Peter Gotti | |
|---|---|
 Gotti's May 30, 1990FBI mugshot | |
| Born | Peter Arthur Gotti (1939-10-15)October 15, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 2021(2021-02-25) (aged 81) Butner, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation | Crime boss |
| Predecessor | John Gotti |
| Successor | Domenico Cefalù |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
|
| Allegiance | Gambino crime family |
| Convictions | Racketeering,extortion,money laundering (2003) Racketeering,extortion, murder conspiracy (2004) |
| Criminal penalty | Nine years and four months' imprisonment (2004) 25 years' imprisonment (2005) |
Peter Arthur Gotti (October 15, 1939 – February 25, 2021) was an Americanmobster who served asboss of theGambino crime family ofNew York following the imprisonment of his younger brotherJohn Gotti.[1]
Gotti was born inthe Bronx, New York, on October 15, 1939. He was one of 13 children (two had died at birth) of John Joseph Gotti Sr. and Philomena "Fannie" DeCarlo. Gotti's brothers includedJohn J. Gotti,Gene Gotti,Richard V. Gotti, and Vincent Gotti, all of whom joined the Gambino crime family. The brothers grew up inEast New York, Brooklyn.[2] Gotti married Catherine in 1960 and fathered one child, Peter Gotti Jr. Gotti's nickname "One Eye" derives from blindness fromglaucoma in one eye.[3]
Around 1960, at age 21, Gotti started working as an associate for the Gambino family. In 1988, at age 49, the family inducted Gotti as amade man.[4] John J. Gotti designated Peter as caretaker of theBergin Hunt and Fish Club, and as a driver for John and Gene. By 1989, Peter was promoted tocapo.[5] John J. Gotti did not believe Peter had the ability to lead the crime family, which led to Peter's reputation as "the Dumbest Don".[1]
Like his father, Gotti had a legitimate job as a sanitation worker for theNew York City Department of Sanitation. Gotti eventually retired from the Sanitation Department with a disability pension after injuring his head against the back end of a garbage truck.[1]
In April 1992, his brother, John J. Gotti (Jr.), received a life sentence for racketeering and related offenses.[6][7] His brother asserted his prerogative to retain his title as boss until his death or retirement, with John's sonJohn A. Gotti and Peter relaying orders on his behalf.[8] Federal prosecutors say Peter became head of the Gambino organization after Gotti Jr. was sent to prison in 1999,[1][9] and is believed to have formally succeeded his brother John J. Gotti shortly before the latter's death in June 2002.[10]
In June 2002, a few days before his brother John's death, Gotti was indicted on federalracketeering charges. During Gotti's trial, federal prosecutors released information revealing that Gotti was having an affair with Marjorie Alexander, a longtime girlfriend. Alexander then publicly acknowledged the liaison and declared her love for Gotti. In response, Gotti berated Alexander for causing the publicity and broke off all contact with her.[1] Alexander later committed suicide in 2004.[11] During this time, Gotti's wife Catherine filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2006.[11]
On March 17, 2003, Gotti was convicted of extortion, money laundering, and racketeering activities centered on theBrooklyn andStaten Island waterfronts, and for the attempted extortion of film actorSteven Seagal.[12] On April 15, 2004, JudgeFrederic Block of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York sentenced Gotti to nine years and four months in prison for the charges.[13] During the trial, Gotti's lawyers stated that he was blind in one eye and suffered fromthyroidgoiter,sciatica,emphysema,rheumatoid arthritis,postconcussion syndrome, anddepression.[13]
On December 22, 2004, Gotti was convicted in a separate trial of racketeering charges related to extortion in the construction industry and conspiring to murder government informant and former Gambino underbossSammy Gravano.[14] On July 27, 2005, JudgeRichard C. Casey sentenced Gotti to 25 years in prison for the charges.[15] Gotti was imprisoned at theFederal Correctional Complex, Butner.[16] His projected release date was September 10, 2031.[17]
During the early and mid 2000s, Gotti held onto power through old Gotti loyalists who ran the family while he was imprisoned these loyalists included Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri and John D'Amico. However after multiple indictments and weakening of the Gotti faction by law enforcement efforts that by the late 2000s following D'Amico’s imprisonment that the Sicilian faction tookde facto control of the family and that Gotti was kept in his place as boss in name only. However in July 2011,Domenico Cefalù reportedly replaced Gotti as Gambino boss ending his reign as boss and virtually his career as a mobster since he wouldn’t be released before passing away in 2021.[18]
Gotti's requests forcompassionate release under theFirst Step Act, citing his failing health, were both denied: that of July 2019 in September, and that of December 2019[19][20] in January 2020.[21]
On February 25, 2021, Gotti died of natural causes at theFederal Correctional Complex inButner, North Carolina, at the age of 81.[22]
| American Mafia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Gambino crime family Acting boss 1999–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Gambino crime family Boss 2002–2011 | Succeeded by |
