Dominick Pizzonia
Encyclopedia
Dominick "Skinny Dom" Pizzonia (born November 19, 1941) is a New York mobster and captain with the Gambino crime family
who was a hitman and loanshark.
, Pizzonia began working for the Gambino family as a crew member for then caporegime
John Gotti
. On December 16, 1985, Pizzonia allegedly participated in the assassinations of Gambino boss Paul Castellano
and underboss Thomas Bilotti
outside a Manhattan steakhouse. After Castellano's murder, Gotti took over as family boss. In June 1988, Pizzonia allegedly murdered mobster Frank Boccia at the family's request. The Gambinos ordered Boccia's murder because he had abused his mother-in-law, the wife of mobster of Anthony Ruggiano, while Ruggiano was in prison. On December 24, 1988, as a reward for the Castellano and Boccia murders, the Gambinos allowed Pizzonia to become a made man
, or full member, in the family. He earned the nickname "Skinny Dom" Pizzonia to distinguish himself from Gambino crime family mobster "Fat Dom" Borghese, so associates would not get confused.
On December 24, 1992, Pizzonia participated in the murder of Thomas Uva and his wife Rosemary. Previously that year, the Uvas had robbed several social clubs belonging to the Gambino, Bonanno
, and Colombo
crime families. Pizzonia was especially enraged by the Uvas because they twice robbed Gotti's Bergin Hunt and Fish Club
in Ozone Park, which Pizzonia managed. On Christmas Eve, Pizzonia and mobster Ronnie Trucchio
located the Uvas in Queens and shot both of them dead in their car.
In 1995, Pizzonia became the head of a Gambino bookmaking operation and later replaced Peter Gotti
as capo.
As of October 2010, Pizzonia is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) (Otisville) outside New York City. Pizzonia will be 80 years old on his scheduled release of February 28, 2020.
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
who was a hitman and loanshark.
Early life and rise
Born in the Ozone Park section of QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, Pizzonia began working for the Gambino family as a crew member for then caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
. On December 16, 1985, Pizzonia allegedly participated in the assassinations of Gambino boss Paul Castellano
Paul Castellano
Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano , also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" , was an American Mafia boss in New York City. He succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family, at the time, the nation's largest Mafia family...
and underboss Thomas Bilotti
Thomas Bilotti
Thomas Bilotti was a New York mobster and then Underboss for the reputed Boss of the Gambino crime family, Paul Castellano.-Early years:...
outside a Manhattan steakhouse. After Castellano's murder, Gotti took over as family boss. In June 1988, Pizzonia allegedly murdered mobster Frank Boccia at the family's request. The Gambinos ordered Boccia's murder because he had abused his mother-in-law, the wife of mobster of Anthony Ruggiano, while Ruggiano was in prison. On December 24, 1988, as a reward for the Castellano and Boccia murders, the Gambinos allowed Pizzonia to become a made man
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
, or full member, in the family. He earned the nickname "Skinny Dom" Pizzonia to distinguish himself from Gambino crime family mobster "Fat Dom" Borghese, so associates would not get confused.
On December 24, 1992, Pizzonia participated in the murder of Thomas Uva and his wife Rosemary. Previously that year, the Uvas had robbed several social clubs belonging to the Gambino, Bonanno
Bonanno crime family
The Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
, and Colombo
Colombo crime family
The Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
crime families. Pizzonia was especially enraged by the Uvas because they twice robbed Gotti's Bergin Hunt and Fish Club
Bergin Hunt and Fish Club
The Bergin Hunt and Fish Club is a former Gambino crime family mob hangout and headquarters that was located at 98-04 101st Avenue in Ozone Park .-Today:...
in Ozone Park, which Pizzonia managed. On Christmas Eve, Pizzonia and mobster Ronnie Trucchio
Ronnie Trucchio
Ronald Joseph Trucchio also known as "One Armed Ronnie", is a New York mobster with the Gambino crime family who ran the The Ozone Park Boys crew during the 1990s.-Biography:...
located the Uvas in Queens and shot both of them dead in their car.
In 1995, Pizzonia became the head of a Gambino bookmaking operation and later replaced Peter Gotti
Peter Gotti
Peter Gotti, also known as "One Eyed Pete", "Petey Boy", "One Eye" , is a New York mobster who is the former boss of the Gambino crime family and the older brother of deceased Gambino boss John Gotti.-Background:...
as capo.
Conviction
In May 2007, a federal jury convicted Pizzonia on a racketeering charge of conspiracy to commit murder in the 1992 Uva murders. However, he was found not guilty on three counts of murder and loan sharking. Pizzonia was also found not guilty in the 1988 Boccia murder. Because Pizzonia had already pleaded guilty to an illegal gambling charge before the trial, the one single act of conspiracy was enough to convict him on the entire count. In September 2007, Pizzonia was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.As of October 2010, Pizzonia is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) (Otisville) outside New York City. Pizzonia will be 80 years old on his scheduled release of February 28, 2020.
External links
- Department Of Justice: GAMBINO FAMILY CAPTAIN DOMINICK PIZZONIA CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY, INCLUDING THE “BONNIE AND CLYDE” DOUBLE MURDER
- Metro Briefing New York: Brooklyn: Suspect In Mob Slaying Is Out On Bond by WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM
- A Mobster version of the Christmas spirit by Jerry Capeci
- New York Times:Reputed Gambino Figure Sentenced in ’92 Deaths of Mob Antagonists By TRYMAINE LEE