Joseph Watts (born 1942), also known as “The German“, is an associate of the Gambino crime family. He was a close confidant of former boss John Gotti and participated in the infamous 1985 assassination of Paul “Big Paul” Castellano.[1][2] Watts was not a made man due to being only Italian on his maternal side, while being German, Welsh on his paternal side, although many Mob historians believe Watts was given the same status as a captain, similar to Jimmy Burke in the Lucchese family.[3][4]
In 1993, Watts was indicted for the 1989 murder of Thomas “Tommy Sparrow” Spinelli, whom was killed several days before he was scheduled to testify.[5]
In June 2002, Watts agreed in a plea agreement to serve a 6-year prison sentence and $1 million in fines for money laundering after he had funnelled $2 million from his loansharking empire.[6][7][8]
In April 2011, at the age of 69, Watts was convicted for his part in a 1989 murder conspiracy ordered by John Gotti, and sentenced to 13 years in prison.[9] He served his sentence at FCI Cumberland, and was released from prison on January 14, 2022.[10]
References
- ^ Feuer, Alan (January 24, 2001). “Former Gotti Henchman Faces New Charges on Eve of Release”. The New York Times.
- ^ “Sarasota Herald-Tribune”. www.heraldtribune.com.
- ^ “Watts was never made, due to his German blood, but he had an illustrious career by Mafia standards”. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ “He Told Joe Watts If You Touch Sammy’s Son I will Kill You” | Sammy “The Bull” Gravano
- ^ “GOTTI BIG’S FBI MOLE ROLE”. NY Daily News. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ “MOB HIT MAN WATTS’ FUTURE DIMS”. New York Post. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ “Ex-mobster sentenced”. The Herald Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ “Longtime Gambino Associate Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 13 Years in Prison on Murder and Assault Charges”. FBI. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ Gearty, Robert (April 20, 2011). “John Gotti associate Joseph (The German Watts) sentenced to 13 years in prison for mob murder”. nydailynews.com.
- ^ Federal inmate locator (Necessary to type inmate name into website)