Former Lucchese Underboss "Gaspipe" Casso Has Died From COVID

The Gaspipe has died. The former underboss of the Lucchese crime family, who once attempted to kill Gambino boss John Gotti by putting a bomb underneath the hood of his car but ended up killing someone else, was 78 years old. He admitted to 36 murders and many believe it was more than that. 

He survived assassination's attempts and more, but COVID did him in. Casso had submitted multiple requests for compassionate release from lockup due to a multitude of different health issues and contracting COVID, but they were never granted. 

I blogged about former Sopranos writer and producer Terrence Winter getting a new project going regarding the infamous "Mafia Cops" a few months ago. They got their start in deceit and murder after meeting Casso through a former emissary. In my opinion he's one of the most psychotic figures in mob lure and history.

One of the interesting parts about Casso is he became a government informant. After trying to take full control of the family in 1993, he was arrested and faced a trial that would put him away for life, he turned cooperator. He admitted to many crimes including murder, selling drugs and he even told the world about his little secret involving the Mafia Cops. A few years later, the judge in the case threw out the cooperation agreement and barred him from the Witness Protection Program after Casso was found to have fabricated and lied about most of it and conducted multiple different infractions in prison. 

He also spoke about his relationship with the Mafia Cops and how he took care of a mob associate on 60 Minutes. Whether you believe it or not. 

Judge Block subsequently sentenced him to a maximum sentence of 455 years with no parole, the maximum sentence allowed. He responded with this to New York Times mob reporter Selwyn Rabb after the re-sentencing:

"I help them and I get life without parole," he said. "This is really a fuckin' joke."

So even after multiple attempts for compassionate release, flipping and becoming a rat, COVID, many admitted murders and a life full of deceit and terror, Federal Inmate 16802-050 has died.