The Castellano Hit December 16th, 1985

[DonnieB]

Castellano hit was as brazen as it gets
Hoffa was definitely done in a more discreet manner

[B.]

What gets me about this murder is DeCicco, who set Castellano up, supposedly telling Jimmy Failla not to worry and that he'd talk to him later. He basically admitted to being involved in the conspiracy to a Castellano loyalist while still at the murder scene.

Where did the information come from that Gotti was a target in addition to DeCicco at the Veterans and Friends bombing? I don't doubt it, but curious if that was Casso or who gave that info originally. DeCicco was likely as much of a target as Gotti given this admission to Failla, who was said to be part of the retaliation plot w/ the Genovese and Lucchese families, but some sources make it out like DeCicco's murder was collateral damage given that he walked outside w/ someone who loosely resembled Gotti. DeCicco's admission to Failla the night of the Castellano murder would make him the most obvious target in my opinion even if they rightfully suspected Gotti.

[antimafia]

There are a variety of ways to sign in to SI Live to view the full article to which I’ve linked below.

The 1985 assassination of Staten Island boss Paul Castellano marked rise of new generation of mobsters. | From the vault

https://www.silive.com/news/2022/12/the ... vault.html

[NYNighthawk]

Bilotti's brother was a deacon I heard- was he also mobbed up? And between them they had 18 kids. Any of those kids get mobbed up later on in life?

[JoeCamel]

Thought he was a capo…but maybe

[Wiseguy]

Saw these posted somewhere. They really lit Bilotti up.

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[NYNighthawk]

They were good shooters - every bullet hit the target!

[Little_Al1991]

They were good shooters - every bullet hit the target!

One of the shooters guns jammed, Artuso was his second name if I remember correctly.

[richard_belding]

Where did the information come from that Gotti was a target in addition to DeCicco at the Veterans and Friends bombing? I don't doubt it, but curious if that was Casso or who gave that info originally. DeCicco was likely as much of a target as Gotti given this admission to Failla, who was said to be part of the retaliation plot w/ the Genovese and Lucchese families, but some sources make it out like DeCicco's murder was collateral damage given that he walked outside w/ someone who loosely resembled Gotti. DeCicco's admission to Failla the night of the Castellano murder would make him the most obvious target in my opinion even if they rightfully suspected Gotti.

While on the topic, here’s Frankie ‘Hearts’ Bellino

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[Pmac2]

I think jimmy brown had nothing to do with the genovese and luchese family plotting to kill getting. They didn't need inside info they knew gotti was behind Paul's murder and everyone around him also had to go. Decicco probably be cause he became underboss.

[Pmac2]

The jimmy brown plotting came from gravanos book and took a life of its own.

[Pmac2]

Casso isn't gonna involve danny Marino in any plot after his nephew tried to kill casso

[Browniety86]

Saw these posted somewhere. They really lit Bilotti up.



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"You know that they say that you deserved it whenever you die with your eyes open..."- Jadakiss "New York"

[Nasabeak]

I think the Feds knew it was gonna happen and let it happen

The Gambino Family in 1985 was under four to five different indictments.

Many guys involved in the conspiracies were under heavy surveillance both in terms of audio bugging and also being tailed. As an example, Robert DiB was under heavy surveillance in 1985 and 1986 in terms of being followed

Castellano himself was under constant surveillance as he was under indictment in two active cases and the Feds had approximately two more in the works. He would’ve been under constant surveillance as any evidence of LCN conduct or contacts could’ve been used as evidence in current or future trials

As such, consider that the day of his death he met with Sam DeCalvacante, and then had a high profile meeting with three Captains planned for that evening. No one gossiped this to a Fed who might put a tail on him?

John Gotti was under indictment in a RICO case launched in March 1985 as well as the 1984 beating case. No tail on him either in December 1985?

The Feds were preparing an indictment on Frank DeCicco which would’ve seen him arrested in June 1986. No tail or surveillance of him either in Dec 1985?

[Nasabeak]

My theory is they knew, and they had a good idea that the successor would be Gotti.

They knew Gotti going back to the 50s in terms of law enforcement. He would’ve already had a reputation as a guy in constant trouble, a flashy guy with a loud mouth.

The Feds had been bugging the Ravenite as early as 1980 and bugging his phone as early as 1982.

Plus the Feds already knew the Bergin crew had proven a gold mine (to them):

Angelo Ruggerio’s loose lips had helped build the Commission case.

His talk gave them probable cause to bug the other Bosses.

Angie’s diagram over the phone of Paul’s house had helped them get a visual for Paul’s house and where to place the bug

Paul was an old timer. He’d never have flipped. So, he’s useless to the Feds. He was likely going to beat the car theft case. But otherwise, he’s just another old guy going to prison

Paul’s planned Acting Boss was Tommy Gambino, who was incredibly low key. Much harder to prosecute than a John Gotti.

But if he gets killed, that’s out the window. The Bergin crew takes over - You have a flashy, chatty Boss now. Angelo Ruggerio probably in an administration level position.

Gotti, Ruggerio etc are guys the Feds can capitalize on to dismantle the Gambinos because of who John, Angie, etc are.

Worst case scenario, you have a Gambino Family War. Which again, actually works for the Feds.

Either way, win win if he dies for the Feds.

Either they get Gotti in charge - and we see how long that lasted. Look how many guys went to prison *forever* after Gotti took over.

Or they get a war, which would cripple the Gambinos and makes them much more open to be prosecuted since a war would bring about murders, chargeable crimes, possibly guys flipping to save their lives

So you take a bet, and don’t do anything to stop a guy getting popped