Sammy Gravano reveals the moment he decided to cooperate with the government against John Gotti
Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, the former Gambino crime family underboss, has described the moment he decided to turn government informant against Mafia boss John Gotti. Speaking on Fox News, Gravano recounted how a secretly recorded conversation and Gotti's apparent plan to pin blame on him convinced him that the mob's code of loyalty no longer applied, prompting him to cooperate with prosecutors. His testimony was instrumental in securing Gotti's 1992 conviction and remains one of the most significant betrayals in American organised crime history.
Gravano, who once served as Gotti's right-hand man, said he realised the relationship had broken down beyond repair when it became clear he was being set up to take the fall. He described simply saying "Okay" before walking away from the Mafia's oath of silence, or omertà, and beginning cooperation with authorities. His decision ultimately helped bring down Gotti, previously known as the "Teflon Don" for repeatedly evading prosecution, and reshaped the landscape of Mafia prosecutions in the United States.
- Sammy Gravano recalls deciding to inform on John Gotti
- He says Gotti's plot to blame him prompted the flip
- His cooperation helped convict Gotti in 1992