The life of the man known as Big George was about to be cut short. Big George knew he was in
danger, that he was living on borrowed time. Big George had been a Shylock and collector for the Gambino
Family in Queens New York. After maverick Capo John Gotti seized control of the family with the stunning
Mid town shooting of Boss Paul Castellano, Big George and the men he worked with were targets. The FBI
had taken down the Administration of the Gambino family in a series of RICO indictments. Big George had
decided to cooperate against legendary Underboss Joe "Piney" Armone. Piney was a very respected man in
the circles of Cosa Nostra. Piney had been involved in the French Connection heroin ring, his empire
stretched from coast to coast. Piney had his hands in the record business through his Associate Joe Isgro,
he even had control in the LA Garment District.
So when Big George testified at Piney's RICO he sealed his fate. Piney the Underboss of the Gambino family
had been appointed by John Gotti, would die in prison.
Big George had moved to Orange County California where he thought he would be safe. Big George who
was six foot seven feet tall and weighed over three hundred pounds, stuck out. He had even been in the
movie Gloria as a loanshark. It is hard to give up the life that you lived for so many years.
So Big George was soon a doorman at the Santa Ana topless club, The Mustang Ranch. Big George was
doing and dealing cocaine, he hired himself out as muscle. The man who started the club, Jimmy Casino had
been murdered in his home by unknown assailants. Big George then worked for Bill Carrol a conman,
Shylock and suspected murderer. I would love to know how Big George became involved with Mike Rizzi. Big
George soon was running with Mike Rizzi, which was crazy because of Mike's background. Mike was a Capo
in the LA Family, but he was close to the Gambino. When Jimmy Frattiano went bad, Joe Piney went to bat
for Mike so he would not be clipped. Neil Dellacroce the Underboss at the time had sanctioned Mike to run
his own Family in California. Mike had killed for all of the five families in New York, so what was Big George
thinking?
When Bill Carrol was shot in the Santa Ana parking garage, Big George had bragged that he disposed of the
bloody clothing and pistol that was used on the hit.
The last night of Big Georges life was spent in a Lake forest California hotel room with two men. Big
George was scared, he knew he was in trouble. He made some calls to those close to him, he was picking up
some cash and then he was headed to parts East. Big George received the call he was waiting for and he
left the hotel. The Irvine parking lot was deserted, but Big George knew the man he was meeting and besides
it was a nice area. A car pulled up next to his car and a man emerged opened the passenger door of Big
Georges car he sat in the seat and closed the door. They spoke for a second before the man pulled a small
pistol and fired a shot into Big George. Maybe the pistol jammed or maybe it was just Big Georges size,
whatever the case Big George flung open his door. Big George made it to his trunk before the man shot him
three more times.
The next morning Irvine police would find Big George dead near the rear of his car. The Big George
Homicide remains one of Irvine's few unsolved open cases.