Arnold Squitieri
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| Arnold "Squiggy" Squitieri | |
 Arnold "Squiggy" Squitieri in (2005)
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| Born | February 2, 1936 Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, U.S. |
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Arnold "Squiggy" Squitieri (b. February 2, 1936) of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey is a convicted drug dealer and alleged acting boss and official Underboss of the Gambino crime family.[1] He is also known as Zeke, Bozey, and Sylvester.[2]
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[edit] Biography
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Squitieri was an immaculate dresser who wore pounds of jewelry, had a passing resemblance in his younger years to actor Warren Beatty, and was nicknamed "The Gimp" because of a club foot. He was a full-fledged heroin addict in the mid-1950s who simply stopped using and starting drug trafficking. He was a childhood friend of Alphonse Sisca. Arnold sold to the African-American population of Harlem and knew every important dealer in the city including Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes and became very wealthy. He and Sisca were in charge of John Gotti's drug operation. They were supplied heroin from Victor Cotroni of the Bonanno crime family that was shipped down from Montreal, Canada, Sicily, Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey. Arnold also earned the reputation of being a generous provider to Mafioso associates, giving many released convicts fresh out of prison a half kilo of heroin to "get on your feet". He behaved like a real-life Santa Claus. He would always carry a thick wad of $100 bills and hand them out to down-and-out strangers he encountered on the streets of New York City. The police ultimately estimated his personal wealth at $10 million, although they suspect it was more. Upon his arrests, which were fairly frequent, he would pay his bail bond with cash: his wife would simply help herself to one of his many safety deposit boxes and withdraw the money needed. He was a regular companion at the Aqueduct Racetrack but was a compulsive gambler with a horrible wager record. He and Gotti's daily losses at the track usually exceeded $30,000. On weekdays, when the track betting handle was smaller, Arnold's wages alone could make a certain racehorse the favorite and often influence the public into betting the loser by following the "smart" money wager that appeared on the tote board.
[edit] Murder charge
On August 18, 1970 Squitieri shot garment cutter Desiderio Caban five times at First Ave. and 117th street. A police officer heard the shots, arrived at the crime scene, and chased Squitieri by car for six blocks, and arrested him. Later that day, someone allegedly offered $5,000 to the arresting officer and two other cops. The cops took the bribe, released Squitieri, and took his name off the crime report for the Caban killing. Later on, after the bribery was discovered, the officers were indicted and Squitieri went into hiding.
In January, 1972, Squitieri surrendered to authorities and went to jail. In 1973, while awaiting trial for the Caban murder, Squitieri and his wife Marie were charged with failing to file U.S. federal income tax returns for three years. The couple had concealed $200,000 in income in bank accounts under false names. For the tax charges, Squitieri would serve four years in prison. In the Caban murder case, Squitieri pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter. With the tax and murder charges, Squitieri received six years total in state prison.[3]
[edit] After prison release
In May of 1981, Squitieri was released from prison and soon began selling narcotics for the Gotti crew in New Jersey. In 1982, Squitieri was being supplied with heroin by Angelo Ruggiero and other Gambino mobsters. Squitieri also purchased heroin from Gene Gotti. In 1986 after John Gotti replaced Paul Castellano as Gambino boss, Squitieri was inducted into the family.
In 1988, Squitieri was charged with conspiring to distribute heroin and was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. On March 13, 1999, he was released from prison. Within a short time, Squitieri was promoted to capo (captain) of the family. By 2002, authorities listed him as Underboss to Peter Gotti and the Gambino crime family.
[edit] Return to prison
On March 9, 2005, Squitieri, Gregory DePalma, Alphonse Sisca, Thomas Cacciopoli, and John Capra, (Lucchese crime family Capo), were arrested. On June 15th, Squitieri pleaded guilty to conducting an illegal gambling operation and to tax evasion. [4]On June 28, 2006 Squitieri was sentenced to just over seven years in prison.
As of May 2008, Squitieri is still incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center Devens in Massachusetts. His projected release date is November 12, 2011.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
Prose contains specific citations in source text which may be viewed in edit mode.
- ^ " 2 Mob Drug Dealers Convicted", The New York Times, July 26, 1988. Accessed May 27, 2008. "Mr. Squitieri and Mr. Sisca, both from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., were described by Federal authorities as close associates of John Gotti, whom the authorities identified as the leader of the Gambino family."
- ^ US Department of Justice, 2005
- ^ GANGSTERS INCORPORATED - ARNOLD SQUITIERI
- ^ Son of former Acting Gambino Crime Boss Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gambling, Press Release June 15, 2005
[edit] References
- Contract Killer: The Explosive Story of the Mafia's Most Notorious Hit Man Donald "Tony the Greek" Frankos by William Hoffman and Lake Headley
