Gotti Rap Sheet
Timeline: Gotti's Rap Sheet
Key dates in the life of Gambino crime family boss John Gotti:
Oct. 27, 1940
John Joseph Gotti, Jr. was born to Italian-American parents John Gotti Sr. and Philomena "Fannie" Gotti, and raised as one of 11 children.
March 6, 1962
Gotti marries Victoria DiGiorgio, the daughter of an Italian builder and a Russian-Jewish mother. The couple met in 1958. Their first child, Angela, is born in 1961. Four more children follow: Victoria, John A., Frank and Peter.
Dec. 1, 1967
Gotti arrested on hijacking charge, winds up sentenced to four years.
May 22, 1973
Gotti and two associates kill James McBratney in a Staten Island bar, reportedly as payback for a kidnapping.
June 3, 1974
Gotti arrested for McBratney hit.
Aug. 8, 1975
Pleads guilty to attempted manslaughter in McBratney case; plea bargain gets him four years (he would serve two).
March 18, 1980
Gotti's 12-year-old son, Frank, is killed when neighbor John Favara's car hits him as he rides on a minibike. No charges are filed.
July 28, 1980
Favara disappears after leaving work, never to be heard from again.
Sept. 11, 1984
Gotti arrested on assault and robbery charges in Queens after an argument over a parking space.
March 28, 1985
Authorities announce indictment of 10 people reputed to be members of the Gambino crime family, including reputed underboss Aniello Dellacroce and Gotti. Gotti is listed as captain of his own crew.
Dec. 16, 1985
On orders from Gotti, Gambino boss Paul Castellano and bodyguard Thomas Billotti are assassinated on the sidewalk outside a Manhattan steak house.
Dec. 24, 1985
At the Ravenite Social Club in Little Italy, Gotti receives the royal treatment from underlings after his ascension to Gambino family boss.
March 25, 1986
Charges dropped against Gotti in parking space fight after witness refuses to identify him."I FORGOTTI!" reads the front page of the New York Post.
March 13, 1987
Gotti and co-defendants acquitted of all charges in racketeering and murder case.
Feb. 9, 1990
Gotti earns nickname "The Teflon Don" after his acquittal for allegedly commissioning the Westies, a Hell's Kitchen gang, to shoot a union official.
Dec. 11, 1990
Gotti arrested on racketeering and murder charges, including the Castellano hit, and held without bail.
Nov. 8, 1991
Gotti's right-hand man, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, fires his lawyer and signs on as a government witness; testifies against Gotti.
April 2, 1992
Gotti convicted on 13 counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and racketeering.
June 23, 1992
Gotti sentenced to life in prison.
May 2, 1994
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal of Gotti's conviction
1998
Gotti has a cancerous tumor removed from his throat.
June 10, 2002
Gotti dies at age 61.