Cosa Nostra News

Wiseguys know that anytime they chat, there's always a chance that their words could be memorialized forever on wiretaps—which is why they effortlessly speak in code and use copious nicknames and never spell things out entirely. (An ex-wiseguy who spent decades in the life told us recently that he has no idea what John Gotti and the other guys are talking about in our Ravenite Transcript Series. "I can't follow a word of what they're fcking saying.") John Gotti and unidentified man(?) outside Brooklyn federal court. In one of the discussions below Gotti obsesses over loose lips and anoints himself the prime offender: “This [is] how we get in trouble—we talk.” Minutes later, he notes what will happen to anyone who dares to oppose his regime... This entry marks the conclusion of the Ravenite Transcript Series; our next transcript series will be: The Testimony of Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano. JANUARY 24, 1990 FILE NUMBER: 183A-3507 PLACE: Apar...

Just because we haven't posted as frequently as usual this past month doesn't mean we're slacking off: in fact, we've been busily researching a piece about  former Bonanno powerhouse Carmine Galante that we hope to publish in the next week or so. John Gotti; then from left: Peter Gotti, Gerald Shargel of the Shargel, Cutler, and Whattaya Call It Crime Family . We were surprised to learn that, at one point, Gambino capo Danny Marino , for one, walked into that apartment above the Ravenite and joined in the wiretap discussions between boss John Gotti, underboss Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano , and consiglieri Frankie Locascio. In this meeting, Gotti and his appointed hierarchy discuss inducting new members into the Gambino Family, which is not a matter for levity, as Gotti clarifies for all those present. Gotti also notes that they will conduct the ritual with dignity and sobriety: “I’m not in the mood for the toys or games or kidding, no time … This is gon...

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Among other things, Ravenite social club denizens John Gotti, Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano, and Frank Locascio discuss the terror they feel whenever compelled to listen to recordings of themselves; the irony of course is that they were recorded while talking about being recorded⸺which is very meta... Sammy Gravano and John Gotti in discussion outside the Ravenite social club. "I tell you what a fckin’ heartbreak," Gotti laments. "You know you feel like you’re being raped with these fuckin’ tapes." "I know. I hate it," Gravano replied. "I, I listened to a couple a tapes of mine. I was sick." Tapes, these tapes, made Sammy the Bull  flip, as he recalled during an interview posted on YouTube last year . " John (Gotti) told me to my face , he said, ‘Sammy, the [wiretap] tapes are horrible. They make you sound like a monster. What are we gonna do? So I’m controlling all the lawyers. You’re gonna take the weight, the lawyer...