Thomas Bilotti
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bilotti was a New York mobster and then Underboss
for the reputed Boss of the Gambino crime family
, Paul Castellano
.
. In 1970, D'Alessio recruited Tommy and his older brother Joseph to murder his daughter's boyfriend, Tommy Ernst, but the murder contract was botched and D'Alessio's own daughter who was armed, returned shots at the Bilotti brothers. However, a few months later, Ernst was murdered leaving D'Alessio's Staten Island
home. Bilotti had a reputation for being a "tough guy," feared by street level thugs on both sides of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
. In one incident, Tommy Bilotti knocked out Colombo associate Robert Pate, whose brother was Colombo soldier (and future stoolpigeon) John Pate.
. He would also act as his chauffeur
. Over the years he also became a close and personal friend of Castellano's wife Nina, daughter Connie, son Joseph, Castellano's maternal nephew Thomas Gambino
and John Gambino. This earned him recognition and responsibility when Castellano became the boss of the Gambino crime family in 1976. Bilotti and Castellano were said to make an odd pair. Castellano, a gangster who thought himself more as a businessman, and Bilotti, a brutish loan shark
.
Bilotti was involved in labor racketeering, extortion
and loansharking.
When Castellano began having an affair with his live-in maid Gloria Orlate, Bilotti respected his privacy and kept it a secret from Castellano's wife and children. Although the affair was eventually discovered which led to the breakup between Castellano and his wife Nina. When Castellano faced a conviction and jail time in an upcoming 1985 Mafia trial, he planned to have Thomas Gambino
, his nephew and son of Carlo Gambino, take over for him as "acting boss" and Bilotti would continue to serve as underboss.
succumbed to cancer, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano planned to murder Bilotti. One idea was to have associate Joseph Watts tell his wife that he wanted his house painted, and they would put up plastic on the walls and floor to protect it from "paint". Then sometime early in the morning Watts would call to arrange a meeting with Bilotti.
Watts would open the door for Bilotti and walk him into the home's front corridor. Gravano would hide in the archway with Frank DeCicco
. As Bilotti would walk past, Gravano would step out and shoot him in the head. They would then discard the plastic and body.
DeCicco would then go up to Paul Castellano's home and tell him Bilotti called in sick so he would act as Castellano's replacement driver. Then, DeCicco would shoot Castellano when he was in his car. But after some cautious thinking, Gravano and DeCicco thought that it was too haphazard of a plan.
in Manhattan
, apparently on the orders of caporegime
John Gotti
. He pulled his black Lincoln right up in front of the restaurant. As Castellano began exiting the car, two gunmen (including Tony Rampino
) walked up and fired at least six bullets at him, including a final shot to his head. As Bilotti stepped out, he was approached by the other shooters. Gambino crime family mob associate Anthony Rampino shot Bilotti six times in the head and chest after Castellano was gunned down. The fatal meeting was arranged by Frank DeCicco, James Failla
, Gene Gotti
and Armando Dellacroce, the son of former Gambino crime family underboss Aniello Dellacroce, who were against the age-old ban on narcotics as a business option.
Bilotti and Castellano most certainly saw their ensuing executioners, before being shot dead. From descriptions of the shooters given by witnesses, including a pedestrian who witnessed the shooting from only a few feet away, police detectives believe it was John Gotti associate, Anthony Rampino who gunned down Bilotti as he was getting out of his black Lincoln. After the shooting, an off-duty registered nurse went to Bilotti's aid in a vain attempt to revive him. Police found Bilotti to be in possession of $6,300 at the time of his death and was not armed.
After Castellano was murdered, Gambino crime family associate Joseph Watts argued that Sammy Gravano and John Gotti should have Bilotti's older brother Joseph killed because he was a danger for revenge. Gravano argued with Gotti that he did not think it was necessary because Joe Bilotti knew the organized crime lifestyle. Joe Bilotii accepted his brother's death and became a good, loyal soldier to the Gambino crime family.
Bilotti left ten children, including a six-week old child, a severely autistic son, and his wife Donna who had a nervous breakdown
upon hearing the news about his highly publicized murder, and suffered a miscarriage
. Bilotti and Castellano were both laid to rest in the Moravian Cemetery, a non-sectarian cemetery located in the New Dorp section of Staten Island. He was buried in a simple grave fifty yards from Castellano. He was replaced by the equally short-lived and unfortunate Frank DeCicco who was murdered by loyalists of his former friend and boss.
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
for the reputed Boss of the Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
, Paul Castellano
Paul Castellano
Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano , also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" , was an American Mafia boss in New York City. He succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family, at the time, the nation's largest Mafia family...
.
Early years
As a young hood, the Bilotti brothers came up in the Staten Island-based crew of Gambino crime family capo Michael D'Alessio. Bilotti also spent time as Alexander DeBrizzi's chauffeur and bodyguard. He became a criminal associate of John "Johnny Dee" D'Alessio, brother of Michael, Matthew Cuomo, father of Ralph (Raffie) Cuomo and Joseph ArmoneJoseph Armone
Joseph "Piney" Armone was a gangster in the Gambino crime family from 1986 to 1990.-Biography:Born on the Upper East Side, Manhattan, Armone earned his nickname "Piney" in the 1930s by extorting money from Christmas tree vendors. He was the younger brother of mobster Stephen Armone, a Gambino...
. In 1970, D'Alessio recruited Tommy and his older brother Joseph to murder his daughter's boyfriend, Tommy Ernst, but the murder contract was botched and D'Alessio's own daughter who was armed, returned shots at the Bilotti brothers. However, a few months later, Ernst was murdered leaving D'Alessio's Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
home. Bilotti had a reputation for being a "tough guy," feared by street level thugs on both sides of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay....
. In one incident, Tommy Bilotti knocked out Colombo associate Robert Pate, whose brother was Colombo soldier (and future stoolpigeon) John Pate.
Castellano protegeé
Bilotti was a long-time protegé and confidante of Paul CastellanoPaul Castellano
Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano , also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" , was an American Mafia boss in New York City. He succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family, at the time, the nation's largest Mafia family...
. He would also act as his chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
. Over the years he also became a close and personal friend of Castellano's wife Nina, daughter Connie, son Joseph, Castellano's maternal nephew Thomas Gambino
Thomas Gambino
Thomas "Tommy" Gambino is a New York mobster and a longtime Caporegime of the Gambino crime family who successfully controlled lucrative trucking rackets in the New York City Garment District.-Early life:...
and John Gambino. This earned him recognition and responsibility when Castellano became the boss of the Gambino crime family in 1976. Bilotti and Castellano were said to make an odd pair. Castellano, a gangster who thought himself more as a businessman, and Bilotti, a brutish loan shark
Loan shark
A loan shark is a person or body that offers unsecured loans at illegally high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing repayment by blackmail or threats of violence....
.
Staten Island construction business
Bilotti had a no-show job as an official at Paul Castellano's company, Scara-Mix Incorporated located at 2537 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island run by Paul Castellano's sons Paul Jr. and Phillip as a "union official". He was also heavily involved in the Steam Fitters Local 638 of the Plumbers Union that was represented by George Daly, an associate who belonged in his crew. Daly served as Local 638's business agent until his 1987 conviction for soliciting bribes to ensure labor peace.Bilotti was involved in labor racketeering, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and loansharking.
Underboss
Transcripts revealed that practically all of Bilotti's comments were peppered with the word "fuck". He was an aide-de-camp, chief confidant and chauffeur who would later be elevated to the position of underboss of the Gambino crime family. Being the underboss, he was a regular visitor to the Todt Hill, Staten Island mansion where Castellano lived and became a close friend of the family.When Castellano began having an affair with his live-in maid Gloria Orlate, Bilotti respected his privacy and kept it a secret from Castellano's wife and children. Although the affair was eventually discovered which led to the breakup between Castellano and his wife Nina. When Castellano faced a conviction and jail time in an upcoming 1985 Mafia trial, he planned to have Thomas Gambino
Thomas Gambino
Thomas "Tommy" Gambino is a New York mobster and a longtime Caporegime of the Gambino crime family who successfully controlled lucrative trucking rackets in the New York City Garment District.-Early life:...
, his nephew and son of Carlo Gambino, take over for him as "acting boss" and Bilotti would continue to serve as underboss.
Attempted murder
On December 2, 1985 when Gambino crime family underboss Aniello DellacroceAniello Dellacroce
Aniello John "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce , also known as "Father O'Neil" and "The Tall Guy", was an Italian-American gangster and underboss of the Gambino crime family. A capo of his own crew for many years he rose to the position of underboss when Carlo Gambino moved Joseph Biondo aside.-Early...
succumbed to cancer, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano planned to murder Bilotti. One idea was to have associate Joseph Watts tell his wife that he wanted his house painted, and they would put up plastic on the walls and floor to protect it from "paint". Then sometime early in the morning Watts would call to arrange a meeting with Bilotti.
Watts would open the door for Bilotti and walk him into the home's front corridor. Gravano would hide in the archway with Frank DeCicco
Frank DeCicco
Frank DeCicco also known as Frankie D and Frankie Cheech was a New York mobster and labor racketeer for the Gambino crime family...
. As Bilotti would walk past, Gravano would step out and shoot him in the head. They would then discard the plastic and body.
DeCicco would then go up to Paul Castellano's home and tell him Bilotti called in sick so he would act as Castellano's replacement driver. Then, DeCicco would shoot Castellano when he was in his car. But after some cautious thinking, Gravano and DeCicco thought that it was too haphazard of a plan.
Death
A few minutes before 6:00 p.m. on December 16, 1985 Bilotti chauffeured Paul Castellano to where they were ambushed outside Sparks Steak HouseSparks Steak House
The Sparks Steak House is a restaurant located at 210 East 46th Street between Second & Third Avenues in Midtown Manhattan.-History:The restaurant was founded by brothers Pat and Mike Cetta in 1966...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, apparently on the orders of caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
. He pulled his black Lincoln right up in front of the restaurant. As Castellano began exiting the car, two gunmen (including Tony Rampino
Tony Rampino
Anthony J. Rampino , also known as "Tony Roach", was a Gambino crime family mobster who was involved in truck hijacking and drug trafficking.-Biography:...
) walked up and fired at least six bullets at him, including a final shot to his head. As Bilotti stepped out, he was approached by the other shooters. Gambino crime family mob associate Anthony Rampino shot Bilotti six times in the head and chest after Castellano was gunned down. The fatal meeting was arranged by Frank DeCicco, James Failla
James Failla
James "Jimmy Brown" Failla was a senior caporegime with the Gambino crime family who was a major power in the garbage hauling industry in New York City...
, Gene Gotti
Gene Gotti
Eugene Gotti is a New York mobster with the Gambino crime family who was a major drug trafficker.-Background:Born to John and Fannie Gotti, Gene has four brothers: deceased Gambino boss John Gotti, Peter Gotti, capo Richard V. Gotti, and soldier Vincent Gotti...
and Armando Dellacroce, the son of former Gambino crime family underboss Aniello Dellacroce, who were against the age-old ban on narcotics as a business option.
Bilotti and Castellano most certainly saw their ensuing executioners, before being shot dead. From descriptions of the shooters given by witnesses, including a pedestrian who witnessed the shooting from only a few feet away, police detectives believe it was John Gotti associate, Anthony Rampino who gunned down Bilotti as he was getting out of his black Lincoln. After the shooting, an off-duty registered nurse went to Bilotti's aid in a vain attempt to revive him. Police found Bilotti to be in possession of $6,300 at the time of his death and was not armed.
After Castellano was murdered, Gambino crime family associate Joseph Watts argued that Sammy Gravano and John Gotti should have Bilotti's older brother Joseph killed because he was a danger for revenge. Gravano argued with Gotti that he did not think it was necessary because Joe Bilotti knew the organized crime lifestyle. Joe Bilotii accepted his brother's death and became a good, loyal soldier to the Gambino crime family.
Bilotti left ten children, including a six-week old child, a severely autistic son, and his wife Donna who had a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
upon hearing the news about his highly publicized murder, and suffered a miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
. Bilotti and Castellano were both laid to rest in the Moravian Cemetery, a non-sectarian cemetery located in the New Dorp section of Staten Island. He was buried in a simple grave fifty yards from Castellano. He was replaced by the equally short-lived and unfortunate Frank DeCicco who was murdered by loyalists of his former friend and boss.
Popular culture
- In the TV movie Boss of bossesBoss of BossesBoss of Bosses is a 2001 made for TV movie about the life of former Gambino Family boss Paul Castellano. It stars Chazz Palminteri as Paul Castellano, Patricia Mauceri as his wife Nina, Mark Margolis as Joseph Armone, and Angela Alvarado as his mistress Gloria Olarte.This film focuses on Paul...
, Thomas character is portrayed by actor Richard Poronjy. - In the 1996 made for TV movie Gotti, Thomas character is portrayed by actor Ron Gabriel.
External links
- Thomas Bilotti at Find-A-Grave