Old NYPD Surveillance Report

[TSNYC]

Came across an old nypd surveillance report from 12/24/1985:

Prior to Gotti holding court at Ravenite, the following men (described as “members of the Castellano Crew”) were observed at Taormina restaurant, 147 Mulberry St:

James Failla
Louis Astuto
Frank DeCicco
Daniel Marino
Frank Low
Joseph Watts

Said several other men present but weren’t identified at that time.


Between 2pm and 6:30pm, between 150 and 200 persons attended meeting at the Ravenite, including:

John Gotti
Gene Gotti
Joseph Armone
Harry Arduini
Louis Astuto
Thomas Bruno
Nicholas Corozzo
Joseph Corozzo
John Campanella
Robert Cirelli
Michael Cirelli
Vincent Cirelli
Michael Catalano
August corrao
Joseph corrao
Anthony Ciccone
Ralph Cuomo
Norman DuPont
Frank DeCicco
Joseph Delmonica
Frank Dappolito
Frank DiStefano
Anthony DeStefano
Louis De Pierro
Robert DeBernardo
Daniel Dellolio
James Failla
Richard Falvo
Christopher Furnari
Anthony Granata
Jack Giordano
Joseph Giordano
Michael Guerrieri
Ernest Grillo
Frank Guidice
Joseph Giaccio
Joseph Juliano
Al Longo
Frank Low
Edward LaForte
James LaForte
Joseph LaForte Sr
Michael LaPorta
Otto Macrini
Alphonse Malangone
Philip Mazzara
Joseph “Messina”
Anthony Moscatiello
Salvatore Mangialino
Constintine Mastramarino
John Mascia
Anthony Mascuzzio
Ben Mallah
Daniel Marino
Patsy Morelli
Michael Napolitano
Robert Pellegrino
Vincent Parisi
Jerry Pipolo
Dominick Pizzonia
Philip Perfetti
Salvatore Palmieri
Joseph Panza
Peter “Piacente”
George Remini
John Riccobono
“San” Riccobono (son of late capo Rocco Riccobono)
Angelo Ruggiero
Anthony Rampino
Mark Reiter
August Sclafani
August Sclafani (2 different Augusts)
Joseph Scopo
Gondolpho Sciandra
Frand Sridita
Joseph Sicilliano
Arnold Squitieri
Alphonse Sisca
James Sclafani
Anthony Vitta
Joseph Watts
Carmine Lombardozzi

*left spellings as listed

[johnny_scootch]

150+ people at the Ravenite! Jeez 100 of them must have had to stand in the street.

[Wiseguy]

Certainly wouldn't attract attention or anything.

[CornerBoy]

subtle

[funkster]

Interesting that Christy Tick was there. Wonder if that was jr or sr?

[TSNYC]

Didn’t indicate. Thought that was interesting too. If Christy was there you’d think Amuso or Casso probably there too, all while plotting Gotti death.

[newera_212]

Gambino Christmas party with some other random friends stopping by to pay respect? I feel like Mikey Scars said recently that he was put up for the making ceremony that happened Christmas Eve 1985 but didn't make the cut. Apparently the last group that was 'approved' by Castellano.

[TSNYC]

Following observed in front of Ravenite during surveillance:

Joseph Armone
Bobby Boriello
Michael Cirelli
Joseph Corozzo
Nicholas Corozzo
Norman DuPont
Jack Giordano
John Gotti
Salvatore Gravano
Michael Guerrieri
Frank Locascio
Frank Low
Otto Macrini - 5/14/1913
Anthony Mascuzzio
Dominick Pizzonia
Alphonse Sisca
Mario Traina
Frank Villiaro - dob 8/12/1948
Joseph Watts - dob 12/8/1941

At 4:20pm, observes John Gotti, Joseph Armone, and Jack Giordano meeting on Prince St between Lafayette and Mulberry Sts., Giordano was holding pieces of paper during the conversation. Standing in nearby were Bobby Boriello, Anthony Mascuzzio, and Nicholas Corozzo.

[johnny_scootch]

Gambino Christmas party with some other random friends stopping by to pay respect?

Gotti had just become the boss so this was his first big chance to showboat and have everyone come down and kiss his ring.

[Pmac2]

Read alot about the Gambino never really heard of this guy frank low until recently seen a Sammy clip of him talking about the guy. Guess he was joe watts right hand man who got killed in the 80tys Sammy didn't really know why but kinda implied watts asked gotti for permission but Sammy didn't know any details and really didn't ask

[PolackTony]

Read alot about the Gambino never really heard of this guy frank low until recently seen a Sammy clip of him talking about the guy. Guess he was joe watts right hand man who got killed in the 80tys Sammy didn't really know why but kinda implied watts asked gotti for permission but Sammy didn't know any details and really didn't ask

Very little info out there about Frankie “Botz” Lowe. Apart from the above surveillance, he was also surveilled earlier 12/1985 meeting with Watts, Gotti, DeCicco, and Corrao at Corrao’s Andrea Dorea Social Club. Additionally, Gravano testified that Lowe accompanied Watts to the meeting to plan the Castellano hit: https://www.cosanostranews.com/2021/01/ ... -bull.html

Lowe was found murdered in 1988 in his home on SI. If he was rolling with Watts before they fell out, l have to imagine that Lowe was a serious guy.

[johnny_scootch]

I’ve read this in the past and always thought he meant Frank LoCascio because he said he was made and that Vinnie Artuso was an associate of his.

GLEESON: Vinnie Artuso was with whom?

GRAVANO: Frankie Lo [Botz] in the Bronx.

GLEESON: At that point, was Frankie Lo a soldier or captain?

GRAVANO: A soldier.

GLEESON: Was Vinnie made?

GRAVANO: No.

[PolackTony]

I’ve read this in the past and always thought he meant Frank LoCascio because he said he was made and that Vinnie Artuso was an associate of his.

GLEESON: Vinnie Artuso was with whom?

GRAVANO: Frankie Lo [Botz] in the Bronx.

GLEESON: At that point, was Frankie Lo a soldier or captain?

GRAVANO: A soldier.

GLEESON: Was Vinnie made?

GRAVANO: No.

Ahh. You’re right, thanks. Frankie Lowe was surveilled at the above locations, but he clearly wasn’t the same guy that Gravano was talking about, who like you said would seem to have been LoCascio. I recall seeing somewhere before that Lowe was the same guy as “Frankie Botz”, but that seems to have been wrong. Lowe obviously wasn’t made (and presumably couldn’t have been, unless “Lowe” had been Anglicized from an Italian name) and was from SI/BK, so far as I know.The cop who surveilled him at Corrao’s club in ‘85 I believe testified in the ‘86 Gotti case and referred to Lowe as a Gambino associate.

[TSNYC]

The following autos were observed parked near the Ravenite:

1987 Lincoln
Registered to Anthony R. Ciccone, DOB: 7/19/1934
281 E. Signs Rd., Staten Island, NY

1986 Lincoln
Registered to Joann Giordano, DOB: 12/17/1948
560 Klondike Ave., Staten Island, NY

Police observed John Gotti, Bobby Boriello, and an unknown male (50 years old, black hair, 5’7, 200lbs) arrive in a car, and meet with Alphonse Sisca on the corner of Prince St. and Mulberry St. Gotti was then greeted and kissed by numerous men at the door of the Ravenite.

[TSNYC]

Surveillance of 247 Mulberry St., NY, NY between 6:00pm and 8:00pm. The below were observed:

John Gotti, Jr
Gene Gotti
Peter Gotti
Frank Locascio
Salvatore Gravano
Louis Vallario
Pasquale Conte
Ralph Mosca
Anthony Ciccone
Jack Giordano
Jack D’Amico
Joseph LaForte, Sr.
Joseph Corozzo
Nicholas Corozzo
Michael Catalano
Ignazio Alogna
Peter Mosca
Jerry Brancato
Salvatore Scala
Anthony Trentacosta
Joseph Watts
Domenico Aquista
Michael Laporte
Zev Mustafa
Henrico Arduini
Anthony Moscatiello
Matteo Ruggiero
Louis Scida
Paolo Graziano
Robert Pellegrino
Peter Delutro
Salvatore Ciccarelli