Background
John Joseph Gotti, Jr. was born on October 27, 1940. He was the fifth child of eleven children. His parents were John J. Gotti Sr. and Fannie Gotti. John Gotti's father was believed to be a hardworking immigrant from the Neapolitan section of Italy, though Gotti would later describe his father as a New Jersey native who has never set foot in Italy and never worked a day in his life to provide for the family. The Gotti family grew up in the slums of the South Bronx. Although Gotti denies it, his father worked hard to move them out of the poor neighborhoods. John J. Gotti Sr., after much perseverance, later moved his family to the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood. However, after living in Sheepshead Bay for about a year, the Gotti
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Gotti became the leader of the gang, but unlike other gangs, was not concerned about territory. His gang was mostly into higher levels of criminality that dealt with fencing stolen goods, stealing automobiles and rolled drunks. While a member of the Fulton-Rockaway Boys, he was arrested five times however all his charges were reduced to probationary sentences. Later in life, Gotti marries Victoria DiGorgio. However marriage does not slow down John Gotti Jr. On a yearly basis, John Gotti committed crimes and was convicted of them. Several of the crimes ranged from grand larceny, hijacking, and murder. Though Gotti was convicted for several of the crimes, he proved to be a model inmate and was released on good behavior. In 1980, John Gotti tragically loses his son Frank when his bike was hit by their neighbors' car. Later, the neighbor was forced to move because of the constant retaliation from the Gotti family and friends.
The subject of gangs and mobs has always held my interest. In history, Gotti is as legendary as Capone. Gotti, who was infamous in the 1980's by becoming the boss of the Gambino's, truly epitomized the characteristic 1920's mobster - but with a few unique twists. He captured the public's interest, and has played a large role in maintaining it's fascination with mobster history. He was the last of the
Salvatore Lucania was born on November 24, 1897 in Sicily, Italy; almost ten years later, he began a new life of crime and prosperity in New York City’s lower east side. Upon arrival, he could not speak english; he bullied the other kids into paying him for protection and participated in drug dealing. One day, Lucania was abducted, beaten, stabbed, and left for dead; miraculously, he survived. This rather fortunate recovery led him to become known as Lucky Luciano (“Lucky Luciano Biography.com.” Edited by Biography.com, The Biography.Com website, A&E Television Networks, 17 June 2015, www.biography.com/people/lucky-luciano -9388350). In 1916, he became the leader of the Five Points Gang and continued to make a name for himself. During these early years, Luciano was in and out of jail-- mostly for getting caught dealing drugs.
He was known for not staying in jail long because people were scared to testify against him and because he knew the right people. He would put some much fear into people's heart by just being in his presence because that's how powerful he was.The FBI said that Gotti controlled just about every pimp, street gang, prostitute, drug dealer, and drug trafficker in Queens. He controlled 50% to 60% of every criminal and criminal gang in Queens during his time. It was discovered that he had 100,000 soldiers and 350,000 criminal associates in the Gambino Crime Family. The FBI found out that Gotti ordered the deaths of around 600 people. For 7 years, Gotti ruled New York City with an iron fist. Gotti had dozens of Police, Judges, District Attorneys, U.S. Attorneys, and Mayor's in his pocket. According to Sammy Gravano, an informat, Gotti had two NYPD Organized Crime Task Force Detectives, two FBI Agent's, two IRS Agents, two EPA Agents, and one DEA Agent in his pocket. And that's how powerful he was and that's why he was the most powerful crime boss in the world. Despite all those things, he still was a good father and provided for his family. He always put family first and that’s what's important in
Al Capone is arguably one of the most notorious and popular gangsters in American crime history. However, Capone is more than the classical gangster stereotype he is so often associated with. Capone was an intelligent criminal that used the environment of America at the time in order to rise to the peak of leadership and power amongst his community of Chicago. Capone’s criminal activities during his reign made impacts on American culture and the United State’s legal system that have lasted to this day.
Throughout his criminal career he was never connected to any criminal activities and never went to jail. Gambino died of a heart attack in 1976 and his brother-in-law Paul Castellano took over. In 1985, Paul Castellano was murdered based on the command someone in his inner circle, John Gotti. Gotti was the new leader of the Gambino Crime Family with Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano his second-in-command. Gotti was nicknamed Teflon Don because charges were filed against him but he was never convicted until his underboss Gravano was arrested in 1990 and gave authorities information about Gotti’s criminal activities. He was finally sentenced to life in prison in 1992 and died in 2002 of cancer. His son John Gotti Jr. became the heir to the family crime business until he was
They both share similarities in many aspects of their life. For instance, Both Gotti and Capone were born in New York and grew up into becoming gangsters in America. Additionally, both eventually became the leader of the designated gang they were apart of after the original leader left. Capone became the leader of the Torrio-Capone South Side gang after Torrio got shot and almost killed and left Chicago. Gotti became the leader of the Gambino crime family after Paul Castellano was shot and killed. Likewise, both gangsters were convicted and imprisoned for murder. Although Gotti was convicted and imprisoned many more times than Capone ever was. Additionally, Capone died from syphilis just as Gotti died from neck and head cancer. Both died on a heart wrenching aspect. On the other hand, both gangsters have extraordinary differences. Capone’s crime life sprung from his childhood since he was grown up in the bad part of Brooklyn and on the contrary, Gotti’s crime life sprung up when he first became apart of the Gambino crime family. Capone was only imprisoned for one murder and Gotti was imprisoned several times for many murders and
When we think of the mafia and gangs, one name comes to mind, Al Capone. Al Capone, also known as Scarface, was an infamous mafia leader who was active in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Having committed numerous criminal deeds and being the man behind countless murders, Capone was finally arrested for tax evasion . Now, you might ask, “How was he able to commit all these violent deeds without being imprisoned?” Well, we first have to go to the beginning of Capone’s life.
Al Capone, who was born in New York in 1899, was one of the most prominent gangsters in America in the 1920s. He was the son of Italian immigrants, and after leaving school at a young age, became a small-time criminal. Known as ‘Scarface,’ he had links to the leader of the Five Points Gang, Johnny Torrio, and moved to Chicago in 1920, where he gradually rose through the ranks as a partner in saloons, gambling and brothels. They moved their operations to Illinois after an offer to work with Jim Colosimo, a central figure in Chicago’s brothel business. Gang rivalry heated up after a dispute between Torrio and Colosimo over whether to begin in the bootlegging business, and in 1920, Colosimo was murdered allegedly by Al Capone. After this, Torrio’s criminal empire expanded massively throughout Chicago, before leaving in 1925 and handing over operations to Capone. After taking over, Capone expanded operations even further, and was able to control Chicago’s Mayor, ‘Big Bill’ Thompson and fix his elections. A local newspaper from the time reported
Al Capone was a highly known gangster in the 1920s Alphonse Capone born in Brooklyn, New York to a poor US immigrant couple, Gabriele and Teresina Capone, seeking a better opportunity for their then big family of eight children. He was known for running many lucrative illegal businesses that included alcohol bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and protection. Al Capone was so notorious that he would murder those who got in his way. With little prosecution of his actions, Al Capone believed his self to being unstoppable. Al Capone, being raised as a kid in poverty learned hands on how to organize crime and became the biggest force in organized crime.
He had 2 parents, Fannie and John Joseph Gotti Sr. John Gotti started school in 1945. In 1950 The Gotti family moved to Sheepshead Bay, where John attended P.S. 209.
Alphonse Capone is perhaps one of the most notorious gangsters of all time being remembered in infamy as a very successful businessman and a stone cold killer. Before Capone would become a mob boss he lived in a run down part of New York city. Capone went to a Catholic school, where he showed academic promise, but due to the violent nature of Catholic school Capone was expelled from school at the age of fourteen for assaulting a female teacher (A&E Television Networks). After that incident the young Capone picked up odd jobs until he met the gangster Johnny Torrio. Torrio had a huge impact on Capone 's life, giving him a look at how organized crime were transforming from gangs, into empires. Capone bounced around from different gangs and ended up in a
This isn't going to be about Al Capone's whole life, just his involvement in the 1920's. Al Capone wasn't the only American gangster at this time but, as his involvement in the American law was bigger his name grew more immense than anyone probably thought it would. Al Capone was a significant figure in American history believe it or not, we just don't talk about gangster that often.
Carlo Gambino, the man who is the family namesake, never served a day of jailtime in his life. He liked to keep low key, but many things are attributed to this family. Murder Inc., an infamous group of talented, for-hire hitmen, was started by Albert Anastasia, member of the Gambino family. While this was well publicized and talked about, perhaps the most publicized and talked about Mafia happening recently was the John Gotti case. John Gotti, Don of the Gambino family, was “ratted out” but one of his underlings, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano. Sammy, in return for this favor to the police, served only five years in jail for twenty murders. However, this offense, breaking the “Omerta” is one of the worst possible things any member of the Mafia could ever do. As Michael Corleone says to his wife Kay, “Don’t ask me about my business, Kay.” (Godfather) Everyone in the Mafia must learn many, many rules and live by all of them. Of most importance is Omerta, as stated before, but many guidelines are set for way of life as well. Members cannot show signs of weaknesses. Crying and wearing glasses are two such things. Also, women are looked upon as inferior and a couple that is unable to produce sons is frowned upon. Since power is very influential in how this business is run, members must know their place because “someone always wants more, that’s how wars start.” (Anonymous) Making reference to the movie “The Godfather” is
When Ida and Urbano Fellini bore their first son, Federico, they must have known that he would be far from a calm easygoing person. On the evening of January 20, 1940, the weather at the seaside resort of Rimini on the Adriatic coast of Italy, was not pleasant. There was thunder, lightning, high seas, winds, and heavy rains; quite a setting for the entrance of one who was to be regarded as one of the greatest film directors in history.
One of the largest Organized crime bust occurred in 2011. Close to 130 members of the New York City Mafia were arrested along with other East Coast cities. The Bonnanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Luchese were all part of the New York’s five families. Members of each of the five families were arrested to include some of the
One of the most influential Italian cinemas film directors was Federico Fellini, who became popular after World War II. The filmography of Fellini included 24 titles; of which won him five Academy Awards including the most Oscars in history for best foreign language film (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Federico Fellini’s influences have became such an integral part of the film industry, that some of his influences are barely even credited to him in todays society such as the word “paparazzi” which originated in his film La Dolce Vita, and became the word it means today. Also high schools across the America stage perform the Broadway musical comedy Sweet Charity, which was based on the Fellini film Nights of Cabiria, which was a film about an