Who Was Peter Chiodo? The Lucchese Captain Who Survived 12 Bullets
Mobsters DailyPeter 'Fat Pete' Chiodo, a Lucchese family captain, was shot 12 times at a Staten Island gas station on May 8, 1991 — and lived. His enormous size saved him, and his decision to testify broke the mob's Windows case wide open.
Twelve bullets, and he woke up
Chiodo had fallen foul of Lucchese boss Vic Amuso and underboss Anthony Casso, who ordered him killed for allegedly holding back money. Gunmen caught him at a service station and shot him a dozen times. Doctors credited his bulk — he weighed around 500 pounds — with keeping the rounds from vital organs.
The hit that was supposed to silence him did the opposite — which is why November rewatch season belongs to the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater, Tony in black-and-white stencil with full gabagool energy, made for holiday parties and long nights back in this world.
The witness the family made
Convinced from his hospital bed that the family had also marked his loved ones, Chiodo flipped — pleading guilty, entering witness protection and testifying in the 'Windows case,' the prosecution of the families' billion-dollar window-replacement racket. His evidence helped convict senior figures and stands alongside Alphonse D'Arco's defection as the one-two punch that gutted the Lucchese family in the 1990s.
Frequently asked questions
When was Peter Chiodo shot? On May 8, 1991, at a Staten Island gas station — 12 bullets, none fatal.
Why did Chiodo survive? His roughly 500-pound frame kept the bullets from reaching vital organs.
What was the Windows case? The federal case against the families' window-replacement racket, where Chiodo testified.
Keep reading: Who was Gaspipe Casso? · Who is Steven Crea? · Who was Tommy Lucchese?
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — the real-mafia history behind the names in this story.
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