Sammy Gravano

Sammy Gravano, born on March 12, 1945, is a former American mobster who ascended to the rank of underboss within the notorious Gambino crime family in New York City. His criminal career began as an associate of the Colombo crime family before he transitioned to the Gambino family, where he played a pivotal role in the assassination of boss Paul Castellano in 1985. This act of violence marked a significant turning point in the power dynamics of organized crime in New York.

Following Castellano's murder, Gravano was promoted to captain and later became consigliere in 1987. By 1988, he had reached the position of underboss, a role he held until he made the controversial decision to cooperate with the government. His testimony against John Gotti, the crime family's boss, was prompted by Gotti's disparaging remarks about him captured on a wiretap, leading Gravano to break his blood oath and testify against his former associates.

Gravano's cooperation with law enforcement resulted in significant convictions, including Gotti and Frank LoCascio, who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1992. In 1994, Gravano received a five-year prison sentence, but due to time already served, he spent less than one year incarcerated. He entered the Witness Protection Program but left after eight months, relocating to Arizona with his family.

In 2000, Gravano faced legal troubles again when he and nearly forty others were arrested on drug charges. He was subsequently indicted alongside his son in 2001 and received a twenty-year sentence in New York, followed by an additional nineteen years in Arizona. Gravano was released in September 2017, having served his time and facing a lifetime of supervised release.