“Welcome back to Real Mob Stories with James Proctor. Today, we’re going back to February 1985, when the most powerful mob bosses in America found themselves facing justice in what would become one of the most significant trials in organized crime history—the Mafia Commission Trial.
Picture this: the heads of New York’s infamous Five Families—Anthony ‘Fat Tony’ Salerno of the Genovese family, Paul Castellano of the Gambinos, and Philip ‘Rusty’ Rastelli of the Bonannos—emerging from the shadows to answer for decades of crimes. They stood accused of extortion, labor bribery, loansharking, and even rubouts with the charges centering around their iron grip on the concrete industry in New York City.
Fat Tony, never one to shy away from theatrics, dismissed the 22-count federal indictment as ‘a bunch of bull.’ Meanwhile, Paul Castellano, the Gambino family boss, gave a subtle shake of his head when asked by reporters if he thought he’d end up behind bars. Castellano’s fate would take a different turn, as he was taken out by a hit team on East 46th Street in December of that year in one of the most infamous mob take down of all time.
The trial itself was a game-changer. Federal prosecutors exposed the inner workings of the Mafia’s Commission—a ruling body of bosses that controlled disputes and major decisions across the families. The charges, rooted in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, aimed to dismantle the Mafia’s stranglehold on New York.
The Commission Trial also saw significant losses for the Gambinos before the verdict even came down. In November 1985, Aniello ‘Neil’ Dellacroce, the family’s underboss and a staunch ally of Castellano, died of natural causes, leaving the Gambinos vulnerable during a pivotal moment.
By the end of the trial, the remaining defendants—including Salerno—were convicted on all charges. Rusty Rastelli of the Bonanno family had his trial severed, but the damage to the Mafia was already done. It marked the beginning of the end for the Commission’s unchecked power, and the ripple effects reshaped the underworld for decades to come.
So, what do you think? Was the Mafia Commission Trial the single biggest blow to organized crime in the United States, or were the seeds of their downfall already sown? Let me know in the comments below.
And as always, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more stories about the rise and fall of America’s most infamous mobsters. Until next time, take care, stay safe, and God bless.”
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