Michael DiLeonardo

Michael "Mikey Scars" DiLeonardo (born June 18, 1955) is a former Italian-American mobster who rose to position of caporegime in the Gambino crime family.

Since the 1960s, he had been running errands for tips from several Gambino associates.

They would give him money for his pocket, he would do things like vandalize and assaults for them.

DiLeonardo frequently visited the Veterans and Friends social club in Brooklyn run by boss Paul Castellano.

However, DiLeonardo considered capo Paul Zaccaria and Jerry D'aquila to be his mentors in the family.

In 1973, DiLeonardo graduated from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn.

He attended college for eighteen months, but did not graduate.

In 1980, DiLeonardo opened a social club a block away from the Veterans' Club.

During the mid 1980s, DiLeonardo became a close friend of John A. Gotti, commonly known as "Junior", who was the son of future boss John J. Gotti.

Junior Gotti eventually named DiLeonardo as godfather for his second son.

In the 1980s, DiLeonardo maintained so-called legitimate jobs as a shop foreman for teamsters local 282.

DiLeonardo soon opened his own construction company, Metropolitan Stone, with Edward Garofalo, Gravano's brother-in-law.

DiLeonardo had two brothers; Colombo crime family mobster Robert DiLeonardo (who was murdered July 16, 1981 on orders of Cosa Nostra, thus Michael could not retaliate ) and James (Giovanni) DiLeonardo.

DiLeonardo's grandfather, Vincenzo DiLeonardo, was a captain in the Brooklyn faction run by Salvatore D'Aquila, who was the boss of bosses at that time.

As a young boy, DiLeonardo met Gambino boss Carlo Gambino several times at his grandfather's house.

DiLeonardo started running with violent street gangs as a teenager.

In early 1981, he moved the club to a different location in Brooklyn.

A successful venture, the club's customers included Gambino soldiers Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano and Frank DeCicco.

DiLeonardo also used his club as a headquarters for his bookmaking and loansharking, gambling operations.

He was successful and then went into a business venture and became partners in a produce market with Peter Castellano, cousin to Paul Castellano.

On July 16, 1981, DiLeonardo's brother Robert was killed in a mob-related shooting.

DiLeonardo wanted to kill the shooter, but boss Castellano ordered him to stay out because it was related to internal Colombo business.

In 1985, at age 29, DiLeonardo married Antoinette "Toni" Marie Fappiano, a cousin of Gambino underboss Frank DeCicco.

DiLeonardo had one son with Fappiano, Michael DiLeonardo Jr. After twelve years of marriage, DiLeonardo started an affair with Madeline Fischetti.

He kept Madeline in a rented apartment in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn while maintaining a home with his wife and son on Staten Island.

DiLeonardo eventually divorced Antoinette and married Madelaine; they have a son, Anthony.

A wealthy man, DiLeonardo owned a mansion on Staten Island overlooking Raritan Bay.

By age 21, DiLeonardo had started working for the Gambino family.

On December 16, 1985, Castellano was killed on orders from John J. Gotti, who became the family boss.

With Frank DeCicco now becoming underboss, DiLeonardo had Lilo Garafola as his capo.

Soon after, DiLeonardo was reporting to Gotti's Ravenite Social Club in Little Italy, Manhattan three to four times per week.

After John A. Gotti rose to power, DiLeonardo was with capo Jackie D'Amico after Lilo Garafalo died.

In April 1986, DiLeonardo was at the Veterans and Friend Club then run by Frank DeCicco on the day Frank was killed by a car bomb.

He lived there until 1998, when he moved to Eltingville, Staten Island.

At age 10, DiLeonardo was scarred on the face by a dog attack, resulting in the nickname "Mikey Scars".

His parents were second-generation immigrants, his father's parents immigrants from Bisacquino, Sicily.

His mother was a seamstress and his father was a professional bowler.

In the early 2000s DiLeonardo turned government witness and decided to cooperate with the FBI and managed to convict over 80 mobsters.

DiLeonardo testified a record 15 times, more than any other "made" Mafia member to date.

Born in New York City, DiLeonardo grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.