Sammy Gravano

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Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, born March 12, 1945, is a former Gambino underboss.

Gravano was convicted of helping down John Gotti, the family's boss, by promising to testify against him and other molesters in a deal in which he admitted to being involved in 19 murders.

Gravano, Angelo Ruggiero, Frank DeCicco, and Joseph Armone were all involved in Castellano's execution, as did John Gotti, Angelo Ruggiero, Frank DeCicco, and Joseph Armone.

Gotti promoted Gravano to underboss, a position Gravano held until he became a government witness five years after Castellano's death.

Gravano, the second confessed underboss of an American crime family to turn informant, was the highest-ranking member of the Five Families to break his blood oath and collaborate with the government at the time, as well as the second confessed undercover officer of an American criminal family to turn informant.

His testimony attracted a large number of Cosa Nostra members to also serve as government witnesses.

Including time served, he was in jail for five years as a result of his state cooperation.

However, he was found guilty of operating a huge drug racket in 2002, resulting in his probation by a 15-year term.

He was released early in September 2017.

Childhood and early life

Salvatore Gravano was born on March 12, 1945, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York, to Giorlando "Gerry" and Caterina "Kay" Gravano. He was the youngest of three children, having two sisters. Both of Gravano's parents hailed from Sicily; his mother was taken to the United States as a child; and his father was on the crew of a freighter when he jumped ship in Canada and entered the United States illegally. Gravano's father owned a small dress factory and maintained a high quality of life for the family. Early on, one of Gravano's relatives remarked that he looked like his uncle Sammy. Everyone called Gravano "Sammy" rather than "Salvatore" or "Sal" from that point on.

Gravano, a well-known street gang in Bensonhurst, joined the Rampers at age 13. He had discovered that some people had stolen his bicycle and charged the criminals, who had to confront the robbers. Made men who were watching from a cafe saw him assault a few people at once, and Gravano returned his bike to Gravano. One of the made men remarked on how little Sammy fought "like a bull," hence the name "The Bull."

Gravano had dyslexia, was mocked, and did poorly in school. He was turned down from grade advancement on two occasions and then punched school administrators on two occasions, according to teachers. Gravano was sent to a "incorrigibles" academy, but the academy refused to keep him any longer until he reached the age of 16. Gravano's father attempted to redirect and discipline his son, including compel him to attend Mass, but no success was achieved.

Gravano was drafted into the United States Army and served in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 1964. Gravano, who served as an enlisted man, mainly as a mess hall cook. He rose to the rank of corporal and was awarded an honorable discharge after two years.

Gravano married Debra Scibetta in 1971; they had two children. Karen Gravano appeared on VH1 reality show Mob Wives in 2011, and she and him published a book in 2013 titled Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano.

Gravano was ordered to help with the murder of Nicholas Scibetta, his brother-in-law. Gravano is also the brother-in-law of Gambino caporegime Eddie Garafola and Mario Garafola. Gravano was a childhood friend of Colombo's coward Gerard Pappa.

Later life

Gravano was released early in 1994 and enrolled in the federal Witness Protection Service. Jimmy Moran, the government moved him to Tempe, Arizona, where he began to practice swimming pool construction.

Gravano left Witness Protection in 1995 and was relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. Gravano did not like the program's limitations, according to a federal prosecutor later. Gravano began living very openly, contributing to newspapers, and being in a nationally televised interview with television journalist Diane Sawyer was posted. He had undergone plastic surgery to his face, according to reports. His wife Debra divorced him in 1996.

Gravano's life, Underboss by author Peter Maas, was consulted several times in 1997. Gravano said he became a government witness after Gotti attempted to defame him at their trial. Gravano understood that the Cosa Nostra code of honor was a sham, until it was discovered by the celebrator. Despite the fact that Gravano retaliated often about the publicity-seeking Gotti, Gravano also recruited a publicist at this time. Several families of Gravano's victims filed a $25 million lawsuit against him following the publication of Underboss. New York State took court action to seize Gravano's book proceeds also in 1997.

During an interview with the Arizona Republic, Gravano said federal agents he had encountered after becoming a government witness had become his personal friends and even visited him in Arizona when on vacation. Gravano later said he didn't want the Republic to publish the article, but relented after the newspaper revealed that his family was living with him in Phoenix. The tale was so traumatic for his ex-mob compatriots that they compelled the Gambinos to sign a murder contract. Thomas "Huck" Carbonaro and Eddie Garafola, two Gambino troops, were convicted by the FBI in 1999 of murdering Gravano in Arizona.

Gravano had re-engaged in criminal activity by the late 1990s. After his son, Gerard, became friends with the gang's 23-year-old chief, Michael Papa, he joined the "Devil Dogs" local youth group. Gravano formed a major ecstasy trafficking firm, selling over 30,000 tablets and grossing $500,000 a week.

Gravano and almost 40 other ring members, including his ex-wife Debra, daughter Karen, and Gerard, were arrested on federal and state drug charges in February 2000. Gravano was implicated by informants in his own drug use, as well as by recorded interviews with Debra and Karen in which he discussed drug deals.

Gravano pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to drug trafficking charges on May 25, 2001. Gravano pled guilty in Phoenix to the state charges on June 29, 2001.

Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder that can cause exhaustion, weight gain, and hair loss, was diagnosed in 2002.

Gravano was sentenced to 20 years in jail in New York on September 7, 2002, despite several delays. He was also sentenced in Arizona to 19 years in jail if he continued running concurrently a month later. Gravano completed his sentence in ADX Florence, part of it being held in solitary detention. In October 2002, Gerard Gravano served nine years in jail. Debra and Karen Gravano also pleaded guilty and received several years on probation. Sammy and Karen were ordered to pay $805,713.41 as reimbursement for court fees and investigation costs relating to a previous drug ring ruling in November 2003.

Gravano's indictment into 1980 NYPD detective Peter Calabro by murderer Richard Kuklinski was announced on February 24, 2003. Gravano denied any involvement in Calabro's death and opted against a plea bargain, under which he would not have received no extra prison time if he admitted to the charges and implicated all his accomplices. After Kuklinski's death in 2006, the charges against Gravano were dismissed.

Gravano's request to leave prison early in August 2015 was refused for reasons citing his "long history of horrific violence."

In 2013, the National Geographic Channel dramatized Gravano's ecstasy ring in a scene from the Banged Up Abroad episode "Real Arizona," which is broadcast worldwide. The episode told the tale of ecstasy dealer "English" Shaun Attwood, who was Gravano's biggest rival in the Arizona ecstasy market.

Gravano's unit in a CO Special Services unit was listed as being in the Arizona state prison system. He had been expected to be released in March 2019, but he was later released on September 18, 2017.

Gravano's YouTube channel and a podcast named Our Thing were launched in December 2020.

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