John Gotti, former head of New York's Gambino crime family, died of cancer today while serving a sentence of life without parole for murder and racketeering.
Gotti, 61, had been battling cancer since 1998. He died at St. John's Medical Center near the Medical Center for Federal Prisons in Springfield, Missouri.
Crime boss Gotti started his organised crime career as a petty truck hijacker with a violent streak in New York City. He gained favor with the Gambino crime organization by carrying out a revenge killing for which he served a short sentence in prison.
Upon his release, Gotti moved up the organization with the help of his close friend, Sammy "the Bull" Gravano.
Gotti and Gravano arranged the murder of family boss "Big Paul" Castellano, who was shot along with his driver outside of Sparks Steak House in midtown Manhattan in 1985.
Gotti took control of the family and immediately became the focus of the FBI Organized Crime Task Force.
Under scrutiny from authorities, Gotti became a celebrity. Called "the Dapper Don" for his expensive suits and easy banter with the media, Gotti graced the cover of Time magazine as the new face of organised crime. Gotti won a string of acquittals, earning him the moniker the "Teflon Don."
AFP