Mob Talk Social Club Presents the Mob History Story of Gambino Underboss Neil Dellacroce
Mob Talk Social Club Presents the Mob History Story of Gambino Underboss Neil Dellacroce.
Aniello “Neil” Dellacroce rose to power through his reputation as an enforcer, his connection to Albert Anastasia, and his ability to command the loyalty of the Gambino family’s street crews.
He became underboss in 1965 and remained the family’s second-ranking leader until his death in 1985. His beginnings in Little Italy Born March 15, 1914, Dellacroce grew up in Manhattan’s Little Italy. His early criminal record included a 1930 burglary conviction, which sent him to Elmira Reformatory, and a later assault conviction. “Neil” was an Americanized version of his first name, Aniello. Rising under Albert Anastasia By the late 1930s, Dellacroce had joined the Mangano organization, the predecessor of the Gambino family. He became closely associated with its powerful underboss, Albert Anastasia. After Anastasia took over the family in 1951, Dellacroce rose to capo, supervising a crew. His standing rested on a reputation for violence, discipline and loyalty to Anastasia. Surviving Anastasia’s murder Anastasia’s assassination in October 1957 created a dangerous succession dispute. Dellacroce belonged to the old Anastasia faction, which resisted Carlo Gambino’s takeover. Historical accounts link him with Armand “Tommy” Rava, another important figure in that faction. Rava subsequently disappeared. Dellacroce survived the transition and eventually reached an accommodation with Gambino, preserving his influence rather than launching an open war. Becoming Gambino’s underboss In 1965, Carlo Gambino replaced underboss Joseph Biondo with Dellacroce. That appointment brought a formidable street leader into the family’s top administration. Dellacroce operated from the Ravenite Social Club on Mulberry Street. His authority came from the captains and soldiers who trusted him, giving him a power base that extended beyond his official title. He also served prison terms for contempt and tax evasion during the early 1970s. Why he did not become boss When Gambino died in 1976, many of Dellacroce’s supporters expected him to succeed. Gambino instead selected Paul Castellano. Dellacroce accepted the decision and remained underboss. Castellano concentrated on major business interests, while Dellacroce supervised traditional street rackets such as extortion, robbery and loan-sharking. This arrangement maintained order but left two competing centers of loyalty inside the family. His relationship with John Gotti John Gotti regarded Dellacroce as his mentor and protector. As relations between Gotti’s crew and Castellano deteriorated, Dellacroce acted as a buffer. A particularly dangerous dispute concerned FBI recordings involving Angelo Ruggiero, which threatened to expose drug activity and insulting remarks about Castellano. Dellacroce tried to protect Gotti’s faction while preserving the boss’s authority. His continued insistence on loyalty helped restrain the men who wanted Castellano removed. His death changed the balance Dellacroce died on December 2, 1985, aged 71, after suffering from cancer and heart disease. He was facing federal racketeering charges but died before trial. Castellano’s failure to attend his wake deepened resentment among Dellacroce’s followers. Two weeks later, on December 16, Gotti’s conspirators murdered Castellano and Thomas Bilotti outside Sparks Steak House. Dellacroce’s death removed the influential figure who had helped hold the rival factions together. After Neil Dellacroce died on December 2, 1985, Gotti and Paul Castellano’s already hostile relationship became a deadly struggle for survival and control. Castellano was still the boss, and Gotti was a captain—but Gotti had lost the underboss who had protected him and kept their conflict contained. Their dispute had several roots: - Resentment over the succession: Gotti believed Dellacroce should have succeeded Carlo Gambino in 1976. Dellacroce accepted Castellano’s appointment and restrained his followers. - The drug recordings: FBI tapes implicated Gotti’s close associate Angelo Ruggiero and brother Gene Gotti in narcotics activity. Castellano demanded access to the recordings, which also contained insulting remarks about him. Gotti’s faction feared severe punishment. - The missed wake: Castellano did not attend Dellacroce’s wake. Gotti’s supporters viewed that as disrespect, deepening an existing feud. Dellacroce’s death removed the mediator; it did not create the conflict. Gotti feared Castellano would move against his crew and organized a preemptive assassination, securing support from Frank DeCicco and Sammy “The Bull” Gravano. The killing lacked authorization from the other Mafia families.
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