John Gotti’s Grandson Arrested for Choking Girlfriend Before Prison Term

John Gotti’s Grandson Arrested for Choking Girlfriend Before Prison Term

  June 04, 2026    Dapper_Don

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The enduring, volatile legacy of the Gambino crime family lineage took another dramatic turn on Long Island, New York. Carmine Gotti Agnello, the 40-year-old grandson of the legendary "Dapper Don" John Gotti, was taken into police custody following a violent domestic incident. The high-profile arrest occurred just days before he was scheduled to self-surrender to federal authorities to begin serving a 15-month prison sentence for running a multi-million dollar pandemic-era relief scam.

For decades, the Gotti name has been synonymous with the heights of the New York underworld and the subsequent glare of media scrutiny. This latest interaction with law enforcement reminds the public that while the structural power of the old-school multi-family syndicates has diminished, the familial legal troubles surrounding their descendants remain a fixture in New York courts.

🚨 The Long Island Assault: Inside the June 2026 Nassau County Arrest

The Domestic Dispute in East Norwich

According to official press advisories and court documents filed by the Nassau County Police Department, officers responded to a 911 domestic disturbance call on the night of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at approximately 10:20 p.m. The incident took place inside Agnello’s residential property located on Mill River Road in the affluent enclave of East Norwich, Long Island.

[Verbal Argument Inside Home] ──► [Escalation to Physical Attack] ──► [Victim Escapes & Contacts Cops]
                                                                                  │
                                                                    [Agnello Tracked Down & Arrested]

Law enforcement officials reported that a verbal dispute between Carmine Gotti Agnello and his 29-year-old girlfriend quickly turned physical. The criminal complaint notes that the argument stemmed from a domestic dispute where Agnello accused the victim of infidelity.

As the confrontation escalated, Agnello allegedly tracked the woman outside the residence, where he slapped her on the left cheek and struck her with a closed fist on the left side of her face. The physical encounter intensified when Agnello reportedly placed both hands firmly around the victim's neck, applying heavy pressure that resulted in a criminal obstruction of breathing.

During the altercation, Agnello allegedly kicked the victim and snatched her $2,000 smartphone, smashing it violently onto the ground to prevent her from contacting emergency services. The victim managed to break free from the property, leave the immediate area, and successfully flag down authorities.

Formal Charges and Arraignment Details

Following a brief search by local detectives, Agnello was located and arrested without incident on Wednesday night, June 3, 2026. Law enforcement processed him on multiple state-level charges, including:

• Second-Degree Criminal Mischief (Felony charge due to the value of the destroyed property)

• Third-Degree Assault (Misdemeanor)

• Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation (Misdemeanor)

On Thursday morning, June 4, 2026, Agnello was brought before a judge at the Nassau County First District Court in Hempstead. Flanked by his criminal defense team, Agnello entered a formal plea of not guilty to all counts. Despite the severity of the allegations and his status as a convicted federal felon awaiting a prison report date, Agnello was released on his own recognizance without being required to post financial bail under current New York statutory guidelines. The presiding judge issued a temporary, absolute order of protection, legally barring him from making any form of contact with the victim.

💰 Looming Prison Time: The $1.1 Million COVID Fraud Scheme

What complicates Agnello's state-level domestic violence arrest is his current standing with the federal judiciary. On April 20, 2026, just weeks prior to this assault, Agnello stood inside the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, where United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury sentenced him to serve 15 months in federal prison.

                      ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
                      │    THE COVID DISASTER RELIEF SCAM       │
                      └────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
                                           │
          ┌────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────┐
          ▼                                                                 ▼
┌──────────────────────────────────┐                              ┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│   The Fraudulent SBA Applications  │                              │                                Diversion of Taxpayer Capital  │
│ • Submitted via Crown Auto Parts │                              │                                   • $420,000 Transferred to Crypto │
│ • Falsified Employee Payroll Logs│                              │                                      • Personal Cash Allocations      │
│ • Concealed Misdemeanor Record   │                              │                                      • $1.2M Ordered in Restitution   │
└──────────────────────────────────┘                              └──────────────────────────────────┘

Crown Auto Parts and the Small Business Administration Scams

The federal conviction stems from a multi-year financial investigation spearheaded by the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) U.S. Attorney's Office and federal postal inspectors. Court filings revealed that between April 2020 and November 2021, amidst the height of the global pandemic, Agnello engaged in a calculated scheme to defraud the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).

Operating through his business enterprise, Crown Auto Parts & Recycling, LLC, based in Jamaica, Queens—a neighborhood historically linked to Gambino-controlled automotive and scrap metal rackets—Agnello submitted a sequence of fraudulent applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP).

The documentation intentionally lied about the business's structural employee metrics and gross payroll overhead. Crucially, Agnello checked boxes certifying under penalty of perjury that he possessed no prior criminal record, deliberately concealing a 2018 misdemeanor conviction to bypass federal compliance checks. In total, the federal government inadvertently disbursed $1.1 million in disaster relief loans straight into accounts controlled by Agnello.

Cryptocurrency Diversions and the Financial Penalty

Instead of deploying the federal capital to secure employee retainment or maintain automotive garage operations, federal prosecutors proved that Agnello immediately diverted the cash for personal enrichment. Most notably, Agnello transferred roughly $420,000 of the stolen taxpayer relief funds directly into a high-risk cryptocurrency startup investment scheme, using the remaining funds as a personal piggy bank.

Alongside his 15-month prison term, Judge Choudhury handed down severe financial judgments, ordering Agnello to execute $1,268,302 in mandatory restitution back to the SBA, complete 100 hours of community service, and remain under strict court supervision for two years following his eventual release from prison.

📺 Kidneys, Context, and the Reality TV Upbringing

The Medical Defense Request: Victoria Gotti’s Kidney Failure

During his April 2026 sentencing hearing, Agnello’s defense attorneys fought hard to keep him out of a federal cell, pleading with the court to substitute prison time with home confinement. The core of their argument rested on a compelling family medical emergency: Agnello's mother, Victoria Gotti—the high-profile daughter of John Gotti—is reportedly suffering from severe kidney failure.

The defense asserted that Carmine was a direct blood match and was actively preparing to undergo surgeries to donate a kidney to his mother. His legal team argued that putting him in a federal correctional facility would disrupt this life-saving transplant.

While Judge Choudhury rejected the home confinement request, she granted a concession, indicating that if the medical transplant date was formalized during his incarceration, his attorneys could file a formal motion for a medical furlough to allow the procedure to take place. Agnello was handed a self-surrender date of June 12, 2026 (with some court-related continuances extending out to July 20, 2026) to report to the Bureau of Prisons. This fresh domestic violence arrest on Long Island could severely disrupt that timeline, as federal prosecutors may move to revoke his pre-surrender release due to a violation of his bail conditions.

"Growing Up Gotti" and a Distorted Reality

During the court proceedings, Agnello’s defense counsel offered a unique argument regarding his development, blaming his actions on his unusual childhood. As a teenager in the early 2000s, Carmine, alongside his brothers John Jr. and Frank, starred in the hit A&E reality television show "Growing Up Gotti."

[Childhood Reality TV Fame] ──► [Glamorization of Mafia Lineage] ──► [Distorted Legal Reality]

The show focused on Victoria Gotti raising her three slicked-back haired teenage sons in their sprawling Long Island mansion, turning the family into pop-culture stars. His defense attorney argued to the judge that being thrust into the national media spotlight at such a vulnerable age, inside a household that frequently romanticized its organized crime associations, gave the young Agnello a skewed perception of the law. Outside the courthouse, his uncle, former Gambino acting boss John "Junior" Gotti, expressed his frustration to reporters regarding the family's ongoing legal battles:

"His mother did a fine job raising him, but the circumstances surrounding our family are always incredibly difficult. As you all know, we've had 15 separate members of our family go to prison over the years. I think it’s enough. I think our family has done its time."

🦅 Historical Context: The Gambino Family and the Agnello Lineage

To understand the broader significance of Carmine Gotti Agnello’s current legal battles, one must examine the history of his father, Carmine Agnello Sr.

                       ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
                       │     THE GAMBINO-AGNELLO LINEAGE        │
                       └───────────────────┬────────────────────┘
                                           │
          ┌────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────┐
          ▼                                                                 ▼
┌──────────────────────────────────┐                              ┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│     The Patriarchal Foundation                                  │                                        The Structural Father       
│ • Boss: John "Dapper Don" Gotti                                │                                        • Carmine Agnello Sr.            
│ • Controlled the Family (1985-92)                              │                                         • Gambino Soldier / Scrap King   
│ • Absolute Rejection of Anonymity                              │                                         • Dominated Queens Auto Yards    
└──────────────────────────────────┘                              └──────────────────────────────────┘

Carmine Agnello Sr. and the Scrap Metal Rackets

During the 1980s and 1990s, Carmine Agnello Sr. was a prominent soldier in the Gambino crime family, operating under the direct protection of his father-in-law, John Gotti. Agnello Sr. controlled the lucrative auto-recycling and scrap metal yards in Willets Point and Jamaica, Queens.

Known for his aggressive business style, Agnello Sr. was convicted in 2001 of federal racketeering charges that involved extorting competitor scrap metal dealers, running illegal gambling operations, and operating a systemic insurance fraud scheme. He served nine years in federal prison and was ordered to forfeit millions in asset cash to the government.

The automotive business where his son Carmine Jr. committed the 2026 COVID relief fraud—Crown Auto Parts & Recycling—is a direct continuation of the family's historical presence in the Queens industrial scrap metal sector.

The Modern Position of the Gambino Crime Family

The ongoing legal troubles of the Gotti-Agnello descendants draw considerable media attention, but federal law enforcement sources clarify that the modern, active street administration of the Gambino crime family has intentionally distanced itself from the flamboyant style of the Gotti era.

Following the 1992 conviction of John Gotti and the subsequent prosecutions of his brother Peter Gotti, control of the organization shifted back to its traditional, quiet core. The family's operations moved away from the high-profile public approach of the 1980s, returning to the low-profile strategies favored by historic leaders like Carlo Gambino.

Today, the family focuses on secure, white-collar industries, construction unions, and underground gambling rings, keeping its active street bosses away from reality television cameras and celebrity circles.

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Former Gambino Underboss sends message to hit team from NYC sent to kill him

Former Gambino Underboss sends message to hit team from NYC sent to kill him

  January 04, 2022    Dapper_Don

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Jailed Gambino soldier who plotted to kill turncoat Sammy the Bull with a land mine wants sentenced slashed

Jailed Gambino soldier who plotted to kill turncoat Sammy the Bull with a land mine wants sentenced slashed

  June 13, 2021    Dapper_Don

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Former Travis resident and reputed Gambino organized crime family solider Thomas "Huck" Carbonaro has a long and violent criminal history.

Nearly two decades ago, Carbonaro was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate notorious mob turncoat Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano in Arizona in late 1999 and early 2000.

Carbonaro was also found guilty for his role in two other murder plots: The April 1998 slaying of New Springville resident Frank Hydell and the August 1990 killing of construction official and reputed Gambino solider Edward Garofalo.

Hydell was gunned down outside Scarlet’s, a former South Beach strip club.

Carbonaro, now 73, doesn’t dispute the seriousness of his crimes, which also includes a construction industry shakedown, his lawyer said in a recent letter to the court.

But he is a changed man.

One who deserves a shot at having his 70-year sentence reduced and spending his remaining years with his family.

“Mr. Carbonaro is no longer the man who committed his offenses of conviction,” wrote attorney Harlan Protass. “Rather, today, he is a simple convict doing his time, trying to improve himself and attempting to maintain relationships with his large, loving and ever-growing family.”

“He has put decades of distance between himself and his criminal conduct and decades of distance between himself and any individual associated with the ‘Gambino Crime Family’ who might induce him to engage in criminal conduct should he be released from prison,” Protass said. “Mr. Carbonaro is, simply put, ready to start a new chapter in his life.”

Carbonaro has already served 18 years behind bars.

Protass seeks to reduce the sentence to 25 years, or a period less than 70 years which the court finds “just, fair (and) appropriate.”

FEDS: NO BREAK

Citing Carbonaro’s troubling criminal past, Manhattan federal prosecutors say he doesn’t deserve a break.

“The defendant and his associates were part of the notorious Gambino crime family and conspired to murder individuals they suspected were cooperating with the government and threatening their illegal enterprise,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Robles in opposition. “These offenses thus could not have been more harmful to the public and our justice system.”

“Given the multiple lives taken at the hands of the defendant and his co-conspirators, as well as the defendant’s involvement in loan-sharking and extortions on behalf of the Gambino crime family, the 70-year sentence imposed by the court was fair and should remain undisturbed,” Robles said.

No date has been set for Manhattan federal court Judge Colleen McMahon to rule on Carbonaro’s motion.

In December 2004, Carbonaro was convicted in Manhattan federal court of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, extortion and conspiracy to commit murder.

He was sentenced to three consecutive prison terms of 20 years each, plus a consecutive term of 10 years.

Carbonaro appealed his convictions and sentence and was denied.

His projected release date is in March of 2063. Which effectively makes his prison term a life sentence, said Protass.

While behind bars, Carbonaro has been a model prisoner, the attorney wrote the court.

That, coupled with Carbonaro’s age, “serious” health issues and scant likelihood of recidivism make him an ideal candidate for a sentence reduction, reasoned Protass.

“Despite having no realistic hope of release before the end of his life, Mr. Carbonaro has sought to rehabilitate himself to the fullest extent possible, as evidenced by his accomplishments behind bars and his meritorious prison record, which includes no disciplinary violations whatsoever,” Protass wrote.

Carbonaro has earned his GED and “several valued certificates,” said the lawyer.

More importantly, he is remorseful for his actions, Protass wrote.

“Mr. Carbonaro makes no excuses for his criminal conduct or former criminal associations. He does not seek to justify, diminish or detract from the seriousness of the offenses,” said the lawyer. “And he unequivocally accepts responsibility for his criminal conduct, including the conspiracies that resulted in the tragic deaths of Edward Garofalo and Frank Hydell.”

DISPROPORTIONATE SENTENCE?

Another reason for a reduced sentence: Carbonaro’s 70-year prison term is disproportionate to the sentences received by his co-defendants, maintained Protass.

Peter Gotti, the acting Gambino crime boss, was sentenced to 25 years. Edward Garafola, a cousin of the victim, Edward Garofalo, got 30 years.

Both men died before finishing their terms.

“Unlike Mr. Carbonaro, both Mr. Gotti and Mr. Garafola each had at least a chance of surviving their prison sentences (even if they did not),” wrote Protass. “Realistically, Mr. Carbonaro will not survive his current 70-year sentence.”

Gotti, 81, died in prison earlier this year.

He was convicted in 2004 for putting a $70,000 bounty on Gravano’s head.

A onetime Graniteville resident, Gravano’s testimony had helped send Gotti’s brother, mob chief John Gotti Sr., to prison.

Prosecutors at the time said the men plotted to kill Gravano in Arizona with a homemade land mine or a hunting rifle as payback for turning against the family.

Gravano, however, was busted on drug charges before the hit could be carried out.

Prosecutors contend Carbonaro has failed to demonstrate “extraordinary and compelling reasons” warranting compassionate release.

Regarding his health issues, prosecutors maintain he has received and will continue to receive appropriate treatment in prison.

And the scope of his crimes nullifies his positive prison behavior, contend prosecutors.

“While the government commends the efforts the defendant has taken to rehabilitate himself and recognizes that he has the love and support of his family, that does not negate his lengthy criminal history prior to conspiring to commit multiple murders or the seriousness of offenses that he committed on behalf of one of the most vicious and notorious crime organizations in New York,” wrote prosecutors.

“Under these circumstances, the court should require the defendant to serve the remainder of his sentence,” prosecutors said.

https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/2021/05/reputed-gambino-soldier-who-plotted-to-kill-sammy-the-bull-with-land-mine-wants-70-year-sentence-slashed-no-way-say-feds.html

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Long Island home where deceased former Gambino boss Peter Gotti once lived sells for $651K

Long Island home where deceased former Gambino boss Peter Gotti once lived sells for $651K

  February 26, 2021    Dapper_Don

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The Long Island home where the late mobster Peter Gotti and his then-wife, Catherine, once resided was sold for $651,000, The Post has learned. 

New York property records reveal that the Gottis purchased the house in 1976 — during the height of his crime days. However, the pair sold the home 10 years later, for $185,000. 

The property, which has since undergone a series of modern renovations, sold again on Dec. 17.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home of the former Gambino crime boss — who died Thursday in prison — spans 1,702 square feet and sits on a 0.24-acre lot. 

 

Peter Gotti (from left), his brother John Gotti and Bobby Boriello on May 19, 1986. 

The first floor has an open layout with a large island in the kitchen.

The property also features in-ground sprinklers and an expansive backyard with a large deck for barbecues and entertaining. 

It is situated three blocks from the Long Island Railroad for easy access to New York City.

Peter was sentenced to 25 years in prison after his 2003 conviction on racketeering and other charges, alleging he took control of the Gambino crime organization after his mob boss brother, John Gotti, was locked up.

One year following his prison sentence, Catherine, then separated from Peter, angrily accused him in a divorce hearing of cutting her off from his modest pension while hiding ill-gotten millions. 

“He’s defiant about everything that comes to my benefit,” she said during the Sept. 22, 2004, court appearance. 

In a scathing letter to the federal judge, she requested a share of the pension and at least partial ownership of the $600,000 Howard Beach home that had been in Peter’s name. Catherine still owns that home today. 

Their divorce was finalized in 2006. 

The onetime Gambino crime family boss died in prison on Thursday after losing two bids for early release, his lawyer confirmed in a statement. 

Peter, the successor to brother John “Dapper Don” Gotti, was 81 years old when he died at the Federal Medical Center prison in Butner, North Carolina. 

He had been suffering from thyroid problems and was blind in one eye, Lewis Kasman, a former mobster and John Gotti confidant, told the AP.

https://nypost.com/2021/02/26/long-island-home-of-mobster-peter-gotti-during-crime-days-sells/

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Former Gambino family boss Peter Gotti dead at 81

Former Gambino family boss Peter Gotti dead at 81

  February 26, 2021    Dapper_Don

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Mobster Peter Gotti, the one-time Gambino crime boss and successor to brother John “Dapper Don” Gotti, died in North Carolina where he was serving time in federal prison. He was 81.

Gotti, who had been sentenced to 25 years in jail after being convicted in 2003 on racketeering and other charges, died of natural causes at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, the Associated Press reported.

The Bronx native served more than 17 years behind bars and had been recently seeking an early release because of his poor health.

He had been suffering from thyroid problems and was blind in one eye, Lewis Kasman, a former mobster and John Gotti confidant, told the AP.

Peter Gotti’s lawyers for years had sought to get him sprung from prison early on compassionate release.

“We are truly afraid he is dying now, he feels he is,” attorney James Craven wrote in court papers in December 2019. “As his lawyer, I am afraid this will all become moot soon if nothing is done.”

In another bid to have Gotti released, Craven remarked that even “Stevie Wonder could see” the former crime boss was not dangerous.

Kasman recalled Gotti, a former sanitation worker, as a “regular knockaround guy who didn’t let his title go to his head.”

But his kindness made him ill-suited to lead the Gambino crime family, Kasman said.

“He was trying to do his brother’s bidding, and he had a tough task,” Kasman said. “A lot of the captains were very upset with him because he wasn’t a strong boss. The Lucchese family walked all over him.”

Peter Gotti served as the acting boss of the Gambinos from 1999 to 2002 after his younger brother, John, was sent to prison for murder and racketeering.

John Gotti died of cancer in 2002 at age 61.

Peter Gotti spent an estimated $70,000 on failed attempts to hunt down Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano after the turncoat ratted out his brother to the feds, court papers say.Gravano helped authorities bring John Gotti down in exchange for a 1991 plea deal. 

https://nypost.com/2021/02/25/peter-gotti-former-gambino-crime-boss-dead-at-81/

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Former Gambino boss loses second bid for compassionate release despite COVID-19 concerns

Former Gambino boss loses second bid for compassionate release despite COVID-19 concerns

  December 29, 2020    Dapper_Don

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Peter Gotti, Gambino family member, in a file photo.  

Ailing former Gambino mob boss Peter Gotti lost a second bid Tuesday to be released early from prison so he can spend his final days with family.

Judge Colleen McMahon rejected Gotti’s argument that he was extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 at FMC Butner in North Carolina, which has faced outbreaks like many other federal lockups around the country. Currently, there are three inmates and six staff at the prison specializing in medical treatment.

In January, the judge denied a similar request from Gotti, citing an array of ailments including heart problems, dementia, blindness and cancer.

“What I said a year ago remains true today. Nothing has changed since last January — not even the threat of COVID19 — to cause this Court to alter its earlier decision,” McMahon wrote.

In her previous ruling, the judge wrote that Gotti, 81, remained a threat to society.

“Gotti headed one of the most vicious and violent organized crime organizations in New York for a period of years,” the judge wrote.

Gotti took over the Gambino crime family from his famous brother, John Gotti, in 1999. He spent $70,000 on unsuccessful efforts to whack Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, the mob rat who put John Gotti behind bars. Peter Gotti ordered two subordinates — who used aliases and changed their appearances — to travel to the West Coast and Arizona and look for Gravano.

The gangster was instrumental in extortion schemes of labor unions and the construction industry in the 1990s. He’s due to complete sentences out of both Manhattan and Brooklyn Federal Court in 2032.

Gotti’s attorney did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

“I only want to (be) home with my family and tell anyone who will listen that I am a changed man and that there is no benefit to unlawful activities,” Gotti wrote in a letter to the court last year. “I truly regret my choices that hurt so many, and in the little time I have left on this earth would hope to be able to share some of my (new-found) wisdom to help others not make the same kind of mistakes that I have made.”

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-gotti-covid-compassionate-release-20201229-n67uah4t2fhnnd4bplrbtgmi5m-story.html

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Peter Gotti set to die in prison as judge rejects plea for early release

Peter Gotti set to die in prison as judge rejects plea for early release

  January 16, 2020    Dapper_Don

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Peter Gotti will die behind bars because he’s not sick enough to warrant early release, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Manhattan federal court judge Colleen McMahon issued the decree following multiple requests from lawyers for the ex-Gambino boss that he be sprung from jail early due to illness.
“I have no doubt whatever that Gotti — who has the burden of showing that ‘extraordinary and compelling reasons’ to reduce his sentence exist — has established that he suffers from a plethora of serious, debilitating, and progressive medical conditions,” McMahon wrote. “However, he has not shown that he has a terminal illness or a serious physical or medical condition that has substantially diminished his ability to provide self-care within the environment of a correctional facility.”
“Many of Gotti’s claimed conditions are heart or lung conditions, which, according to the BOP, are adequately treated and monitored,” the jurist’s ruling read.
Lawyers for the 80-year-old have repeatedly insisted he’s on his deathbed, suffering from an enlarged prostate, gastric reflux and early onset dementia. So far, he’s served 17 years of a 25-year sentence for racketeering.
McMahon also sided with prosecutors that Gotti continued to pose a danger to the community, despite claims from his lawyers that the sickly wiseguy was incapable of violence and is a changed man.
“Gotti headed one of the most vicious and violent organized crime organizations in New York for a period of years,” MacMahon wrote. “I reject the notion that Gotti is no longer a threat to the community. The danger posed by a Gambino Family leader like Gotti is not that he will personally engage in acts of violence, but that he can command others to do so.”
A lawyer for Gotti did not immediately return a message.

https://nypost.com/2020/01/15/peter-gotti-will-die-in-prison-after-judge-rejects-plea-for-early-release/

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Lawyer claims former Gambino boss Peter Gotti is near death and seeks compassionate release

Lawyer claims former Gambino boss Peter Gotti is near death and seeks compassionate release

  December 14, 2019    Dapper_Don

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Peter Gotti is at death’s door, according to his lawyer.
The claim came as attorneys for the former Gambino boss continue their efforts to get the 80-year-old client sprung from prison early on compassionate release.
“We are truly afraid he is dying now, he feels he is,” James Craven wrote in court papers Tuesday. “As his lawyer, I am afraid this will all become moot soon if nothing is done.”
Gotti, who suffers from an enlarged prostate, gastric reflux and early-onset dementia, is 17 years into his 25-year sentence for racketeering.
Craven — who previously said even Stevie Wonder could see that Gotti has repented for his crimes — notes in his Tuesday court papers that death rates at Gotti’s North Carolina prison are “at an all time high.”
“We pray Peter Gotti won’t be next on that list, but these cases are very sad and very real. Peter Gotti has a loving home to go too, with his daughter in Howard Beach, New York. He has served over 80% of his sentence and is dying. May he get there in time,” the motion reads.
A judge has yet to rule on the request.

https://nypost.com/2019/12/11/peter-gotti-is-at-deaths-door-his-lawyer-claims/

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Peter Gotti's lawyers insist their client is a changed man and deserves to be released

Peter Gotti's lawyers insist their client is a changed man and deserves to be released

  October 02, 2019    Dapper_Don

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Even Stevie Wonder could see that mobster Peter Gotti is a changed man, his lawyers claimed Tuesday.
The off-color comment came as attorneys for the former Gambino acting boss continue attempts to spring their ailing client from prison on compassionate release 17 years into his 25-year sentence.
“He is a very sick old man who simply wants to die, when the time comes, at home,” wrote the 79-year-old’s lawyer James Craven.
“And not to make light of a very serious matter, we submit that Stevie Wonder could see that Peter Gotti is now as dangerous as he looks,” the filing says, referring to the blind, Grammy Award-winning musician. “He is truly a changed man in so many ways. We should be thankful for that.”
Meanwhile, the feds maintain that Gotti — brother of infamous “Teflon Don” John Gotti — is still a danger to the community.
Prosecutors argue that Gotti’s litany of illnesses — including an enlarged prostate, gastric reflux and early onset dementia — won’t impede his ability to order hits or carry out other crime family business.
A judge has yet to rule on the motion.
Gotti is serving his sentence in a North Carolina federal prison. His release is scheduled for 2032.
Wonder could not immediately be reached for comment.

https://nypost.com/2019/10/01/peter-gottis-lawyer-claims-even-stevie-wonder-could-see-mobster-is-changed-man/

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Feds dont want to release Peter Gotti on compassionate grounds

Feds dont want to release Peter Gotti on compassionate grounds

  September 23, 2019    Dapper_Don

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The feds aren’t feeling much compassion for Peter Gotti.
The 79-year-old former Gambino boss begged for compassionate release earlier this summer — asking to be sprung 17 years into his 25-year sentence due to medical issues including an enlarged prostate, gastric reflux and early onset dementia.
But prosecutors think the aging mafioso still poses a “substantial danger to the community” despite his laundry list of ailments, they wrote in a letter filed Monday.
“Gotti argues that he is incapable of his violence due to his age and medical condition,” writes Assistant US Attorney Jun Xiang while insisting that argument should be rejected.
“The danger posed by a Gambino Family leader like Gotti is not that he will personally engage in acts of violence, but that he can command others to do so.”
Gotti served as the acting boss of the Gambino organized crime family from 1999 to 2002, according to court papers, and spent an estimated $70,000 on failed attempts to hunt down Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano after the turncoat landed his brother John Gotti behind bars.
A judge has yet to rule on the request.
Gotti is serving time in a North Carolina federal lockup and is slated for release in 2032.

https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/feds-oppose-peter-gottis-request-for-compassionate-release/

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The Gambino Crime Family since the 1950s

The Gambino Crime Family since the 1950s

  March 14, 2019    Dapper_Don

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Decades have passed since the era when the notorious John J. Gotti strutted around Manhattan and the Gambino family virtually dominated New York City’s organized crime world.

In the years since, the organization’s power has declined, and apart from a few relatives starring in reality television shows, Gambino bosses have kept a relatively low profile.

But on Wednesday, the family was vaulted into the spotlight after its reputed boss, Francesco Cali, was fatally shot outside in his home on Staten Island.

The killing was striking for how it seemed to connect Mr. Cali, a publicity-shy don, with the ill-fated ends of past Mafia bosses.

To understand how, you’ll need to know the history of the Gambino family.

Carlo Gambino

How did the Gambino family get its name?

Though the crime organization in question had been operating for decades, the Gambino family’s name came from Carlo Gambino, who was the family’s boss from 1957 to his death in 1976.

The five major families who controlled organized crime in New York came to prominent attention because of hearings on Capitol Hill during that time. All five Mafia families were named after their leaders, and those names — the others are Bonanno, Colombo, Genovese and Lucchese — have stuck since.

How are Mafia families structured?

American Mafia families generally have similar structures. At the top is a boss who runs the show. His second-in-command is known as an underboss. He also has a consigliere, a counselor or adviser.

Underneath all of them are capos, or captains, who run crews of soldiers. Soldiers are the lowest formal members of a Mafia family, but they have usually proven themselves and have taken an oath to the organization.

So, what happened to Mr. Gambino?

He died of natural causes at age 74.

Natural causes? Or “natural causes?”

Mr. Gambino had been suffering from a serious heart condition for years before he died. Law enforcement officials at the time didn’t suspect foul play in his death.

But it’s a fair question, considering the fates that met other mob bosses — including the man who took over for him, Paul Castellano.

Paul Castellano

What happened to Mr. Castellano?

He was murdered outside a Manhattan steak house.

Mr. Castellano, Mr. Gambino’s brother-in-law, took the reins of the Gambino family in 1976. By then, it was one of the largest and most powerful crime organizations in the United States. He held the position for nine years, until he was gunned down outside Sparks Steak House in Midtown.

Mr. Castellano’s killing — which, before Mr. Cali’s death, was the last time a Mafia boss was killed in New York City — was said to be a power grab orchestrated by Mr. Gotti.

John J. Gotti

So, how was Mr. Gotti involved?

Unlike the heads of families past, John J. Gotti courted publicity and flaunted his power from the time he took control of the Gambino family in 1985 to his imprisonment in 1992.

In the tabloids, Mr. Gotti was given the name the “Dapper Don.” He often appeared in smart suits with luxe silk ties and was known for lavish spending.

His other moniker, “Teflon Don,” came from how often he managed to avoid prosecution. He was acquitted in three high-profile trials during his first five years as the Gambino boss.

But Mr. Gotti’s notoriety also came from his ruthlessness. He was known for having a furious temper and for ordering the killings of people he suspected were informants.

It was an informer who would prove his undoing. Salvatore Gravano, Mr. Gotti’s underboss, testified as a government witness at Mr. Gotti’s fourth trial on murder-racketeering charges.

Salvatore Gravano

Mr. Gravano, also known as “Sammy the Bull,” testified about Mr. Gotti’s involvement in Mr. Castellano’s murder, as well as in other crimes.

Ultimately, Mr. Gotti was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Who took over next?

Federal prosecutors said at the time that Mr. Gotti had appointed his eldest son, John A. Gotti, as the acting boss. But the younger Mr. Gotti went to prison in 1999, after pleading guilty to extortion. He has since said that he quit the mob around that time.

John A. Gotti

Investigators later said that they believed John J. Gotti was still controlling the Gambino family — acting through his older brother, Peter — until his death in prison in 2002.

Peter Gotti, who is now 79, was reputed to have become the official boss of the family after his brother’s death. He went to federal prison in 2004, serving sentences for racketeering, money laundering, extortion and plotting to kill Mr. Gravano.

Peter Gotti

With Peter Gotti in prison, the Gottis were seemingly no longer running the daily operations.

What happened with the Gambino family?

Besides John J. Gotti, the leaders of the Gambino family generally kept a low profile. The next time the family came to widespread media attention was 2008, when law enforcement arrested 62 people on federal racketeering charges.

The indictment filed by federal prosecutors said the reputed acting boss was John “Jackie” D’Amico.

John “Jackie” D’Amico

He was succeeded by Domenico Cefalù, according to a report from The New York Daily News in 2011. He ran the family until Mr. Cali took control.

With Mr. Cali’s murder, it was not clear who would take the reins of the Gambino family.

Why do I still hear the name Gotti?

The family has retained its fame. In 2004, John J. Gotti’s daughter Victoria, and her family, starred in a reality television show called “Growing Up Gotti.” The show ran for three seasons before it was canceled.

Ms. Gotti later competed on “The Celebrity Apprentice” and made appearances on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” and VH1’s “Mob Wives.”

Karen Gravano, right, with fellow “Mob Wives” cast members.

Karen Gravano, right, with fellow “Mob Wives” cast members.

She’s not the only Gambino-adjacent woman on reality shows. Karen Gravano, the daughter of the man who helped send Ms. Gotti’s father to prison, also appeared on “Mob Wives.”

Ms. Gravano went on to become an executive producer on another reality show, MTV’s “Made in Staten Island,” which starred her daughter, Karina Seabrook. The show was met with outcry from city officials, and MTV pulled it from the air after three episodes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/nyregion/gambino-crime-family.html

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