Thomas Gambino was the son of Carlo Gambino, nephew of Paul Castellano and son-in-law of Tommy Lucchese.
23 Facts About Thomas Gambino
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Thomas Gambino was born on August 23,1929, to Carlo and Catherine Thomas Gambino.
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Thomas Gambino had three siblings, Joseph, Carl, and Phyllis Gambino Sinatra.
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Thomas Gambino's father joined the original Mangano crime family during the 1930s, rose to capo and later to underboss.
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In 1957, Carlo Thomas Gambino became boss of what is called the Thomas Gambino crime family.
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Carlo Thomas Gambino became one of the most powerful mobsters in Cosa Nostra history.
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Thomas Gambino graduated from Manhattan College in the Bronx and then started working for the Gambino family.
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Over 1,000 guests attended the wedding, at which Carlo Thomas Gambino presented Lucchese with a $30,000 gift.
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When Tommy Lucchese died in 1967, his interests in the garment industry were passed to Thomas Gambino, forming the basis of Gambino's wealth.
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Thomas Gambino headed the Gambino Medical and Science Foundation, which in 1991 financed a $2 million pediatric bone marrow transplant unit at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
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In contrast, Thomas Gambino, who was Castellano's second cousin, enjoyed a strong relationship with the new boss.
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Thomas Gambino epitomized the low-profile, well buffered, successful businessman image common among second-generation members of the Cosa Nostra.
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Castellano quickly rewarded Thomas Gambino by making him a full family member, or "made man", and later a capo of his own crew.
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Thomas Gambino, who was not part of the conspiracy, arrived at Sparks moments after the killing, to be turned away by DeCicco.
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Since Thomas Gambino was such a strong earner for the family, Gotti did not want to replace him.
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On October 18,1990, Thomas Gambino was indicted again on charges of extorting the garment industry.
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In February 1992, Thomas Gambino accepted the plea bargain and avoided prison.
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Prosecutors would remark that a "terrifying fear of prison" helped motivate Thomas Gambino to accept the government deal.
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On May 11,1993, Thomas Gambino was convicted of two counts of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.
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Prosecutors claimed that Thomas Gambino had been supervising illegal gambling and loansharking activities in Connecticut since 1985.
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In January 1996, Thomas Gambino started serving a five-year prison sentence.
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Thomas Gambino died on October 3,2023, at the age of 94.
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Thomas Gambino is portrayed by Tony Sirico in the 1998 made-for-television movie Witness to the Mob about Gravano and John Gotti.