12 Questions
Under Carlo Gambino's reign, the Gambino family grew to about 250 made men and twice as many ______.
associates
Castellano focused on white-collar crimes while relying on muscle like Roy DeMeo and his crew for ______.
enforcement
Castellano's personal life was tumultuous, with an extramarital affair leading to strained family relationships and a lavish ______.
lifestyle
The FBI used bugs planted in Castellano's home to gather incriminating evidence, leading to his arrest on various charges related to organized crime ______.
activities
In 1985, prosecutor Rudy Giuliani orchestrated the arrest of top mobsters from all five of New York's crime families, including Paul ______.
Castellano
Gotti assumed leadership of the Gambino family after Castellano's death but later faced legal issues and was convicted of multiple murders, including ______.
Castellano's
Paul Castellano learned from the greatest organized crime leader and became the boss of the Gambino family, causing a rift from the beginning.- Castellano was more of a ______ than a traditional gangster, being described as greedy by some associates.
businessman
Castellano ordered the killing of Roy DeMeo, a made member of the Gambino family and an enforcer, due to DeMeo being subpoenaed to testify about the family's auto theft ring.- DeMeo's body was found in the trunk of his Cadillac after Castellano's order to kill him, showcasing Castellano's influence and power within the ______.
mob
Castellano was born in 1915 in Brooklyn to Sicilian immigrant parents and was involved in organized crime from a young age, learning the ropes from his father's ______ business.
side
Carlo Gambino, Castellano's cousin and a prominent mob member, played a significant role in mentoring and guiding Castellano's rise within the ______ family.
crime
Castellano's success in organized crime was also attributed to his business acumen, as he developed a successful meat distribution company and implemented more strategic approaches, like taking a stake in businesses instead of resorting to ______.
violence
Paul Castellano was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to five years in prison, but the conviction was overturned on appeal after just seven ______.
months
Study Notes
- Paul Castellano learned from the greatest organized crime leader and became the boss of the Gambino family, causing a rift from the beginning.
- Castellano was more of a businessman than a traditional gangster, being described as greedy by some associates.
- Castellano ordered the killing of Roy DeMeo, a made member of the Gambino family and an enforcer, due to DeMeo being subpoenaed to testify about the family's auto theft ring.
- DeMeo's body was found in the trunk of his Cadillac after Castellano's order to kill him, showcasing Castellano's influence and power within the mob.
- Castellano was born in 1915 in Brooklyn to Sicilian immigrant parents and was involved in organized crime from a young age, learning the ropes from his father's side business.
- Carlo Gambino, Castellano's cousin and a prominent mob member, played a significant role in mentoring and guiding Castellano's rise within the crime family.
- Castellano's success in organized crime was also attributed to his business acumen, as he developed a successful meat distribution company and implemented more strategic approaches, like taking a stake in businesses instead of resorting to violence.- Paul Castellano was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to five years in prison, but the conviction was overturned on appeal after just seven months.
- Castellano's cousin and close friend, Carlo Gambino, established the Gambino crime family in the 1960s, building it into a prominent criminal organization.
- Under Carlo Gambino's reign, the Gambino family grew to about 250 made men and twice as many associates.
- Castellano's legitimate business, Dial Meat Purveyors Inc., saw success due to his aggressive tactics learned from the mob.
- Castellano used mob tactics to strong-arm local businesses into stocking his products, leading to a dominant position in the poultry business.
- Carlo Gambino chose Castellano as his successor over Aniello Dellacroce, causing internal factionalism within the Gambino family.
- Castellano focused on white-collar crimes while relying on muscle like Roy DeMeo and his crew for enforcement.
- Castellano's personal life was tumultuous, with an extramarital affair leading to strained family relationships and a lavish lifestyle.
- Castellano's strict no-drug policy within the family led to conflicts and violent repercussions for those who disobeyed.
- The FBI used bugs planted in Castellano's home to gather incriminating evidence, leading to his arrest on various charges related to organized crime activities.- FBI gathered evidence on a meeting of New York crime bosses known as the Commission to discuss the construction industry and avoiding detection by law.
- In 1985, prosecutor Rudy Giuliani orchestrated the arrest of top mobsters from all five of New York's crime families, including Paul Castellano.
- Castellano was arrested based on evidence from bugs planted in his home, leading him to demand tapes from a case involving drug trafficking discussions.
- Castellano's underboss, Aniello Dellacroce, delayed giving Castellano the tapes to protect himself and Captain John Gotti.
- Dellacroce's death in December 1985 escalated tensions, with Castellano refusing to attend his funeral, angering Gotti and the rank and file.
- Castellano's disrespectful actions, including appointing Tommy Bilotti as underboss, fueled Gotti's desire to eliminate him and take over the Gambino family.
- Gotti, with the approval of most Commission members, arranged Castellano's assassination outside Sparks steakhouse in December 1985.
- Gotti assumed leadership of the Gambino family after Castellano's death but later faced legal issues and was convicted of multiple murders, including Castellano's.
- Castellano's downfall marked the end of a prosperous era for the Gambino crime family, as he failed to balance Wall Street cunning with traditional gangster life.
Test your knowledge on Paul Castellano, his rise within the Gambino crime family, his business tactics, conflicts with other mob members, and ultimately his downfall orchestrated by John Gotti. Explore the history of organized crime and the inner workings of one of New York's most notorious crime families.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
