NY- Gambino gang lord Peter Gotti was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison on charges that include a botched plot to whack mob rat “Sammy Bull” Gravano – dramatically ending a legendary family rule that’s lasted nearly two decades.
The older brother of late crime boss John Gotti will began serving his quarter-century in prison only after he finishes five more years on an earlier racketeering conviction. The 65-year-old will likely die behind bars like his nefarious sibling did in 2002.
The sentence by Manhattan federal Judge Richard Casey effectively brings an end to Gotti rule of the Mafia underworld, because John Gotti’s son “Junior” is also in jail facing racketeering charges.
“The defendant was a member of a violent criminal organization for two decades,” Casey said as he handed down his sentence. “It is very serous conduct, it is quite a storied career in organized crime.
“The defendant exercised this authority to decide life or death. The public would be best protected from the defendant by putting him in jail for a long time.”
Peter Gotti, dressed in blue prison garb, shared a joke and a chuckle with his lawyer, Joseph Bondy, before the sentencing.
Bondy then pleaded for mercy, saying the godfather was in poor health and not as violent as his brother.
Gotti had spent a great deal of time in solitary confinement, but was recently let out so he could see his family. Bondy also said that Gotti hoped one day to be with his family again.
“Mr. Gotti was not particularly violent, not a bad man,” he said.
He also claimed that Gotti was already suffering after the suicide of his mistress last year and a divorce from his wife, Catherine.
“These are things Mr. Gotti will live with until the end of his days,” he lawyer said.
The reputed acting head of the Gambino family is Arnold “Zeke” Squitieri, a protege of John “Dapper Don” Gotti.
A jury convicted Peter Gotti last December of trying to kill Gravano in revenge for the testimony that put the Dapper Don behind bars in 1992.
The hit failed, and, according to some of the more sensational testimony in the case, a former Gambino capo said Gotti complained about spending $70,000 on the bungled operation.
Gotti was also found guilty of taking millions from contractors. He was convicted after a jury heard tapes of his late brother describing his participation in the crimes.
“His conduct and the breadth of criminal activity of the organization he commanded demonstrated that the defendant has been the leader of one of the largest organized crime families in the New York area,” the judge said.
Also sentenced yesterday was co-defendant and Gambino family soldier Thomas “Huck” Carbonaro, who got 70 years in prison on charges that included loan sharking and the slayings of two Gambino underlings.
The sentencing wrapped up a wild day for the Gotti family. Junior Gotti was getting ready to be tried on an indictment that included charges of conspiring to kill Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa – but that charge was suddenly dropped.
