So by 1980, Tommy Bilotti was a Capo.

But what crew did he originate from?

Who was Capo before him?

Nino Gaggi commanded the crew Paul once was skipper of, and outside of Roy and his boys, Nino’s crew was mostly older guys

So, Tommy B was Capo of a separate crew from the Gaggi/Castellano crew. But whose? Who did he come up under?

Who worked for Tommy B?

He doesn’t seem to have entered the inner circle of the Gambinos until the early early 80s either.

When Paul became Boss in 1976, Nino was still his right hand man.

Thats actually a great question and I will look into it. I think Tommy grew up on staten island opposed to moving there as an adult as most did once the verrazno was constructed.
Joe Watts lived on staten island but i do NOT think he grew up there. Anyone know this?

As a young man, Bilotti joined the Staten Island crew of Gambino capo Michael D'Alessio. Bilotti also spent time as Alexander DeBrizzi's chauffeur and bodyguard. Bilotti later became a criminal associate of John D'Alessio, Michael's brother. Bilotti was involved in labor racketeering, extortion and loansharking.

Bilotti soon gained a reputation for violence. In one incident, Bilotti assaulted Colombo associate Robert Pate. In 1970, D'Alessio allegedly recruited Bilotti and his brother, Joseph, to murder Thomas Ernst, the boyfriend of D'Alessio's daughter. However, the murder attempt failed when D'Alessio's daughter shot at them.

Bilotti gained a reputation for violence and loyalty and caught the attention of Castellano. Im sure Castellano reached out to Dallessio once or twice to for a favor and Bilotti was the guy they sent? Im sure that is the direct link.

Good post Lenox. The Bilottis weren't made till the books reopened in the 1970s. They were with Debrizzi crew, it was their friendship with John D'Alessio that led them to the crew. John would propose Tommy for membership, he might of proposed both brother. Tommy was promoted to Capo in 1980, but he did not have a crew. Paul used him to send messages and pick up envelopes, thus began Big Paul not visiting the streets like he use to. He used Bilotti as an insulation, but Tommy was just one of a few, as Paul also used guys in the unions and construction. Salvatore Bonfrisco was one of Paul's drivers before Tommy.

The last point you note is interesting.

From the one tape we have of Tommy, where he’s going over what Gene and John Gotti had delivered that week, it does seem Paul had Tommy collecting envelopes for him

Question is:

Why wasn’t Neil as Underboss doing that?

Also, what guys were allowed to kick up to Paul directly?

The whole arrangement after Paul moved to SI in 1980 seems very shrouded in mystery, even now

Dellacroce actually had quite a bit heat on him more so than Paul. If Angelo did not run his big mouth on an unsecured phone, Paul would not have had much scrutiny, but that was a window for the FBI.

DB, Frank DeCicco, Joe Piney, Tommy Gambino, not the Cherry Hills they went through Conte who in returned went through Dellacroce. There are a few more who Paul trusted with his life, ironic as DeCicco and Joe Piney would conspire with John Gotti in the death of Big Paul.

Giacomo_Vacari
Any info on Joe Watts? He lived on staten island but where did he grow up? Who did he start with?