Paolo (Paul) Gambino – “Don Paolino”

Paolo Gambino was the brother of boss Carlo Gambino . Paul was involved in many rackets on behalf of the Family, including alien smuggling and narcotics trafficking as well as the counterfeiting of gas ration stamps . He was also heavily involved in the food industry.

In addition, many of his closest associates included relatives such as Paul Castellano and Thomas Masotto , among others.

Paul Gambino - Early History

Paolo (Paul) Gambino - aka “Don Paolo” - was born in 1904 in Palermo, Sicily. He was one of four Gambino brothers and the kid brother of mob boss Carlo. His other two brothers were named Nino and Joseph. Paul Gambino was also a cousin to the Castellano, Masotto, and Guglielmini Families, who were all mob-connected.

He resided at 1219 E. 12th Street in Brooklyn. Paolo and Carlo married two sisters who were also their cousins. And their surname was Castellano.

Paul Gambino

During the Castellammarese War, a gunman shot at and attempted to kill Paul mistaking him for his brother Carlo. Although they missed their target, the incident was enough for Carlo, Paul, and their Palermo contingent to swing their support over to Maranzano, a pivotal event helping to “turn the tide” of the war to Maranzano’s favor.

By the 1940s, Paul Gambino was identified as a major figure in New York's Mangano Family and was identified as a member by Joe Valachi during the televised U.S. Senate Hearings of 1963.

Gambino was listed by the FBI as one of the top “capo di decina” of the Family, especially during his brother Carlo’s reign as boss from 1957 forward.

Activities and Associates

Paolo Gambino was involved in a variety of rackets including black market rackets, stolen and counterfeiting gas-ration stamps during WWII, liquor-alcohol bootlegging, counterfeiting (US currency), alien smuggling, heroin smuggling and wholesale distribution, gambling, and extortion.

His longtime close business and Family associates included Francesco (Don Cheech) Scalici, Giuseppe (Joe) Scalici, Giacomo Scalici, Benjamin Castellano, Constantino (Paul) Castellano, Rosario (Sal) Mazzasalma, Thomas Masotto, Peter Castellana, Antonino (Nino) Conte, Pasquale Conte, Calogero (Lelio) Di Carlo, Salvatore (Toto) Guglielmini, Frank Guglielmini, Giacomo (Jack) Scarpulla, Angelo Scarpulla, Ugo Rossi, andJoseph (Joe Bandy) Biondo.

Many of those listed were also his relatives.

Arrest Record

Gambino had at least eight arrests since 1929 for suspicion of committing a felony, alcohol bootlegging, federal alcohol tax violations, reckless driving, multiple traffic-law violations, and possession of stolen property.

In 1937, he was indicted for operating a huge liquor bootlegging ring for two years with his brother Carlo. He was one of 17 defendants. They smuggled cased liquor and supplied sugar and other key staples for operating alcohol stills. The Gambino brothers were said to have become millionaires through the alcohol-bootleg racket.

Paul actually went “on the lam” to Italy for almost a year, before turning himself into authorities. He later served a two-year prison term.

In the 1940s, he operated a “black market” of stolen and counterfeit ration stamps. This is where he and Carlo were alleged to have made their second fortune.

Many mobsters were in the racket but according to Valachi and others, the Gambino brothers were among the biggest operators in the racket, along with Sam Accardi.

This “ration stamp” racketeering went on during all the war years. So, the sustained level at which they dealt, coupled with the duration of the ring, ensured that they made a financial “killing”.

Side Note: Although gasoline coupons were key, meats, milk, other foods, nylons, dry goods, rubber, and other provisions desired by the public, ensured their continued success.

Paul Gambino was known to have visited Lucky Luciano in Italy during the 1940s-50s. And he was a top advisor to Carlo.

In 1963, he was arrested for evading detectives in Brooklyn after spotting them “tailing” him. He was charged with multiple traffic law violations for running stoplights and signs, speeding, and making illegal turns and maneuvers.

Businesses and Assets

Over the years, Paul owned several major businesses, both with and without his brother Carlo as a partner. These included the following:

• Blue Star Meat Markets - based on Main Street in Flushing, Queens, and owned several retail store locations in this Queens area.

Side Note: In 1967, a truckload of 1,048 cases of hijacked Polish hams valued at $35,000 was found at this market. He and his partner in the Blue Star Market, John Lo Pinto, also identified by the FBI in the 1963 Senate Hearings as a captain in the Gambino Family, were charged with criminally receiving stolen goods.

I n 1967, Paul D’Arpa was himself arrested for harboring and concealing a fugitive, namely his father-in-law, Paul, from arrest on possession of the stolen hams. Paul had been hiding out at his daughter and son-in-law's Brooklyn home.

• Ferro Foods, Inc., of Brooklyn - ostensibly owned by his son-in-law Frank Ferro and son (or nephew) Frank Gambino, this was a large volume wholesale Italian foods supplier to pizzerias and restaurants in the NY-NJ area for many years (mozzarella, tomato products, flour, pizza boxes, etc.).

Ferro figured into several bankruptcy frauds and larcenies over the years of various wholesale cheese distributors, etc.

• Butcher Tool Co., in Brooklyn - a firm created by Gambino, Salvatore Guglielmini, and Frank Ferro in 1959, which, within months, had infiltrated and came to dominate the trade, taking over hundreds of sharpening accounts the trade group had for decades with Dilberts Supermarkets, Trunz Markets, meat wholesalers, and other large chain food stores and butcher shops.

This firm supplied meat butchers, supermarkets, and food stores with a knife “sharpening” service.

Side Note: This firm was eventually “bought” out in 1962 by the butcher's trade group (NY Grinders Assn. - a 170-member group) for $177,000 to rid themselves of this mob competition. A company created for approximately $5,000 was sold by Gambino for $177,000 months later. The transaction became the focus of a major criminal investigation and U.S. Senate testimony into business infiltration by the mob.

Taking the Fifth

In 1969, Gambino, Guglielmini, and Ferro were subpoenaed to testify before the SCI (State Investigation Commission) on underworld infiltration of legitimate business.

He repeatedly took the Fifth Amendment to over 30 questions about Butcher Tools Co., Blue Star, and several other firms he operated.

After the purchase, the butcher's association auctioned off the assets of the firm including rag-tag vehicles, old-broken rusty knives, and other equipment which brought less than $1,000 at auction.

By the early 1970s, Paolo was keeping a low profile. He is listed as dying in 1973 at age 68.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Paolo (Paul) Gambino – “Don Paolino”

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Paolo (Paul) Gambino – “Don Paolino”

Unlock This Door to the Underworld

Take the Journey!

You May Also Enjoy

Racketeer Snapshot: Connecticut’s Frank (The Cigar) Piccolo

The Anthony Strollo Regime of NY/NJ

The Day Charlie (the Bug) Workman Saved a Horse

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