Sammy Gravano

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Lore & Background

Salvatore Gravano was born on March 12, 1945, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, to Giorlando 'Gerry' and Caterina 'Kay' Gravano. He was the youngest of three children, having two sisters. At age 13, he joined the Rampers, a prominent street gang in Bensonhurst, after some people stole his bicycle and he fought them. Made men watching from a café saw him fight and gave him back his bike, with one remarking how little Sammy fought 'like a bull', hence his nickname 'The Bull'. Gravano had dyslexia, was bullied, and did poorly in school; teachers classified him as 'a slow learner'. He was held back from grade advancement on two occasions and punched school officials on two occasions. He was sent to a school for 'incorrigibles', but just before age 16 the school refused to keep him. In 1964, Gravano was drafted into the United States Army and served in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, mainly as a mess hall cook. He rose to the rank of corporal and was granted an honorable discharge after two years. He first became associated with the Mafia in 1968 through his friend Tommy Spero, whose uncle 'Shorty' Spero was an associate of the Colombo family. Gravano was initially involved in crimes such as larceny, hijacking, and armed robbery, and quickly moved into racketeering, loansharking, and running a poker game. In 1970, Gravano committed his first murder, that of Joseph Colucci, a fellow Spero associate with whose wife Tommy Spero was having an affair. Gravano described the experience: 'As that Beatles song played, I became a killer... I felt the rage inside me... Everything went in slow motion. I could almost feel the bullet leaving the gun and entering his skull.' The Colucci murder won respect and approval from Colombo boss Carmine Persico. Due to a rivalry with Ralph Spero, Gravano was transferred to the Gambino family. Now with the Gambinos, Gravano became an associate of capo Salvatore 'Toddo' Aurello, who quickly took a liking to Gravano and became his mob mentor. In 1976, Gravano was formally initiated into the Gambino family as a made man. He was part of the group in 1985 that conspired to murder Gambino boss Paul Castellano, playing a key role in planning and executing the murder along with John Gotti, Angelo Ruggiero, Frank DeCicco, and Joseph Armone. Soon after, Gotti elevated Gravano to captain after Toddo Aurelio stepped down, a position he held until 1987 when he became consigliere. In 1988, he became underboss. In 1991, Gravano agreed to turn state's evidence after hearing Gotti making several disparaging and untrue remarks about Gravano on a wiretap that implicated them both in several murders. His testimony led to life sentences without parole for Gotti and Frank LoCascio in 1992. In 1994, a federal judge sentenced Gravano to five years in prison; since he had already served four years, the sentence amounted to less than one year. He entered the Witness Protection Program in Colorado but left after eight months and moved to Arizona with his family.

Reader's Guide

Sammy Gravano's significance lies in his role as one of the highest-ranking members of the Five Families to break his blood oath and cooperate with the government. His testimony directly led to the conviction of Gambino boss John Gotti and Frank LoCascio, who were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in 1992. On the day of his sentencing in 1994, federal authorities stated that as a result of Gravano's testimony, there had been '37 convictions, nine people awaiting trial, eight people resigned from the unions as a result of Gravano's cooperation.' They also said that Gravano was indirectly responsible for even more convictions, as his actions had encouraged others to become witnesses against the Mafia. However, Gravano's legacy is complex: in February 2000, Gravano and nearly 40 other ring members—including his wife Debra, daughter Karen and son Gerard—were arrested on federal and state drug charges. In 2001, Gravano and his son Gerard were indicted on mirror charges. In 2002, Gravano was sentenced in New York to twenty years in prison; a month later, he was also sentenced in Arizona to nineteen years to run concurrently, plus lifetime supervised release and a $100,000 fine. He was released in September 2017. His life story was the subject of the book 'Underboss' by author Peter Maas, consulted several times in 1997. His daughter Karen Gravano appeared on the VH1 reality series 'Mob Wives' beginning in 2011, and released a book in 2013 titled 'Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, and Me!'

Did You Know?

• Gravano's nickname 'The Bull' came from made men who saw him fight as a 13-year-old and remarked how little Sammy fought 'like a bull'.
• Gravano committed his first murder in 1970, killing Joseph Colucci while a Beatles song played; he later became a mentor to Colucci's son Jack, who did not know Gravano had murdered his father until 25 years later.
• Gravano was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1964, served as a mess hall cook at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, rose to corporal, and received an honorable discharge after two years.
• In 1994, federal authorities credited Gravano's testimony with 37 convictions, nine people awaiting trial, and eight resignations from unions.
• Gravano was arrested in February 2000 on drug charges along with nearly 40 others, including his wife Debra, daughter Karen, and son Gerard.