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Sammy Gravano

Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano is an American former mobster and government witness who rose to become underboss of the Gambino crime family in New York City.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano is an American former mobster and government witness who rose to become underboss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. He later testified against John Gotti and other mob figures, helping secure major prosecutions in exchange for a cooperation deal that included admitting involvement in at least 19 murders.

Early life and criminal career

Salvatore Gravano was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1945. He became involved in organized crime in New York and later associated with the Gambino crime family after earlier ties to the Colombo family.

Underboss of the Gambino family

Gravano rose to the rank of underboss under John Gotti. In that role, he was part of the Gambino family’s leadership during a period of major law-enforcement attention.

Cooperation with authorities

Gravano agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against John Gotti and other mobsters. His testimony was a key factor in Gotti’s conviction and in broader cases against organized crime figures.

Later life and imprisonment

Gravano’s cooperation deal included admissions about multiple murders and later criminal proceedings. Public reporting indicates he was convicted on federal charges and later released from prison after serving part of his sentence.

Key facts

  • Gravano was a member of the Gambino crime family and rose to the position of underboss.
  • He became one of the most significant cooperating witnesses in the prosecution of John Gotti.
  • As part of his cooperation agreement, he admitted involvement in at least 19 murders.
  • He began his criminal career associated with the Colombo family before moving to the Gambino family.
  • His testimony helped bring down the Gambino leadership during the early 1990s.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sammy Gravano?
Sammy Gravano is the nickname of Salvatore Gravano, an American former mobster and government witness best known for testifying against John Gotti.
What crime family was he associated with?
He was associated with the Gambino crime family in New York City.
What was his role in the Gambino family?
He rose to the rank of underboss, one of the organization’s top leadership positions.
Why is he famous?
He is famous for cooperating with authorities and providing testimony that helped convict John Gotti and other mob figures.
How many murders did he admit to?
As part of his cooperation agreement, he admitted involvement in at least 19 murders.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Gravano
    Supports: Birth name, nickname, birth date, Gambino underboss role, cooperation with authorities, and admission of involvement in at least 19 murders.
  2. Wikipedia (Italian) — https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Gravano
    Supports: Birth details, nickname, role as Gambino underboss, cooperation against John Gotti, and confession to 19 murders.
  3. ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/sammy-gravano-notorious-gangster-turned-fbi-informant-reflects/story?id=82473175
    Supports: Gravano’s cooperation with the FBI, testimony against the Gambino family, and his role in John Gotti’s conviction.
  4. Federal Bureau of Investigation — https://www.fbi.gov
    Supports: Background on the FBI’s prosecution of organized crime and public references to cooperating witnesses in major Mafia cases.