CONTROVERSIA
Portrait of John Gotti

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Born in United States · Nationality American — Organised crime / Gambino crime family / murders / RICO / racketeering / obstruction / personal life

John Gotti

Organised crime and cartels

Documented profile covering 23 controversies, including “1968: Guilty plea in cargo thefts and truck hijackings” and “1973–1975: James McBratney murder — reduced charge and guilty plea to attempted manslaughter”.

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Profile No. 1886 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of John Gotti

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
23Documented controversies
9Sources
3Formal charges · all time3 closed without conviction
3Convictions

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

1980–2009

1980–2009: John Favara disappears after accidental death of Frank Gotti — later allegation that Gotti ordered killing

No legal proceedings

After neighbour John Favara accidentally killed Gotti's son Frank, Favara disappeared in 1980. Federal prosecutors alleged decades later that Favara had been killed on Gotti's orders.

State of the evidence
Alleged

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    CBS News / Associated PressGotti's Neighbor Dissolved In AcidPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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02

1987–1993

1987–1993: Juror bribery in earlier RICO trial — subsequent conviction of juror George Pape

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Following the 1987 acquittal, juror George Pape was prosecuted and convicted in a scheme to accept money in exchange for voting to acquit in Gotti's trial.

Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Pape, 1 F.3d 117Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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Case · 10 documented stages

1992–1993: Convicted on thirteen counts, sentenced to life imprisonment and convictions upheld on appeal

Conviction
03

2 April 1992–1993

1992–1993: Convicted on thirteen counts, sentenced to life imprisonment and convictions upheld on appeal

Conviction

Following Gravano's testimony, electronic recordings and other evidence, Gotti was found guilty on thirteen federal counts and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Court of Appeals upheld the convictions.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  3. [3]
    Los Angeles TimesGotti, Top Mafia Boss, ConvictedPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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04

1990–1992

1990–1992: Bribery of a public official as a federal count

Conviction

The federal proceedings included a count of bribing a public official, and Gotti was found guilty on all charges at trial.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

1990–1992

1990–1992: Conspiracy to defraud the United States in relation to taxation

Conviction

Gotti and Locascio were also prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with tax collection; Gotti was found guilty on all charges.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

1990

1990: Conspiracy and murder of Louis DiBono

Conviction

Gotti was found guilty within the RICO case of conspiracy and the murder of Louis DiBono.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

1990

1990: Conspiracy to murder Gaetano Vastola

Conviction

The conspiracy to murder Gaetano Vastola was among the racketeering acts tried against Gotti and Locascio.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

11

années 1980–1990

1980s–1990s: Loansharking conspiracy and extortionate extensions of credit

Conviction

The 1992 trial included a conspiracy involving extortionate extensions of credit, namely loansharking activities associated with the operations of the Gambino crime family.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

14

1988

1988: Conspiracy and murder of Liborio Milito

Conviction

The conspiracy and murder of Liborio Milito were upheld as racketeering acts against Gotti.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

18

1986

1986: Conspiracy and murder of Robert DiBernardo

Conviction

The jury found the conspiracy and murder of Robert DiBernardo to be racketeering acts attributable to Gotti.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

19

16 December 1985

1985: Conspiracy and murder of Paul Castellano

Conviction

The 1992 federal jury found the conspiracy and murder of Paul Castellano, assassinated outside Sparks Steak House, to be racketeering acts.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

20

16 December 1985

1985: Murder of Thomas Bilotti

Conviction

The murder of Thomas Bilotti, killed alongside Castellano, was among the criminal acts proven against Gotti in the 1992 RICO trial.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

10 February 1990

1990: Acquitted in case concerning shooting of union official

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Gotti was acquitted of all charges in a case involving the shooting and wounding of a union official, in which prosecutors maintained that he had participated in a conspiracy to commit assault.

Attribution
Accused
Course of the proceedings
  1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    UPI ArchivesGotti acquitted of all chargesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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09

années 1980–1990

1980s–1990s: Operation of illegal gambling business in Queens

No legal proceedings

Operating an illegal gambling business in Queens was among the racketeering acts in the case and contributed to Gotti's conviction.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

10

années 1980–1990

1980s–1990s: Operation of illegal gambling business in Connecticut

No legal proceedings

An illegal gambling business in Connecticut constituted another racketeering act charged and upheld against Gotti and his co-defendants.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

12

1985–1990

1985–1990: Obstruction of investigation into Paul Castellano's assassination

Investigation

The federal case established obstruction of justice linked to the investigation into Castellano's assassination.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

13

1990

1990: Conspiracy to obstruct grand jury investigations

Investigation

A separate count accused Gotti and others of conspiring to obstruct grand jury investigations; the jury found him guilty on all charges submitted.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

15

13 March 1987

1987: Acquitted in major federal RICO racketeering and conspiracy trial

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Gotti and several co-defendants were acquitted in a federal racketeering and conspiracy trial concerning, among other things, loansharking, illegal gambling, hijackings and violence.

Legal status — source text
Acquitted / conviction overturned
Attribution
Accused
Course of the proceedings
  1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Washington PostReputed Mafia Boss AcquittedPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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16

1984–1986

1984–1986: Assault and robbery allegations involving Romual Piecyk ultimately dropped after failure to identify attacker

Case dismissed / dropped

Gotti was prosecuted following an altercation with Romual Piecyk. The witness subsequently refused to identify Gotti as his attacker, and the state charges were dropped.

Attribution
Accused
Course of the proceedings
  1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Gotti, 794 F.2d 773Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

17

1986

1986: Court finds substantial evidence of intimidation of witness Piecyk and revokes bail

Investigation

In federal detention proceedings, the court found substantial evidence of intimidation of witness Piecyk attributable to Gotti and his associates, contributing to the revocation of his bail.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Gotti, 794 F.2d 773Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

21

fin des années 1980

Late 1980s: Obstruction of justice during Thomas Gambino trial

Conviction — against Thomas Gambino

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Gotti was convicted of an act of obstruction of justice relating to Thomas Gambino's trial.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Person targeted by the proceedings
Thomas Gambino
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    FBIJohn GottiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

22

1973–1975

1973–1975: James McBratney murder — reduced charge and guilty plea to attempted manslaughter

Conviction

Gotti was implicated in the abduction and death of James McBratney, then pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted manslaughter and received a prison sentence.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    A&EJohn Gotti: What to Know About the Life and Death of the Infamous Mob BossSecondary sourceMedium reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

23

1968

1968: Guilty plea in cargo thefts and truck hijackings

Conviction

Gotti pleaded guilty in federal cases involving cargo thefts and truck hijackings near Kennedy Airport and was sentenced to several years in prison.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    A&EJohn Gotti: What to Know About the Life and Death of the Infamous Mob BossSecondary sourceMedium reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)
  1. Paul Castellano2 documented references
  2. Tommy DeSimone1 documented reference

III. Has something changed?

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