Allison Simmons

JOHN GOTTI(aka Teflon Don)

“This is gonna be a cosa nostra ‘til I die. Be it an hour from now, or be it tonight, or a hundred years from now when I’m in jail. It’s gonna be a cosa nostra.”

Background:

Born: 10-27-40 in South Bronx, NY Frannie &Joseph Gotti: Italian Immigrants Fifth of thirteen children Only income was from fathers day laborer work Frequently moved settled in East New York Became an errand boy for an underground club at 12 Became leader of Fulton Rockaway Boys Considered a bully and constant problem at Franklin K.

Lane High School Dropped out of high school by 16 Arrested five times before age 21 Served little jail time before 21 Ranked low level associate in Fatico crew at 18 by police

Fatico is best known as an early mentor to Gambino boss John Gotti.

Rockaway boys is a street gang in New York City

Crimes Accused on Committing:

CRIME DATE VICTIM(s) PUNISHMENT

cargo thefts 1968 none 3 years in prision

murder 1974 Jimmy McBratney

prision

racketeering 1985 none 6 months in prision

Racketeering and murder

1992 13 counts guilty on

Life in prision

Most Recent Crime:

On April 2, 1992, John Gotti convicted to life in prison for his racketeering murder conviction. He was guilty on 13 counts and 5 which included murder some also gambling.He was said to have

stood up when sentenced, smiled, and said nothing. Gotti’s supporters protested in the courthouse in Brooklyn. Gotti was offered no possibility of parole. At the time only 51 years old.

Evidence Brought Against Gotti:

1) Several by standards chose Gotti in a photo line up

2) Gotti was spotted and identified on surveillance cameras

3) Secretly taped convictions4) The testify of Salvatore Gravano5) Talks with his laywers

Sentence:

A jury in New York finds mobster John Gotti, nicknamed the Teflon Don for his ability to elude conviction, guilty on 13 counts, including murder and racketeering. In the wake of the conviction, the assistant director of the FBI’s New York office, James Fox, was quoted as saying, “The don is covered in Velcro, and every charge stuck.” On June 23 of that year, Gotti was sentenced to life in prison, dealing a significant blow to organized crime.

Differential-Association Theory

I think John Gotti was deviant due to the differential-association theory. Gotti’s criminal behavior is mostly in groups and gangs. Gotti being a mob leader and a highly known gang leader in New York makes this theory logical. Gotti learned his criminal behavior at a young age from other gang members. His father was a strong influence on him.

Cultural References:

Books: Gotti’s Rules, This Family of Mine, Mobstar: The Story of John Gotti, Goombata, Gotti: Rise and Fall

Movies: Getting Gotti, Gotti, Gotti: The Rise and Fall of A Real Life Mafia Don

TV Shows: Growing Up Gotti http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/in

side-the-american-mob/videos/the-unknown-wiseguy/

Cultural References:

Songs: John Gotti by Kevin Gates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AYOS

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