Who Was Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso? The Most Feared Man in New York
Mobsters DailyAnthony Casso (1942–2020), nicknamed 'Gaspipe' after his father's tool of intimidation, was the Lucchese underboss regarded by prosecutors and mobsters alike as one of the most feared and violent men in modern Mafia history, linked to more than 30 murders. His paranoia and reach — including two New York police detectives committing murders for the mob — made him a figure even other bosses handled carefully.
Rise of the Gaspipe
Casso grew up in Brooklyn, the son of a longshoreman enforcer, and rose through heroin trafficking and hijacking crews before becoming Vic Amuso's underboss. Together they seized the Lucchese family in the late 1980s and purged anyone suspected of disloyalty. The violence, set against the broader collapse of the American Mafia, was exceptional even by underworld standards.
Casso's legend is all dread — nobody made Christmas ornaments out of Gaspipe. The mob figure fans actually celebrate each December is fictional, which is the whole appeal of the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater : all of the swagger, none of the body count, in one holiday sweatshirt.
The Mafia Cops
Casso's most shocking asset was NYPD detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who passed him confidential information and carried out contract killings on his orders — a scandal that reads like fiction but ended in life sentences for both men. Their story sits alongside Greg Scarpa's FBI double life as proof that the era's corruption ran in every direction. When the end came, Casso was captured in 1993 after hiding in a cramped compartment at a girlfriend's home.
A deal that collapsed
Casso began cooperating in 1994, blew up his own deal through misconduct, was dropped as a witness, and was sentenced in 1998 to 455 years.
Frequently asked questions
How many murders was Casso linked to? Prosecutors and his own admissions tied him to more than 30 murders.
Who were the 'Mafia Cops'? NYPD detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who fed Casso information and committed murders for the mob.
Where was Casso captured? He was arrested in 1993 in Mount Olive, New Jersey, after a period as a fugitive.
Keep reading: How Gravano brought down Gotti · The Commission Trial, explained · Who Is Vic Amuso? The Lucchese Boss Doing Life Since 1992 · How Did Anthony Casso Die
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — real mafia history, the bosses, betrayals and wars behind the legends, in one gripping read.
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