With the arrest this month of reputed Gambino crime family hit man Joseph Watts, only three members of Gotti's crew remain alive and on the street. Reputed soldiers Ignazio (Iggy) Alogna, Michael (Mikey Gal) Guerrieri and John (Jack) Cavallo are survivors - and schemers. They've struggled with serious illnesses and staying on the right side of the law."They don't have pensions to live on," pointed out Bruce Mouw, the former supervisor of the FBI's Gambino squad. "These old guys will scheme until they die." * * * The inner circle included Gene Gotti (jail); John Carneglia (jail); Edward Lino (slain); Sal Scala (died recently in prison), and Anthony (Tony Lee) Guerrieri (dead). Other confidants included Angelo Ruggiero (dead); Anthony (Tony Roach) Rampino (jail); Vincent Artuso (jail); Ronald Trucchio (jail); Thomas (Tommy Sneakers) Cacciopoli (jail), and Charles Carneglia (currently on trial).
Gotti inherited the Ozone Park, Queens club from Gambino capo Carmine Fatico who operated gay bars throughout NYC and Long Island:
Quite apart from his canniness and naked aggression he [John Gotti] stood out for his appalling taste in clothing: he wore anything, so long as it was loud, colourful and stolen. Purple suits were a favorite. He attracted the attention of Carmine "Charley Wagons" Fatico, an associate of the late Alberto Anastasia. Although only seventeen, Gotti quickly proved his worth as a strong man, performing one or two spectacular beatings, and became one of the 120 men Fatico had working for him. Fatico had a well-established organization, which grossed him around thirty million dollars annually. The money came from hijacking, illegal gambling and loan-sharking, but Fatico had a special line in gay bars. Homosexuality was still illegal in America, and Fatico's discreet string of private gay clubs, where exotic stage acts could be seen by men prepared to pay exotic prices for admission and drinks, was highly lucrative.
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