Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano (born March 12, 1945) was the Mafia underboss of the Gambino crime family in the 1980s under John Gotti. Originally a soldier for the Brooklyn sector of the Gambinos, he was contacted by John Gotti once the plan to murder then Gambino boss Paul Castellano was contrived. Gravano would play a key role in Gotti's bid to murder Castellano and become the new Gambino boss. Weighing his options, and seeing there was "something in it for him", he teamed with Gotti to kill Castellano in 1985. This dramatic murder would elevate Gravano's position in the family to underboss under the new Don, John Gotti. He is also known as "The King Rat" because of his testimony against John Gotti. March 12 is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra), is an Italian criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... John Gotti, The Dapper Don The Gambino Crime Family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities based in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or La Cosa Nostra). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... FBI Mugshot of former Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano taken on March 30, 1984. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

Childhood and Early Life

Born in 1945 in Brooklyn, New York to Gerardo and Katarina Gravano, Salvatore was a small and dyslexic youngster, who was frequently mocked and teased by his peers. He was held back on two occasions in school. Due to his dyslexia, he could not recognize numbers or letters. He began stealing when he was only 7 or 8 and would take two cupcakes from a corner store, in Bensonhurst every day on his way to school. For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... Dyslexia is a syndrome in which a persons reading and/or writing ability is significantly lower than that which would be predicted by his or her general level of intelligence. ... Bensonhurst Embrakement is a common walkplace in (Bensonhurst) A spectacular view of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Brooklyn College) Snow melting on one of the streets in Bensonhurst Bensonhurst is a working class neighborhood located in the south-central part of New York City, USAs borough of Brooklyn. ...

His father had a well-paying occupation. He ran a small dress-factory and could sustain a good standard of living for Salvatore. Sal sobbed when he was caught stealing from his corner shop at the age of 8 and was let off with a firm warning by the shop-keeper. He had little physical presence and asserted his power through violence as he grew up.

His father tried all possible methods of discipline and even forced Salvatore to attend a local church, yet Salvatore remained incorrigible. He served a term in the US Army during the 1960s. His Army enlistment was due to the fact that he was charged with crimes as a teenager and his lawyer cut a deal with the prosecution that all charges would be suspended if Gravano would agree to enlist. The young Gravano was dead set against military service, especially in this type of situation. Gravano's lawyer originally said nothing would come out of it except a bunch of "feel good" talk; however he was wrong and the courts ordered Gravano into basic training shortly thereafter. While an enlisted soldier, Gravano mainly worked as a mess hall cook and later left the Army with an honorable discharge. Gravano was not deployed to the Vietnam War, although he did say in his later years he regretted not be given the chance; as he believed his time as a street punk was excellent training for going to a combat zone. As he stated in an interview "Back home on the streets I could go to jail for hurting and killing guys; but in Vietnam they would have awarded me medals for doing what comes naturally to me." The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

Spero and His First Murder

He first became associated with the Mafia in 1968 through Thomas Spero, whose uncle was an associate of the Colombo crime family. Gravano was involved in petty crimes, as he almost always had been, such as larceny, hijacking, extortion and armed robbery. Gravano took up boxing. The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra), is an Italian criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... The Colombo crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ...

In 1970, he reached the landmark in any mafia associate's career, his first 'hit contract' from his boss, Thomas Spero's uncle in this case. Gravano was ordered to kill Colombo wiseguy Joe Colucci, whose wife Spero had wanted to have. Gravano shot the man twice in the head. Gravano would then become a father figure to Colucci's son Jack Colucci, who would become a mob connected building contractor and Gambino associate. He became recognized and when he first met Carmine Persico, a Colombo family Capo, he spoke frankly and didn't flinch. After a fallout with the Speros, Persico released Gravano to the Gambino crime family. Carmine John Persico (born in Brooklyn on August 8, 1937) is known as The Snake, Junior and Immortal because he has been shot a record of 20 times. ... John Gotti, The Dapper Don The Gambino Crime Family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities based in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or La Cosa Nostra). ...

Gravano became a close associate of Gambinos Frank DeCicco, Robert DiBernardo, Liborio Milito, James Failla, and Paul Castellano, who would become boss after Carlo Gambino's death. Sometime in the late 1970s, Gravano was inducted into the Gambinos and was officially placed in the crew of Toddo Aurello, who supervised the Gambino family's control over Teamsters Local 282, which had jurisdiction over building materials to all NYC construction sites and could effectively shut down the city's construction industry. Frank DeCicco (1935 - April 13, 1986) was a New York mobster and member of the Gambino crime family. ... Jimmy Failla worked with John Gaddi in organized crime. ... FBI Mugshot of former Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano taken on March 30, 1984. ... Carlo Gambino (August 24, 1902 - October 15, 1976) was a Mafioso who was boss of the Gambino crime family. ...

Gravano had tremendous clout in the construction and trucking industries, and had become a multi-millionaire soldier in the family, which allowed him to build a mansion in New Jersey. Gravano would eventually become close to John Gotti, a Queens based Gambino captain who was a protege of underboss Aniello Dellacroce, and who had despised Paul Castellano. Gotti had reached out to Gravano, Frank DeCicco, Joseph Armone, and Frank LoCascio, forming the Fist of Five, which plotted the murder of their boss. On December 16, 1985, Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti were gunned down in midtown Manhattan outside of Sparks Steakhouse, while Gotti and Gravano watched from across the street. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... FBI Mugshot of former Gambino family Underboss Anellio Neil Dellacroce. ... FBI Mugshot of former Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano taken on March 30, 1984. ... Joseph Piney Armone was a Italian-American Gambino crime family gangster , born Upper East Side, Manhattan born September 13, 1917-February 23, 1992. ... John Gotti John Gotti (October 27, 1940 – June 10, 2002) (also known as The Dapper Don and The Teflon Don) was the boss of the Gambino family, New Yorks largest mafia family, and one of the most feared. ... FBI Mugshot of former Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano taken on March 30, 1984. ... Thomas Bilotti (March 23, 1940 - December 16, 1985) was an underboss of the Gambino Family and driver of Paul Castellanos. ...

Gotti was installed as the new boss of the family, and Gravano's importance quickly rose. Gotti named DeCicco his underboss, but just months after Castellano's murder, DeCicco was killed in a carbomb attack orchestrated by Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, the Don of the Genovese family, because of the fact that the hit had been carried out without the consent of the commission (The 5 New York Dons). It was a standing mafia law that a Don could only be killed with the express consent of the commission, which Gotti had not sought. The car bomb was actually intended to kill Gotti but killed DeCicco by mistake. The hit took place outside of Castellano's former social club, which was then operated by captain James Failla. Frank LoCascio became the new underboss, and Gravano was upped to consigliere, his crew was taken over by Louis Vallario. With Gotti's permission, Gravano set up the murders of Liborio Milito, Robert DiBernardo, Tommy Sparrow, and several other Gambino wiseguys and friends. Eventually, Gotti would name Gravano his underboss, and move LoCascio to consigliere. Before their indictments, Gotti decided that if he was sent to prison, he wanted Gravano to take over as acting boss of the Gambinos. Vincent the Chin Gigs Gigante (March 29, 1928– December 19, 2005) was a notorious Mafioso who headed the Genovese crime family for years, at times while in prison. ... Genovese may refer to: The Genovese family, the New York Mafia Family once ruled by Vito Genovese. ... The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra), is an Italian criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... Jimmy Failla worked with John Gaddi in organized crime. ...

Later Life

In 1991, after he was arrested as a result of a major FBI operation against the Gambino Family, Gravano famously turned state's evidence and testified against Gotti in exchange for a reduced sentence. John Gotti received a sentence of life imprisonment. Gravano, who confessed to taking part in nineteen murders, was convicted of a token racketeering charge and sentenced to five years. As part of Gravano's cooperation agreement, he would never be forced to testify against his former crew, which included Louis Vallario, Michael DiLeonardo, Frank Fappiano, Edward Garafola, Thomas Carbonaro, Joseph DeAngelo, and many other career criminals and wiseguys. Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... Immunity confers a status on a person or body that makes that person or body free from otherwise legal obligations such as, for example, liability for damages or punishment for criminal acts. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... Michael Mikey Scars DiLeonardo (b. ...

Gravano was released early and then entered the US federal Witness Protection Program, but he left it in 1995 and relocated to Arizona. In February 2000 he was arrested and charged as the ringleader of an ecstasy trafficking organization there. Gravano was convicted in October 2002 and is currently serving a 19-year sentence in Colorado at a supermax prison. [1] His son, was also imprisoned for his role in the drug ring, along with other gangsters. The Mother and Daughter were given charges but never were imprisoned. Ironically, Gravano's downfall was due to informers amongst his own associates[2]. In the United States, the Witness Protection Program (also known as WITSEC) is established by the Witness Protection Act, which in turn sets out the manner in which the U.S. Attorney General may provide for the relocation and protection of a witness or potential witness of the federal government... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), most commonly known by the street names ecstasy or XTC (for more names see the full list), is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family, whose primary effect is believed to be the stimulation of secretion as well as inhibition of re-uptake of large amounts... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Supermax is the name used to describe control-unit prisons, the most secure prisons in the prison system. ...

On February 24, 2003, New Jersey state prosecutors announced they would pursue murder charges against Gravano for allegedly ordering a hit on a police officer during the 1980s. The charges were later dropped, however, when the star witness, imprisoned hit man Richard Kuklinski, died of unknown causes before he could testify. Federal inmates who served time with Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano say the mob turncoat privately admitted to his role in the 1980 killing of a New York cop. Inmates claimed Gravano bragged about killing many more than 19 people. If proved that Gravano lied about how many people he killed, appeals by people he helped put in prison could follow. February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Police mugshot of Richard Kuklinski, 4 years before his final arrest. ...

Gravano has a book on his life out called Underboss under the HarperCollins Publishing company, the author is Peter Maas although Gravano gave him most of the information for the book. HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by Rupert Murdochs News Corporation. ...

In Popular Culture

• He was portrayed by Nicholas Turturro in the television movie "Witness to the Mob" which was based on his memoirs.
• The Mighty Mighty Bosstones song "Mr. Moran" describes Gravano's life, particularly his time in the Witness Protection Program."Mr. Moran" was an alias used by Gravano.
• GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan referenced Gravano in his 1995 song "Killer Hills 10304" with the lyric "look who’s on the witness stand singing, a well known soprano, a smash hit from Sammy Gravano." This linking of Gravano to the term soprano occurred several years before the HBO show The Sopranos first aired.
• Big L raps, "I'm not a soprano like that Italiano Sammy Gravano"
• The Proof song "Sammy da Bull" featuring Nate Dogg & Swifty McVay rails against Gravano and other such "snitchers".
• In the Futurama episode, 'Bender Gets Made' the Donbot, boss of the Robot Mafia, refers to an associate known as 'Sammy the Mechanical Bull Gravano'.
• Gravano was portrayed by William Forsythe in the movie Gotti.
• In season one of the The Sopranos, Tony Soprano and Silvio Dante contemplate whether or not soldier Sal Bonpensiero is a rat. Silvio mentions that Sal or 'Big Pussy' would not fear prison to the point that he would turn on his friends. Tony replies, "That's what they said about Gravano."
• Gravano was mentioned on The Sopranos in season 6B by Christopher Moltisanti in the episode Walk Like a Man while rambling about the advantages of the Witness Protection Program.

NOTE: DO NOT MISTAKE NICHOLAS (NICK) TURTURRO FOR NICHOLAS R. TURTURRO (A CREW MEMBER WITH THE SAME NAME, PER IMDB) Nick worked as a doorman before getting his TV break on NYPD Blue. ... The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were a ska-core band from Boston, Massachusetts (Bosstones being a play on Boston). They are credited, along with bands such as Operation Ivy and The Suicide Machines, with creating the ska-core genre, a form of ska punk that mixes to various degrees elements of... GZA (pronounced Jiz-uh), aka The Genius, born Gary Grice August 22, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York City is an American MC. He is most well known as a founding member of the seminal hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. ... // The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York-based rap group, consisting of nine American rappers who are Grammy winners, multiplatinum-selling solo artists, multiplatinum record producers, film stars, screenwriters, TV stars, product spokespersons, business owners and, most recently, major motion picture composers. ... HBO (Home Box Office) is an American premium cable television network. ... This article is about the TV series. ... Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974–February 15, 1999), better known as Big L, was an American rapper. ... DeShaun Dupree Holton (October 2, 1973–April 11, 2006), better known as Proof, was an American rapper and member of the rap group D12. ... Nathaniel Dawayne Hale (born August 19, 1969), commonly known by stage name Nate Dogg, is an American hip hop artist born in Long Beach, California. ... Swift, also known as Swifty McVay (born Ondre Moore, March 17, 1976) is a rapper and part of the group D12. ... Futurama is an Emmy Award-winning animated American sitcom created by Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) and David X. Cohen for the Fox network. ... William Forsythe is an American who became known internationally for his work with the Frankfurt Ballet. ... This article is about the TV series. ... Information Aliases Ron Spears, Kevin Finnerty, Mr. ... Silvio Manfred Dante (often just Sil), played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. ... Salvatore Big Pussy Bonpensiero (not to be confused with a fellow New Jersey mobster, Little Pussy Malanga) is a fictional mobster played by Vincent Pastore on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos. ... This article is about the TV series. ... Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. ... Plot Spoiler warning: When Sammy runs to Jimmy during a thunderstorm Greg thinks that he isnt a man and attempts to stand up for himself when they go out to the movies. ... In the United States, the Witness Protection Program (also known as WITSEC) is established by the Witness Protection Act, which in turn sets out the manner in which the U.S. Attorney General may provide for the relocation and protection of a witness or potential witness of the federal government...

See Also

Underboss (book) Underboss (ISBN 9780061096648) is a biographical book based on the life of Sammy The Bull Gravano. ...

External links

• Salvatore Gravano's Excluded Person card - is excluded from New Jersey casinos