ABSTRACT
In 1992, Gambino family mob boss John Gotti was sentenced to life in prison by a federal court in New York City. Probably the most important tool used by the prosecution was testimony from underboss-turned-snitch, Salvatore (“Sammy the Bull”) Gravano. Gravano, who himself pled guilty to 19 murders, is a good example of the role that informants can play in the prosecution of high-level people in organized crime cases. Gravano was originally supposed to stand trial along with Gotti, but he struck a deal with prosecutors. In return for a 20-year sentence, which he is currently serving in a high-security cellblock, Gravano agreed to testify in Gotti’s trial (and almost 10 others since). Thus he became one of the highest-ranking Mafiosi ever to turn state’s evidence since mob soldier Joe Valachi turned on his Genovese family boss in 1963.
