up to Castigliola, Michael Ciccone, Jeffrey cocaine dealer (James Cardinali kills) DeCicco, Frank Gotti's discussion of with Bobby Borriello Gotti's discussion of with Gene Gotti investigation of DiBono, plan to murder on Nettie Cirelli apartment tapes DiSimone, Tommy, Source BQ 5558-TE's account of murder Favara, John Galante, Carmine Galione, Ralph Gelb, Albert Jerogae, Ronald Johnson, Willie Boy Little Pete murder plot McBratney, James Angelo Ruggiero receives hung jury verdict arrest of Angelo and Galione arrest of Gotti at Nevermore Social Club in Maspeth Gotti's bragging Gotti's probation officer's report of Gotti's account of murder McCormick, Donald W., contract for Milito, Louis Spinelli, Thomas Spione, Joseph, Source BQ 5558-TE's account of murder Vulcano, John Jr.

Woods, Edward Mussolini, Benito N.

Nettie Cirelli apartment surveillance conversation between Frank LoCascio and John Gotti conversation with Sammy about jury tampering murder discussions Nevermore Social Club in Maspeth arrest of Gotti for McBratney murder Nice N EZ Auto School bug planting at conversations about money-making ventures construction business gas-tax ripoffs ice cream company Nickerson, Eugene H. (federal judge) nicknames Family members for Gene Gotti for John Gotti for Paul Castellano Northwest Airlines case O.

O'Connor, John F. case acquittal Bergin tapes final arguments jury sequestering Morgenthau's prosecution of Gotti opening statements shooting O'Donnell, Kenneth omerta Organized Crime Task Force Lofaro's information on events after DeCicco murder McElroy's a.s.sistance work with Dominick Lofaro Our Friends Social Club Ozone Park Sinners P.

Pape, George (RICO trial juror) Papon, Leon Paradiso, Michael parole, Cardinali, Jamesy Persico, Alphonse Persico, Carmine (Colombo boss) Piecyk, Romual (witness) arrest of Gotti and Colletta BQ 11766-OC on case of confrontation with Frank Colletta and Gotti outside of Cozy Corner Bar Cutler, Bruce (attorney for Gotti) DEA agent Magnuson testifies of threats from Gotti decision to not testify against Gotti Gotti's post-trial celebration interview with Stewart Ain Judge Ann Dufficy denies request to withhold jury names in case mysterious call between Gotti and "Frank"

opening arguments press coverage of case John Gotti Jr.'s response to Victoria Gotti's response to RICO trial testimony at trial visit with Sgt. Anthony Falco Plate, Anthony Polisi, Salvatore politics, Family Pope. See See Castellano, Paul Castellano, Paul President Lyndon Johnson Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice press coverage federal case against Gotti of Frank DeCicco's wake O'Connor case acquittal Piecyk case prisons Green Haven Correctional Facility activities during parole Gotti's release from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Gotti's time at release from in 1972 probation officers, Gotti's probation officer's report of Gotti's account of murder prosecutors Cherkasky, Michael Giacalone, Diane. See See Giacalone, Diane F. Giacalone, Diane F.

Gleeson, John. See See Gleeson, John Gleeson, John public appearances, Gotti's first after Castellano murder Q-R.

Queens D.A. office, surveillance conflict with FBI detective squad, informant reports to House of Detention Quinn, Anthony, arrival at Gotti's federal trial Quirk, Dennis (witness)

Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act Radonjich, Bosko, receipt of Pape's offer to sell himself Raggi, Reena (U.S. attorney) Rampino, Anthony (Tony Roach) arrest at Bergin Club for dice game indictment prison time with Gotti at Lewisburg prison relationship with Matthew Traynor Ravenite Social Club bosses show respect for Gotti conversation between Michael Coiro and John Gotti after Coiro is found guilty FBI arrests of Gotti, Sammy, and Frankie Gotti headquarters meeting between Frank DeCicco and Gotti after Castellano murder murder of Carmine Galante surveillance reb.u.t.tal witnesses, RICO trial recording industry, Helmsley Palace Hotel meeting Red, Sonny, informant information revealing body location Reiter, Mark (drug dealer) RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) RICO trial Cardinali's testimony Curro and Zuccaro testimony Cutler's summary Cutler, Bruce "Brucification" of witnesses strategy to rattle Giacalone deliberations Giacalone's summary Gleeson complaints jury selection Maloney's belief that trial was fixed opening statements reb.u.t.tal witnesses Sparks Steak House investigation Traynor's testimony verdict witness Dominick Lofaro Riggi, John (boss of DeCavalcante Family) Robley, Richard (FBI agent) Roccoforte, Louis, arrest Roccoforte, Michael Rourke, Mickey Ruggiero, Angelo arrest Brooklyn restaurant bug bugs leading to arrest of the crew conversation about gambling debts owed to Joseph Carrao death employment at Arc Plumbing and Heating Corporation FBI-Strike Force investigation for drug dealing friendship with hung jury verdict in McBratney murder case indictment murder of Jimmy McBratney at Snoope's Bar & Grill prison time with Gotti at Lewisburg prison second Sparks case mistrial selling Salvatore's last load taking over Salvatore's heroin profits wiretap of phone conversations with Gene Gotti conversations with John Gotti Ruggiero, Salvatore death on flight from New Jersey to Orlando drug dealings fleeing from tax-evasion case Gotti's arrest with life on the run for Ruggiero, Stephanie, death on flight from New Jersey to Orlando Russo, Carmine, revelation of DiBono murder conversation S.

Salerno, Anthony (Genovese boss) Sally Ubatz. See See Polisi, Salvatore Polisi, Salvatore Sammy. See See Gravano, Salvatore Gravano, Salvatore Santucci, John (district attorney) Schiavone, Peter, arrest Schilero, Lewis, testimony of Cosa Nostra-speak Sclafani, Reverend Dominic A.

sentencing, federal case against Gotti sequestering of jury, federal case against Gotti Sheer, Thomas, protest to Washington for Giacalone to back off Shepard, Susan, support of Giacalone Sheraton Centre Hotel, Manhattan Sicily, history of Mafia Sinatra Club Gotti's rise to captain position Polisi, Salvatore Sisca, Alphonse sitdowns, James Cardinali attends with Gotti Slotnick, Barry Ivan (lawyer) Smith, Attorney General William French Snoope's Bar & Grill Source BQ 11766-OC belief that Gotti was dealing in drugs Gene Gotti's position in Family dealings lobster hijacking men's suits hijacking Salvatore Ruggiero's continued contact with Gotti Source BQ 5558-TE account of murder of Joseph Spione account of murder of Tommy DiSimone arrest of Gotti for McBratney murder belief that Gotti was not involved in drug dealing FBI agent changes Gene Gotti's position in Family dealings indicted for bribing Detective Holder Our Friends Social Club reports to Queens detective squad Salvatore Ruggiero's drug dealings targeting by Giacalone South Bronx, childhood years Southern District, Colombo Family indictment Sparks Steak House case murder of Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti events leading up to Gotti voted control of Family after Gotti's behavior after Gotti's behavior leading up to RICO trial investigation Special Operations squad, bugging of Ravenite Social Club Spillane, Mickey (writer) Spinelli, Thomas Spione, Joseph Sportsman's Bar Squitieri, Arnold Storey, Frank subordinates, Gotti's treatment of as boss subpoenas, Gotti, John Sullivan, Joe surveillance. See also See also bugs; informants bugs; informants Castellano's "White House" bug conflict between FBI and Queens D.A. office drug dealing money-making ventures, conversations Nettie Cirelli's apartment conversations between Frank LoCascio and John Gotti between Frank LoCascio, Sammy, and John Gotti Gotti discusses murders between Sammy and Gotti about jury tampering Ravenite, conversation between Michael Coiro and John Gotti after Coiro is found guilty legalization Nice N EZ Auto School Ravenite Social Club T.

Tambone, Peter (Little Pete) arrest at Bergin Club for dice game jail sentence for contempt murder plot against tax-evasion cases Aniello Dellacroce Salvatore Ruggiero teen years. See See childhood years, John Gotti childhood years, John Gotti "Teflon Don" t.i.tle murder of Jeffrey Ciccone telephone room (Vito Maccia's Candy Store) arrest of Peter Schiavone Gotti's bets investigation of Frank Guidici tickling the wire Traynor, Matthew account of murder of Ronald Jerogae account of childhood gang days drug dealing hijacking information relationship with Tony Rampino RICO trial testimony trials. See See cases cases Trott, Steven U.