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Richard Castucci
Richard J. Castucci Sr. (December 1, 1928 – December 29, 1976) was an American member of the Patriarca crime family who owned several strip clubs and was involved in illegal gambling. Castucci eventually became a government informant.
Castucci was a nephew of Boston bookmaker Arthur Ventola, who was close to the Patriarca crime family. He had one brother who was involved with one of Castucci's restaurants. His second wife was Sandra Castucci. His children included a daughter Denise, a son Richard Castucci Jr. and two other children. Castucci and his family lived in Revere, Massachusetts.
At age 21, Castucci was featured in the Boston Herald after stopping an armed robbery with his father.
Castucci was a close associate of mobster Stephen Flemmi, a leader of the Winter Hill Gang and a secret FBI informant. Castucci introduced Flemmi and mobster John Martorano to a major New York bookmaker when they were organizing Anthony Ciulla's race fixing scheme.
Castucci owned several clubs and strip bars in the Boston area, including the Ebb Tide Lounge, the Libra Lounge, the 571 Club, Jaws, and the Squire. Overlooking Revere Beach, the Ebb Tide soon became a "clubhouse" for members of the Patriarca family to socialize and plan crimes. In 1965, the Edward Deegan mob hit was organized there. By the late 1960s, the Ebb Tide had earned such a bad reputation that Castucci changed its name to The Beach Ball. By 1969, Castucci was hosting high-stakes poker games at the Beach Ball.
By 1970, Castucci was reportedly in deep financial trouble. He had two families, a $16,000 second house mortgage, bills from his clubs, and expensive loan shark loans. He was being hounded by loan shark collectors and was in debt to John Harrison, also known as "Hard Boiled John", paying $300 to $400 installments.
On January 30, 1970, needing money and protection from law enforcement, Castucci become an FBI informant. He was enrolled in the FBI's highly secretive Top Echelon Informant Program. When Castucci found out that Winter Hill members Joseph "Joe Mac" McDonald and James Sims were hiding from the authorities in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, he passed that information to his FBI handlers.
In 1976, the Winter Hill gang discovered Castucci's deception and planned his murder. Gang boss Whitey Bulger, also an FBI informant, ordered Castucci's killing. However, Bulger decided to wait until the end of the National Football League season so that he could also steal Castucci's sports betting earnings.
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Richard Castucci
Richard J. Castucci Sr. (December 1, 1928 – December 29, 1976) was an American member of the Patriarca crime family who owned several strip clubs and was involved in illegal gambling. Castucci eventually became a government informant.
Castucci was a nephew of Boston bookmaker Arthur Ventola, who was close to the Patriarca crime family. He had one brother who was involved with one of Castucci's restaurants. His second wife was Sandra Castucci. His children included a daughter Denise, a son Richard Castucci Jr. and two other children. Castucci and his family lived in Revere, Massachusetts.
At age 21, Castucci was featured in the Boston Herald after stopping an armed robbery with his father.
Castucci was a close associate of mobster Stephen Flemmi, a leader of the Winter Hill Gang and a secret FBI informant. Castucci introduced Flemmi and mobster John Martorano to a major New York bookmaker when they were organizing Anthony Ciulla's race fixing scheme.
Castucci owned several clubs and strip bars in the Boston area, including the Ebb Tide Lounge, the Libra Lounge, the 571 Club, Jaws, and the Squire. Overlooking Revere Beach, the Ebb Tide soon became a "clubhouse" for members of the Patriarca family to socialize and plan crimes. In 1965, the Edward Deegan mob hit was organized there. By the late 1960s, the Ebb Tide had earned such a bad reputation that Castucci changed its name to The Beach Ball. By 1969, Castucci was hosting high-stakes poker games at the Beach Ball.
By 1970, Castucci was reportedly in deep financial trouble. He had two families, a $16,000 second house mortgage, bills from his clubs, and expensive loan shark loans. He was being hounded by loan shark collectors and was in debt to John Harrison, also known as "Hard Boiled John", paying $300 to $400 installments.
On January 30, 1970, needing money and protection from law enforcement, Castucci become an FBI informant. He was enrolled in the FBI's highly secretive Top Echelon Informant Program. When Castucci found out that Winter Hill members Joseph "Joe Mac" McDonald and James Sims were hiding from the authorities in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, he passed that information to his FBI handlers.
In 1976, the Winter Hill gang discovered Castucci's deception and planned his murder. Gang boss Whitey Bulger, also an FBI informant, ordered Castucci's killing. However, Bulger decided to wait until the end of the National Football League season so that he could also steal Castucci's sports betting earnings.