Vincent Gigante

Vincent Gigante (1928–2005), known as “the Chin,” was an American mobster who led New York’s Genovese crime family from the 1980s until his imprisonment.

Vito Genovese: An Italian-American mobster who led the Genovese crime family from the 1950s until his imprisonment in 1959. Gigante inherited leadership of the crime family Genovese had built.
Front boss: A subordinate presented publicly as an organization’s leader while concealing the identity of its actual boss. Anthony Salerno’s public role shielded Gigante from scrutiny as the family’s true leader.
Commission Trial: A 1985 federal trial that prosecuted leaders of New York’s Mafia Commission under RICO. The trial weakened Mafia leadership and helped clear the way for cases against Gigante.
Federal racketeering prosecution: A criminal case using federal laws against organized patterns of crime and their participants. The prosecution dismantled Gigante’s ability to lead the family from outside prison.
Anthony Salerno: A Genovese crime family leader who served as its public front boss during the 1980s. Salerno was presented as boss while Gigante exercised authority behind the scenes.
Omertà: A code of silence associated with Sicilian and Italian-American Mafia groups. Silence and intimidation helped protect the family’s criminal operations and hierarchy.
Genovese family racketeering conviction of 1997: A federal case in which Vincent Gigante and other Genovese crime family figures were convicted of racketeering. The verdict formally established Gigante’s leadership and criminal responsibility.
Organized crime in New York City: The history and activity of criminal organizations operating in New York City. Gigante’s rule shaped the city’s Mafia power struggles in the late twentieth century.
John Gotti: A Gambino crime family boss who became a prominent New York mob figure in the 1980s. Gigante opposed Gotti’s public profile and influence in New York organized crime.
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act: A United States federal law that criminalizes patterns of racketeering activity connected to an enterprise. RICO allowed prosecutors to charge Gigante for directing a criminal organization.

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