Jump to content

Paul Castellano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Vaselineeeeeeee (talk | contribs) at 16:04, 11 August 2020 (Reverted 2 edits by UNOwenNYC (talk): Who says it is rarely used, you? WP:BRD (TW)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Paul Castellano
Castellano's March 1984 mugshot
Born
Constantino Paul Castellano

(1915-06-26)June 26, 1915
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1985(1985-12-16) (aged 70)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Cause of deathMultiple gunshot wounds
Resting placeMoravian Cemetery
New Dorp, Staten Island
Other names"The Howard Hughes of the Mob", "Big Paul", "PC", "The Pope", "The Chicken Man"
OccupationCrime boss
Spouse
Nina Manno Castellano
​
​
(m. 1937)​
Children4
RelativesRichard S. Castellano (nephew)[1]
Carlo Gambino (cousin and brother-in-law)
AllegianceGambino crime family

Constantino Paul Castellano (Italian: [kastelˈlaːno]; June 26, 1915 – December 16, 1985), also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" (or "PC" to his family), was an American crime boss who succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family. Castellano was killed in an unsanctioned assassination on December 16, 1985, ordered by John Gotti, who subsequently became boss.

Early life

Castellano was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in 1915, to Italian immigrants Giuseppe Castellano and Concetta (née Casatu). Giuseppe was a butcher and an early member of the Mangano crime family, the forerunner of the Gambino family.[2] Castellano dropped out of school in the eighth grade to learn butchering and collecting numbers game receipts, both from his father.[3] In July 1934, Castellano was arrested for the first time in Hartford, Connecticut for robbing a haberdasher.[4] The 19-year-old Castellano refused to identify his two accomplices to the police and served a three-month prison sentence. By refusing to cooperate with authorities, Castellano enhanced his reputation for mob loyalty.[3]

Castellano's sister Catherine had married one of their cousins, future Mafia boss Carlo Gambino, in 1926. In 1937, Castellano married his childhood sweetheart Nina Manno; the couple had three sons (Paul, Philip, and Joseph Castellano) and a daughter, Constance Castellano;[5] Manno would later die in 1999.[6] His nephew was actor Richard S. Castellano from The Godfather.[1]

Castellano often signed his name as "C. Paul Castellano" because he hated his first name, Constantino. His first name at birth has been cited as both Constantino and Costantino.[7][8]

Mob life

In the 1940s, Castellano became a member of the Mangano family. He became a capo under boss Vince Mangano's successor, Albert Anastasia.

In 1957, after Anastasia's homicide and Carlo Gambino's elevation to boss, Castellano attended the abortive Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. When New York State Police raided the meeting, Castellano was one of 61 high-ranking mobsters arrested. Refusing to answer grand jury questions about the meeting, Castellano spent a year in prison on contempt charges. On January 13, 1960, Castellano was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to withhold information.[9] However, in November 1960, Castellano's conviction was reversed by an Appeals Court.[10]

Castellano identified more as a businessman than a hoodlum; he took over non-legitimate businesses and converted them to legitimate enterprises. But Castellano's businesses, and those of his sons, thrived from their mob ties.

In his early years, Castellano used his butcher's training to launch Dial Poultry, a poultry distribution business that once supplied 300 butchers in New York City. Dial's customers also included supermarket chains Key Food and Waldbaum's. Castellano used intimidation tactics to force his customers to buy Dial's products.[2]

As Castellano became more powerful in the Gambino family, he started to make large amounts of money from construction concrete. Castellano's son Philip was the president of Scara-Mix Concrete Corporation, which exercised a near monopoly on Staten Island on construction concrete.[11] Castellano also handled the Gambino interests in the "Concrete Club," a club of contractors selected by The Commission to handle contracts between $2 million and $15 million.[12] In return, the contractors gave a two percent kickback of the contract value to The Commission.[12][13] Castellano also supervised Gambino control of Teamsters Union Local Chapter 282, which provided workers to pour concrete at all major building projects in New York and Long Island.[14]

In 1975, Castellano allegedly had Vito Borelli, the boyfriend of his daughter Constance, murdered because he heard Borelli had compared him to Frank Perdue, the owner and commercial spokesman for Perdue Farms. Castellano was so insulted, he personally ordered the killing. In 2004, court documents revealed that Joseph Massino, a government witness and former Bonanno crime family boss, admitted murdering Borelli as a favor to Castellano.[15]

Succession

On October 15, 1976, Carlo Gambino died at home of natural causes.[16] Against expectations, he had appointed Castellano to succeed him over his underboss Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce. Gambino appeared to believe that his crime family would benefit from Castellano's focus on white collar businesses.[17] Dellacroce, at the time, was imprisoned for tax evasion and was unable to contest Castellano's succession.[18]

Castellano's succession was confirmed at a meeting on November 24, with Dellacroce present. Castellano arranged for Dellacroce to remain as underboss while directly running traditional Cosa Nostra activities such as extortion, robbery, and loansharking.[19] While Dellacroce accepted Castellano's succession, the deal effectively split the Gambino family into two rival factions.[19]

In 1978, Castellano allegedly ordered the murder of Gambino associate Nicholas Scibetta. A cocaine and alcohol user, Scibetta participated in several public fights and insulted the daughter of George DeCicco. Since Scibetta was Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano's brother-in-law, Castellano asked Frank DeCicco to first notify Gravano of the impending hit. When advised of Scibetta's fate, a furious Gravano said he would kill Castellano first. However, Gravano was eventually calmed by DeCicco and accepted Scibetta's death as the punishment earned by his behavior.[20]

In 1978, Castellano allegedly ordered the murders of Gambino capo James Eppolito and his son, mobster James Eppolito, Jr. Eppolito, Sr. had complained to Castellano that Anthony Gaggi was infringing on his territory and asked permission to kill him. Castellano gave Eppolitto a noncommittal answer, but later warned Gaggi about Eppolito's intentions. In response, Gaggi and soldier Roy DeMeo murdered Eppolito senior and junior.[21]

In February 1978, Castellano made an agreement between the Gambino family and the Westies, an Irish-American gang from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Castellano wanted hitmen that law enforcement could not tie directly to the Gambino family. The Westies wanted Gambino protection from the other Cosa Nostra families. The Gambino-Westie alliance was set in a meeting between Westies leader James Coonan and Castellano. According to Westies gangster Mickey Featherstone, Castellano gave them the following directive:

You guys got to stop acting like cowboys – acting wild. You're going to be with us now. If anyone is going to get killed, you have to clear it with us.[22]

Castellano also created an alliance with the Cherry Hill Gambinos, a group of Sicilian heroin importers and distributors in New Jersey, also for use as gunmen. With the Westies and the Cherry Hill Gambinos, Castellano commanded a small army of capable killers.

In September 1980, Castellano allegedly ordered the murder of his former son-in-law Frank Amato. A hijacker and minor criminal, Amato had physically abused his wife Connie Castellano (Paul's daughter) when they were married.[23][24] According to FBI documents, Gambino soldier Roy DeMeo murdered Amato, cut up his body, and disposed of the remains at sea.

In 1981, Castellano met twice with businessman Frank Perdue, the alleged cause of the 1975 Borelli murder. Perdue wanted Castellano's help in thwarting a unionization drive at a Perdue facility in Virginia. However, according to Perdue, the two men talked, but never agreed to anything.[25]

At the height of his power, Castellano built a lavish 17-room mansion on a ridgeline in Todt Hill on Staten Island. Designed to resemble the White House in Washington, D.C., Castellano's house featured Carrara marble, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and an English garden.[24] He started a love affair with his live-in Colombian maid, Gloria Olarte.[26] Castellano became a recluse, rarely venturing outside the mansion. Capos such as Daniel Marino, Thomas Gambino, and James Failla visited Castellano at Todt Hill to provide information and receive orders. When not entertaining guests, Castellano wore satin and silk dressing gowns and velvet slippers around the house.[27]

John Gotti, Dellacroce's former protégé, rapidly became dissatisfied with Castellano's leadership, regarding the new boss as being too isolated and greedy.[28][29] Like other members of the family, Gotti also personally disliked Castellano. The boss lacked street credibility, and those who had paid their dues running street level jobs did not respect him. Gotti also had an economic interest: he had a running argument with Castellano on the split Gotti took from hijackings at Kennedy Airport. Gotti was also rumored to be expanding into drug dealing, a lucrative trade Castellano had banned.

In January 1983, Castellano allegedly ordered the murder of Roy DeMeo, who was found shot to death in the trunk of his Cadillac automobile.[27] In March 1983, the FBI obtained a warrant to install secret listening devices in Castellano's house. Waiting until Castellano went on vacation to Florida, agents drugged his watch dogs, disabled his security system, and planted devices in the dining and living rooms. These devices provided law enforcement with a wealth of incriminating information on Castellano.[30]

In August 1983, Angelo Ruggiero and Gene Gotti were arrested for dealing heroin, based primarily on recordings from a bug in Ruggiero's house.[31][32] Castellano, who had banned made men from his family from dealing drugs under threat of death, demanded transcripts of the tapes,[31][33] and, when Ruggiero refused, threatened to demote Gotti.[34]

On March 30, 1984, Castellano was indicted on federal racketeering charges in the Gambino case, including the Eppolitto and DeMeo murders. Other charges were extortion, narcotics trafficking, theft, and prostitution. Castellano was released on $2 million bail.[35]

On February 25, 1985, Castellano was one of many Mafia bosses arrested on charges of racketeering, which was to result in the Mafia Commission Trial;[36] he was released on $3 million bail.[37]

On July 1, 1985, Castellano was indicted on loansharking charges and with tax evasion for not reporting the profits from his illegal racket,[38] and pleaded not guilty.[39]

On November 4, 1985, in a testimony from car thief Vito Arena, Castellano was named the head of the stolen-car ring that employed him, as well as having been connected to five murders.[40]

Conspiracy

Dellacroce died of cancer on December 2,[41] which started a chain of events that led to Castellano's murder two weeks later.[42] Several factors contributed to the conspiracy to kill Castellano; his failure to attend Dellacroce's wake was an insult to the Dellacroce family and his followers.[43] Secondly, Castellano named his bodyguard Thomas Bilotti as the new underboss. A Castellano loyalist, Bilotti was a brutish loanshark with little of the diplomatic skill required as underboss. Castellano also hinted that he was breaking up Gotti's crew.[44]

Gravano suggested killing both Castellano and Bilotti while they were eating breakfast at a diner.[45] However, when DeCicco tipped Gotti off that he would be having a meeting with Castellano and several other Gambino mobsters at Sparks Steak House on December 16, Gotti and the other conspirators decided to kill him then.[46]

Sparks Steak House entrance at 210 East 46th Street, the scene of Castellano's murder

Death

On Monday, December 16, 1985, Bilotti drove Castellano to the prearranged early evening meeting at Sparks Steak House in Midtown Manhattan, on East 46th Street near Third Avenue.[47] A hit team waited near the restaurant entrance; positioned down the street were backup shooters Dominick Pizzonia, Angelo Ruggiero, and Anthony Rampino.[48] Gotti observed the scene from a car across the street.[49]

As Castellano was exiting the car at the front of the restaurant at around 5:26 pm EST, the gunmen ran up and shot him several times.[50][51][52] Allegedly, John Carneglia was the gunman who shot Castellano in the head.[53][54] Bilotti was shot as he exited from the driver's door; before leaving the murder scene, Gotti drove over to view the bodies.[49]

Aftermath

Castellano was buried in the Moravian Cemetery in the New Dorp section of Staten Island.[55] The Archdiocese of New York refused to grant Castellano a Catholic funeral, citing his notorious life and death.[56][57][58]

Two weeks after Castellano's murder, a meeting of capos in a Manhattan basement elected Gotti, age 45, as the new Gambino boss.[49] The Castellano murder enraged Vincent Gigante, boss of the Genovese crime family, because Gotti never received permission for the act from the Commission. Gigante solicited the help of Lucchese crime family boss Anthony Corallo to kill Gotti. On April 13, 1986, a car bomb meant for Gotti exploded outside a Bensonhurst social club, but the only casualty was Frank DeCicco.[59][60] Afterward, Gotti and Gigante called a truce.

Gotti was arrested by the FBI in late 1990 on racketeering charges[61][62] and denied bail 10 days later.[63][64] On April 2, 1992, with the help of Gravano becoming a government witness, Gotti was convicted of numerous racketeering charges, including the 1985 Castellano murder.[65][66][67][68][69] On June 23, Gotti was sentenced to life in federal prison,[70][71][72] where he died of throat cancer in 2002.[73][74] No one else was ever charged in the Castellano murder.

Richard Kuklinski alleged that he carried out dozens of murders on behalf of Gambino soldier Roy DeMeo, including that of Castellano.[75] Mob expert Jerry Capeci dismissed Kuklinski's claims as "mostly demented ramblings".[76]

Media portrayals

Notes

  1. ^ a b Lou Lumenick (March 15, 2012). "Leave the gun-Take my career". New York Post. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Maas, Peter. Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia. New York City: HarperCollins, 1996. ISBN 978-0-06-093096-7.
  3. ^ a b Raab, p. 248
  4. ^ Feinberg, Alexander (December 15, 1957). "Miranda Balks at Gang Inquiry" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  5. ^ "Nina Castellano, Mob Widow, Dies". Daily News. New York. February 27, 1999. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  6. ^ "Nina Castellano, Mob Widow, Dies". Daily News. New York. February 27, 1999. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Raab, Selwyn (May 13, 2014). Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. ISBN 9781429907989.
  8. ^ Robb, Brian (November 20, 2014). A Brief History of Gangsters. ISBN 9781472110688.
  9. ^ Perlmutter, Emanuel (January 14, 1960). "Apalachin Men Sentenced; 15 Get Maximum 5 Years". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Texts of Opinions Reversing Conspiracy Conviction of 20 at Apalachin Meeting". The New York Times. November 29, 1060. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  11. ^ Raab, Selwyn (September 14, 1986). "SUPPLIER OF CONCRETE TO CITY HAD LINK TO A CRIME FIGURE". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  12. ^ a b director, from the New York State Organized Crime Task Force ; Ronald Goldstock (1990). Corruption and racketeering in the New York City construction industry : final report to Governor Mario M. Cuomo. New York: New York University Press. p. 79. ISBN 0-8147-3034-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "U.S. JURY CONVICTS EIGHT AS MEMBERS OF MOB COMMISSION" Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine By ARNOLD H. LUBASCH New York Times November 20, 1986
  14. ^ McFadden, Robert D. (December 22, 1991). "2 IN UNION CHARGED WITH TIES TO MOB". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  15. ^ Marzulli, John (May 12, 2004). "Bonanno Boss Linked To Old Gangland Slays". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  16. ^ Gage, Nicholas (October 16, 1976). "Carlo Gambino, a Mafia Leader, Dies in His Long Island Home at 74". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  17. ^ O'Brien, Kurins, pp. 104–105
  18. ^ Davis, p. 176
  19. ^ a b O'Brien, Kurins, pp. 106–108
  20. ^ May, Allan. "Living by the Rules". Sammy "The Bull" Gravano. Crime Library. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  21. ^ Eppolitto, Lou (August 15, 2005). Mafia Cop. Simon & Schuster. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-4165-2399-4.
  22. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (November 6, 1987). "Westies Informer Tells of Links to Gambino Mob". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  23. ^ Raab, p. 251
  24. ^ a b Raab, p. 252
  25. ^ Noble, Kenneth B. (March 8, 1986). "KIRKLAND FAULTS JUSTICE DEPT. ON UNION CRIME". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  26. ^ Reyes, Gerardo (August 31, 1991). "THE MOBSTER'S MISTRESS". Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  27. ^ a b Raab, p. 271
  28. ^ Davis, p. 187
  29. ^ Capeci, Mustain (1996), p. 61
  30. ^ Blum p. 99
  31. ^ a b Davis, p. 216
  32. ^ Capeci, Mustain (1996), p. 77
  33. ^ Capeci, Mustain (1996), pp. 79–80
  34. ^ Davis, p 238
  35. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (March 31, 1984). "REPUTED LEADER OF A CRIME FAMILY IS INDICTED BY U.S." The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  36. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (February 27, 1985). "U.s. Indictment Says 9 Governed New York Mafia". Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  37. ^ Paul Castellano's life of crime (February 26, 1985). "Paul Castellano's life of crime: Daily News". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  38. ^ Seigel, Max H. (July 2, 1975). "Gambino Brother in Law Cited on Usuary and Evasion of Taxes" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  39. ^ "11 Plead Not Guilty to Ruling Organized Crime in New York". The New York Times. July 2, 1985. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  40. ^ Smothers, Ronald (November 5, 1985). "Castellano Named at Car-Theft Trial". Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  41. ^ "'Top level hoodlum' dies of cancer". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 4, 1985. p. 12A.
  42. ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (December 4, 1985). "ANIELLO DELLACROCE DIES AG 71; REPUTED CRIME-GROUP FIGURE". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  43. ^ Blum, p. 107
  44. ^ Blum p. 112
  45. ^ Blum p. 115
  46. ^ Blum p. 128
  47. ^ "FBI fears murder of Castellano may ignite war for mob control". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. December 17, 1985. p. A1.
  48. ^ Capeci, Jerry (October 2, 2008). "Answers About the New York Mafia, Part 2". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  49. ^ a b c Lubasch, Arnold H. (March 4, 1992). "Shot by Shot, an Ex-Aide to Gotti Describes the Killing of Castellano". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  50. ^ "Reputed Mafia boss murdered". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 17, 1985. p. 3A.
  51. ^ "Crime boss, bodyguard murdered in Manhattan". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (New York Daily News). December 17, 1985. p. A1.
  52. ^ "Mob boss murder leads to bulletin for Lincoln car". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). United Press International. December 17, 1985. p. D4.
  53. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  54. ^ "Archives | The Philadelphia Inquirer". inquirer.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  55. ^ "Mourners of godfather Paul 'Big Paul' Castellano slipped off..." UPI. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  56. ^ "Mobster denied public burial mass". Pittsburgh Press. Associated Press. December 20, 1985. p. A19.
  57. ^ Pessin, Esther (December 20, 1985). "Mourners of godfather Paul 'Big Paul' Castellano slipped off..." United Press International. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  58. ^ Feuer, Alan (July 22, 2001). "Middle Village Journal; Sleeping With the Giants of the Mob". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  59. ^ Raab, Selwyn (January 24, 1995). "Defector Says Bomb That Killed Underboss Was Meant for Gotti". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  60. ^ Andrew, Dan (April 17, 1986). "Scores of tearful friends and reputed mobsters mourned the death of Frank DeCicco". United Press International. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  61. ^ "Gotti arrested again on rackets charges". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (New York Times). December 12, 1990. p. 7A.
  62. ^ "Mob boss Gotti nabbed by FBI". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. wire dispatches. December 12, 1990. p. 2.
  63. ^ "Gotti to spend holidays in jail". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). wire reports. December 22, 1990. p. A4.
  64. ^ "Judge refuses to grant bail for reputed mob boss Gotti". Pittsburgh Press. Associated Press. December 22, 1990. p. A8.
  65. ^ "Gotti guilty of murder, racketeering". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. April 2, 1992. p. A1.
  66. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (April 3, 1992). "Mob takes a hit: Gotti convicted". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (New York Times). p. A1.
  67. ^ "John Gotti, Guilty at Last". The New York Times. April 3, 1992. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  68. ^ "Teflon no more". Milwaukee Sentinel. news services. April 3, 1992. p. 3A.
  69. ^ "Gotti verdict opens door to rival mob". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). April 3, 1992. p. 1.
  70. ^ "Gotti gets life prison sentence". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 23, 1992. p. A1.
  71. ^ "Mob chief Gotti gets life sentence". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Washington Post). June 24, 1992. p. A3.
  72. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H (June 24, 1992). "Gotti Sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  73. ^ "Former Mafia boss dies inside prison". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). news services. June 11, 2002. p. 4A.
  74. ^ "Ex-crime boss John Gotti dies". Spokesman-Review. (Spkane, Washington). wire reports. June 11, 2002. p. A1.
  75. ^ Carlo 2006, pp. 232–238.
  76. ^ Capeci, Jerry (July 6, 2006). "Meet the Forrest Gump of Mob Hits". New York Sun. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.

References

American Mafia
Preceded by Gambino crime family
Co-Underboss with Neil Dellacroce
1974–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Gambino crime family
Boss
1976–1985 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Capo di tutti capi
Boss of bosses
1976–1985 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Castellano&oldid=972357583"