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Gotti, John (1940–2002)

John Joseph Gotti was born on October 27, 1940 to John J. Sr. and Fannie Gotti, the fifth of 11 children. By age 12, he was already involved with people thought to be involved with organized crime known as “wiseguys.” Gotti formally left school at age 16 to join the Fulton-Rockaway Boys, where he quickly rose to a leadership position. While a member of the Fulton-Rockaway Boys, Gotti was arrested five times between 1957 and 1961. Each time the charges were dismissed or reduced to a probationary sentence.

Gotti was one of the first individuals prosecuted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute for a variety of crimes centering on a criminal organization (in this case La Cosa Nostra). To secure his conviction, the prosecution relied on protected witnesses. Ultimately, Gotti was sentenced to one of America's most notorious maximum-security federal prisons, where he eventually died.

Early Incarceration

Gotti's first incarceration came in 1963, when he and Salvatore Ruggiero were arrested in an automobile that had been reported stolen. He spent 20 days in jail for this offense. Throughout the rest of the early 1960s, Gotti took part in smallscale criminal behavior such as larceny, unlawful entry, and possession of bookmaking records. Then in 1966 he spent several months in jail for attempted theft.

Once released from jail in 1966, John Gotti became an associate of an organized crime group headed by Carmine and Daniel Fatico. The group operated out of the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The Fatico group was a part of the Gambino organized crime family. At this point, Gotti began to hijack trucks coming from the John F. Kennedy International Airport until he was arrested by the FBI on November 27, 1967, with Gene and Angelo Ruggiero. He was then convicted of several hijackings and was sentenced to four years at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania. He was released in January 1972.

When Carmine, the Fatico group leader was indicted, Gotti was appointed as acting capo (captain, or leader) of the group. He assumed control of the Fatico group in May 1972. Soon after his rise to power in the Fatico group, the Gambino family underboss (the secondary leadership position) Aniello Dellacroce was also imprisoned, and Gotti began to interact directly with Carlo Gambino, the family boss.

The Gambino Crime Family

Gotti's relationship with Carlo Gambino was strengthened when he helped arrange the killing of Jimmy McBratney in 1973. McBratney allegedly was involved with the kidnapping and murder of Carlo Gambino's nephew Manny. While the details of the kidnapping are still debated, Gotti's was eventually indicted for McBratney's murder. Gotti pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. He spent less than two years at Green Haven Correctional Facility, 80 miles north of Queens, and was released on July 28, 1977. Shortly afterward, he was made a full member of the organized crime group.

While Gotti was imprisoned, the leadership of his “family” changed. Carlo Gambino died, and his nephew, Paul Castellano, was appointed as boss. However, underboss Aniello Dellacroce was next in line for the position. Two factions arose in the organization; Gotti sided with Dellacroce, while Paul Castellano maintained control over the organization.

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