John Gotti FBI Files

Description

Gotti Timeline: Rise, Fall, and FBI Files

Detailed Timeline of Events (Based on Provided Source)

• January 1964: FBI begins searching for John Gotti after he fails to appear for draft induction in November 1963.
• Late 1960s – Early 1970s: John Gotti is involved in street-level mob work and spends time in and out of prison. This period leads to him becoming a “made man” in the Gambino crime family.
• Early 1980s: The FBI and the New York Police Department increase their efforts against the Gambino Family, employing Title III wiretaps, informants, and undercover agents.
• Mid-1980s: Some members of Gotti’s crew are indicted for selling narcotics without the Gambino Family leadership’s approval, potentially jeopardizing Gotti’s position. However, this period also sees growing dissent within the family regarding its leadership, presenting an opportunity for Gotti.
• December 16, 1985: Gambino Family Boss Paul Castellano and his underboss Thomas Bilotti are murdered in front of Sparks Steak House in Manhattan. John Gotti, watching from a nearby car with Sammy Gravano, ensures the hit is successful.
• Shortly After December 16, 1985: John Gotti assumes leadership of the Gambino crime family.
• 1986: An attempt is made on John Gotti’s life. The FBI files contain information about this event and the alleged fate of the failed hitman.
• 1986: John Gotti faces a racketeering trial. FBI files include memos related to a jury tampering investigation during this trial, which ultimately resulted in Gotti’s acquittal.
• December 1990: John Gotti is arrested and charged with multiple counts of racketeering, extortion, jury tampering, and other crimes.
• November 1991: Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano agrees to become a cooperating witness for the FBI and testify against John Gotti.
• January 21, 1992: The New York Daily News publishes “THE GANGLAND COLUMN OF JERRY CAPECI,” containing information likely leaked from the FBI regarding Sammy Gravano.
• January 23, 1992: WNBC-TV New York Channel 4 reports on a $75,000 bribe offer made to a juror in Gotti’s 1987 trial, naming juror George Pape.
• January 31, 1992: The New York Daily News publishes an article titled “GRAVANO; GOTTI AND I IN CAR AT RUB OUT,” detailing Gravano’s account of the Castellano murder, further indicating an FBI leak.
• April 2, 1992: John Gotti is convicted on 13 counts, including ordering the murders of Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti.
• Post-April 1992: A series of Gambino LCN Family members are convicted following Gotti’s conviction.
• 1992: The FBI conducts an internal administrative investigation to identify the source of the leaks to the media regarding the Gotti investigation and Sammy Gravano’s cooperation. Over 140 FBI agents are interviewed. The investigation identifies three non-FBI employees as potential suspects but ultimately does not definitively identify the leaker.
• Files dating 1990-1994: Most of the FBI files relate to Gotti’s 1990 arrest and 1992 conviction, as well as the subsequent convictions of other Gambino Family members.
• Files contain information spanning 1964 to 1995: This range encompasses Gotti’s early interactions with the FBI regarding the draft to the aftermath of his conviction.

Cast of Characters and Brief Bios

• John Gotti: The Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. He rose through the ranks of the Mafia, eventually orchestrating the murder of Paul Castellano to seize control. Known as the “Dapper Don” for his expensive attire and the “Teflon Don” for his ability to avoid convictions initially. He was ultimately convicted in 1992 based on the testimony of Sammy Gravano.
• Paul Castellano: The Boss of the Gambino crime family before John Gotti. His murder in December 1985 paved the way for Gotti’s ascension.
• Thomas Bilotti: Castellano’s number two in command. He was murdered alongside Castellano in the same hit.
• Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano: Gotti’s underboss who became a cooperating witness for the FBI in November 1991. His testimony was crucial in securing Gotti’s conviction, as he provided firsthand accounts of murders and other criminal activities, including the Castellano hit.
• John Gotti Jr.: John Gotti’s son. FBI memos from Sammy Gravano’s debriefings mention him.
• Robert DiBernardo: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Michael DeBatt: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Frank Piccolo: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Frank Fiala: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Nicholas Mormando: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Roy DeMeo: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Augustus Sclafani: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• James Hydell: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• John James Simone: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Francesco Oliveri: Individual whose homicide is the subject of an FBI Lab Ammunition Report within the files.
• Joe Colucci: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Louis Milito: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Thomas DeBrizzi: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Louis DiBono: Individual whose murder is mentioned in Sammy Gravano’s cooperating witness statements.
• Thomas Spinelli: Individual whose murder is the subject of an FBI memo.
• James McBratney: Individual whose murder is the subject of an FBI memo detailing Gotti’s arrest for the crime.
• Jerry Capeci: Author of “THE GANGLAND COLUMN OF JERRY CAPECI” in the New York Daily News, which contained leaked information about the Gotti case.
• John Miller: Reporter for WNBC-TV New York Channel 4 who reported on the alleged bribe offer to a juror in Gotti’s 1987 trial.
• George Pape: Juror in John Gotti’s 1987 trial who was allegedly offered a bribe.

John Gotti FBI Files

1,580 pages of FBI files related to John Gotti.

The files date from 1964 to 1995. Most of the files date from 1990 to 1994 and are related to Gotti’s 1990 arrest and 1992 conviction, and the string of Gambino Family convictions that followed. The files begin in January 1964 with the FBI searching for Gotti.

John Gotti was the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti spent the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in and out of prison and doing street level mob work that lead to him becoming a made man. Gotti’s future in the Gambino Family was in danger due to members of his crew being indicted for selling narcotics, which was being done without approval of family leadership. Gotti could see both a way out of his predicament and a way to ascend higher in the Gambino Family, because of growing dissent over the leadership of the crime family.

On the evening of December 16, 1985, Gambino Family Boss Paul Castellano was gunned down along with his number two in command, Thomas Bilotti, in front of Spark’s Steak House. Gotti, who’d been watching from a car at a safe distance with Sammy Gravano, had one of his men drive the car past the scene to make sure his deadly orders had been carried out. Gotti soon took over as head of the Gambino Family.

Because of his expensive suits and lavish lifestyle, the press nicknamed him the “Dapper Don.” The difficulty the government had in the following years in getting a conviction in the cases brought against Gotti resulted in the press nicknaming him the “Teflon Don.” The FBI and the New York Police Department had been ramping up its assault on the Gambino Family since the early 1980’s. The use of Title III wiretaps, mob informants, and undercover agents was slowly eroding away the base of the Family.

In December 1990, Gotti was arrested and charged with multiple counts of racketeering, extortion, jury tampering, and other crimes. Gotti’s underboss Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano agreed in 1991 to become a cooperating witness and to testify against Gotti. On April 2, 1992 Gotti was convicted on 13 counts, including ordering the murders of Castellano and Bilotti.

FBI FILES
Highlights from the files include:

Gotti was drafted in 1963 and was suppose to report to a local selective service bureau in Brooklyn for induction on November 22, 1963, but he did not appear. Records show that the FBI searched for Gotti for two years and could not find him. Finally the FBI located and made contact with him on November 10, 1965, when he had to appear at the Kings County Court House for a hearing regarding his arrest for grand larceny auto a month earlier. Gotti informed the FBI that he did not know that he was delinquent with the draft board. Gotti mentioned that he was married and had two children. He said that he felt because of this and the fact he had been previously arrested, that he was not eligible for the Armed Forces. Gotti said he was willing to abide by Selective Service regulations and serve in the armed forces of the United States. Gotti reported to the selective service board the next day. Gotti was correct about what his induction status would be.

Files contain information concerning a 1986 attempt on the life of John Gotti and what is believed to have happened to the failed hit man.

Files cover the administrative and technical aspects of the bugging of the Ravenite Social Club.

Sammy “The Bull” Gravano became a cooperating witness in the Gotti investigation in November 1991. An FBI report, which refers to Gravano as “Cooperating Witness (CW),” compiles the information given by him on the Paul Castellano murder. Gravano said he was in the front passenger seat of Gotti’s car as he watched the hit. According to the report, “Gotti then drove past Sparks Steak House, at which time, CW observed Bilotti lying flat on the ground.” Gravano later describes the process by which Gambino Family leadership selected Gotti to succeed Castellano. Other memos convey the information provided by Gravano. They cover the murders of Robert DiBernardo, Michael DeBatt, and other events.

Sammy Gravano Cooperating Witness Statements FBI Memos. After becoming an informant Gravano had many debriefing sessions with FBI agents. Some of the memos from these meetings summarizes information given by Gravano concerning: Gambino Family hierarchy; Genovese Family hierarchy; Colombo Family hierarchy; jury tampering; mob infiltration of companies and industries; police corruption; union corruption; and John Gotti’s son John Gotti Jr.

Gravano gives details about the murders of:

Frank Piccolo
Frank Fiala
Nicholas Mormando
Roy DeMeo
Augustus Sclafani
James Hydell
Michael DeBatt
John James Simone
Robert DiBernardo
Francesco Oliveri
Joe Colucci
Louis Milito
Thomas DeBrizzi
Paul Castellano
Thomas Bilotti
Louis DiBono
Thomas Spinelli

A section of FBI files from 1992 pertain to an internal FBI administrative investigation, which was searching for the source of a leak of information to the media concerning the John Gotti investigation. The primary focus was on two New York Daily News articles concerning information being provided by a cooperating Sammy Gravano to the FBI, one titled “GRAVANO; GOTTI AND I IN CAR AT RUB OUT,” dated January 31, 1992 and a second, “THE GANGLAND COLUMN OF JERRY CAPECI” of January 21, 1992. The files indicate that at least 140 FBI agents were interviewed and provided sworn statements.

One statement made by a Special Agent in Charge in New York City states, “I did not provide this information to anyone not entitled to receive it, including the Daily News, with the possible exception of my wife. I do not recall discussing this with my wife, but I may have.”

A second investigation involved a leak provided to a New York television station. On January 23, 1992, WNBC-TV New York Channel 4 ran a story about a $75,000 bribe offer made to a juror in the 1987 trial of John Gotti. That trial resulted in Gotti’s acquittal. The Channel 4 reporter, John Miller, reported that the offer was made to juror George Pape. The bribe was reportedly in two parts, $60,000 from Gotti and $15,000 from a Gambino associate. The FBI noted that Mr. Miller was known to have a large number of sources in New York law enforcement.

One file includes 70 sworn statements made by FBI agents. According to the file that although almost 200 signed, sworn statements were taken during the inquiry; no one was identified as being the source of the leaks. However, the investigation resulted in three suspects. Three non-FBI employees were identified as suspects warranting polygraph examinations based on information furnished by others who had been interviewed, or because of their historical proclivity to discuss privileged matters with the press. One person took and passed a polygraph examination. One refused to take a polygraph. The third at first agreed to a polygraph, then withdrew their consent.

A series of FBI memos document the string of Gambino LCN Family convictions that followed Gotti’s conviction.

The file sections are:

John Gotti FBI File NY 25-100769 – Search for Gotti after failure to appear at Selective Service Board after being drafted

John Gotti FBI File NY 72-437 – Jury tampering investigation memos during Gotti’s 1986 racketeering trial

John Gotti FBI File 62A-HQ-1013466 Part 1 – FBI Administrative investigation into leaks about the Gotti case to the media.

John Gotti FBI File 62A-HQ-1013466 Part 2 – FBI Administrative investigation into leaks about the Gotti case to the media.

John Gotti FBI File Extract Castellano Hit – Information provided by Sammy Gravano on the Castellano hit

John Gotti FBI File BQ 183A-3507 Part 1 – Investigative File – Administration of Electronic Surveillance

John Gotti FBI File BQ 183A-3507 Part 2 – Electronic Surveillance & Gotti Investigation

John Gotti FBI File BQ 183A-3507 Part 3 – Gotti Investigation

John Gotti FBI File BQ 183A-3507 Part 4 – Gotti Investigation & Post Conviction Activity

Sammy Gravano Cooperating Witness Statements FBI Memos – Memos of debriefings of Sammy Gravano after he became a cooperating witness

John Gotti FBI File BQ 183A-3507 Sub Q – Francesco Oliveri homicide FBI Lab Ammunition Report

John Gotti FBI File 281A-NY-233047 – Investigations into the Gambino LCN Family following Gotti’s 1992 conviction.

John Gotti FBI File Miami 183A-2244 – mid 1980’s Narcotics investigation (heavy redacted)

John Gotti FBI File MISC – Miscellaneous Memos 1974 to 1991, 1974 unlawful flight to avoid prosecution investigation, 1975 manslaughter conviction.

 

 

John Gotti FBI Files Memo on arrest for murder of James McBratney

 

John Gotti FBI File Memo on the process of Gotti being selected boss of the Family

 

 

John Gotti FBI Files Memo on a corrupt NYPD detective

John Gotti FBI Files memo on the murder of Thomas Spinelli

 

 

 

John Gotti FBI Files Memo Sammy Gravano gives information about bribing a juror