Jury Gets Case of N.Y. Mafia Figure Gotti

NEW YORK — The federal case against reputed Mafia boss John Gotti went to the jury Friday after a trial in which his lawyer accused the government of trying Gotti over a life style of gambling and fancy dressing.

Jurors, their identities kept secret to prevent tampering, were instructed by U.S. District Court Judge Eugene Nickerson. They were sequestered and will begin deliberations today.

Gotti, alleged head of the Gambino crime family, and his six co-defendants were charged with running an 18-year racketeering conspiracy that included three murders, truck hijackings, gambling and loan sharking.

Other Bosses Convicted

New York’s four other reputed Mafia bosses have been convicted recently in two other cases.

Gotti, who has been jailed since May when his $1-million bail was revoked, and the others would face sentences of up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the racketeering and conspiracy counts.

They are accused of running two crews in the Gambino family, the largest of New York’s Mafia families, under supervision of the late family underboss, Aniello Dellacroce.

In 1985, when the indictment was first handed up, Dellacroce answered to the late Paul Castellano. Gotti was so obscure that Judge Nickerson had to ask how to spell his name in early hearings.

But Gotti rose through the ranks after Dellacroce’s death by cancer in December, 1985, and Castellano’s assassination outside a New York steakhouse two weeks later.

No One Charged

Investigators said they believe Gotti was behind the killing, but no one has been charged.

Defense attorneys seemed at times to be conducting a trial within a trial that included attacks on U.S. Atty. Diane Giacalone, the lead prosecutor.

In his summation Thursday, Gotti’s lawyer, Bruce Cutler, repeatedly called Giacalone a “new breed of prosecutor,” who disdained evidence in order to conduct a vendetta against people with a different way of life.

Jurors heard about that life style during hours of wiretaps played since they were seated in August.

Gotti regularly complained of losing thousands of dollars in football bets every weekend. His language was the foulest of anyone picked up on tape, and he had one of the shortest tempers.

Gotti, who wears tailored suits he says cost $1,800 each, has been dubbed “The Dapper Don” by the news media. In September his portrait, painted by Andy Warhol, graced the cover of Time magazine.