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Portrait of Vincent Gigante

Photo: Phil Stanziola, World Telegram staff photographer · Public domain

Born in United States · Nationality American — Genovese crime family / racketeering / union corruption / murder conspiracies / obstruction of justice

Vincent Gigante

Organised crime and cartels

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “1960s–2003: Prolonged feigning of mental illness to avoid prosecution and surveillance” and “2003: Guilty plea to obstruction — admits purported insanity was a deception”.

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Profile No. 1863 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Vincent Gigante

Photo: Phil Stanziola, World Telegram staff photographer · Public domain
9Documented controversies
6Sources
3 followed by a conviction ·

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 2 documented stages

1960s–2003: Prolonged feigning of mental illness to avoid prosecution and surveillance

Conviction
01

années 1960–7 April 2003

1960s–2003: Prolonged feigning of mental illness to avoid prosecution and surveillance

Conviction

For decades, Gigante appeared in a dressing gown and pyjamas, mumbling in the street and presenting himself as severely impaired. Prosecutors and Mafia witnesses maintained that this was a strategy to evade prosecution.

State of the evidence
Admitted by the person
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 925 F. Supp. 967Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 987 F. Supp. 143Court decisionVery high reliability
  3. [3]
    The Washington PostMob Boss Admits Insanity Was a RusePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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02

7 April 2003

2003: Guilty plea to obstruction — admits purported insanity was a deception

Conviction

While already serving his sentence, Gigante pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted knowingly deceiving doctors about his mental condition to impede prosecution.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The Washington PostMob Boss Admits Insanity Was a RusePressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New YorkGenovese Family Leadership Pleads GuiltyOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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Case · 5 documented stages

1997–1999: Convicted of RICO, extortion, murder conspiracy and union payments; 12-year sentence upheld

Conviction
03

1997–1999

1997–1999: Convicted of RICO, extortion, murder conspiracy and union payments; 12-year sentence upheld

Conviction

Gigante was convicted of RICO and RICO conspiracy, murder conspiracy, extortion and union payments. He received 12 years in prison, five years of supervision and a $1.25 million fine; the Court of Appeals upheld the verdict.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor GeneralGigante v. United States - OppositionCourt recordVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit via JustiaUnited States v. Vincent Gigante, 166 F.3d 75Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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04

1990–1996

1990–1996: Seven-year competency dispute before court finds him fit to stand trial

Formally charged

Following his indictment, four psychiatrists initially concluded that he was unfit, while the government maintained that he was feigning illness. After lengthy hearings and the emergence of new evidence, the court declared him mentally competent.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 925 F. Supp. 967Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 987 F. Supp. 143Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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05

années 1980–1991

1980s–1991: Murder conspiracies targeting organised crime figures including John and Gene Gotti and Peter Savino

Conviction

The federal indictment accused Gigante of authorising or participating in conspiracies targeting several organised crime figures. The final verdict included a conviction for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 925 F. Supp. 967Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit via JustiaUnited States v. Vincent Gigante, 166 F.3d 75Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

1978–1990

1978–1990: Control of NYCHA window replacement contracting cartel

Conviction

Gigante and Vittorio Amuso were central to a scheme controlling New York City's window replacement market, combining organised crime-linked businesses, bid rigging and extortion.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor GeneralGigante v. United States - OppositionCourt recordVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit via JustiaUnited States v. Vincent Gigante, 166 F.3d 75Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

années 1980–1990

1980s–1990s: Unlawful payments to union officials in window replacement racket

Conviction

The window replacement scheme relied in part on payments to union officials, enabling companies controlled by Mafia families to avoid certain rules and reduce their costs.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor GeneralGigante v. United States - OppositionCourt recordVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit via JustiaUnited States v. Vincent Gigante, 166 F.3d 75Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

17 April 1959

1959: Sentenced to seven years for narcotics conspiracy

Conviction

A federal court sentenced Gigante to seven years in prison for conspiracy to violate federal narcotics laws.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 987 F. Supp. 143Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

May 1957–1958

1957–1958: Charged with attempted murder of Frank Costello, then acquitted

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Gigante was prosecuted as the gunman in the attack on Frank Costello, who survived. At trial, Costello said he could not identify his attacker, and Gigante was acquitted.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via JustiaUnited States v. Gigante, 987 F. Supp. 143Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)
  1. Frank Costello2 documented references

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