During the past year, the organization has experienced much turmoil and internal strife and has undergone a major transition. Although its leader, 48-year-old John Gotti of Queens, has managed to overcome a number of personal legal problems during his brief tenure, other supervisory levels of the group have been disrupted by indictments, incarcerations and deaths – some by violence – of key members. In order to compensate for these losses, Gotti was forced to reorganize the family hierarchy and to add new members to the roster. Since Gotti took over leadership of the group in December, 1985, six men have been promoted into caporegime positions or have been given additional responsibility, while caporegime Frank Locascio of the Bronx has been promoted to under-boss. Those given new caporegime status or those capos given expanded responsibilities include:

• Nicholas Corozzo of Brooklyn, caporegime given Joseph Corrao's operations;

• Gregory DiPalma, caporegime given operations of Joseph Zingaro;

• Peter Gotti, elevated to capo to replace his brother Gene;

• Peter Lino, elevated to capo to supervise Florida operations;

• Louis Riccio, acting caporegime on behalf of Anthony Napolitano;

• Michael Mandaglia of Kenilworth, elevated to capo to replace the late Joseph Paterno;

• Thomas Gambino of New York, caporegime who replaced Pasquale Conti as Gambino/Gotti liaison to the Sicilian Mafia.

New Jersey Operations

Since the 1985 murder of Gambino family boss Paul Castellano and the subsequent takeover of the family by John Gotti, the group has received an unprecedented amount of attention from both law enforcement and the media. Aware of his organization's strength, Gotti has overtly attempted to expand his sphere of influence. In contrast to his predecessor, Paul Castellano, he has acted more like a movie star or politician rather than a reclusive LCN boss. And along the way, he has undermined some liaisons established by Castellano, especially the working relationship that once existed with the Genovese/Gigante group. Gotti's increased interests in New Jersey construction projects, labor racketeering, rock quarries, liquor licenses and real estate are well known to law enforcement officials. It is these expansionist tactics that are most likely the basis for the current rift between the two groups.