Paul Castellano and The Westies: An Unlikely Alliance
In the cutthroat world of New York’s criminal underworld, alliances were rare and often fraught with danger. Yet, in the 1970s, an unlikely partnership emerged between Paul Castellano, the sophisticated boss of the Gambino crime family, and Jimmy Coonan, the ferocious leader of The Westies. This alliance transformed Hell’s Kitchen into a battleground where Irish grit met Italian precision, reshaping the city’s criminal landscape.
- Key Figures: Paul Castellano and Jimmy Coonan
- Location: Hell’s Kitchen, New York City
- Alliance Duration: Mid-1970s to 1986
- Major Activities: Extortion, drug trafficking, contract killings
- End of Alliance: Castellano’s assassination in 1985
Paul Castellano: The Sophisticated Boss
Paul Castellano, known as “Big Paul,” epitomized Mafia sophistication. As the head of the Gambino crime family, one of New York’s Five Families, he controlled a vast empire of racketeering, drug trafficking, and extortion. Unlike the street-level brawlers of Hell’s Kitchen, Castellano operated from luxurious offices, maintaining a polished image while orchestrating the city’s underworld.
His power stemmed from an ability to delegate effectively. Castellano preferred to keep his hands clean, outsourcing violent tasks to trusted allies. This strategy led him to Jimmy Coonan and The Westies, whose raw aggression complemented the Mafia’s structured operations.
The Westies: Irish Grit in Hell’s Kitchen
The Westies, led by Jimmy Coonan, represented the antithesis of the Gambino family’s polished hierarchy. Rooted in Hell’s Kitchen’s Irish-American community, The Westies were notorious for their brutal tactics—extortion, loan-sharking, and gruesome dismemberments that sent chills through New York’s underworld. Their small size belied their ferocity, making them ideal partners for the Mafia’s dirtier jobs.
Coonan’s ambition drove him to seek legitimacy beyond Hell’s Kitchen. Aligning with Castellano offered The Westies protection and access to the Mafia’s resources, elevating their status in the criminal world.
The Defining Deal of the 1970s
In the mid-1970s, Coonan and Castellano struck a deal that would define Hell’s Kitchen’s criminal era. The Westies became the Gambino family’s enforcers, handling contract killings, debt collection, and street-level intimidation. In return, Castellano provided The Westies with a share of profits and a degree of autonomy, allowing them to operate under the Mafia’s umbrella.
This partnership was a win-win: the Gambinos outsourced their most violent tasks, while The Westies gained power and legitimacy. However, the alliance was not without friction. The Irish Mob’s chaotic style often clashed with the Mafia’s rigid structure, and Coonan’s ambition occasionally tested Castellano’s patience.
Cracks in the Alliance
The alliance thrived for years, but cracks began to appear. The Westies’ expansion into drug trafficking—a domain the Mafia fiercely controlled—sparked tensions. Castellano, wary of Coonan’s growing influence, kept a close eye on his Irish allies. Meanwhile, internal betrayals within The Westies, particularly Mickey Featherstone’s decision to become an FBI informant, threatened the entire operation.
The Downfall of The Westies
By 1986, the FBI’s crackdown dismantled The Westies, with Coonan convicted of racketeering and murder. Castellano’s own fate was sealed in 1985, when he was assassinated by John Gotti, ending the Gambino-Westies partnership in a hail of bullets.
Legacy of the Castellano-Coonan Alliance
The alliance between Paul Castellano and The Westies was a fleeting but pivotal chapter in New York’s criminal history. It showcased the power of unlikely partnerships, where Irish grit and Italian strategy briefly aligned. Hell’s Kitchen, the backdrop for this saga, remains a symbol of the era’s violence and ambition, even as it transforms into a modern neighborhood.
The story of Castellano and Coonan is a testament to the complexities of power, loyalty, and betrayal in the underworld. Their alliance, though short-lived, left a lasting mark on the Irish-American and Italian-American criminal legacies.
Reader Q&A
What led to the alliance between Castellano and Coonan?
The alliance was formed out of mutual benefit; Castellano needed enforcers for violent tasks, while Coonan sought legitimacy and protection from the Mafia.
How did the dynamics between The Westies and the Gambino family differ?
The Westies operated with a chaotic, aggressive style, contrasting sharply with the structured, strategic approach of the Gambino family.
What ultimately caused the downfall of their alliance?
Tensions over drug trafficking and internal betrayals, coupled with law enforcement crackdowns, led to the dismantling of The Westies and the assassination of Castellano.
