John Gotti the 'Teflon Don'

John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York. Gotti rose quickly in the Gambino ranks, becoming one of the crime family's biggest earners. At the age of 24, Gotti Jr. became "made". Gotti was a protege of Gambino underboss Aniello Dellacroce. After an FBI indictment of members of Gotti's crew for selling drugs, Gotti knew he and his brother would be killed by Paul Castellano.

Gotti organized the murder of Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter. This left Gotti as the boss of the most powerful crime family in America, which made hundreds of millions a year from construction, hijacking, loan sharking, gambling, extortion and other criminal activities. Gotti survived numerous legal cases unscathed. Witnesses developed cases of what the press called "I forgotti", and with every acquittal it added to his reputation. The American media dubbed Gotti "The Teflon Don" due to the failure of any charges to stick.

On Dec 11, 1990, FBI agents and cops raided the Ravenite Social Club, arresting Gotti, Sammy Gravano and Frank Locascio. Gotti was charged with five murders (Castellano and Bilotti, Robert DiBernardo, Liborio Milito and Louis Dibono,) conspiracy to murder Gaetano "Corky" Vastola, loansharking, illegal gambling, obstruction of justice, bribery and tax evasion. Killer Sammy Gravano turned rat. On April 2, 1992, Gotti was found guilty on all charges. He was sentenced to life without parole.

Sammy Gravano

In 1998 Gotti was diagnosed with throat cancer. The condition returned in 2000. Gotti died on June 10, 2002 at the age of 61. The former boss's 7,000-square-foot mansion fell into disrepair. The home is located in Old Westbury, New York, and hasn’t been occupied since 2016 when it was raided by federal agents.

Last photo of John Gotti