Gambino Soldier “Frankie Miller” Luciano
Frank “Frankie Miller” Luciano was a Bronx mob figure tied to the Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese Families. From bootlegging to...
The Gambino Family
The Gambino Family is one of the Five Families of organized crime in America. Its origins started in the city of Palermo, Sicily.
History
Salvatore D’Aquila was the first recognized boss of what is now called the Gambino Family, leading a large Palermitani faction in New York City as they emigrated. Both Upper and Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx supported a large group of Palermo-bred and Palermo-oriented mafiosi. They would come into conflict with an accomplished mafioso from Lower Manhattan named Giuseppe (Joe the Boss) Masseria.
D’Aquila and his followers would side with Maranzano, his Castellammare troops, and allied sympathizers. By 1931, Vincent Mangano would come to power. He would rule until his disappearance and murder in 1951. Albert Anastasia, a Calabrian and Mangano underboss, would rise to power and rule with an iron fist until his infamous execution in the barber’s chair in 1957, at which time Carlo Gambino came to power.
A long period of stability and prosperity would be enjoyed by this Family for the next 18 years until Gambino’s death in 1975. Paul Castellano, Carlo’s cousin and brother-in-law, would be chosen to lead. The Family would also prosper under Castellano for another decade until John Gotti shot his way to power with Castellano’s infamous gangland hit!
A Dominant Mafia Family
The Gambino Family, with an estimated formal membership of over 250 men and several thousand associates, and such capable leaders through the decades as Francesco (Don Cheech) Scalice, Aniello (Neil) Dellacroce, Ettore (Terry) Zappi, Joseph N. Gallo, James (Jimmy Brown) Failla, and the notorious Carmine (The Doctor) Lombardozzi. They have a very dominant position in the New York and New Jersey underworld.
They also have had many “outposts” in Connecticut, Baltimore, South Florida, California, and Sicily. With extensive street rackets in large gambling, shylocking, extortion, business infiltration, labor-union racketeering, international heroin smuggling and nationwide distribution, and even political influence, this borgata has always ranked among the two largest and most pervasive in the American marketplace.
Connecticut Mobster “O.K. Benny” Marchese
O.K. Benny Marchese ran with the Gambinos, played the long game out of Connecticut, and stayed gangster to the end....
The Cherry Hill Gambinos: A Family Business (The Cherry Hill Gambinos Series – Part 1)
The Cherry Hill Gambinos was the Sicilian Faction of the Gambino Family, headed by John Gambino, that specialized in heroin...
Gambino Family Consigliere Joe N. Gallo & His Son Joe Jr.
The life story of iconic Gambino Family consigliere Joseph N. Gallo. Plus a bonus mini bio on his son Joseph...
George (Blackie) D’Agostino: Gambino Labor Racketeer
George (Blackie) D’Agostino was a Gambino Family associate who specialized in labor union infiltration and left behind a tidal wave...
Thomas (Tommy the Enforcer) Altamura: A Deadly Showdown
A feared enforcer for the Gambino family, Thomas “Tommy the Enforcer” Altamura built a reputation in New York and later...
Mafia Minute: John (Johnny Connecticut) Busso
John (Johnny Connecticut) Busso was a soldier in New York’s Gambino Family.
Ippolito (Paul the Zip) Agresta
Paul Agresta was a Connecticut-based Gambino soldier who was a formally inducted member of the "Honored Society" before coming to...
Robert (DiB) DiBernardo: Gambino Porn Racketeer
Robert DiBernardo was a major player in the pornography industry who was set up for the "kill" by Sammy Gravano.
Heroin Trafficker William (Willy the Creep) Conforte
William (Willy the Creep) Conforte was a New Haven, Connecticut based hoodlum who was one of the State's most prolific...
Giacomo (Jack) Scarpulla
Jack Scarpulla was a well-placed and low-key soldier in the Anastasia/Gambino Family involved in bankruptcy fraud and other rackets.
Charles (Charlie Brush) Dongarra
Charlie Brush Dongarra was an original member of the old Mangano Family who eventually turned over his crew to Joseph...
Samuel (Sammy Schlitz) Schlitten
Samuel Schlitten was a longtime Bronx gambling power and top Jewish mob figure closely connected with both the Gambino and...
Carmine (The Doctor) Lombardozzi
Carmine Lombardozzi was heavily involved in shylocking for the Gambino Family and was once dubbed, "The King of Wall Street."
Pasquale (Patsy) Ruffino: Bronx Narcotics Trafficker
Pasquale (Patsy) Ruffino was a Gambino Family associate involved in narcotics trafficking and an associate of capo Rocco Mazzie.