Richard Castucci
Encyclopedia
Richard J. Castucci was an Italian-American member of the Boston Winter Hill Gang
who owned several strip clubs and was involved in illegal gambling. Castucci eventually became a government informant.
. He had one brother who was involved with one of Castucci's restaurants. His second wife was Sandra Castucci. His children included a daughter Denise, a son Richard Castucci Jr. and two other children. Castucci and his family lived in Revere, Massachusetts
.
At age 21, Castucci was featured in the Boston Herald
after stopping an armed robbery with his father.
, a leader of the Winter Hill Gang and a secret FBI informant. Castucci introduced Flemmi and mobster John Martorano to a major New York bookmaker when they were organizing Anthony Ciulla's race fixing scheme.
Castucci owned several strip clubs in the Boston area, including the Ebb Tide Lounge, the Libra Lounge, Jaws, and the Squire . Overlooking Revere Beach
, the Ebb Tide soon became a "clubhouse" for members of the Patriarca family] to socialize and plan crimes. In 1965, the Edward Deegan mob hit was organized there. By the late 1960s, the Ebb Tide had earned such a bad reputation that Castucci changed its name to The Beach Ball. By 1969, Castucci was hosting high-stakes poker games at the Beach Ball.
By 1970, Castucci was reportedly in deep financial trouble. He had two families, a $16,000 second house mortgage, bills from his clubs, and expensive loan shark loans. He was being hounded by loan shark collectors and was in debt to John Harrison
, also known as "Hard Boiled John", paying $300 to $400 installments.
with the Patriarca crime family. Sandra has to this day denied any such relationship with Caruana. Nevertheless, an enraged Castucci threatened Caruana with physical harm if he did not stay away from Sandra.
However, FBI agent John Connolly
, Castucci's handler, confirmed Caruana's affair with Sandra. Soon after that, Caruana disappeared and was never heard of again. The Boston Police Department
and the FBI suspected Castucci have murdered Caruana. However, Caruana's body was never found and no one was ever charged with his murder.
were hiding from the authorities in the Greenwich Village
section of New York City, he passed that information to his FBI handlers.
, also an FBI informant. ordered Castucci's killing. However, Bulger decided to wait until the end of the National Football League
season so that he could also steal Castucci's sports betting earnings.
At the end of the football season, Castucci went to a garage in Somerville, Massachusetts
to pick up his winnings. At the garage, Martorano handed Castucci a bag of cash and told him to go to an apartment with Flemmi and Bulger. At the apartment, Castucci was sitting in the kitchen sorting his cash when Martorano walked behind Castucci and shot him in the head. Bulger and Flemmi cleaned up the blood, wrapped the body in a child's blanket, and stuffed it into the trunk of Castucci's new Cadillac Sedan Deville. They drove the Cadillac to Revere, where they abandoned it behind an apartment complex.
The car and Castucci's body were discovered in the aftermath of a snowstorm.
Following the Castucci murder, Connolly befriended Castucci's widow and daughter. He was also a regular diner at a restaurant owned by Castucci's brother.
On June 12, 2009, a federal judge ordered the Federal Government to pay $6.25 million dollars to the Castucci family for the wrongful death of Richard Castucci.
Winter Hill Gang
The Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
who owned several strip clubs and was involved in illegal gambling. Castucci eventually became a government informant.
Biography
Castucci was a nephew of Boston bookmaker Arthur Ventola, who was close to the Patriarca crime familyPatriarca crime family
The Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England crime family and the Providence crime family, is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of the Italian-American Mafia or "La Cosa Nostra"...
. He had one brother who was involved with one of Castucci's restaurants. His second wife was Sandra Castucci. His children included a daughter Denise, a son Richard Castucci Jr. and two other children. Castucci and his family lived in Revere, Massachusetts
Revere, Massachusetts
Revere is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and located approximately from downtown Boston. It is named after the American patriot Paul Revere. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 51,755.- History :...
.
At age 21, Castucci was featured in the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
after stopping an armed robbery with his father.
Mob career
Castucci was a close associate of mobster Stephen FlemmiStephen Flemmi
Stephen Joseph "The Rifleman" Flemmi is an Italian-American mobster and close associate of Winter Hill Gang boss James J. Bulger. Beginning in 1965, Flemmi was a top echelon informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation...
, a leader of the Winter Hill Gang and a secret FBI informant. Castucci introduced Flemmi and mobster John Martorano to a major New York bookmaker when they were organizing Anthony Ciulla's race fixing scheme.
Castucci owned several strip clubs in the Boston area, including the Ebb Tide Lounge, the Libra Lounge, Jaws, and the Squire . Overlooking Revere Beach
Revere Beach
Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston, the beach, founded in 1895, is the first public beach in the country. In the past, it was known as the Coney Island of New England...
, the Ebb Tide soon became a "clubhouse" for members of the Patriarca family] to socialize and plan crimes. In 1965, the Edward Deegan mob hit was organized there. By the late 1960s, the Ebb Tide had earned such a bad reputation that Castucci changed its name to The Beach Ball. By 1969, Castucci was hosting high-stakes poker games at the Beach Ball.
By 1970, Castucci was reportedly in deep financial trouble. He had two families, a $16,000 second house mortgage, bills from his clubs, and expensive loan shark loans. He was being hounded by loan shark collectors and was in debt to John Harrison
John Harrison
John Harrison was a self-educated English clockmaker. He invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought device in solving the problem of establishing the East-West position or longitude of a ship at sea, thus revolutionising and extending the possibility of safe long distance sea travel in the Age...
, also known as "Hard Boiled John", paying $300 to $400 installments.
Wife's affair
Castucci allegedly murdered a man that he suspected of having an affair with his wife Sandra. From late 1969 to 1970, Castucci suspected that Sandra was dating Salvatore M. Caruana, a prominent drug dealer and made manMade man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
with the Patriarca crime family. Sandra has to this day denied any such relationship with Caruana. Nevertheless, an enraged Castucci threatened Caruana with physical harm if he did not stay away from Sandra.
However, FBI agent John Connolly
John Connolly (FBI)
John J. Connolly, Jr. is a former FBI agent, who was convicted of racketeering and obstruction of justice convictions stemming from his relationship with James J. "Whitey" Bulger, Steve Flemmi, and the Winter Hill Gang...
, Castucci's handler, confirmed Caruana's affair with Sandra. Soon after that, Caruana disappeared and was never heard of again. The Boston Police Department
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
and the FBI suspected Castucci have murdered Caruana. However, Caruana's body was never found and no one was ever charged with his murder.
Becoming an informant
On January 30, 1970, needing money and protection from law enforcement, Castucci become an FBI informant. He was enrolled in the FBI's highly secretive Top Echelon Informant Program. When Castucci found out that Winter Hill members Joseph "Joe Mac" McDonald and James SimsJames Sims
James Sims, Jr. is an American football running back in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the University of Washington....
were hiding from the authorities in the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
section of New York City, he passed that information to his FBI handlers.
Murder
In 1976, the Winter Hill gang discovered Castucci's deception and planned his murder. Gang boss James BulgerJames Bulger
James Bulger may refer to:* James Patrick Bulger, toddler murdered by two ten-year-old boys in Liverpool, England, in 1993* James J. "Whitey" Bulger, alleged American gang leader...
, also an FBI informant. ordered Castucci's killing. However, Bulger decided to wait until the end of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
season so that he could also steal Castucci's sports betting earnings.
At the end of the football season, Castucci went to a garage in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
to pick up his winnings. At the garage, Martorano handed Castucci a bag of cash and told him to go to an apartment with Flemmi and Bulger. At the apartment, Castucci was sitting in the kitchen sorting his cash when Martorano walked behind Castucci and shot him in the head. Bulger and Flemmi cleaned up the blood, wrapped the body in a child's blanket, and stuffed it into the trunk of Castucci's new Cadillac Sedan Deville. They drove the Cadillac to Revere, where they abandoned it behind an apartment complex.
The car and Castucci's body were discovered in the aftermath of a snowstorm.
Coverup
On discovering Castucci's body, the FBI immediately suspected Bulger and Flemmi. However, Connolly was handling both men as FBI informants and they had provided him with valuable information on the Patriarca Family. Connolly wanted to protect Bulger and Flemmi from prosecution. Connolly told the agency that the murder was not typical of Winter Hill killings and that he didn't think Bulger and Flemmi did it. Connolly also reported to the FBI that Castucci owed money to both Winter Hill Gang and the Patriarcas, but had only paid Winter Hill. Connolly's implication was that Patriarcas were not paid and therefore murdered Castucci. Given this misdirection, the FBI did not pursue Bulger and Flemmi as suspects.Following the Castucci murder, Connolly befriended Castucci's widow and daughter. He was also a regular diner at a restaurant owned by Castucci's brother.
On June 12, 2009, a federal judge ordered the Federal Government to pay $6.25 million dollars to the Castucci family for the wrongful death of Richard Castucci.
External references
- http://archive.seacoastonline.com/1999news/9_10_sb2.htm
- http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-01-14/arts/mob-rules/
- www.wrko.com
- www.whiteywatch.com
- http://www.usmarshals.gov/wanted/major-cases/caruana.htm
- http://www.thebrothersbulger.com/Richard%20Castucci.htm [Car discovery/crime scene images]
- http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/12/judge_awards_625_million_to_family_in_1976_mob_killing/