More than a week into deliberation on the fourth racketeering trial against one-time Gambino boss John Gotti Jr., the jury still hasn't come up with a verdict — and one of its members wants a vacation.
Could the fourth time be another charm? The jury deliberating the fate of John Gotti Jr.—whose past three federal trials have ended in mistrials—sent a note to Judge Kevin Castel yesterday reading, "We are unable to reach a verdict." Castel told the group to keep deliberating at first, but then sent them home for the weekend.
The city could make some good money selling tickets and popcorn to this Gotti Jr. trial circus! Yesterday's episode starred Victoria Gotti, the unhinged wife of late mobster John (Dapper Don) Gotti and mother to Gotti Jr., who's currently on trial for racketeering. As Judge Kevin Castel moved to dismisses a juror who was criticized for her vulgar language and pro-defense attitude, the mob matriarch unleashed a profanity-laced tirade.
One day after Judge Kevin Castel tried to broker peace between fighting jurors on the John Gotti, Jr. racketeering trial, the judge tried to sugarcoat the fragile peace... with Twizzlers. Yesterday Castel presented the jury with a big tub of the artificially-flavored twists, offering three reasons for the gift. One, "If you have a Twizzler in your mouth, you can't really have a serious conversation." (Yeah, that's the last thing you want on a jury.) Two, "If you're frustrated, you've got something to take your frustration out on." (Licorice whip!) And three, "They put you in a good mood." Looks like somebody's going to have to recuse himself from any Twizzler-related lawsuits from now on!
Juror 11 in the John Gotti, Jr. racketeering trial cannot stand Juror 7, and the enmity between the two has gotten so intense that legal experts think it could result in a hung jury—which would be the fourth time federal prosecutors have been derailed by the jury. Yesterday Judge Kevin Castel intervened to try and make peace, but Juror 11, who works as a city procurement-contract analyst, seems to be at the end of her rope.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the latest John Gotti Jr. racketeering trial was experiencing internal problems because of Juror No. 7, a woman who allegedly enjoys "being escorted for cigarette breaks" and is happy to not be at work. Today, the Post is saying that the federal prosecutors' case is now in jeopardy of its fourth hung jury because of Juror No. 7's antics.
New troubles keep trumping old troubles in the already kinda-troubled John Gotti Jr racketeering trial. One juror was already excused because of some bad trades, but today the tabloids report that an anonymous letter has singled out Juror No. 7 for "diva-like behavior and a plan to push deliberations past Christmas."
After complaining about their limited food options, the jurors in John Gotti Jr.'s racketeering trial are feeling better. The Post reports that jurors enjoyed the fare at Spaghetti Western so much, "One juror even gave Manhattan federal Judge Kevin Castel a thumbs-up." While the Yelpers are meh about the Reade Street venue, Midtown Lunch likes the burger, a "1/2-pound-puck-of-chuck perfectly covered with cheese for $11."
Another juror in John Gotti Jr.'s racketeering trial was released—because his subordinate lost him money! The Post reports that the "hedge-fund manager...complained that he had lost a 'significant' bundle of dough when a subordinate 'misconstrued' his trading instructions last week." The judge allowed him to leave, adding, "I'm sorry you experienced the loss. I feel some responsibility for that myself." And there's more juror unrest: They are unhappy with the limited food options AND a cold breeze blowing on the juror box.
During the feds' fourth trial against John Gotti Jr., they played tapes of Junior and his dad, the late Teflon Don John Gotti. They discussed how, once Gotti's son-in-law Carmine Agnello had immunity in a 1989 trial, Agnello admitted he bribed a juror. Junior said, "All the lawyers involved [thought it was a] very ingenious move" but Gotti thought differently, "I woulda never in a million years suggested him to say that. I woulda tell them to go f--- themselves. If there was a church robbed and I had the steeple stickin' out of my ass, I wouldn't tell them I did it." That apparently moved Junior's sister Angel to tears.
">Post reports the Teflon Don's son shouted to John Alite during a break, "You’re a dog! You’re a dog! Did I kill little girls, you fag? You’re a punk. You’re a dog all your life — you always were. Do I strangle little girls in motels?"
Should we sorry for these twelve people who are performing their civic duty? The Daily News reports on the twelve men and women who were selected to serve on the fourth racketeering trial for John Gotti Jr. —four women, eight men (five are black, the rest are white) who work for the USPS, a high school, and the clerk's office at NY Criminal Court. Not selected was a man who said he was warned "you'll get a bullet in the head" if he voted to convict Gotti. Federal Judge Kevin Castel was amused by one potential juror's response to the question, "How far did you go in school?"—he said, "To which the response was Buffalo."
John Gotti Jr., scion of the Gambino crime family and its alleged leaders, decided to greet potential jurors to his racketeering trial, "Good morning, I am John Gotti. Here I am again." It was a reference to how this is his fourth trial (the other three times ended in hung juries); the NY Post reports that while "Manhattan federal Judge P. Kevin Castel said that while Gotti's remark was 'undoubtedly innocent and made in the utmost of good faith,' it amounted to 'improper argument.'" Castel added it could have been misconduct. Of course, it might be a long jury selection process—many people are apparently afraid of the Teflon Don's son and associates—but Gotti is ready, with his "scholarly" glasses and note-taking.
The 29-page questionnaire responses handed back from potential jurors for the John Gotti Jr. trial proved one of two things—that New Yorkers are still terrified at the idea of having a mob hit put on them or that people will go to great lengths and have no restraints to their salty humor in attempting to get out of jury duty. The News collected some of the more choice quotes from those who don't want to get stuck on the federal prosecution case of Gotti Jr. on for years of Gambino-related criminal activity, including three gangland murders. Jurors who were asked their familiarity with Gotti said things like "his fat family members are murders (sic)," "people involved with John Gotti have mysteriously 'disappeared'," and even "my brother-in-law chose to 'turn states evidence' against (the elder) Gotti and is currently in witness protection." The best line came from a juror who told the courts that a long trial would be difficult since they suffer from hepatitis C and couldn't deal with the fact that "Gotti has blood on his hands."
John Gotti Jr. pleaded not guilty once again to two new murder charges. Though the feds could have opted for the death penalty, they won't be. Gotti Jr. has been tried on other murder and racketeering charges many times before without a conviction. Curtis Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder who was allegedly targeted by Gotti Jr.'s henchman, told NY1 that he hopes the Gambino family scion finally stays behind bars, "I've got the target on my back, but you know something, I still walk those neighborhoods. I still deal with those cafones. Those guys, they threaten to bend my leg and stuff it in my pocket but I'm going to continue to talk what has been the truth for years."
Despite his claim that he had kidney stones that were more painful than going into labor, John Gotti Jr. was denied bail yesterday as he awaits his racketeering trial to start this September. A judge in Manhattan federal court yesterday said that there was no amount he could set bail at that "can reasonably assure the presence of the defendant and the safety of persons in the community." The Daily News said that Gotti showed up in court "in greenish prison garb that resembled hospital scrubs" and the paper agreed with Junior's claim that stones were more painful than childbirth. Also taking Gotti's side was arch-nemesis Curtis Sliwa, who nonetheless seemed to take glee in knowing how much pain the mob boss was in. Sliwa said, "I'm hoping they come at a prolific rate ... He can't have enough pain." Gotti's lawyer said that they do not plan to appeal the bail denial and that he believes his client has now fully passed the stones while he's been behind bars.
John Gotti Jr. is in "excruciating pain" from infected kidney stones, and his lawyers say the prison's refusal to provide him with proper medical treatment amounts to "cruel and unusual punishment." His attorneys have been trying to get him out on bail before the start of his September racketeering trial, and in court papers obtained by the Daily News, they assert, "It is common knowledge that the pain associated with kidney stones is worse than childbirth." To back up their claim, they link to a medical website with testimonials from women who've endured both; one says, "Childbirth has nothing on kidney stones. When you are in labor the pain is like a wave. With a kidney stone it is constant. I would have 10 births before ever wanting to go through the pain of a stone." So given the choice, which would you prefer, a kidney stone or a kid? The former isn't very cute, but at least it never grows up and makes you take it to Hannah Montana.
Guardian Angels founder and NY1 personality Curtis Sliwa claims that Junior Gotti threatened to kill him while the two were in Manhattan federal court yesterday. Right as Gotti's pre-trial hearing for racketeering conspiracy was breaking, Sliwa claims Gotti turned to the radio host who was in attendance and said, "You're going down." Sliwa shot back, "F*ck you!" But Gotti's lawyer told reporters that his client was saying, "He's going down" to a nearby friend that he was meeting downstairs. Capice? Sliwa may have been a little on edge (even for him) as he mentioned that Friday is the anniversary of the 1992 incident where he was shot twice and kidnapped, only to escape out of a speeding cab. He thinks it was set up by Gotti due to Sliwa's AM onslaughts against the Gambino crime family. Gotti might really be smirking widely now since a judge told prosecutors they need to present some new evidence to dispute Gotti's claim that he gave up a life of crime in 1999.
John Gotti Jr., on trial yet again (he's been tried three times before, each time ending in mistrials) for murder and drug trafficking charges, was defended by his mother yesterday. Victoria Gotti, widow of the Teflon Don, unleashed torrent of words at her son's pretrial hearing. She yelled, "Excuse me, your honor, may I speak? I am his mother!" to which the judge said no. But that didn't stop her: She shouted "How do you feel about perjury?" "Why don't you just hang him now?" "The government is suborning perjury. This trial is rigged," "They're trying to kill him before trial. These are the good guys? God help us!" and that the feds were "fighting like little b----es, instead of men." Unsurprising, the judge ended the hearing. In spite of being in jail, Junior told his lawyer he was feeling good, though his lawyer pointed out Gotti needs treatment for kidney stones. Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder who was the target of a hit, told the Daily News, "I'd be more than happy to break up his kidney stones with a nice therapeutic massage."
John Gotti Jr. returned to the NYC court scene —his past three trials have ended in mistrial, but the feds are still going after him—and was remanded without bail. The Daily News reports, "Manhattan Federal Judge Kevin Castel cited government claims that Gotti ordered three murders and oversaw a multimillion dollar cocaine trafficking network in Queens as reason for keeping the mob scion locked up ahead of his Sept. 14 trial date," and added Gotti "might have had a better shot if he stole $50 billion." Well, Gotti did manage to have the trial moved from Florida to NYC, so you win some, you lose some. The Teflon Don's son told Castel he was feeling "pretty good" except for a kidney stone issue. Junior also apologized, via his lawyer, to Castel for wearing prison garb and showing off a tattoo, but the judge said, "I'm familiar with the dress code of the place where he resides."
In this latest round, it's federal prosecutors 0, and John Gotti Jr. 1. A federal judge denied the feds's attempt to try Gotti in Florida and ordered the trial be moved to NYC. Judge Steven Merryday said the case, which includes three murder charges, against the supposed Gambino crime family boss is "unmistakably the same" as the, um, three trials Gotti went through in Manhattan in 2005 and 2006. Those NYC trials ended in mistrial, and the feds were hoping that a change of turf to Florida could change their luck. The feds had no comment, but Gotti's mother groused to the Daily News, "They can't find Osama Bin Laden but a Gotti at any given moment is a sure thing. ... The bruised egos from three hung juries will ensure [my son] will never, ever live his life in peace again."
trials against Gotti Jr. ended in mistrial. The two sides await the judge's decision.
John Gotti Jr., who was recently arrested by the feds on charges of murder and drug running, pleaded not guilty in a Florida court. Though the murders were allegedly in NY, he is being prosecuted in Florida because prosecutors say the Gambino crime family was "trying to gain a foothold" in Tampa. Which his lawyers are trying to change, saying, "The events happened in New York, and it's a disadvantage to transfer everything here." Prosecutors have unsuccessfully tried Gotti Jr. in NYC three times, and some suggest NYC-area jurors are too impressed by the mob. Still, the AP described Gotti as "looking upbeat and waving confidently to his family."
In the latest case against John Gotti Jr., federal prosecutors claim the Teflon Don's son orchestrated three mob hits in NYC and ran a huge coke ring in Florida. A U.S. Attorney said, "This indictment captures a lifetime of criminality." The Daily News has a timeline (time horizon?) of cases brought against the two John Gottis and also details crimes of the friend who ratted Junior out (the friend had once smuggled another mobster's sperm out of jail). And Gotti Jr.'s alleged would-be hit victim, Curtis Sliwa, says he'd be happy to testify in this next trial.
John Gotti Jr. is like the FBI's Great White Whale! After his three recent trials ended in mistrial--prompting a prosecutor to say that going after Junior "was above his pay grade"--the feds are at it again, arrested the former Junior don of the Gambino crime family at his Oyster Bay home this morning.
The NY Post must have a quota of Gotti front pages it must fill each year, because today's big news--according to the Post--is that the Gotti family is fighting over money that may or may not exist.
Ha! Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa wants to take John Gotti Jr. on his offer. Gotti Jr., who was unsucccessfully tried three times for allegedly shooting and kidnapping Sliwa, told reporters on Tuesday that he'd take a polygraph test "on national TV" if the FBI agent who spread rumors that Gotti was becoming a government informant was charged. Last night, Sliwa said on NY1's Inside City Hall - holding a bunch of cash, "John Gotti,...
John Gotti Jr. interrupted his lawyer and spoke with reporters after appearing at Federal Court in White Plains yesterday. Gotti, reacting to a 2006 story in the NY Post which claimed he was becoming a government informant, became angry and said that his family was scared of a possible mob hit:My family lives in fear as a result of this. What happens next? Tell me, what happens next? Does it make it all better if...
The feds must believe if you try, try, try and fail, fail, fail, you must try again, because it seems they are going to charge John Gotti Jr. with a new set of murder charges. The Post reports "Junior will likely be charged with at least five murders," including a Queens man who Gotti Jr. "allegedly disemboweled" in 1983, using a boxcutter or linoleum knife. And that's not all: Junior allegedly got help from "more...
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