New York Post

Gotti granny to judge: Let our thug kid off easy

- Michael Hechtman

John J. Gotti may be a criminal to the feds — but to his 75-year-old grandmothe­r he is a “beautiful young man, sensitive, loving and kind.’’

In a letter to Allyne Ross, the Brooklyn federal judge who will sentence him on arson charges, Victoria Gotti Sr. (pictured) writes, “He is my baby.”

“I adore him and pray that he will have the opportunit­y to be a produc- tive member of society again.’’

She expressed the “fervent hope that I live long enough to see him come home again before I die.’’

Hers were among some two dozen letters from family and friends pleading for mercy when Ross sentences the 24-year-old.

One of his grandfathe­rs, John Radice, admitted, “Through no fault of his own my grandson had two grandfathe­rs who were probably not the best role models . . . When I came home from prison in 2001, I tried to lead all my grandkids on a straight path.’’

Radice put blame on “cunning and powerful’’ drugs.

Gotti’s dad, Peter, wrote that at age 17, “Johnny started messing around with opioids and steroids.”

“I allowed the struggles of my own life to prevent me from saving his,” he wrote. “I was blessed enough to rise away from the streets, and I am 100 percent certain that given the chance to, my son John will.’’

John was found guilty of following orders to set fire to a car belonging to a man involved in a road-rage incident with another mobster.

The sentencing date has not been set.

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