Editing Sammy Gravano (section)

==The new regime==
After Castellano's death, Gallo–the only surviving member of the hierarchy–convened a three-man committee to temporarily run the family, comprising himself, Gotti and DeCicco. 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. Gotti was formally acclaimed as the new boss of the Gambino family at a meeting of 20 ''capos'' held on January 15, 1986.<ref>Raab, pp. 377-378.</ref> Gotti, in turn, selected DeCicco as his underboss and elevated Gravano to capo after Toddo Aurello announced his desire to step down.<ref name="trutv"/>

On April 13, 1986, DeCicco was killed when his car was [[car bomb|bombed]] following a visit to Castellano loyalist [[James Failla]]. The bombing was carried out by [[Victor Amuso]] and [[Anthony Casso]] of the Lucchese family, under orders of [[Vincent Gigante]] and Lucchese boss [[Anthony Corallo]], to avenge Castellano and Bilotti by killing their successors; Gotti also planned to visit Failla that day, but canceled. The bomb was detonated after a soldier, [[Frankie Hearts]], asked DeCicco for a lawyers business card. DeCicco went to his car to retrieve the card and when he sat in the passenger seat, the bomb exploded.<ref name="raab 473">Raab, pp. 473–476</ref><ref name="guide">{{cite book|last=Capeci|first=Jerry|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia|publisher=Alpha|date=January 2005|page=464|isbn=1-59257-305-3|author-link=Jerry Capeci}}</ref><ref name="rise">{{cite book|last=Capeci|first=Jerry|author2=Gene Mustain|title=Gotti: Rise and Fall|publisher=Onyx|date=June 1, 1996|pages=[https://archive.org/details/gottirisefall00cape/page/448 448]|isbn=0-451-40681-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gottirisefall00cape/page/448}}</ref> 

Bombs had long been banned by the Mafia out of concern that it would put innocent people in harm's way, leading the Gambinos to initially suspect that "[[zips]]" — [[Sicily|Sicilian]] ''mafiosi'' working in the U.S. — were behind it; zips were well known for using bombs.<ref>Capeci, Mustain (1996), pp. 139–140</ref>

==="Nicky Cowboy" murder===
The first person on Gravano's hit list after Castellano's murder was [[Nicholas Mormando|Nicholas "Nicky Cowboy" Mormando]], a former member of his crew. Mormando had become addicted to [[crack cocaine]] and was suspected by Gravano of getting friend and fellow crew member [[Michael DeBatt]] addicted to the drug. Gravano decided because of Nicky's reckless behavior, including getting DeBatt addicted to crack, he would get permission from Gotti to kill Mormando.<ref name="Underboss"/>

Gravano arranged to have Mormando murdered on his way to a meeting at Gravano's Bensonhurst restaurant, Tali's. After assuring Mormando of his safety, Gravano told him to pick up [[Joseph Paruta]] on his way. Paruta got in the backseat of the car and shot Mormando twice in the back of the head. Mormando's corpse was then disposed of in a vacant lot, where it was discovered the next day.<ref name="Underboss"/>

===Consigliere and underboss===
[[File:Mobtalk.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[FBI]] surveillance photograph of Gravano, Gotti, Amuso and Casso in [[Bay Ridge, Brooklyn]]]]
[[File:AmusoGravano1988.jpg|right|250px|thumb|FBI surveillance photograph dated June 6, 1988 of Lucchese crime family boss [[Vic Amuso]] and Gravano]]
Gotti was imprisoned in May 1986 at the [[Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York]], while awaiting trial on [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] (RICO) charges. He relied heavily on Gravano, [[Angelo Ruggiero]], and [[Joseph Armone|Joseph "Piney" Armone]] to manage the [[Gambino crime family|family]]'s day-to-day affairs while he called the major shots from his jail cell.{{cn|date=September 2022}}

In June, Gravano was approached by Ruggiero and, supposedly at Gotti's behest, given orders to murder capo [[Robert DiBernardo]] for making negative remarks about Gotti's leadership. Gravano was friendly with DiBernardo and tried to get the murder called off until he had a chance to speak with Gotti after his trial. Gravano met with [[Joseph Piney]] where Piney explained Gotti wanted DiBernardo dead. Ruggiero claimed to have met again with Gotti and told Gravano that the boss wanted DiBernardo killed right away.<ref name="Underboss"/> 

Gravano arranged a meeting with DiBernardo where Joe Paruta, a member of Gravano's crew, shot DiBernardo twice in the back of the head as Gravano watched. 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.<ref name="Underboss"/> In any event, DiBernardo's death proved profitable for Gravano, as he took over the deceased man's control of [[Teamsters]] Local 282.<ref name="trutv"/>

Gotti's trial ultimately ended in a [[mistrial (law)|mistrial]] due to a [[hung jury]] and the boss was freed from jail. Gravano's specific position within the family varied during 1986 and 1987. With Gotti's permission, Gravano set up several murders with other Gambino associates. In 1986, Gotti underwent a racketeering trial. Jury selection for the racketeering case began again in August 1986,<ref>Capeci, Mustain (1996), pg. 159</ref> with Gotti standing trial alongside Gene "Willie Boy" Johnson (who, despite being exposed as an informant, refused to turn [[state's evidence]]<ref>Raab, pg. 392</ref>), [[Leonard DiMaria]], [[Tony Rampino]], [[Nicholas Corozzo]] and [[John Carneglia]].<ref name="NYT Teflon">{{cite news|last=Buder|first=Leonard|title=Gotti Is Acquitted In Conspiracy Case Involving The Mob|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/14/nyregion/gotti-is-aquitted-in-conspiracy-case-involving-the-mob.html|access-date=September 3, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 14, 1987|quote=John Gotti was acquitted of federal racketeering and conspiracy charges yesterday|archive-date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501221156/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/14/nyregion/gotti-is-aquitted-in-conspiracy-case-involving-the-mob.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

At this point, the Gambinos were able to compromise the case when George Pape hid his friendship with [[Boško Radonjić]] and was empaneled as juror No. 11.<ref name=Papeconvict>{{cite news|last=Lubasch|first=Arnold|title=Juror Is Convicted of Selling Vote to Gotti|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/07/nyregion/juror-is-convicted-of-selling-vote-to-gotti.html|access-date=October 9, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 7, 1992|archive-date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501215253/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/07/nyregion/juror-is-convicted-of-selling-vote-to-gotti.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Through Radonjić, Pape contacted Gravano and agreed to sell his vote on the jury for $60,000.<ref name="rnf 173">Capeci, Mustain (1996), pp. 173–175</ref> On March 13, 1987, they acquitted Gotti and his codefendants of all charges.<ref name="NYT Teflon"/> In the face of previous Mafia convictions, particularly the success of the [[Mafia Commission Trial]], Gotti's acquittal was a major upset that further added to his reputation. The American media dubbed Gotti "The Teflon Don" in reference to the failure of any charges to "stick".<ref>Raab, pp. 397-399</ref>
[[File:Saccenti carbonaro gammarano gravano.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[FBI]] surveillance photograph of Gravano, Louis Saccenti, Thomas Carbonaro and John Gammerano]]
[[File:FBICassoGravano.png|right|250px|thumb|FBI surveillance photograph of Gravano and [[Anthony Casso]]]]

With DeCicco dead, the Gambinos were left without an underboss. Gotti chose to fill the vacancy with [[Joseph Armone]].<ref name=ranks>{{Cite book|title=Gotti: The Rise and Fall|last=Capeci|first=Jerry|publisher=Penguin Group|others=Gene Mustain|year=1996|isbn=9781448146833|location=New York, N.Y.|oclc=607612904}}</ref><ref>Maas, pg. 382</ref> 

In 1987, [[Joseph N. Gallo]] was replaced with Gravano as consigliere, and by 1990, Gravano was promoted to underboss to replace the acting underboss [[Frank LoCascio]].<ref name="Underboss"/><ref name=ranks/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/15/nyregion/how-gotti-s-no-2-gangster-turned-his-coat.html|title=How Gotti's No. 2 Gangster Turned His Coat|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 15, 1991}}</ref><ref>Capeci, Mustain (1996), pp. 195–196</ref> By this time, Gravano was regarded as a "rising force" in the construction industry and often mingled with executives from major construction firms and union officials at his popular Bensonhurst restaurant, Tali's.<ref name="Underboss"/>

Gravano's success was not without a downside. First, his quick rise up the Gambino hierarchy attracted the attention of the FBI, and he was soon placed under surveillance. Second, he started to sense some jealousy from Gotti over the profitability of his legitimate business interests. Nevertheless, Gravano claimed to be kicking up over $2&nbsp;million each year to Gotti out of his union activities alone.<ref name="trutv"/> Beginning in January 1988, Gotti, against Gravano's advice,<ref>Capeci, Mustain (1996), pg. 230</ref> required his ''capos'' to meet with him at the [[Ravenite Social Club]] once a week.<ref>Capeci, Mustain (1996), pg. 225</ref>