Why the Jersey Luccheses Were Never Going to Survive Gaspipe Casso

In September 1986, Gaspipe Casso was eating ice cream in Brooklyn when a hit team moved in to end his life. He survived, and the details are now in federal court records. This episode examines the harrowing assassination attempt on Anthony Gaspipe Casso, a moment that captures the lethal volatility of the Brooklyn mob during the 1980s. We break down the timeline of the ambush, from the vehicle pulling up alongside his car to his desperate escape into a nearby restaurant while wounded. By analyzing the court documentation, we look at how a simple ice cream run turned into a life-or-death struggle that defined his reputation for survival. We also look at the broader context of the Colombo crime family during this era, exploring why Casso was targeted and how these internal power struggles shaped the underworld. Rather than focusing on myths, we piece together the actual events documented in the files to understand the tactical reality of the violence that plagued New York streets. Understanding these hits is essential to grasping the true history of organized crime. The Mob History Files publishes two episodes a week, Monday and Thursday at 1pm Eastern. Subscribe for weekly mafia history breakdowns, and let us know in the comments which case you want opened next. Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso survived a Gambino ambush while eating an ice cream cone. What came next wasn't a war on the Gambinos. It was a war on his own Lucchese family, and the New Jersey crew got the worst of it. In this episode of The Mob History Files, we follow how Casso turned down the top job when Tony Ducks Corallo stepped aside, put his friend Vic Amuso in the boss's chair, and became the real power in the family. He put two NYPD detectives, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, on a $4,000-a-month payroll, and they delivered James Hydell, pointed his hit team at the wrong Nicholas Guido, and murdered Eddie Lino themselves. Then came the "Whack Jersey" order: the entire New Jersey faction marked for death, along with Anthony Accetturo's wife. Accetturo went to the government. So did acting boss Little Al D'Arco after spotting a gun at the Kimberly Hotel. So did Big Pete Chiodo after he was shot 13 times and survived. And Casso still sent a hit team after Chiodo's sister. We also cover where the name "Gaspipe" really came from, the Russian gas tax, the DeCicco car bomb, the Jimmy Rotondo murder, the blame for Vic Amuso's arrest, and how Casso's proffer fell apart before he died in federal custody in 2020. Was Casso the real boss, or was Amuso just as responsible? Tell me in the comments. CHAPTERS 0:00 Shot while eating an ice cream cone 1:17 Where the name "Gaspipe" came from 2:45 Made in 1976 and the Bypass Gang 3:26 Tony Ducks steps aside 5:08 The Russian gas tax 6:06 The bomb meant for John Gotti 7:11 Two NYPD detectives on the payroll 7:55 The kidnapping of James Hydell 8:48 Christmas 1986: the wrong Nicholas Guido 9:37 Eddie Lino and the detectives 10:00 Bobby Boriello, Gravano and Gotti 11:07 "Whack Jersey" 13:22 The list of 49 14:00 Little Al D'Arco runs for his life 15:11 Big Pete Chiodo, shot 13 times 16:26 The attack on Chiodo's sister 17:04 The Mary Bari parallel 18:00 Who killed Jimmy Rotondo 18:49 Vic Amuso's arrest and the blame 19:37 Casso's capture in New Jersey 20:04 The proffer that fell apart 21:20 455 years and his death in custody 22:08 The legacy of Gaspipe Casso 23:14 Next time: Operation Family Secrets Subscribe for more mob history told straight, with the facts first: [Mob History Files link] For interviews and current mob news, check out my other channel, Real Mob Stories: [Real Mob Stories link] #GaspipeCasso #LuccheseFamily #MobHistory