Feds won't retry Gotti after 3 mistrials

Associated Press ^ | 10/20/06

[presidio9]

After three mistrials in a year, federal prosecutors said Friday that they will not pursue a fourth racketeering trial against John "Junior" Gotti, the legendary mob boss's son.

"A retrial of defendant John A. Gotti on the pending indictment is not in the interests of justice in light of the three prior hung juries in the case," said U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia.

Garcia said the court had signed prosecution paperwork filed Thursday "which ends this prosecution."

Gotti was charged with ordering the botched kidnapping of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who almost died in the 1992 attack.

Sliwa was outraged by the decision and said he would sue Gotti.

"John Gotti was given a gift he didn't deserve," Sliwa said.

Gotti's defense attorney, Charles Carnesi, did not return a phone call left at his office seeking comment.

Gotti, 42, was free on $7 million bail while awaiting the government's decision on his legal future. The son of the late Gambino family boss John Gotti claimed he had walked away from organized crime.

The most recent trial ended Sept. 28, with yet another deadlocked jury. In September 2005, a jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction; this spring, a second jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal.

[presidio9]

ping

[EricT.]

Somebody's got access to the jury pool's personal information.

[domenad]

Who knew teflon was genetic?

[snarks_when_bored]

"Thug wins! Thug wins! Thug wins!"

[newzjunkey]

In September 2005, a jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction; this spring, a second jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal.

Most certainly curious!

[L.N. Smithee]

Every time I see members of the Gotti family treated as if they were celebrities, it makes me nauseous. I don't understand for the life of me the non-judgmental obsession with gangsters in modern pop culture. It makes me wanna scream every time I see one of those Scarface t-shirts. Now there's a Scarface video game to go along with the Godfather game.

Proverbs 3:31: Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Badda-ping!

[lowbridge]

In September 2005, a jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction; this spring, a second jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal.

This would be a good time to look into the personal finances of that lone juror.

"Mr. Juror, it says here that you have been employed by Mcdonalds as a fry cook for the past two and a half years. Yet you just put a cash downpayment on a 500 thousand dollar house, bought a brand new Mercedees in cash, and bought a 60 foot sailboat again in cash. How do you explain this?"

"Juror: Er, McDonalds gave me a raise?"

[lowbridge]

Part of Gotti's defense was that he retired from hte Mafia. Of course, some juorors are too stupid to know that no one retires from the Mafia. You go out feet first.

[lowbridge]

retired from hte Mafia. Of

hte=the

Grrr, I hate making typos.