John Gotti
Gambino crime boss who ordered Castellano's murder and evaded conviction until 1992.
John Joseph Gotti Jr. He orchestrated the murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter. Gotti was known as 'the Dapper Don' for his expensive clothes and outspoken personality, and later as 'the Teflon Don' after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in acquittals tainted by jury tampering, juror misconduct, and witness intimidation.
- born
- October 27, 1940, in the Bronx, New York City
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Boss of the Gambino crime family; orchestrating the murder of Paul Castellano; n
Lore & Background
John Gotti was born on October 27, 1940, in the Bronx, the fifth of thirteen children. He grew up in poverty in East New York, Brooklyn, dropped out of school at 16, and was involved in street gangs from age 12. He became a protégé of Gambino underboss Aniello Dellacroce, operating out of Ozone Park, Queens. Following the FBI's indictment of members of his crew for selling narcotics, Gotti feared that boss Paul Castellano would kill him and his brother Gene for dealing drugs. Amid growing dissent, Gotti arranged Castellano's murder in December 1985 and took over the family.
Reader's Guide
John Gotti's significance lies in his rise to lead the most powerful crime syndicate in the United States and his unprecedented public notoriety. Unlike previous mob bosses who avoided media attention, Gotti courted it, earning the nicknames 'the Dapper Don' and 'the Teflon Don' after three acquittals in the 1980s. However, those trials were later revealed to be tainted by jury tampering, juror misconduct, and witness intimidation. In 1992, Gotti was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, illegal gambling, extortion, and loansharking, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. According to Lucchese crime family underboss Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso, 'what John Gotti did was the beginning of the end of Cosa Nostra.'
Did You Know?
- John Gotti orchestrated the murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter.
- Gotti earned the nickname 'the Teflon Don' after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in acquittals tainted by jury tampering, juror misconduct, and witness intimidation.
- In 1992, Gotti was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, illegal gambling, extortion, and loansharking.
- According to Lucchese crime family underboss Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso, 'what John Gotti did was the beginning of the end of Cosa Nostra.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Gotti?
John Gotti was an American organized-crime figure who led the Gambino crime family in New York City during the 1980s and early 1990s. He is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and publicly visible mob bosses in U.S. history.
How did John Gotti take over the Gambino family?
In December 1985, Gotti ordered the hit on then-boss Paul Castellano, who was gunned down outside a Manhattan restaurant. Gotti assumed leadership of the family shortly after the killing.
Why was John Gotti called the Dapper Don and the Teflon Don?
He earned the Dapper Don nickname for his signature style of expensive suits and flashy public appearances. The Teflon Don label stuck after he walked free in three separate high-profile trials before finally being convicted in 1992.
How was John Gotti finally convicted?
In 1992, prosecutors secured a guilty verdict on racketeering and murder charges, ending his long streak of acquittals. He was sentenced to life in federal prison.
How did John Gotti die?
Gotti passed away on June 10, 2002, at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. He was 61 years old and had been serving his life sentence.
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