Robert J. Castelli (December 16, 1949 – May 21, 2024) was an American security consultant, academic, and media personality from Goldens Bridge, New York. He served two terms as a member of the New York State Assembly, representing northeastern Westchester County, New York.
During the Vietnam War, he served with the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the United States Army. Upon his separation from the military, he became a member of the New York State Police, where he served with the elite Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Organized Crime Task Force for over two decades.
A graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, Castelli became an educator in 1996 and went on to serve as Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at Iona College. After holding elective office in local government, Castelli ran for and was elected to the State Assembly in a special election in February 2010. He was also a columnist for the website Politico and served as the shooting instructor at the Camp-Fire Club of America.
Castelli died on May 21, 2024, at the age of 74.
Early life and military career Castelli was born in Jamaica, New York. He dropped out of high school in 1967 and volunteered to join the United States Army, and was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division as an infantryman.Ehrlich, John. "Assembly hopefuls Castelli and Harckham visit New Castle ." New Castle News & Opinion Weekly. February 8, 2010. He served in combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.Castelli, Memorial Day Remarks by Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli, 1st Air Cavalry, RVN 1968-69. He received an honorable discharge in 1973.Bellettieri, Diana. "Troops abroad praised, thanked." Journal News. October 25, 2004.
Upon his return from his Army service, he worked as a Constable in South Carolina before returning to New York and beginning a 21-year career in the New York State Police, during which he worked as an intelligence officer with elite Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Organized Crime Task Force."Criminal Justice Department Faculty - Robert Castelli ." Iona College. Retrieved December 17, 2010.Donnelly, Frank. "The Russian mob: Gangsters for the new millennium." Staten Island Advance. September 5, 2000. Castelli held the ranks of trooper, sergeant, investigator, and eventually was promoted to station commander. He was involved in numerous high-profile arrests during his tenure with the State Police.Sifakis, The mafia encyclopedia, pg v.Neubauer, Meinhold. Judicial Process, pg 251.Markon, Jerry. "Largest-ever Mafia sweep makes nearly 120 arrests." The Washington Post. January 20, 2011.Schmalleger, Criminology Today, pg 71.Vulliamy, Ed. "Kingpins of US crime clean up with Mafia.com." New York Observer. June 18, 2000.
Castelli had two sons, Christian, a retired Army Special Forces Colonel who was the 2022 Republican Party nominee in North Carolina's 6th congressional district, and Paul, an ordained Minister in Florida.
Castelli was a graduate of Palmer College, the Empire State College and Harvard Kennedy School, where he was named a Pickett Fellow in Criminal Justice Policy and Management by the National Institute of Justice in recognition of his contributions to the law enforcement community."National Institute of Justice John B. Pickett Fellowship in Criminal Justice Policy and Management at the John Kennedy School of Government Harvard University." Final report to National Institute of Justice Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, by Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management of the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University. June 2003.Rentz, Neal. "Sex Offender Legislation Ideas Discussed in New Castle." The Examiner. July 27, 2010. He was also once a nationally ranked competitive sport shooter, and was a life member of the Explorers Club, and the Camp Fire Club, where he served as a shooting instructor.
After retiring from the State Police, he began a career as an educator, teaching at Iona College for thirteen years and rising to become Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department.Oliva, Zach. "NYS Assemblyman Visits SUNY Purchase." Harrison Patch. April 19, 2010.Glaberson, William. "Old Mobs Never Die, and Clichéd but Brutal Methods Refuse to Fade Away." The New York Times. January 26, 2003. He also worked as an adjunct professor at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Marist College from 1996 to 2010, where he lectured on a wide variety of criminal justice and security-related subjects including criminal investigation, organized crime, white collar crime, terrorism, security management and police procedures."Arena Profile: State Rep. Robert Castelli." Politico. Retrieved December 17, 2010.Bartley, Tom. "Expand School Policing, State Lawmakers Told." Chappaqua-Mount Kisco Patch. July 27, 2010.
These credentials made him a popular guest as an expert commentator in print, radio, and television media programs throughout the United States."Castelli extols virtues of video surveillance." News 12. May 6, 2010.Willing, Richard. "The mafia is on shaky ground." USA Today. March 9, 2006.McPhee, Michele. "Mob Boss a Sole Survivor." New York Daily News. September 17, 2000. Prior to his transition from public service to politics, Castelli was a regular contributor on network television including ABC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and Court TV.Bailey, John. "Castelli Kicks Off Campaign for Bradley's Seat ." White Plains CitizeNetReporter. September 4, 2004.Transcript of CNN's Burden of Proof. "Wall Street Organized Crime: Members of Five New York Mob Families Arrested in Largest Crackdown on Securities Fraud in U.S. History ." CNN. Aired June 16, 2000 - 12:30 p.m. ET. Castelli owned a professional security consulting business, and held certifications as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Criminal Analyst, Certified Protection Professional, Certified Police and Security Officer Instructor, Certified Firearms Instructor and licensed and bonded Private Investigator.
Political career
A Republican, Castelli was elected as a town councilman in his hometown of Lewisboro from 2000 to 2004.Rubin, Ben. "Castelli has first bill signed into law." The Journal News. August 30, 2010. He made his first run for the State Assembly in 2004.McManus, James. "Castelli Sworn in to State Assembly." Bedford-Katonah Patch. January 3, 2011.
From February 2010 to January 2013, he represented Westchester County in the New York State Legislature, which included the towns of Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, Pound Ridge and portions of the City of White Plains in Westchester County, New York.Dalen, Matt and Mastro, Ken. "Assembly race still in limbo." Lewisboro Ledger . November 10, 2010.
2010 special election Castelli was elected to the New York State Assembly in a special election on February 9, 2010, defeating County Legislator Peter Harckham in an upset victory.Rubin, Ben. "GOP's Castelli surprises in 89th District Win ." Journal News. February 10, 2010.Lungariello, Mark. "Slate set for Assembly special election ." The Harrison Report . January 21, 2010.Guzman, Sue. "Westchester's New Assemblyman Castelli Sworn In." Westchester News Online. February 16, 2010. The previous incumbent, Democratic Assemblyman Adam Bradley, had resigned after he was elected Mayor of White Plains in 2009.Bailey, John. "Robert Castelli Officially Sworn In as 89th District New York Assemblyman ." White Plains CitizeNetReporter. February 16, 2010. Castelli previously ran for the seat in 2004, but was defeated by Bradley.Guzman, Sue. "Castelli Announces Bid for Re-Election." Westchester News Online. July 15, 2010.
Political prognosticators viewed the suburban contest as a sign of a Republican resurgence and a barometer for coming fall elections, where Republicans would eventually go on to make large gains in the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and retake the New York State Senate.Auchterlonie, Tom. "Castelli Victory Has Ramifications for Westchester Democrats." Bedford-Katonah Patch. February 11, 2010.Goodman, Josh. "NY-Assembly: For Republicans, Promising Gains in Westchester County." Governing. February 10, 2010.Vielkind, Jimmy. "Kolb says special election wins are GOP ‘bellwether’". Albany Times-Union. February 10, 2010.Singer, David. "NY Assembly Special Election Results Bode Ill for Paterson and for Dems in State Senate." Huffington Post. February 9, 2010.Rubin, Ben. "Underdog Republican Castelli wins in 89th District race." Journal News. February 9, 2010. Castelli described his victory as "an expression of voter discontent with the state capitol" and the corruption prevalent in New York's State Government.Rubin, Ben. "" The Journal News. February 11, 2010.
2010 general election After serving for only eight months, the freshman legislator had to run for a full term. In the 2010 general election, Castelli held the seat by defeating White Plains City Council President Thomas Roach.Whittemore, Mike. "Castelli Via Facebook: My Opponent Has Conceded ." YNN Capital Tonight. December 10, 2010. Winning with a slim 112 vote margin, a month-long recount was necessary before Castelli could be declared the winner, thus earning him a full two-year term representing the 89th District.Rentz, Paige. "Castelli up 108, Roach awaits canvas ." The Harrison Report . December 9, 2010.Mastro, Ken. "Castelli has lead as Assembly race resumes." Lewisboro Ledger . November 23, 2010.Oliva, Zach. "It's Official: Castelli Winner in 89th Assembly Race ." Harrison Patch. December 10, 2010. The 89th Assembly District has over 10,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, and Castelli was the first Republican to hold the seat in seventeen years.Lungariello, Mark. "Castelli sworn in as assemblyman ." The Harrison Report . February 18, 2010.
His 2010 election and subsequent reelection were considered significant, as the 89th Assembly District seat to which he was elected was gerrymandered to be a Democratic district, and was home to prominent Democratic political figures, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and George Soros, billionaire financier of numerous progressive causes.Pillifant, Reid. "John Haggerty On Challenging Soros' Signature." New York Observer. December 3, 2010.Wilbur, Martin. "Castelli certified as winner in 89th Assembly District race ." The Examiner. December 14, 2010.Ganga, Elizabeth. "Castelli announces win in drawn out Assembly race ." The Journal News. December 10, 2010. Castelli was also outspent by his opponents, although he attempted to overcome these disadvantages by running what he called a "grassroots, front-porch campaign."Lungariello, Mark. "Castelli wins Assembly seat ." The Harrison Report . February 11, 2010.Henderson, Tim. "Roach concedes to Castelli in 89th A.D." The Journal News. December 10, 2010.Katz, Celeste. "Assembly GOP Leader Brian Kolb Psyched Over Bob Castelli Victory." New York Daily News. December 10, 2010.
2012 general election