Mafia Killers and McLaren

S01E06 In MAFIA KILLERS, ex-undercover cop, Colin McLaren, traces the careers of six extraordinary mobsters who had a huge impact on organised crime in New York. Five murdered their way to the top, three became rats, one deserved an Oscar, and another engineered the biggest armed robbery America had ever seen. JOHN GOTTI murdered his way to the top of New York’s most powerful Mafia family. Indictments came and went, nothing ever stuck to the Teflon Don. Rich, powerful, and in love with himself, Gotti got blinded by the glare of the media lights and fell from grace. He died in prison. SAMMY ’THE BULL’ GRAVANO is much more than a vicious hitman with 19 murders to his name. He ran a string of lucrative businesses and became the Underboss of New York’s biggest crime family. He was loyal, obedient, and extremely dangerous. When his boss betrayed him Sammy helped the Feds destroy the New York Mob. CARMINE “THE SNAKE” PERSICO is a master of deceit. He committed one of the biggest murders in Mafia history, then double-crossed his way into power. He spent all but a few years of his treacherous career behind bars, from where he ruled a crime family, conducted three wars, and ordered many murders. He is still there today. ANTHONY “GASPIPE” CASSO was born into the Mafia. From the get-go he was a brutal thug with a love of violence. The Mob welcomed him with open arms. He made millions for them, and for himself. But he was psychotic and soon became severely paranoid. The bodies began piling up. He became a rat, but still got 450 years in the slammer. VINCENT “THE CHIN” GIGANTE deserved an Oscar. For thirty years he pretended to be insane in order to evade justice. But behind the crazy act lurked the vicious, scheming, murdering boss of one of New York’s five crime families. Once the act was busted so was he. He ended his days, somewhat relieved, behind bars. HENRY HILL was a wannabee mobster who set up the biggest heist in American history at the time.