Quick Facts
- NAME: Paul Castellano
- OCCUPATION: Organized Crime Boss
- BIRTH DATE: June 26, 1915
- DEATH DATE: December 16, 1985
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Brooklyn, New York
- PLACE OF DEATH: Manhattan, New York
- Originally: Constantino Paul Castellano
Best Known For
Paul Castellano is best known for becoming the boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City.
Paul Castellano. (2012). Biography.com. Retrieved 06:19, Jan 27, 2012 from http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028
Paul Castellano [Internet]. 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028, January 27
" Paul Castellano." 2012. Biography.com 27 Jan 2012, 06:19 http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028
' Paul Castellano', Biography.com,(2012) http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028 [accessed Jan 27, 2012]
" Paul Castellano," Biography.com, http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028 (accessed Jan 27, 2012).
Paul Castellano [Internet]. Biography.com; 2012 [cited 2012 Jan 27]. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028.
Paul Castellano, http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028 (last visited Jan 27, 2012).
Paul Castellano, http://www.biography.com/people/paul-castellano-329028 (last visited Jan 27, 2012).
Synopsis
Paul Castellano was born June 26, 1915 in Brooklyn, New York. "Big Paulie" left school in the 8th grade to work at his father's butcher shop and run numbers. Castellano earned a reputation for never talking about his associations, even at the cost serving time. He was gunned down in a move by John Gotti's men to usurp power on December 16, 1985.
Quotes
There are certain promises you make that are more sacred than anything that happens in a court of law, I don't care how many Bibles you put your hand on.
Profile
Gangster, racketeer. Born Constantino Paul Castellano on June 26, 1915 in Brooklyn, New York. The youngest son of Sicilian immigrants, "Big Pauly" dropped out of school in eighth grade to cut meat in his father's butcher shop and help him run numbers for mob-controlled bookies.
Castellano's early exposure to the underworld lead to more frequent and more serious crimes. He spent three months in federal prison in 1934 after being arrested for armed robbery, never revealing the names of two friends who were also involved. His unwillingness to work with the police earned him street credibility among thugs in the neighborhood.
In 1937, Castellano married the sister-in-law of mafia king Carlo Gambino, Nino Manno. For the next several years Castellano was involved in gambling and bootlegging, but otherwise kept a relatively low profile. Nearly two decades later, he was called before a grand jury to testify about his connections to organized crime. He refused to say a word and was sentenced to five years in prison for contempt of court. He only served seven months before being released, earning a reputation for bulletproof loyalty.
Thanks to his mob connections, Castellano's next business, a wholesale enterprise called Blue Ribbon Meats, made him a wealthy man. On the side, he and Gambino also developed the so-called "White Rackets," such as construction bid rigging, union infiltration and political corruption. After the death of Carlo Gambino, Castellano was made boss of the Gambino Crime Family. Castellano lead with a quiet hand, keeping a low profile and running operations from his Staten Island mansion.
In 1985, the government enlisted the aid of Castellano's maid and lover, Gloria Olarte, to place a wire tap in his kitchen. The bug recorded 600 hours of evidence detailing Gambino crime family business, and he was arrested on March 30, 1984. Charged with sanctioning the murder of 24 people, he was released on $2 million bond. A year later, he was arrested along with several other crime family bosses in what became known as the Commission Case, an investigation into mob control over the New York City construction business.
In 1985, Neil Dellacroce, a beloved leader in the Gambino family who had been protecting Castellano from growing mutiny among his men, died. When Castellano failed to attend Dellacroce's wake, it was the last straw. Rival John Gotti took advantage of Castellano's weakening hold on the family, convincing the majority to change allegiance. On December 16, 1985 Paul Castellano
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