How John Gotti Rose to Mafia Boss

How John Gotti Rose to Mafia Boss

Early Life and Entry into Organized Crime

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Rise Through the Ranks

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Assassination of Castellano

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Reign as the Teflon Don

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How John Gotti Rose to Mafia Boss John Gotti faced a, it's him or me scenario. Gotti was dealing the drug, H, which was very profitable but strictly forbidden by the Gambino Family. Castellano had a rule, any Members found dealing H would be whacked. Why? The sentences were far longer for dealing H than other crimes, it was common get 30 plus years. Mafia bosses knew that anyone facing a 30 year prison sentence would be much more likely to flip. Gotti found out that Paul Castellano, the Gambino family boss, discovered his involvement in dealing H. Gotti probably thought he had to whack Castellano before Castellano had him taken out. Other reasons like Paul running the mafia from his mansion and talk of breaking up Gotti's crew also led to the hit. Gotti, Sammy the Bull Gravano and others, ambushed Castellano and his underboss leaving a dinner, just a few steps from his car outside Sparks Steak House Manhattan, December 1985. Shortly after, John Gotti became boss of the Gambino Family.