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News and Features about Organized Crime, Mafia and La Cosa Nostra taken from National and Local News Sources. In an attempt to get you this type of coverage in a timely manner we can not be responsible for the content of the following material. |
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3-11-00 Gottis Offer Homes For Agnello Bail. Saturday, March 11, 2000
By MIKE CLAFFEY Contradicting rumors of marital discord in the Gotti clan, Victoria Gotti and her imprisoned brother, John A. (Junior) Gotti, yesterday put up their million-dollar mansions to bail out her hubby, Carmine Agnello.
The properties include Victoria Gotti's half-share in the couple's $4 million Old Westbury, L.I., mansion and Junior Gotti's $1 million home, said Agnello's attorney, Larry Bronson. Bronson said Agnello also would pledge his real estate empire of 29 properties worth $20 million to $40 million. It was unclear whether Federal Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann would accept the offer, because prosecutors have asked to seize Agnello's properties under federal forfeiture laws. Bronson said Agnello would agree to stringent conditions in the bail offer, including house arrest, electronic monitoring and limits on visitors. Mann put off a decision on the bail issue for Agnello and his alleged accomplice, Joseph (Jumbo) Burger, until Wednesday. Agnello appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court yesterday wearing blue prison garb. He loudly cracked his knuckles at one point and appeared unfazed as lawyers haggled over the bail. "There was a sting operation to get John Gotti's son-in-law, and they've done that," said attorney Bruce Cutler, who has represented both John Gottis but was representing Burger yesterday. Agnello, 38, and six others are charged with racketeering, extortion, arson and tax fraud. Many of the charges center on an alleged bid by Agnello and his pals to take over a scrap-metal business that was operated by undercover police officers in Willets Point, Queens. The bail offer from Victoria Gotti and her brother — who is serving six years after pleading guilty to a number of federal charges last year — came amid reports that the couple's marriage was on the rocks because of a rumored affair Agnello had with an employee of his scrap-metal business. Lawyers for the family have blasted the reports as planted by authorities trying to sow dissension in the family. Victoria Gotti did not appear in court yesterday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget Rohde said Agnello used extortion and three arson attempts to try to take over the scrap metal business. According to Rohde, Agnello told the undercover officers, "They had a choice, they could bring their scrap metal to him or go out of business: 'If you don't work with me, we're going to bump heads.'" Rohde added that Burger, a massive man of about 6-feet-2, provided the muscle behind the extortion bid. "By his bulk and mannerisms, he was used to threaten people," she said.
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