Mafia Godfather: Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino was arguably the most powerful boss of the Five New York Crime Families. Quiet and unassuming, he was...
The Gambino Crime Family
The Gambino Crime 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!
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.
Below is a listing of bios and snapshots on Gambino Family members and associates. They are generally listed in alphabetical order. New and updated bios will be highlighted under the Gambino Family Spotlight tab in the sidebar column.
Joseph N. Gallo – Gambino Family Consigliere
The life story of iconic Gambino Family consigliere Joseph N. Gallo. Plus a bonus mini bio on his son Joseph...
Neil Dellacroce – Underboss of the Gambino Crime Family
Neil Dellacroce may have been given the name of a "lamb", but he would grow up to be one of...
Paolo (Paul) Gambino – “Don Paolino”
Paulo (Paul) Gambino was the boss's brother in involved in many key rackets and businesses.
Ettore Zappi – “De Facto Consigliere”
Ettore Zappi was a close associate of Carlo Gambino and held interests in many restaurants in New York and Florida.
Ippolito (Paul the Zip) Agresta – Narcotics and Ziganette in Bridgeport
Paul Agresta was a Connecticut-based Gambino soldier who had been a formally inducted member of the "Honored Society" before coming...
Thomas (Tommy the Enforcer) Altamura – The Chickens Came Home to Roost
Thomas (Tommy the Enforcer Altamura moved his bookmaking and shylock operations for the Gambino Family to Miami before meeting an...
Gambino Family Capo Toddo Aurello
Toddo Aurello was a low-key Gambino Family capo involved in a notorious underworld event and a mentor to Sammy Gravano.
Sebastian Biondo – From Loanshark to Singer
Sebastian Biondo was a member of the Gambino Family who, later in life, turned his love of music into a...
Anthony (Tony) Carubia – “Tony the Hoodlum”
Anthony Carubia was a little-known Gambino member who loved living life on the edge, especially when it came to gambling...
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...
Vincent (Jimmy the Blond) Corrao – The Gambino’s Big Earner
Vincent (Jimmy the Blond) Corrao earned big money for the Gambino Family with his narcotics and gambling rackets.
Pasquale Crapanzano – “The Union Soldato”
Pasquale Crapanzano was a Gambino Family member who was involved in labor racketeering and was an associate of Carlo Gambino.
Frank Dapolito – “The Dapper One”
Frank (Frankie Dap) Dapolito was active in labor racketeering maintaining a low profile -until John Gotti brought the feds calling.
Anthony (Tony West) DeLutro
One of the more active Gambino hoodlums to operate in New York’s Little Italy area was Tony West DeLutro who...
Robert (DiB) DiBernardo – “King of Porn”
Robert DiBernardo was a major player in the pornography industry who was set up for the "kill" by Sammy Gravano.
Charles (Charlie Brush) Dongarra – Top Gambino Assassin
Charlie Brush Dongarra was an original member of the old Mangano Family who eventually turned over his crew to Joseph...
Carmine (Charlie Wagon Wheels) Fatico – The Czar of East New York
Carmine Fatico was a member of the Gambino Family who was active in truck hijacking and worked with an up-and-comer...
Daniel (Danny Wagons) Fatico – An Early Mentor to John Gotti
Daniel (Danny Wagons) Fatico was a Gambino Family mobster who raked up nearly three dozen arrests on a yellow sheet...
Frank (Frankie the Wop) Gagliardi – Low-Key but No Wallflower
Frank (the Wop) Gagliardi was a serious Gambino Family soldier who navigated turbulent underworld waters for over five decades.
Michael (Blackie) Galgano – Gambino Family Soldier
Michael (Blackie) Galgano was a Gambino Family soldier who once told an informer that Joe Valachi would be killed if...
Joseph (Joe Scootch) Indelicato – Gambino Enforcer
Joseph (Joe Scootch) Indelicato was a Gambino Family soldier heavy into gambling before he moved to South Florida hoping to...
From city to city and state to state, Button Guys of The New York Mafia breaks down the history of organized crime in America. Through deep-dive biographies and snapshots of mobsters to in-depth stories about mafia regimes and crews, you’ll uncover an underworld you might never have known existed – maybe even in your own hometown!
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