It is suspected that Joseph suffered from Werner syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by the appearance of premature aging. Someone told Frank that Paruta was just the person they were looking for. Mikey Scars Speaks on Jimmy Calandra, Toddo Aurello, Jimmy Brown [5] Castellano was flabbergasted when he learned the crutch-ridden Gravano personally took part in the hit. Sammy believed that he lacked a killer's insticts and was unfit to become a Mafia soldier, so he utilized him as bodyguard and chauffeur. Huck Carbonaro was also around for the Frank Fiala murder. It was Milito who fired the shots that killed 16 year old Alan Kaiser on August 15, 1977. Joe Colucci was going to die. [77] Gravano served his sentence at ADX Florence, part of it being in solitary confinement. And Im sure Toddo was pissed off at what Sammy did. Old Timers like Toddo were True Cosa Nostra these guys were Quiet, Low Key and they were into Legitimate Businesses as well as Shylocking and Gambling Rackets. Ecola "The Eagle" Baldelli. He didn't want to be in the crew no more. [35], Gotti, Gravano and LoCascio were often recorded by the bugs placed throughout the Ravenite (concealed in the main room, the first-floor hallway and the upstairs apartment of the building) discussing incriminating events. It was January 1985 when Old an Paruta put a shot in the back of Nickys head. Carbonaro had little reservation about killing enemies or crew members if needed. Nobody in my crew knows anything, except Old Man Paruta. [50][51] The trial commenced with the prosecution's opening statements on February 12;[52][53] prosecutors Andrew Maloney and John Gleeson began their case by playing tapes showing Gotti discussing Gambino family business, including murders he approved, and confirming the animosity between Gotti and Castellano to establish the former's motive to kill his boss. It wasn't until I was twelve years old that I knew for certain that my father was a gangster. [8] Gravano is also the brother-in-law of Gambino caporegime Eddie Garafola and Mario Garafola. Button Guys of The New York Mafia. They made multiple trips out there planning what would have likely been the biggest mafia hit of all time. He also was the owner of Talis Restaurant & Lounge which he inherited from his father. There were multiple issues that Sammy had with Nicky Cowboy. Sammy claimed to have defended Milito but eventually gave in to Gotti. [9], By the early 1980s, the Plaza Suite was a thriving establishment. While Gravano has expressed regret over some of his killing, he has shown no remorse over the Mormando murder. Huck got busted for the plot on Sammy, and in 2003 received a 70 year prison sentence. Hes now in his eighties and still serving time in a prison hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. He plays Bryce Delaney in the HBO series The Newsroom. Knowing it would be too risky to approach the other four bosses directly, the conspirators got the support of several important mobsters of their generation in the Lucchese, Colombo and Bonanno families. The Commission subsequently placed contracts on Caponigro's co-conspirators, including John "Johnny Keys" Simone, who also happened to be Bruno's cousin. He tried to get Gravano to understand that a swift bullet was the best gift a true friend could give him. Sammy sent word to John Gotti through his brother Gene for permission to fulfill his last wishes and make his dream of becoming a "made man" true. Did Sammy Gravano's mentor, TODDO AURELLO, kill Tommy RAVA? Who He never asked me any questions if I wanted him to do something. The killing of Alan Kaiser was a case of mistaken identity. He tried to prepare Gene and explain the situation as best as he could. Gravano had already made that "unusual" switch from the Colombo family under Ralph (Shorty) Spero to the Gambino family under capo Toddo Aurello when he was pinched for the Dunns. Fat Andy Ruggiano As Gambino Underboss? Pondering The What Ifs Frank "Sleepy" Barcellona. Both of Gravano's parents hailed from Sicily; his mother was brought to the U.S. as a child, while his father had been on the crew of a freighter when he jumped ship in Canada and entered the U.S. [23], The first person on Gravano's hit list after Castellano's murder was Nicholas "Nicky Cowboy" Mormando, a former member of his crew. Mafia Wife: My Story of Love Murder and Madness - Joe Bruno on the Mob What may have been the deciding factor in Nicky Cowboys demise was that Sammy believed that he was responsible for Mickey DeBatt getting badly hooked on crack cocaine. June 10 2022June 10 2022. As a result of his testimonies, Gotti and Frank Locascio were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in 1992. Toddos Real name was Avarello it was either changed when his father arrived from Italy to the USA at Ellis island or he changed it as an alias. A month later, he was also sentenced in Arizona to nineteen years in prison to run concurrently. But two weeks later, the charges were dismissed after Brooklyn Magistrate David Malbin cited a lack of clear evidence to support the charges. 4) Salvatore Aurello was powerful in his prime. He would kill somebody for me as fast as somebody could get a cup of coffee. Sammy on Paruta. Gravano's specific position within the family varied during 1986 and 1987. Johnny Keys was tough, showing no fear and going down as a mans man according to Sammy. [5] Teachers classified him as being "a slow learner". [27] Through Radonji, Pape contacted Gravano and agreed to sell his vote on the jury for $60,000. Excerpt: Mob Daughter - ABC News [9] Gambino underboss Neil Dellacroce intervened on Gravano's behalf and Castellano told the two men to end their business partnership, though Gravano's standing with the boss slipped as a result of the incident. Copyright 2019-2023, Button Guys of The New York Mafia. When Milito kept complaining about the situation, it was decided that he needed to be killed. Gravano then went to Castellano and received permission to murder the leader of the gang. [90], Media related to Sammy Gravano at Wikimedia Commons. [5][16], When Castellano was indicted for both his connection to Roy DeMeo's stolen car ring and as part of the Mafia Commission Trial, he learned his own house had been bugged on the basis of evidence from the Ruggiero tapes and he became livid. Gambino Family membership chart 1960-70's - Blogger [29], With DeCicco dead, the Gambinos were left without an underboss. [55][56][57] On the stand, Gravano confirmed Gotti's place in the structure of the Gambino family and described in detail the conspiracy to assassinate Castellano, giving a full description of the hit and its aftermath. But I promise I'll be there for you.". This is the guy he mentions in the book who ran his neighborhood in Bensonhurst when he was a kid in the 1940s. Apparently, although Aponte and Castalana were able to identify Aurello as one of the assailants after his arrest, by the time the case reached the court, the women were unsure if Aurello was really one of the men who robbed them. Frank was stunned. Gravano later learned that Ruggiero was $250,000 in debt to DiBernardo and realized Ruggiero may have fabricated the orders from Gotti or simply lied to Gotti about what DiBernardo was accused of saying in order to erase the debt and improve his own standing in the family. Rotondo is the Genovese family's underboss and a rival to Gotti. He Pages that were modified between April 2014 and June 2016 are adapted from information taken from Esportspedia.com. Anyone got any info on if he got arrested after he stepped down or how he lived his life after Sammy took over his capo spot? Never stopped robbing. In 1963, a Top-Echelon FBI informant, identified only as NY-3461-C-TE, who was most probably undercover Gambino Family soldier Alfred (Freddy the Sidge) Santantonio, named dozens of local hoodlums for the FBI as actually being made members of the Mafia. They destroyed everything in their path, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the club. He earned a new nickname, Sammy the Rat Gravano, the man who brought down Gotti. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Sometimes he was just the guy who got coffee for the big timers. Discover (and save!) Witness to the Mob is a made-for-TV film which premiered on Sunday, May 10, and concluded on Monday, May 11, 1998. Don't ask. In March 1980, longtime Philadelphia boss Angelo Bruno was assassinated by his consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, without authorization from The Commission. In later years, Toddo Aurello was accepted into the ranks of Cosa Nostra. I didn't see any blood. [69] A month later, he was also sentenced in Arizona to 19 years in prison to run concurrently. Stay low key and I'll reach out for Sammy.' After Stymie (Joseph D'Angelo) got shot, he practically never left my side. Parutas fearless loyalty gave Gravano even more confidence. Who was Zuvito? When Sammy Gravano switched from the Colombos to the Gambinos, he was placed in Aurellos crew. DeBatt was working the door and served as a lookout the night of the hit. By at least the early 1950s, Avarello had been identified as a local organized crime figure by the New York Police Departments Intelligence Squad. Go about your business. Carlo Gambino's ascension to the position of Boss was opposed by a powerful Albert Anastasia loyalist called Armand "Tommy" Rava.Rava along with Neil Dellacr. Salvatore 'Toddo' Aurello b1914-d1998. After the DiB (Rober DiBernardo) hit, his smoker's cough got worse and worse. Other signs that Paruta displayed was cancer and heart disease. [9], Before the transaction was completed, Fiala began acting like he already owned the club. (1996). Big Lou had also gotten his start under Toddo Aurello alongside Sammy and Old Man Paruta. He was the last member of Gravano's original Bensonhurst, Brooklyn crew that he had inherited from Salvatore Aurello after Frank DeCicco was murdered by a car bomb in 1985, two years earlier. I took an oath that Cosa Nostra came before everything. [18] As the hat-and-trench-coat-adorned men slipped away into the night, Gotti calmly drove the car past the front of the restaurant to get a look at the scene. Eddie Garafola was married to Sammy Gravanos sister Fran He was a guy who benefited from having the powerful Sammy as his brother in law. Sammy "The Bull" Gravano Crew Members | Mafia Hitters A federal prosecutor later said that Gravano did not like the constraints of the program. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Just a pseudonym? He was released early and entered the U.S. federal Witness Protection Program in Arizona, but left the program in 1995. The Last Mafioso. Paruta got in the backseat of the car and shot Mormando twice in the back of the head. Link to Mikey Scars YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWgheRxK2j4aq_SrGPCZHOg/featuredRJ Roger sits with Michael DiLeonardo, known in The Lif. Gravano played a major role in prosecuting John Gotti, the crime family's boss, by agreeing to testify as a government witness against him and other mobsters in a deal in which he confessed to involvement in . There's prolly a bunch of old timers that we know nothing about that were heavyweights in that realm. [77], On February 24, 2003, New Jersey state prosecutors announced Gravano's indictment for ordering the 1980 murder of NYPD detective Peter Calabro by murderer Richard Kuklinski. [68], However, in 1995, Gravano left Witness Protection and relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. On November 2, 1987, he was behind the bar at Talis with Huck Carbonaro and Cousin Eddie when Huck pulled out a gun and killed Mickey right in the bar. He was the oldest of three children, who grew up in poverty. My wife was there. After the publication of Underboss, several families of Gravano's victims filed a $25 million lawsuit against him. Sammy and Louie were looking for a man named Aldo Candido who was responsible for a recent robbery one at one of Gravanos nightclubs. Gotti surrendered to federal authorities to serve his prison time on December 14, 1992. He was the only member of Gravano's crew not to meet their fate by being murdered. [81][82] The charges against Gravano were dropped after Kuklinski's death in 2006. At gunpoint, they made both women undress down to their stockings and shoes and then robbed them of $40 cash and a wristwatch valued at $100. The murder contract was later called off and the outlaw biker's life was spared. Toddo Aurello was a highly respected - Cosa Nostra History | Facebook Toddo Aurello: Sour Grapes: 1998: Mr. Bell: Tempting Fate: 1998: TV Movie: Dr. Bardwell: Millennium: 1997-1998: TV Series: Group Elder: The Practice . He was a low- key guy and there are very few photos of him floating around the internet today. As far as I know, he retired and died a free man. After Paruta died, he would help support his wife and children financially over the years. [9], Gravano's robbery spree impressed Aurello, who proposed him for membership in the Gambino family soon after the membership books were reopened. [3] Early on, one of Gravano's relatives remarked that he looked like his uncle Sammy. I felt the rage inside me. Both Paul and Thomas did not know who Paruta was. He was initially scheduled to be released in March 2019, but was released early in September 2017. He had a hoarse voice and his skin started to thicken and suffer from cataracts. Facebook salvatore aurello wiki Salvatore Toddo Aurello retiring - GangsterBB.NET In Underboss, Gravano writes that he and Alexander Cuomo, who'd also been indicted, took off for Florida the moment they learned of the arrest warrants, but went back. "[13] Scibetta was dismembered and his body was never found, other than an arm. AP. He is known as the man who helped bring down John Gotti, the family's boss, by agreeing to testify against him and other mobsters in a deal in which he confessed to involvement in 19 murders. Informant stated that when Rava and his companion got out of their car, he was approached by Toddo and his followers with guns in their hands. Mormando's corpse was then disposed of in a vacant lot, where it was discovered the next day. [9], Gotti and Gravano arrived at the restaurant shortly before 5 o'clock and, after circling the block, parked their car across the intersection and within view of the entrance. Charlie and Jo-Ann raised their two daughters on Staten Island before settling in Categories . As Castellano and Bilotti exited the Lincoln, they were ambushed and killed in a barrage of bullets. Along with Milito, Gravano hunted down the leader, wounding him and killing another member of the gang. Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931, Toledo, Ohio) is an American actor who appeared as Federal Judge Delaporte, who presided over the trial of mob boss Frank Mosca in the episode "Contempt of Court" of the series Miami Vice. I believe Toddo died in 1998 and he remained a loyal soldier of The Gambinos ever since. An exclusive community of organized crime enthusiasts to discuss current news, historical events, tv shows and movies, debate topics, and more. He lost interest in gambling and stopped visiting the horse races at the Aqueduct racetrack in the afternoon like he always had done. ; Ex-Crime Underboss May Find Out Today What He Gets for Turning U.S. By 1959, at the age of thirty Joseph had the telltale condition of the syndrome by having a "birdlike" facial appearance. Frankie DeCiccos Father Boozey was a Soldier in Toddos crew. Sammy brought Gotti's discussion to Paruta who did not accept the answer. The American media dubbed Gotti "The Teflon Don" in reference to the failure of any charges to "stick". However, since Gravano had already served four years, the sentence amounted to less than one year. Witness to the Mob Movie. Where To Watch Streaming Online With Gotti's permission, Gravano set up the murders of Tommy Spero and several other Gambino associates. Boss Paul Castellano, Underboss Dellacroce, Consiglieri Joe N Gallo, Capo Salvatore "Toddo" Aurello, in his crew are "Boozy" DeCicco, Gravano and John Rizzo, capo James "Jimmy Brown" Failla in his crew are "boozy's" son Frank DeCicco Knickerbocker Avenue's Bonanno capo Pietro Licata (FBN book page 497) killed . Sammy Gravano later said, "Everybody called Joe the 'Old Man'. Dellacroce and Gotti tried to convince Ruggiero to comply if Castellano explained beforehand how he intended to use the tapes, but Ruggiero refused, fearing he would endanger good friends. Salvatore Aurello of Brooklyn, Kings County, New York was born on March 22, 1914. Paruta got up, but instead of getting the coffee, Paruta took a .38-caliber revolver from a cabinet behind DiBernardo and shot him in the back of the head. Paruta even carried out hits against other members of Sammys crew. Upon leaving the Plaza Suite, Gravano called Garafola and set up an ambush outside the club, involving Garafola, Milito, D'Angelo, Nicholas Mormando, and Michael DeBatt in the plan. On June 5, 1986, Robert DiBernardo was lured to the basement offices of Sammy Gravano's drywall company on Stillwell Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Me and Eddie (Edward Garofalo) were trailing in a car behind. At Gotti's suggestion, the shooters wore long white trench coats and black fur Russian hats, which Gravano considered a "brilliant" idea. Nevertheless, Gravano claimed to be kicking up over $2million each year to Gotti out of his union activities alone. Gravano attempted to lie low for nearly three weeks afterwards, during which time he called his crew together and made the decision to kill Castellano if necessary. Just take it easy. So you know a guy like that is all right. He is the only known mobster who asked for a mercy killing after becoming terminally ill with lung cancer. He didnt see Old Man Paruta pull out the gun as he approached from behind and put a bullet in his head as Sammy watched just a few feet away. During the planning of the Castellano hit, Sammy confided in Paruta more than anyone else. He was convicted of a 15 year old murder in 2004. Gravano was implicated by informants in his own drug ring, as well as by recorded conversations in which he discussed drug profits with Debra and Karen. Aurello put Gravano up for membership in 1975 and when Aurello stepped down during the Gotti years, Gravano replaced him as capo. The Commission summoned Caponigro to New York, where it sentenced him to death for his transgression. He told Sammy, "Kill me, Sammy. And if that ain't enough, Paruta holds out for his end of the loot. His son was also placed into his crew. He was a short man in stature with thin arms and legs with a thick torso. Take the Loss: It's Good For Long-Term Business Guys like Petey "Pumps" Ferrara, Jimmy "Brown" Failla and Salvatore "Toddo" Aurello ended up under Rizzo. Joseph Paruta - Wikipedia To save Gene Gotti and Ruggiero, Dellacroce stalled the demand. He reportedly made $4,000 a week from the Plaza Suite. Charles (Charlie Boy) Aurello, a little-known wiseguy who was inducted into the Gambino crime family along with Salvatore (Sammy Bull) Gravano more than 40 years ago and who remained a well-respected mobster while operating primarily as a bookmaker and loanshark, cashed in his chips last week. The conspirators considered the restaurant a prime location for the hit because the area would be packed with bustling crowds of holiday shoppers, making it easier for the assassins to blend in and escape. illegally. Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano (born March 12, 1945) is a former underboss of the Gambino crime family. Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, "Gravano killed brother-in-law, defense attorney says N.Y. judge rules revelations were too inflammatory for Gotti mob jury to hear", "Signing for Your Sentence: How Will It Pay Off? Despite his father's attempts to dissuade him, Gravano, like many of his Ramper colleagues, drifted into the Cosa Nostra. A quiet ending to an equally quiet career for a highly-respected mafioso. The prognosis was that he had terminal lung cancer that had spread through the rest of his body. In 1970, Gravano committed his first murderthat of Joseph Colucci, a fellow Spero associate with whose wife Tommy Spero was having an affair. Sammy made arrangements through some doctors he knew and checked him into the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at 1275 York Avenue in Manhattan, New York for testing. Aurello was the son of . However, it was an open secret that Gotti was acting boss in all but name, and nearly all of the family's capos knew he had been the one behind the hit. Joseph "Joe the Animal" Barboza. [5] Gravano said in 1998, "I literally controlled Manhattan, literally. He begged Gravano for a mercy killing, which was about to happen before he suddenly passed away in October 1986. He was only fifty-nine. Less than a year later, Paruta was dying of cancer. Gambino captain 1969-1986. Im sorry I made a mistake Toddos parents came from Racalmuto not Ravanusa. [5], Not suspecting the plot against him, Castellano invited DeCicco to a meeting on December 16, 1985, with fellow capos Thomas Gambino, James Failla, and Danny Marino at Sparks Steak House in Manhattan. I wish there was more info on him and if he grew up with carlo and neil and who he was close with in his time. [5] Around this time, Gravano took a construction job (he later claimed to have considered leaving the criminal life). Toddo later took Gravano under his wing and groomed him in the proper ways of Cosa Nostra. Ex-Gambino family underboss Sammy Gravano's new podcast debuting this week", Salvatore Gravano Arizona Inmate Information, List of Italian-American mobsters by organization, Collaborations between the United States government and Italian Mafia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sammy_Gravano&oldid=1142617988, Federal Bureau of Investigation informants, People who entered the United States Federal Witness Protection Program, United States Army non-commissioned officers, American people convicted of drug offenses, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Five years' imprisonment (1994, leniency due to testimony), Documentary series from Court TV (now TruTV), This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 12:36. V Vincent Arpa 2k followers More information Aurello put Gravano up for membership in 1975 and when Aurello stepped down during the Gotti years, Gravano replaced him as capo. 11. salvatore aurello son. Although Gravano never found out what Gene told John when they discussed Paruta, Gotti denied the mercy killing. At the same time, attorneys Bruce Cutler and Gerald Shargel were disqualified from defending Gotti and Gravano after prosecutors successfully contended they were "part of the evidence" and thus liable to be called as witnesses. I must say Sammy was mentored by a true legend. Ralph Spero used this rumor in an attempt to gain support to have Gravano killed, or as an excuse to kill Gravano himself. He also created income streams through the construction industry and the various nightclubs they had a stake in. But these guys listed below reported to Dellacroce (there may have been others but these are . This display of masculinity on the part of Rava infuriated Toddo, who, with the others, repeatedly beat Rava over the head with their guns until he finally fell dead. Later in his mob career, Gravano was ordered to help arrange the murder of his brother-in-law, Nicholas Scibetta. Sammy asked Toddo if it was okay to take over his position as Caporegime or if not he would form a whole new crew of his own. Louie killed Sammys drug addicted brother in law Nicholas Nicky Schibetta not long after the Kaiser hit. Toddo told Rava that he had the contract to kill him. [5], Like his predecessor Carlo Gambino, Castellano favored emphasizing more sophisticated schemes involving construction, trucking, and garbage disposal over traditional street-level activities such as loansharking, gambling, and hijackings. LCN Bios: Gambino Family Ceremonies (1970s) - Blogger [17], The next step was smoothing over the planned hit with the other families. After Ronga's death, a rumor had spread that Gravano had attempted to pick up Ronga's widow Sybil Davies at a bar, though Gravano maintained that Davies was the one hitting on him. After the assailants fled and took off by car, Aponte and Castalana ran to a window, flung it open, and started screaming at the top of their lungs. He would take any risk. I'll be with you at your side until the day I die.". After Caponigro was tortured and killed, Philip Testa was installed as the new Philadelphia boss and Nicky Scarfo as consigliere. En Sinapsis entendemos que el trabajo colaborativo con nuestros clientes es el que nos ayuda a construir software que realmente le agregue valor a sus Sammy later said. [11], On May 25, 2001, Gravano pleaded guilty in a New York federal court to drug trafficking charges. [79] Debra and Karen Gravano also pleaded guilty and received several years on probation. November 9, 2009 | 5:00am. Er begann als Soldat, aber sein Talent fr Mord, einschlielich der Ttungen seiner Gravano personally conducted the ceremony in his room at the cancer centre. Big Lou has been to prison multiple times over the years. change_link = false; Assante won an Emmy Award for Outstanding . Mob boss Toddo Aurello had a visitor waiting for him. The killer was then murdered, himself, on orders from the Colombo family. While an enlisted man, Gravano mainly worked as a mess hall cook. : Shaun Attwood", "Mob boss 'Sammy the Bull' Gravano released from prison early", "Former mob figure "Sammy the Bull" released from prison", "Former Mobster Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano Released From Prison", "No Bull! He served in the Gambino crime family under the tutelage of Carlo Gambino and later Paul Castellano. Sammy Gravano | Military Wiki | Fandom Sammy the Bull refers to him often, with great fondness, on his YouTube channel. Pin on New York Mafia-The Commission - Pinterest After befriending Simone through a series of meetings, Gravano, with the assistance of Milito and D'Angelo, abducted Simone from Yardley Golf Club in Yardley, Pennsylvania (part of suburban Trenton, New Jersey), and drove him to a wooded area on Staten Island. It seems in his early days, Frank (DeCicco) was going on a robbery with some guys. Edward would sit him in a comfortable position and then join Carbonaro in the car outside when Gravano would shoot him. Nicholas Mormando was known as Nicky Cowboy because he was always seen as a bit of a renegade crew member. By 1982, Paruta was starting to act depressed over the murder of his friend Joseph D'Angelo who had been shot to death over a bar room dispute with an associate of the Colombo crime family. [5] Gravano later became a mentor to Colucci's son Jack, who became involved in the construction industry as a Gambino associate. [4] This rivalry culminated with the death of Ralph Ronga, another Colombo family associate in Ralph Spero's crew. He was a family man who would regularly take his family out to dinner at Tali's restaurant every week and have a large dinner. In one second, he agreed to take down Paul and Tommy in that diner like I asked him to before we changed the plan. He was one of the guys who played a part in the notorious Frank Fiala killing. In the early 1970s, Colombo soldier Ralph Spero, brother of Shorty, became envious of Gravano's success, fearing that he would become a made man before his son, Tommy. Y . Known by most as "Sammy The Bull", Salvatore Gravano was born on March 12th, 1945 in Bensonhurst, a Brooklyn neighborhood with a predominantly Italian-American population to Gerry and Kay Gravano, both of whom hailed from Sicily.