December Mob Calendar of Events
December is a month of endings and beginnings in mob history. Prohibition ended, the Flamingo opened, Paul Castellano was shot dead in midtown Manhattan and John Gotti was arrested at the Ravenite. Every day of December has a story from the criminal underworld. Click any date below to read the full account.
Key dates this month: December 5 — Prohibition ends | December 11 — John Gotti arrested | December 16 — Paul Castellano murdered | December 22 — Havana Conference | December 26 — Flamingo Hotel opens
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December in Mob History — Key Events
December 5, 1933 ended the era that had made the American Mafia. The repeal of Prohibition removed bootlegging — the mob’s most profitable racket — overnight. The great crime families responded by pivoting to gambling, loansharking and labour racketeering. The mob didn’t collapse after Prohibition ended. It adapted and grew stronger.
December 16, 1985 was the night Paul Castellano — Big Paul, boss of the Gambino family and the most powerful mob boss in America — was shot dead outside Sparks Steak House in midtown Manhattan during the evening rush hour. The hit was ordered by John Gotti, who took control of the family that same night. It was one of the most audacious murders in American Mafia history.
December 22, 1946 saw the Havana Conference — one of the most significant gatherings in mob history. Lucky Luciano, living in exile in Italy, secretly travelled to Cuba to chair the summit of American Mafia bosses. On the agenda was the fate of Bugsy Siegel and his troubled Flamingo Hotel. The conference confirmed the Mafia’s expanding ambitions in Cuba and Las Vegas. Just four days later — December 26 — the Flamingo opened its doors to a chaotic and loss-making debut that would seal Siegel’s fate.
December 11, 1990 saw John Gotti arrested at the Ravenite Social Club — the beginning of the end for the Dapper Don. The FBI had spent months recording conversations in an upstairs apartment at the club. What they captured would convict him.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Paul Castellano killed?
Paul Castellano was shot dead on December 16, 1985, outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan. The murder was orchestrated by John Gotti, who took over the Gambino family immediately afterwards. It was one of the most brazen mob hits in American history.
When did Prohibition end?
Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933, when the 21st Amendment was ratified. The end of the mob’s most profitable racket forced organised crime to pivot to gambling, loansharking and labour racketeering — which became the foundations of the Mafia’s business model for the next four decades.
What was the Havana Conference?
The Havana Conference was a summit of American Mafia bosses held from December 22, 1946, in Cuba, organised by Lucky Luciano. It was one of the most significant gatherings in mob history, with the fate of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo Hotel on the agenda.
When did John Gotti get arrested?
John Gotti was arrested on December 11, 1990, at the Ravenite Social Club in Manhattan. The arrest followed FBI wiretapping that captured him discussing murders and criminal operations. He was convicted in 1992 and died in prison in 2002.
When did the Flamingo Hotel open?
The Flamingo Hotel and Casino opened on December 26, 1946. Built by Bugsy Siegel with mob financing, it had a disastrous opening night. Siegel was murdered six months later. The Flamingo is still operating today as a direct legacy of the Mafia’s investment in Las Vegas.
Further Reading — Mob History
Want to go deeper into the stories behind these dates? These are the essential books on organised crime history.
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