Paul Castellano biography

Synopsis

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 was gunned down outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan.

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