Gambino crime family

The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that controlled some organized crime based in New York City, New York, USA within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known familiarly as the Mafia (also known as La Cosa Nostra).

History of the Gambino crime family

Early origins

The Gambino family can be traced back to the Prohibition period under Alfred Mineo and Steve Ferrigno during the days of Joe "The Boss" Masseria. Allies of Masseria, Mineo and Ferrigno were killed in an ambush during the Castellammarese War in 1930 by gunmen Joe Profaci, Nick Capuzzi, Joe Valachi, and the hitman known only as Buster from Chicago.**

Related Topics:
Prohibition - Alfred Mineo - Steve Ferrigno - Joe "The Boss" Masseria - Castellammarese War - Joe Profaci - Nick Capuzzi - Joe Valachi - Buster from Chicago

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the Castellammarese war

Following the deaths of Mineo and Ferrigno, brothers Vince and Phil Mangano took over the organization as members of the National Crime Syndicate. Controlling the Brooklyn waterfront, ranging from extortion to union racketeering, as well as illegal gambling operations including horse betting, running numbers, and lotteries the Mangano's continued to rule Brooklyn until 1951 when Vince Mangano disappeared following Phil Mangano's death by Albert Anastasia.

Related Topics:
Vince - Phil Mangano - National Crime Syndicate - Brooklyn - Albert Anastasia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Albert Anastasia

Albert Anastasia, a former Mangano member, took over the Mangano operation with little objection from the other families. Supported by Frank Costello, Anastasia expanded the organization into illegal gambling, loan sharking, and narcotics. However Anastasia became distracted by insignificant and petty murders such as ordering the death of a witness against bank robber Wille Sutton, who had no apparent connection to the Mafia, solely because he despised "stoolies". Anastasia became involved in the struggle for control of the Luciano crime family in the mid-1950s. After the attempted assassination of Costello in 1957 Anastasia was killed, with help from Anastasia member Carlo Gambino, in October of that year.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carlo Gambino

Taking over the organization, Carlo Gambino eventually arranged for Genovese to be convicted on narcotics charges. The Gambino family, with the retirement of Costello, soon became one of the most powerful famlies in the National Crime Syndicate as Meyer Lansky's main ally. The failure of Joe Bonanno's attempts on Gambino and the lives of other New York crime families in which the aftermath of the Bananna War saw Gambino become the most powerful Don in organized crime. He was one of only a couple of Mob Bosses to die of natural causes and not in prison.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paul Castellano

The leader of the Gambino family was Carlo Gambino. When he died he left the leadership of the family to his cousin Paul Castellano. The family withered under Castellano's rule and was almost wiped out by the FBI in the mid 1980s.

Related Topics:
Carlo Gambino - Paul Castellano - FBI

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Dapper Don

After Castellano was shot to death outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan, in an internecine coup d'etat. John Gotti assumed power. Gotti was popular with the public, and well known for embracing the spotlight and playing to the media. He earned the nickname "The Teflon Don" after a string of indictments failed to land a conviction. Gotti was eventually convicted after Sammy "the Bull" Gravano turned states' evidence and testified against him.

Related Topics:
Manhattan - John Gotti - Sammy "the Bull" Gravano

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the Gotti era