Gregory DePalma
Encyclopedia
Gregory J. DePalma was an acting capo in the Gambino crime family
who was responsible for introducing an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agent in his crew.
. These friends included singers Liza Minnelli
and Dean Martin
, and baseball player Willie Mays
, with whom DePalma frequently played golf. However, DePalma's most prestigious friend was singer Frank Sinatra
. In 1976, DePalma appeared in a famous group picture at the Theatre with Sinatra, then Gambino boss Carlo Gambino
, future boss Paul Castellano
, and other Gambino mobsters. As soon as the theatre opened, DePalma started looting its cash and other assets. In 1977, DePalma became a made man
in the Gambino crime family.
On June 6, 1978, DePalma was indicted on state charges regarding the theatre's financial collapse. However, the first trial ended in a hung jury
. Later in 1979, before the second trial, DePalma pleaded guilty bankruptcy
fraud; one piece of evidence that helped the prosecution case was the picture with Sinatra. DePalma was sentenced to four years in prison. In the 1990s, DePalma was named a caporegime
(captain). According to the FBI, he also visited imprisoned boss John Gotti
while Gotti was incarcerated in 2001.
in Manhattan. As with the Westchester Theatre, the Gambino plan was to drain the cash from Scores and then get out. On June 13, 1999, a federal judge sentenced DePalma to 70 months in federal prison, a light sentence due to DePalma's claims of poor health. The sentencing took place in DePalma's hospital room at Westchester Medical Center
in Valhalla, New York
. Later that day, the same judge sentenced Craig in court to 87 months in federal prison. In 2002, while still in prison, Craig attempted to hang himself and was left in a persistent vegetative state
. He died in December 2010.
On February 21, 2005, DePalma, Garcia, and Gambino mobster Robert Vaccaro were meeting another mobster in the Housewares section of a Bloomingdales department store in Westchester County. When the other mobster failed to show them proper respect, Vaccaro grabbed a solid crystal candleholder and started beating him on the head. Garcia convinced DePalma to stop Vaccaro and leave Bloomingdale's quickly.
On November 18, 2009, DePalma died at age 78 in the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina
.
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 responsible for introducing an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) agent in his crew.
Celebrity life
In the 1970s, DePalma became friends with numerous celebrities after he built the Westchester Premiere Theatre in Tarrytown, New YorkTarrytown, New York
Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line...
. These friends included singers Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
and Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, and baseball player Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, with whom DePalma frequently played golf. However, DePalma's most prestigious friend was singer Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. In 1976, DePalma appeared in a famous group picture at the Theatre with Sinatra, then Gambino boss Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino
"Don" Carlo Gambino, was a Sicilian mafioso who became Boss of the Gambino crime family, that still bears his name today. After the 1957 Apalachin Convention he unexpectedly seized control of the Commission of the American Mafia. Gambino was known for being low-key and secretive...
, future 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 other Gambino mobsters. As soon as the theatre opened, DePalma started looting its cash and other assets. In 1977, DePalma became 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...
in the Gambino crime family.
On June 6, 1978, DePalma was indicted on state charges regarding the theatre's financial collapse. However, the first trial ended in a hung jury
Hung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
. Later in 1979, before the second trial, DePalma pleaded guilty bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
fraud; one piece of evidence that helped the prosecution case was the picture with Sinatra. DePalma was sentenced to four years in prison. In the 1990s, DePalma was named a 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...
(captain). According to the FBI, he also visited imprisoned boss 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...
while Gotti was incarcerated in 2001.
Scores conviction
In January 1999, both DePalma and son Craig pleaded guilty to racketeering charges. The charges were based on the Gambino takeover and extortion of Scores, a famous strip clubStrip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
in Manhattan. As with the Westchester Theatre, the Gambino plan was to drain the cash from Scores and then get out. On June 13, 1999, a federal judge sentenced DePalma to 70 months in federal prison, a light sentence due to DePalma's claims of poor health. The sentencing took place in DePalma's hospital room at Westchester Medical Center
Westchester Medical Center
Westchester Medical Center University Hospital is a 635-bed Level I Trauma Center providing high-quality advanced health services to residents of the Hudson Valley, northern New Jersey, and southern Connecticut...
in Valhalla, New York
Valhalla, New York
Valhalla is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place that is located within the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, in Westchester County. Its population was 3,162 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
. Later that day, the same judge sentenced Craig in court to 87 months in federal prison. In 2002, while still in prison, Craig attempted to hang himself and was left in a persistent vegetative state
Persistent vegetative state
A persistent vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome. After four weeks in a vegetative state , the patient is...
. He died in December 2010.
Undercover agent
In 2003, a new mob associate, Jack Falcone, really FBI agent Joaquin Garcia, got close to DePalma. Over the next year, Falcone provided DePalma with a steady stream of excellent quality stolen goods. By August 2004, Garcia claims DePalma considered nominating him, as Falcone, for induction into the Gambino family. DePalma didn't realize was that Falcone was actually Joaquin "Jack" Garcia, and the FBI was providing the goods. For two years, Garcia listened in (wearing a recording device) on conversations DePalma had with many mobsters in the Gambino family.On February 21, 2005, DePalma, Garcia, and Gambino mobster Robert Vaccaro were meeting another mobster in the Housewares section of a Bloomingdales department store in Westchester County. When the other mobster failed to show them proper respect, Vaccaro grabbed a solid crystal candleholder and started beating him on the head. Garcia convinced DePalma to stop Vaccaro and leave Bloomingdale's quickly.
Prison
On March 9, 2005, Garcia's undercover assignment ended as FBI agents arrested DePalma and 32 other Gambino mobsters on racketeering charges. By May 2006, DePalma's health was again in decline. He had spent most of the past year in the hospital, had a cancerous lung removed, and had suffered a heart attack. DePalma was morbidly obese and taking 20 medications a day. However, the judge ruled that he was healthy enough to stand trial.On November 18, 2009, DePalma died at age 78 in the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina
Butner, North Carolina
Butner is a town in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,591 at the 2010 census]. Butner was managed by the state of North Carolina from 1947 through 2007. A bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly incorporating the town was signed by Gov. Mike Easley on...
.