1985 in organized crime
See also: 1984 in organized crime,
other events of 1985,
1986 in organized crime and the
list of 'years in Organized Crime'.
*
Italian mobster Giuseppe Calo arrested for
money laundering, mafia association and organizing the bombing of a train in
1984.
*
Sicilian mafioso Pino Greco killed on the orders of
Salvatore Riina.
*
Frank D'Afonso, a member of the
Bruno-
Testa crime family, is murdered by seven members, including
Eugene Milano, belonging to
Nicodemo Scarfo's organization.
*
February 25 - The leadership of
New York's
Five Families including leaders
Anthony Salerno (
Genovese crime family),
Philip Rastelli (
Bonanno crime family), acting
Colombo crime family leader
Gennaro Langella,
Paul Castellano (
Gambino crime family) with Gambino Underboss
Aniello Dellacroce,
Anthony Corallo (
Lucchese crime family) with Lucchese Underboss
Salvatore Santoro and Lucchese Consiglieri
Christopher Furnari are indicted under the
RICO Act by a federal grand jury for operating a criminal enterprise. Included in the indictment include violations under the
Hobbs Act including extortion, labor racketeering and murder for hire.
*
May 11 - The leaders of the alleged
New York's
Five Families are charged by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation as the result of a major prosecution into organized crime.
*
June 25 - Colombo crime family leader
Carmine "Junior" Persico is charged with extortion and murder.
*
August 1 - Drug traffickers
Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers are
sentenced to death by
hanging at the
High Court of Penang in
Malaysia.
*
November 12 -
Anthony Indelicato, a member of the
Bonanno crime family, is charged him with the gangland slayings of
Carmine Galante,
Leonard Coppolla, and
Guiseppe Turano.
*
November 23 - Cleveland mobster
James T. Licavoli dies of a heart attack at the age of 81 while serving a prison sentence at the
Oxford Federal Correctional Institution in
Oxford, Wisconsin.
*
December 2 -
Aniello Dellacroce, Underboss of the
Gambino crime family, dies of natural causes. A protege of
Albert Anastasia (as well as an idol of future Gambino leader
John Gotti), his being passed over for leadership of the organization for the less popular Paul Castellano causes much animosity throughout the organization. Despite Dellacroce's wishes for its members to remain loyal to the crime family, his death triggers a coup against the Castellano leadership.
*
December 16 -
Gambino crime family leader "Big"
Paul Castellano is murdered, along with his bodyguard
Thomas Bilotti, outside of
Manhattan's Sparks Steakhouse.
John Gotti, largely suspect in Castellano's assassination, quickly assumes leadership of the
Gambino crime family.
*
December 19 -
Michael Franzese, a member of the
Colombo crime family, is indicted under the
RICO Act in connection to selling gasoline to retailers while failing to pay federal, state, and local taxes.
Prizzy's Honor (film) [
1] starring
Jack Nicholson.
*
Frank D'Afonso,
Philadelphia crime family member
*
Pino Greco,
Sicilian mobster and
hitman*
December 2 -
Aniello Dellacroce,
Gambino crime family Underboss
*
December 16 -
Thomas Bilotti,
Gambino crime family Underboss
*
December 16 - "Big"
Paul Castellano,
Gambino crime family leader
