Where is Salvatore "Sammy The Bull" Gravano?
Read Our Press Release/April 17, 1997
Las Vegas Review-Journal Column
by John L. Smith (4/23/97)
Go to List of Gravano Murder Victims
We are looking for any information on his whereabouts (not including television
or other media appearances!). Salvatore "Sammy the Bull"Gravano was the
top aide to New York's former Gambino Family Crime Boss, John Gotti.
Gravano's story is featured in a new book by Valachi Papers Author
Peter Maas, called Underboss: Sammy the
Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia (Harper/Collins, 1997).
(Read a review.)
A vicious self-confessed killer responsible for some 19 or
more murders, Gravano was able to trade in his career of murder for a
new life by squealing on his boss, Gotti. Gravano was released from prison after
serving only 5 years in prison, in exchange for his cooperation. Should Gravano
be loose on the street? Has he really changed his feathers and gone straight?
Or, is he still the sly old killer who found a way to escape punishment for his
murderous deeds? Beef on Gotti. Fine! But, in exchange, Gravano's best deal
should have been to keep his life, spending it in a prison cell rather than face
execution. Five years was not enough!
Have you seen Salvatore "Sammy The Bull" Gravano? Do you know where he is
at?
The Illinois Police and Sheriff's News wants to know. Send your
information by e-mail to the
webmaster today or contact CCPA President
John J. Flood directly. Your
information must be verifiable.
Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano
Biography of a killer
Underboss of the Gambino Family in New York.
Once the trusted aide to John "The Dapper Don" Gotti, turned rat.
Now known as Salvatore "The Rat" Gravano.
A one-time boxer and lifelong hoodlum who dropped out of school at age 16,
Gravano's testimony sealed the fate of Gotti, who was sentenced to life on June
23, 1992 without parole for 5 counts of murder. Gotti entered the federal
penitentiary in Marion, Illinois.
Gotti was placed in solitary confinement, 23 hours each day with one hour for
exercise after federal authorities argued that he was still running the Gambino
Family business during the trial. Gravano was the prosecution's chief witness,
testifying for nine days, detailing the killings of Gotti's predecessor
Paul Castellano and his close aide and bodyguard
Thomas Bilotti, both shot dead in front of Sparks Steak House on Dec. 16,
1985.
Gravano testified that he and Gotti plotted the killings, the two watching from
their parked car nearby.
Gravano claimed he also handled the $60,000 bribe paid to a juror who voted to
acquit Gotti in a previous trial in 1987. That juror was charged in February
1992 with obstruction of justice and alleged bribe-taking.
Gotti's attorney at the 1992 trial was Albert J. Krieger,
who, during cross examination, got Gravano to tell the court what he was:
"Informer," Gravano replied.
Krieger came back, "Is there another word?"
"A rat," Gravano replied nonchalantly.
Gravano was inducted into the Gambino Crime Family in 1976, at a ceremony
presided over by Castellano. At that time, Castellano pricked Gravano's trigger
finger and dripped the blood onto a picture of a Saint, which was then set on
fire.
Gravano told the court, "He told me that if I should ever divulge any of the
secrets of this organization, my soul should burn like this saint."
Gravano Victims:
One must ask: What kind of society are we to allow a man like
Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano serve as judge, jury
and executioner for any person, regardless of what they are "suspected"
of doing or what they have done? These people were murdered by
Gravano, denied any right to justice.
Eddie Garofalo
Paul "Big Pauly" Castellano
Thomas Bilotti
Robert "DiB" DiBernardo
Alan Kaiser
Francesco Oliveri
Louie DiBono
Louie Milito
Joseph Colucci
Jackie Calabro
John Simone
Frank Stillitano
Nick Scibetta
Frank Fiala
Michael DeBatt
Nick Mormando
Wilfred Johnson
John Santiago
Thomas Spinelli
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