Paul Castellano aka Big Paul

 

Paul Castellano, also known as "Big Paul," was a prominent organized crime figure and the boss of the Gambino crime family, one of the "Five Families" of the American Mafia. He was born on June 26, 1915, in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrants.

Castellano began his criminal career as a member of the Gambino crime family, eventually rising through the ranks to become a caporegime, or captain, in the organization. In the 1970s, he became the underboss, or second-in-command, to then-boss Carlo Gambino, and eventually succeeded him as a boss in 1976 upon Gambino's death.

As a boss, Castellano oversaw a vast criminal enterprise involved in activities such as gambling, loan sharking, extortion, and drug trafficking. He was known for his cautious and calculated approach to the criminal underworld and was known to prefer negotiating and settling disputes through legal means rather than resorting to violence.

Despite his attempts to keep a low profile, Castellano and his family were targeted by law enforcement, and he was arrested and charged with various crimes several times throughout his career. In 1985, he was indicted on federal racketeering charges and was sentenced to life in prison.

However, Castellano's reign as the boss was short-lived, as he was assassinated on December 16, 1985 outside of a Manhattan restaurant. His murder was believed to have been ordered by his underboss, John Gotti, who then took over as boss of the Gambino crime family.

Castellano's assassination marked the beginning of a power struggle within the Gambino family and was a turning point in the history of organized crime in New York. His legacy as a prominent mafia figure lives on, and he has been portrayed in various media, including films and television shows, as a symbol of the power and influence of the American Mafia