Mobster, brother of Gambino crime boss
Mobster Peter Gotti, brother of notorious Gambino crime boss John Gotti, has died while serving a federal prison sentence, a person familiar with the matter has told the Associated Press.
Gotti, 81, died of natural causes at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C., the person, who is not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Thursday.
Gotti was sentenced to 25 years after his conviction in 2003 on racketeering and other charges alleging he took command of the Gambino syndicate after his brother John was jailed.
He had sought an early release, citing his poor health and his rejection of the gangster life, in an effort to avoid dying in prison. He served more than 17 years behind bars.
John Gotti, known as both the “Dapper Don” because of his expensive suits and swept-back silvery hair, and the “Teflon Don” for his series of acquittals, was serving a life term for racketeering and murder when he died of cancer in 2002.
Lewis Kasman, a former mobster and confidant of John Gotti, recalled Peter as a “regular knock-around guy who didn’t let his title go to his head.” His kindness made him ill-suited to lead the Gambino family, Kasman said.