Angelo Ruggiero was a notorious mobster who rose to prominence in the Gambino crime family, one of the most powerful organized crime groups in America. He was a close friend and associate of John Gotti, the infamous boss who earned the nickname “The Teflon Don” for his ability to evade prosecution. However, Ruggiero’s life of crime and violence came to an abrupt end in 1989, when he succumbed to a deadly disease. What was the cause of death of Angelo Ruggiero, and how did it affect his relationship with Gotti and the Gambino family?
Early Life and Criminal Career
Angelo Salvatore Ruggiero was born on July 29, 1940, in New York City. He grew up in the East New York section of Brooklyn, where he befriended John Gotti and other future mobsters. He dropped out of high school and became involved in various crimes, such as street fighting, car theft, bookmaking, and burglary. He was arrested several times as a juvenile delinquent, often in the company of Gotti.
In the 1960s, Ruggiero and Gotti joined the Gambino crime family, which was then led by Carlo Gambino. They became part of the crew of Aniello Dellacroce, the underboss and Ruggiero’s cousin. In 1973, they participated in the murder of James McBratney, an Irish gangster who had tried to kidnap a Gambino loanshark. The killing was ordered by Gambino himself, who wanted to avenge the kidnapping.
Ruggiero and Gotti were arrested for the murder, but they managed to avoid long prison sentences thanks to their lawyer Roy Cohn, who had connections with the FBI and the Justice Department. Ruggiero served four years in prison, while Gotti served two.
After their release, Ruggiero and Gotti resumed their criminal activities under Dellacroce’s supervision. They engaged in various rackets, such as gambling, loansharking, extortion, hijacking, and drug trafficking. They also became involved in several murders and attempted murders of rival mobsters and informants.
Rise to Power and Fall from Grace
In 1985, Carlo Gambino’s successor Paul Castellano was assassinated by a group of gunmen led by Gotti. The murder was planned by Gotti and Dellacroce, who were unhappy with Castellano’s leadership style and policies. Gotti then became the new boss of the Gambino family, with Dellacroce as his underboss.
Ruggiero benefited from Gotti’s ascension to power, as he was promoted to caporegime (captain) and given control of a crew of soldiers and associates. He also became one of Gotti’s most trusted confidants and advisers. However, he also became one of his biggest liabilities.
Ruggiero had a reputation for being a loudmouth and a blabbermouth. He liked to talk endlessly about his crimes and his problems with his boss and his colleagues. He also had a habit of using profanity and insults when addressing authority figures, such as judges and prosecutors. He earned the nickname “Quack Quack” for his tendency to talk too much.
Ruggiero’s loose lips proved to be his downfall, as he unknowingly exposed himself and his associates to FBI surveillance. The FBI had planted bugs in his house and his car, which recorded hundreds of hours of incriminating conversations between him and other mobsters. The tapes revealed details about various crimes committed by the Gambino family, including murders, drug deals, extortion schemes, and corruption.
The tapes also revealed that Ruggiero was involved in a large-scale heroin trafficking operation with Gene Gotti (John’s brother) and John Carneglia (another capo). This violated one of John Gotti’s rules, which forbade his subordinates from dealing drugs without his permission. The tapes also showed that Ruggiero had doubts about Gotti’s leadership abilities and loyalty.
The FBI used the tapes as evidence to indict Ruggiero, Gene Gotti, Carneglia, and several other mobsters on racketeering charges in 1986. They also shared some of the tapes with John Gotti, hoping to create a rift between him and Ruggiero.
Gotti was furious when he learned about Ruggiero’s drug dealing and his disparaging remarks about him. He felt betrayed by his longtime friend and ally. He also feared that Ruggiero might cooperate with the authorities to save himself from a long prison sentence.
Gotti decided to cut off all ties with Ruggiero and banish him from the Gambino family. He also considered having him killed but refrained from doing so out of respect for Dellacroce, who was dying of cancer at the time. Dellacroce died in December 1985, shortly before Ruggiero’s trial.
Death and Legacy
Ruggiero’s trial began in 1986, but it was delayed several times due to his health problems. Ruggiero had been diagnosed with lung cancer, which had spread to his brain and other organs. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which caused him to lose weight and hair. He also suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Ruggiero’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and he was unable to attend court hearings. He was confined to his home in Howard Beach, Queens, where he was under house arrest and constant surveillance. He was isolated from his former friends and associates, who shunned him or feared him.
Ruggiero died on December 4, 1989, at the age of 49. He was buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, where many other Gambino members are buried. His funeral was attended by only a few relatives and friends. John Gotti did not attend or send flowers.
Ruggiero’s death marked the end of an era for the Gambino family and the American Mafia. His wiretapped conversations provided crucial evidence for the prosecution of John Gotti and other mobsters in subsequent trials. Gotti was convicted of racketeering and murder in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He died of throat cancer in 2002.
Ruggiero’s life and death were depicted in several books, documentaries, and films about the Gambino family and John Gotti. He was portrayed by actors such as Vincent Pastore, Joe Pesci, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Nick Cassavetes.
Angelo Ruggiero was a loyal friend and a ruthless enemy. He was a fearless fighter and a reckless talker. He was a powerful capo and a doomed outcast. He was a complex and controversial figure in the history of organized crime.
