Who was John Gotti?
John Gotti was an American mobster who became the boss of the Gambino crime family, one of the most powerful and feared organized crime families in the United States. He was born on October 27, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a poor Italian-American family.
Gotti rose through the ranks of the Gambino family, becoming a made man in the early 1970s. He quickly gained a reputation for his ruthless and cunning nature, earning the nickname "The Teflon Don" due to his ability to avoid conviction for his numerous crimes.
Gotti became the boss of the Gambino family in 1986, after the death of his predecessor, Paul Castellano. He quickly consolidated his power and eliminated potential rivals, earning the respect and fear of his fellow mobsters.
Gotti's reign as boss was marked by a series of high-profile crimes, including the murder of Castellano, the attempted murder of a rival mob boss, and the extortion of businesses and individuals. He was also accused of ordering the murder of several people who had crossed him or threatened his power.
Gotti's rise to power and his subsequent reign as boss of the Gambino family were marked by a series of dramatic and violent events, which were often reported in the media. He became a household name and a symbol of the power and corruption of organized crime.
In 1992, Gotti was arrested and charged with murder, racketeering, and other crimes. He was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He died in prison on June 10, 2002, at the age of 61.
Gotti's life and crimes have been the subject of numerous books, movies, and documentaries, including the 1996 film "Gotti," which starred John Travolta as the mob boss. Despite his notorious reputation, Gotti remains a fascinating and complex figure, whose life and crimes continue to captivate the public imagination.