December 2, 2008
Still in Charge
Feds: Gotti runs family from jail.
John Gotti may be serving a life term in prison but prosecutors say the convicted head of the powerful Gambino crime family is still running the empire from his Illinois prison cell.
In court papers made available yesterday, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged that Gotti is using his older brother, Peter, and son, John Jr., to relay messages to his organized crime empire. Both are reputedly Gambino captains.
"In order to maintain control over the Gambino family's illegal activities, Gotti uses his brother and son to relay messages between Gotti and the rest of the Gambino family," prosecutors said.
"We believe that John Gotti is still the boss of the family and he's running it through surrogates," U.S. Attorney Andrew Maloney said yesterday.
Law enforcement sources said that Gotti, 51, has remained in isolation at the federal maximum security prison at Marion, Ill., since he was sentenced in June to life without parole for murder and racketeering. The sources said Gotti calls either John Jr. or Peter twice a week, and that the Gottis meet with reputed mob captain Thomas Gambino on Saturdays at the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club in Ozone Park, Queens. Gotti's calls are tapped, the sources said.
But Gotti's lawyer, Bruce Cutler, called the government's latest allegations "hogwash" and charged that it is the prosecution's attempt to hinder Gotti's appeal.
"This is just more of the Mafia madness," Cutler said. "They [prosecutors] are just obsessed and possessed by John Gotti."
Cutler said that Gotti is in a lockup "22 3/4 hours out of 24," but has been allowed bi-monthly visits from his family.
"His brother and son visit him because they love him and they should be allowed to continue doing so," Cutler said. "As for his running anything or doing anything improper that's hogwash. He's not running any family. He's not complaining, he looks great, and he's keeping his spirits up second to none."
The new allegations were contained in court papers seeking tighter restrictions against Thomas Gambino, who was indicted with Gotti but is still awaiting trial on gambling charges. Gambino is free on $500,000 bail.
At a hearing Monday before U.S. District Court Judge I. Leo Glasser, prosecutors argued for tighter restrictions on Gambino that would limit who he speaks to and prevent him from traveling to six social clubs in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.
"To keep the Gambino family functioning and to maintain the lines of communication, Peter Gotti and John Gotti Jr. must meet with the remaining captains, soldiers and associates," prosecutors said. "Thomas Gambino is one of those captains with whom Gotti maintains contact."
Glasser denied their request.
Gambino's lawyer, Mike Rosen, said it also denied his client was involved in illegal activities with the Gottis.
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