1. Gambino crime family boss John Gotti is sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering
“The Teflon Don,” known for his flamboyant style and personality, was found guilty of murder and other crimes in 1992. After being acquitted in three trials during the 1980s, the FBI was able to make the charges stick after a high-ranking member of his crime family — Sammy “The Bull” Gravano — agreed to cooperate with the authorities. Gotti was sentenced to life in prison and later died of throat cancer in prison at the age of 61.
Gotti’s reign as acting boss of the Gambino family has been the inspiration for more than one fictional character. He may be the model for The Godfather III’s Joey Zasa. Even more interesting, according to the book “The Lufthansa Heist,” Gotti was the one who wrote out another organized crime film character’s real life inspiration. The book infers Gotti himself was responsible for the murder of Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeSimone.
The Mob Museum downtown has plenty of information regarding Gotti on display at the museum, which resides in the old U.S. Post Office and Courthouse at 300 Stewart Avenue. The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement also features a distillery and a speakeasy, the former offering tastings of its moonshine and distilled spirits. Tickets range from $16.95 for locals to $35.95 for the “Premier Pass,” giving you access to the museum as well as two of three major exhibits:
The Crime Lab Experience, which allows you to explore the work of forensic scientists, fingerprint analysts, DNA profilers, and medical examiners who determine how a crime is committed and secure evidence to the case. The Use of Force Training Experience, an immersive training experience where guests make split-second decisions law enforcement officers encounter daily on the job. For those with a hankering for some moonshine, the Distillery Tour & Tasting experience includes sampling a variety of distilled spirits and offers guests the chance to explore on-site speakeasy, The Underground, learn about Prohibition and gain insights into the drinking culture that existed before the 1920s.
