Sammy Gravano

Sammy Gravano: Biography in Details

Who is Sammy Gravano?

Sammy Gravano aka Sammy the Bull is an Italian-American mobster and underboss of the Gambino crime family.

Besides this, he is popular as a man who helped bring down his boss John Gotti by agreeing to testify to him in a deal.

Along with that, he started his own YouTube channel with a podcast titled Our Things recently in December 2020.

How many siblings does Sammy Gravano have?

This underboss was born on March 12, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, United States with the birth name Salvatore Gravano. As of 2024, he is 78 years old.

He is also known as ‘Sammy the Bull’.

He is the youngest child of father Giorlando, who had a small dress factory, and mother Caterina.

Sammy Gravano has two elder sisters. His parents are from Sicily Island and are of Italian descent.

His father entered the US illegally while working on the crew of a freighter. Sammy’s mother was brought to America as a child.

Education

Sammy Gravano had a reading order dyslexia and did poorly in school.

Teachers used to call him a slow learner and the school refused to keep him just before he reached 16.

He attended McKinley Junior High School at Fort Hamilton Parkway.

Sammy Gravano: Early Career, Profession

Early Career

Sammy Gravano joined a prominent street gang in Bensonhurst at the age of 13. He joined the United States Army in 1964 and served in South Carolina.

Thereafter, he worked as a mess hall cook and after two years he was granted an honorable discharge.

In 1968, he became associated with the Sicilian mafia ‘Cosa Nostra’ through Anthony Spero.

Sammy was initially involved in the hijacking, and armed robbery but quickly moved into racketeering and loansharking. This mobster became the favorite of Joe Colombo.

It was generally understood that Gravano would be among the first to become made when the Cosa Nostra’s membership books were reopened.

Later on, he committed his first murder-that of Joseph Colucci in 1970. After this murder, this mobster won the respect and approval of Carmine Persico.

Afterward, Sammy Gravano became an associate of Salvatore Aurello and quickly Aurello became his mob mentor.

Gravano took a construction job and claimed to leave criminal life around this time.

However, a former associate falsely claimed Sammy and another associate were responsible for a double murder from 1969 to the New York District Attorney’s Office.

This underboss desperately needed money to pay his legal bills. After this, he quit his construction job and went on a self-described robbing rampage for a year and a half.

Meanwhile, Sammy Gravano was impressed by his robbery spree and proposed to him for membership in the Gambino family.  Later, in 1976, Sammy was initiated as a made man.

Professional Life

This mobster opened an after-hours club in Bensonhurst, New York. His construction and other business interests earned him a reputation as a good earner within the Gambino organization.

Sooner, he became a multi-millionaire and build a large estate for his family in rural Ocean Country, New Jersey.

Afterward, he became an operator of The Plaza Suite and discotheque in the Gravesend section.

Sammy made $4,000 a week from the Plaza Suite alone. By the early 1980s, this club featured high-profile live acts such as singers Chubby Checker and the Four Tops.

Gravano, Gotti, and Locascio were arrested by FBI agents and NYPD detectives on the raid of Ravenite Social Club.

They pleaded guilty to a superseding racketeering charge, murder, illegal gambling, bribery, and tax evasion.

Gravano was sentenced to five years of prison and Gotti, and Locascio were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Later, Sammy entered the US federal Witness Protection Program. He assumed the name Jimmy Moran and started a swimming pool installation company.

He began living life openly giving interviews and appearing in the nationally televised interview with Diane Sawyer. The media reported that he had had plastic surgery on his face.

This mobster was consulted several times by author Peter Mass for the 1997 biographical book about his life underboss.

After the publication of the book, several families of Gravano’s victims filed a $25 million lawsuit against him.

Later on, Sammy Gravano was taken legal action to seize his profits from the book by New York State.

Later Life

Gravano and 40 other ring members were arrested on federal and state drug charges in 2000.

He pleaded guilty in a New York federal court to drug trafficking charges and in Phoenix to the state charge in 2001. In the later year, he was diagnosed with Grave’s disease.

Gravano was sentenced in New York to 20 years in prison on September 7, 2002.

Adding up more info, he was also sentenced in Arizona to 19 years in prison after a few months. National Geographic Channel dramatized his ecstasy ring in a scene in the Banged Up Abroad episode ‘Raving Arizona’.

Sammy Gravano was released on September 18, 2017, from prison.

How much is the net worth of Sammy Gravano in 2024?

This underboss receives a percentage of the tribute sent to a boss. Meanwhile, According to some sources of 2024, its estimated net worth of Sammy is $2 million.

Sammy Gravano’s Rumor and Controversy

There is no rumor or controversy about this underboss. Plus, He does all his work freely and without any fear.

Body Measurements: Height, Weight

Sammy Gravano is 5 feet 4 inches tall with decent weight. Similarly, he has dark brown hair and green eyes.

Social Media Profile

Although Sammy is not active on social media, there are many fan pages made by his well-wishers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Sammy Gravano's Birthday Dates