John Gotti Biography

John Gotti

(John Joseph Gotti Jr., “Teflon Don”)
mobster
Born: 10/27/1940
Birthplace: Bronx, New York

Current head of the Gambino crime family in New York City, John Gotti is best known as the “Teflon Don” who escaped several state and federal trials unscathed in the late '80s. Gotti took over the Gambino family in 1985 after Paul Castellano's murder outside of a steak house in Manhattan. In 1990 Gotti was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Paul Castellano, and in 1991 mob associate Sammy “The Bull” Gravano testified against him. On April 2, 1992 John Gotti was found guilty on all counts. He died while serving a life sentence at Marion Penitentiary in Illinois.

Died: Springfield, Mo., June 10, 2002