Estimate member count: around 200.
First Boss: Vincent Mangano
Primary rackets: Drug trafficking, loansharking, gambling, extortion, car theft, union corruption, construction, internet fraud, waste management.
Boss: Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu
Short history of the family: The Gambino crime family is one of the five La Cosa Nostra families operating in New York City. It was founded after the Castellammarese War and led, at that time, by boss Vincent Mangano. The Italian-American Mafia families formed the Commission to ensure big wars between crime families would be a thing of the past. Also, it would protect mob leaders from getting killed on a whim.
Still, being the leader of the Gambino family was no guarantee for a long and healthy life. Vincent Mangano disappeared in 1951 and is presumed murdered on orders of his underboss Albert Anastasia. As a result, Anastasia assumed power and led the family until he himself was whacked sitting in a barber chair in the barber shop of the Park Sheraton Hotel in 1957.
His successor was Anastasia’s underboss Carlo Gambino. Though the family was named after him, this was simply a case of authorities, at that time, investigating organized crime and labeling each Cosa Nostra family by using the name of its alleged leader.
Regardless, Gambino deserved to have the family named after him. His reign was extremely successful and he turned his clan into one of – if not the – most powerful crime families in the United States.
As his life neared its end, Gambino appointed his brother-in-law Paul Castellano as his successor. This caused resentment among the troops as most viewed Castellano as a businessman first and a gangster… not so much. It especially angered an up-and-coming capo named John Gotti.
Gotti began plotting a takeover and had his way in 1985 when he orchestrated the murder of Castellano and his underboss Tommy Bilotti. He quickly emerged as boss and refused to hide like most Mafiosi.
Known as the Dapper Don, Gotti thrived on the media exposure and flaunted his power in the face of law enforcement. He put the Gambino family in the spotlights and turned it into a prime target for local, state, and a bunch of federal law enforcement agencies.
Gotti’s reign ended in prison. He tried hanging on to power through his brother Peter and son John Junior, but eventually the Gottis had to step down.
By the mid-2000s, the Sicilian faction within the Gambino family had enormous influence and placed itself at the head of the group. Bosses Domenico Cefalù and Frank Cali ran the family at a time when law enforcement seemed to know a mobster’s every move and anyone in the family could be a snitch.
PROFILES:
BOSSES:
Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali (whacked)
Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu
Peter Gotti (dead)
John “Junior” Gotti (quit the mob – interview 1 – interview 2)
John Gotti (dead)
Paul Castellano (whacked)
Carlo Gambino (dead)
Vincent Mangano (whacked)
UNDERBOSSES:
Arnold “Zeke” Squitieri
Salvatore “Sammy The Bull” Gravano (flipped)
Francesco Scalice (whacked)
CONSIGLIERI:
Frank Locascio (dead)
CAPI:
Anthony “Tony Pep” Trentacosta (dead)
Gene Gotti
Andrew Campos
Bartolomeo “Pepe” Vernace (dead)
Robert “Bobby Cabert” Bisaccia (dead)
Nicholas “Little Nicky” Corozzo
George DeCicco (dead)
Michael “Mikey Scars” DiLeonardo (flipped)
SOLDIERS:
Vincent Squillante (whacked)
Anthony Mascuzzio (whacked)
Carmine Agnello (prison)
Charles Carneglia (prison)
Samuel “Little Sammy” Corsaro (dead)
ASSOCIATES:
Joseph Gambino (dead)
Joseph “Joe Marco Polo” Chirico
Gennaro “Jerry” Bruno
Robert Sasso
Anthony Pandrella
ARTICLES:
FBI looking for buried bodies on Gambino Mafia family farms in upstate New York
“Joe Brooklyn,” “Uncle Ciccio,” “Vinny Slick” – Gambino family mobsters busted in New York and Italy
The Corner on Pleasant Avenue: The Mafia, crooked cops and drugs
“The fat fuck stole my money!” – Gambino Mafia family wiseguy guilty of shooting Lucchese family pal in the head
Former President Donald Trump is all smiles as he poses for picture with New York Mafia snitch
A Funeral in Brooklyn: The Mangano Brothers
Smart Gambino Mafia family capo gets 3 years in prison for multimillion-dollar fraud scheme
Franky Boy is Gone: The Killing of a Mafia Boss
How gangsters try (and fail) to evade government surveillance
Gambino associate pleads guilty to arson in Queens over $400 measly bucks in extortion scheme
WATCH: “Sammy the Bull” Gravano back with MTV show “Families of the Mafia”
Ex-Gambino Mafia family underboss Sammy Gravano is trying to get some good gangster PR – Will it work?
Only the Dead know Brooklyn
The Guys That Do More Than Killing: Gambino Mafia family mobsters busted for large variety of crimes
Paul Ragusa sentenced to 6 years in prison on gun charges
Gambino family mobster charged with treacherous murder and robbery of his dear 78-year-old friend
Frank Cali shot dead in front of his Staten Island mansion
How did Mafia hit squad Murder Inc. get its name?
Former Gambino family mobster shows his soft side
VIDEO: Bloods gangster talks about doing time with John Gotti in 1997
Gunman wearing fedora shoots up mob-linked restaurant
Feds bust Gambino family capo John Ambrosio
How Mafia families in New York and Canada cooperate in global drug trade
Gotti’s grandson is introducing the world of MMA to the family’s fighting spirit
“Mob Artist” Michael Bell about painting portrait of John Gotti
Sammy the Bull Gravano is a free man, but also a poster boy for the dangers of dealing with gangsters
Mob rat John Alite got beat up at a strip club
$15 million drug ring led by Gambino crime family busted
Gotti Jr. stands tall, warns people behind smear campaign
INTERVIEW: John Gotti Jr. sits down with Gangsters Inc.
Judge to rule if Gambino rat Alite violated supervised release
Gotti family takes film director on Mafia tour through city
Gotti Junior talks about his father, the Mafia & John Travolta
Exclusive: Excerpt of John A. “Junior” Gotti’s new book
New York Gambino mobster hit with extortion rap in Italy
‘Ndrangheta and Gambino crime family in global drug bust
Gangsters Inc. sits down with FBI agent Jack Garcia
Mob boss Junior Gotti stabbed in parking lot
Genovese and Gambino Mobsters in Garbage Bust
Violent Gambino Drug Crew Pleads Guilty
Gambino Crew Pleads Guilty To Racketeering and Prostitution
Mob Myth Busted: Gambino Family Pimping Out Underage Girls
Unrest Within The New York Mob
Did Serial Killer Frame Mob Rat Gravano For Cop’s Murder?
