Mob Boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante RIP

by Jim Kouri, CPP Notorious Mafia kingpin, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, died on Monday in federal prison at the age of 77. The reputed head of the Genovese Crime Family was serving the remainder of a 12-year stretch at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. Considered one of the last of New York's old-school Mafia dons, in his later years the cops and local news reporters called him "The Oddfather" or "The Pajama King" because of his regular strolls in the Greenwich Village section of New York wearing his pajamas, a tattered bathrobe and slippers. The Chin would often be seen talking to himself while as he walked the sidewalks of his beloved Manhattan. Most New York cops and prosecutors believed Gigante's behavior was an act to avoid prosecution. His antics were actually incorporated into episodes of the hit HBO series "The Sopranos," and an episode of the TV series "Law & Order." During his trials, his mob lawyers argued in court that Gigante was mentally ill and incapable of running a crime family; prosecutors argued he was feigning illness to avoid prosecution. Finally, a federal jury convicted Gigante in 1997 of conspiracy to murder other organized crime figures, racketeering, extortion and other charges. These charges are said to be minor when compared to the crimes he committed for which he avoided arrest and prosecution. The case against the old Don was based, for the most part, on the testimony of former La Cosa Nostra members and associates who managed to strike deals in exchange for becoming government informants. The most notorious of these was Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, who in 1992 helped prosecutors to lock up the so-called Teflon Don, the late Gambino Family crime boss John Gotti. Although incarcerated miles away from New York City, Gigante still managed to run the "family business" from his prison. However, he was dragged back into court in 2003 to stand trial for the charge of obstructing justice as a result of his misleading psychiatrists and doctors about his mental condition. Gigante pleaded guilty to what he considered a minor charge. It's been reported that Gigante died of a chronic heart condition and his death was considered peaceful, which is more than his victims would say if they were still living. Beneath his facade of a helpless, mentally ill man, he was a vicious, cold-hearted thug who believed in violence to control his territory and his underlings. The New York Times Magazine once described him as the last great Mafioso of the 20th Century, but his conviction ended a 50-plus year reign. At his power's zenith, Gigante's territory stretched from Little Italy in New York to the docks of Miami. Organized crime experts claim he was a traditional crime boss who settled issues by whatever means -- verbal or violent -- were required. Born in the Bronx in 1928, one of five sons of Italian immigrant parents, Gigante became a boxer and drifted into the crime family founded in 1931 by legendary gangster Charles "Lucky" Luciano, serving as the gang's enforcer. In 1957, Gigante was the hitman in a botched attempt to assassinate then-boss Frank Costello. After refusing to name his attacker in court, the shaken Costello retired, making Gigante's patron, Vito Genovese, kingpin of the family that still bears his name. This writer, also born and raised in the Bronx, never met the Don himself, but became friends with his Roman Catholic priest brother Father Gigante. He was a priest at St. Athanasius parish in the South Bronx neighborhood dubbed "Fort Apache." In fact, Father Gigante, although Italian, spoke fluent Spanish and became popular with the Puerto Rican community. In all the years I knew Father Gigante, I never heard him talk about his gangster brother. Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a staff writer for New Media Alliance (thenma.org), and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. If you wish to sign up for his intelligence reports, write to JimKouriReports@aol.com. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us