Castellano/Dellacroce factions

[Lupara]

According to popular history/perception
the Gambino family was supposedly divided in two factions during the Castellano era. The so called white collar (Castellano/Gaggi) faction and the blue collar (Dellacroce/Gotti) faction.

Could anyone give a complete list of which individuals/crews (besides the ones already named) belonged to which faction?

I suppose DeCicco, Gravano initially belonged to the Castellano faction but secretely switched to Gotti at some point?

I find it ironic that Roy DeMeo belonged to this so called white collar faction even though his rackets were as blue collar as any.

Was the family really divided in two (like the Bonannos in the 60s) or were there just a few crews loyal to one particular faction and the other crews neutral?

Gotti apparantly didn't have a hard time taking over with basically everyone falling in line.

Thanks in advance.

[chin_gigante]

In terms of the Paul wing you can add Thomas Bilotti, James Failla, Thomas Gambino, Daniel Marino, Joseph Corroa. I think Carmine Lombardozzi too. Joseph Arcuri had a reputation for being loyal to whoever was the boss so he's a safe bet.

[chin_gigante]

By the time Gotti was looking to take over I reckon the Paul crews mostly fell in line (despite Failla and Marino making their pact with Chin) because they recognised the need for the family to be unified. Gravano has frequently expressed his discomfort with the cold war tension between the two wings as being one of the things that turned him against Paul.

[SonnyBlackstein]

I’m of the opinion this blue collar/white collar faction divide is mostly bullshit emanating from Gotti’s bullshit that that was a driving force in his ascension.
John wacked Paul because of the Ruggerio drug tapes and he knew he and Gene were going to be clipped. That’s why they hit Paul.
The ‘justification’ of Paul being white collar, family divide is, in my opinion, simply to cover up the above and mostly myth grown and fostered by gotti.
I’ve no doubt Dellacroce perhaps wanted the spot and met with Paul over it, but the idea the family was divided among crews posing various allegiance to one ‘side’ or the other, I think is bullshit.

Opinion.

[Frank]

I’m of the opinion this blue collar/white collar faction divide is mostly bullshit emanating from Gotti’s bullshit that that was a driving force in his ascension.
John wacked Paul because of the Ruggerio drug tapes and he knew he and Gene were going to be clipped. That’s why they hit Paul.
The ‘justification’ of Paul being white collar, family divide is, in my opinion, simply to cover up the above and mostly myth grown and fostered by gotti.
I’ve no doubt Dellacroce perhaps wanted the spot and met with Paul over it, but the idea the family was divided among crews posing various allegiance to one ‘side’ or the other, I think is bullshit.

Opinion.

I believe you are correct, in that Gotti was in a kill or be killed position. But I believe he did take advantage of the fact that there was two main factions to the family. Carlo I believe let Dellacrocce run his faction of the Family.

[Frank]

I’m of the opinion this blue collar/white collar faction divide is mostly bullshit emanating from Gotti’s bullshit that that was a driving force in his ascension.
John wacked Paul because of the Ruggerio drug tapes and he knew he and Gene were going to be clipped. That’s why they hit Paul.
The ‘justification’ of Paul being white collar, family divide is, in my opinion, simply to cover up the above and mostly myth grown and fostered by gotti.
I’ve no doubt Dellacroce perhaps wanted the spot and met with Paul over it, but the idea the family was divided among crews posing various allegiance to one ‘side’ or the other, I think is bullshit.

Opinion.

Yes my use of the word faction might be overstating it. From what I read and remember is that when Gambino took over, Dellacrocce wasn't in that camp. He was almost killed on Gambino's orders. He fell in line with Gambino and was loyal to Carlo. It looks like Gambino took care of Dellacrocce and later named him underboss, probably Carlo wanted a guy like Dellacrocce to be very important in the Family and to him. Knew Neill was loyal interms of Mafia loyal, a good soldier, who is loyal to his boss. Big muscle for Gambino.I think Dellacrocce might have been disappointed on not being Gambino's successor, but was loyal to the end, and accepted Pauly as boss. Neil was the second or third most powerful Gambino for 20 years, so he was making alot of money. Remember Gotti did not make this move till after Neill died. I wonder what would have happened if Neil didn't get cancer.

[Lupara]

I’m of the opinion this blue collar/white collar faction divide is mostly bullshit emanating from Gotti’s bullshit that that was a driving force in his ascension.
John wacked Paul because of the Ruggerio drug tapes and he knew he and Gene were going to be clipped. That’s why they hit Paul.
The ‘justification’ of Paul being white collar, family divide is, in my opinion, simply to cover up the above and mostly myth grown and fostered by gotti.
I’ve no doubt Dellacroce perhaps wanted the spot and met with Paul over it, but the idea the family was divided among crews posing various allegiance to one ‘side’ or the other, I think is bullshit.

Opinion.

Interesting observation and may very well just be the case. I think Castellano may have been the only true white collar mobster in the family anyway. Most of the mob crews have always been involved in traditional mob rackets one way or another. Unions, money laundering and stock scams can be considered white collar but all the rest, gambling, loan sharking, extortion, robbery, fencing and narcotics is as blue collar as it can be in terms of mob business.

[Lupara]

I’m of the opinion this blue collar/white collar faction divide is mostly bullshit emanating from Gotti’s bullshit that that was a driving force in his ascension.
John wacked Paul because of the Ruggerio drug tapes and he knew he and Gene were going to be clipped. That’s why they hit Paul.
The ‘justification’ of Paul being white collar, family divide is, in my opinion, simply to cover up the above and mostly myth grown and fostered by gotti.
I’ve no doubt Dellacroce perhaps wanted the spot and met with Paul over it, but the idea the family was divided among crews posing various allegiance to one ‘side’ or the other, I think is bullshit.

Opinion.

I believe you are correct, in that Gotti was in a kill or be killed position. But I believe he did take advantage of the fact that there was two main factions to the family. Carlo I believe let Dellacrocce run his faction of the Family.

So who other than Dellacroce and his crew belonged to this faction? Weren't the remaining Anastasia guys a minority group in the family with the few who contested Carlo's installment being killed? How come Dellacroce was given so much power for his role if he represented a minority faction in the family that could've simply be pushed aside?

It seems to me that both loyalists groups were relatively small with the majority of the family on the fence.

If I'm wrong then I would like someone to provide me an outline of the division within the family.

[Lupara]

I’m of the opinion this blue collar/white collar faction divide is mostly bullshit emanating from Gotti’s bullshit that that was a driving force in his ascension.
John wacked Paul because of the Ruggerio drug tapes and he knew he and Gene were going to be clipped. That’s why they hit Paul.
The ‘justification’ of Paul being white collar, family divide is, in my opinion, simply to cover up the above and mostly myth grown and fostered by gotti.
I’ve no doubt Dellacroce perhaps wanted the spot and met with Paul over it, but the idea the family was divided among crews posing various allegiance to one ‘side’ or the other, I think is bullshit.

Opinion.

Yes my use of the word faction might be overstating it. From what I read and remember is that when Gambino took over, Dellacrocce wasn't in that camp. He was almost killed on Gambino's orders. He fell in line with Gambino and was loyal to Carlo. It looks like Gambino took care of Dellacrocce and later named him underboss, probably Carlo wanted a guy like Dellacrocce to be very important in the Family and to him. Knew Neill was loyal interms of Mafia loyal, a good soldier, who is loyal to his boss. Big muscle for Gambino.I think Dellacrocce might have been disappointed on not being Gambino's successor, but was loyal to the end, and accepted Pauly as boss. Neil was the second or third most powerful Gambino for 20 years, so he was making alot of money. Remember Gotti did not make this move till after Neill died. I wonder what would have happened if Neil didn't get cancer.

Paul would've lived and so did Gotti with Dellacroce as acting boss with Paul in jail? I can't see Paul pushing Dellacroce aside for Tommy Gambino or Bilotti.

[Pogo The Clown]

Dellacroce would been in prison by 1986 in the Commission case.


Pogo

[DPG]

Neil was not part of the commission case correct? Would give credit to the different factions theory wouldn't it? Surely if they were as close as other admins Neil would've been included in the case right?

[Pogo The Clown]

He was indicted in the Commission case. He was also indicted in the Gambino Hierarchy case in 1984 and another separate racketeering case in 1985. If he didn't die he would have gone to prison for life in 1986.


Pogo

[Frank]

He was indicted in the Commission case. He was also indicted in the Gambino Hierarchy case in 1984 and another separate racketeering case in 1985. If he didn't die he would have gone to prison for life in 1986.


Pogo

Yes you are right and that gets overlooked because Dellacrocce dies in 1985.

[Frank]

I don't think there was trouble between Dellacrocce and Castellano. I think just a few men in Dellacrocce's crew. I don't think it was a big surprise that Pauly became boss, as he was already acting boss at the time of Gambino's death, and had served in that position before.I also believe Gotti made his move because it was kill or be killed.

[DPG]

He was indicted in the Commission case. He was also indicted in the Gambino Hierarchy case in 1984 and another separate racketeering case in 1985. If he didn't die he would have gone to prison for life in 1986.


Pogo

Thanks for correcting me cause I had no clue.