Originally Posted By: goombah
Originally Posted By: Lilo
Originally Posted By: goombah
I think a couple of factors, Lilo. One, Big Paul was under indictment himself and probably preoccupied with his own headaches. Second, similar to the GF trilogy, Castellano underestimated Gotti and those who might conspire against him. According to "Gangland," Gotti was livid that Castellano did not attend the funeral of Underboss Neil Dellacroce. It did not go unnoticed by big earners like Gotti, Gravanno, & DeCiccio that Big Paul rarely shared the wealth he was accumulating from his captains and soldiers.

Neil Dellacroce was also helping stonewall Big Paul from getting the Ruggerio tapes in order to protect his protegee, John Gotti. The tapes showed that both Quack Quack Ruggierio and Gotti were dealing heroin against Castellano's strict prohibition.

Lastly I think part of it was Big Paul's arrogance. The Gambino leader was the Boss of Bosses, which was a title highly regarded in Cosa Nostra and not someone to go after on a whim.


Those are all excellent points, goombah. I guess Paul really was ultimately not that quick when it came to some things. As you say, arrogant. Obviously times change but if he's the boss and gave someone a direct order to give him tapes either he should have had those tapes the next day or someone should have been digging a grave on Arthur Kill Road..


I think I misspoke about the tapes. It wasn't that Fat Ange refused to turn over the tapes. The government had them. Paul was pressing Fat Ange & Gotti to tell Paul what was discussed on the tapes. They stonewalled Big Paul, with the help of Neil Dellacroce. Don't get me wrong - it was still a big risk to not capitulate to Big Paul. He even told Gotti that if it was proven on the tapes that John Gotti was moving heroin (he was), then Paul would have him killed. Castellano referred to this rule as his First Commandment - "you deal, you die."

Because you're right, Lilo. If one disobeyed the head of the Family, that person would not be seen alive again.

I agree. Also it should be said that John gotti was scared of Paul especially early on. Of course he acted like he was tough behind his back but i read that when Big paul called john to a meeting John would get nervous and say, What did I do" This was when Paul had the demeo crew and the Cherry hill gambinos at his disposal. Gotti was lucky he had Dellacroce to protect him. However, i think if Paul ordered Neil to whack out Gotti he would have since he was a mafia loyalist but at that point he was too sick too take any action