The grandson of infamous Gambino crime boss John Gotti was sentenced to greater than a 12 months in federal jail after admitting he lied so as to illegally get greater than $1 million in Covid reduction.
However Carmine G. Agnello walked out of federal court docket on Lengthy Island Monday happy total with the sentence.
“It’s alright, it may very well be worse,” Agnello mentioned as he walked to his automotive.
At first, Agnello tried to keep away from any jail time. He had beforehand informed the choose his mom, Victoria Gotti, was very in poor health and wanted a kidney transplant. He mentioned he was her kidney donor.
Prosecutors argued for an extended sentence of two years and 9 months however the choose was lenient, saying she took into consideration his willingness to donate his kidney to his mom.
“This choose listened. She’s truthful. She’s a good individual,” mentioned Agnello’s legal professional Jeffrey Lichtman. “You simply need a justifiable share.”
Agnello pleaded responsible to COVID reduction fraud. Prosecutors alleged he obtained $1.1 million in catastrophe reduction funds for his enterprise that was already closed — cash that he allegedly used to spend money on cryptocurrency.
“In the course of the top of the Covid-19 pandemic, the defendant shamefully lined his personal pockets with authorities and taxpayers’ {dollars} which he should repay as a part of at this time’s sentence,” U.S. Legal professional Joseph Nocella Jr. mentioned. “Our workplace will proceed to research and produce to justice these criminals who stole funds that had been meant to help reputable companies and their workers throughout a time of disaster.”
In court docket, Agnello’s legal professional informed the choose his consumer suffered from a playing dependancy, for which he’s in remedy. He additionally blamed his household and weird upbringing for his actions, saying Agnello was thrust into the highlight at a younger age with a actuality present, “Rising Up Gotti,” that glorified his household’s prison historical past.
“Carmine’s story may be very compelling and really uncommon. He didn’t have a traditional childhood and he had a warped sense of actuality and that’s what led him to the actions that bought him sentenced at this time,” mentioned Lichtman.
“My actions had been flawed, egocentric and prison, I ought to have identified higher,” Agnello informed the choose, including “I carry a substantial amount of guilt and disgrace for my actions.”
Agnello was sentenced to a 12 months and three months. He additionally should pay again the federal government $1,286,302 whereas additionally finishing 100 hours neighborhood service and serving two years of supervised launch.
His uncle, John Gotti Jr., who was additionally in court docket, wrote a letter to the choose on his nephew’s behalf.
“His mom did a advantageous job elevating him, however the circumstances round him had been very tough,” Gotti Jr, informed reporters outdoors of court docket in Central Islip. “You guys know there are 15 members of our household who went to jail I feel it’s sufficient. I feel we did our time.”
In keeping with Lichtman, if Victoria Gotti must have a transplant whereas Agnello is in jail, he can apply for a furlough to have the process. Agnello is scheduled to give up on July 20.
