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Gene Gotti is finally out from prison after 29 years, so why is the mob so worried?

The notorious Gambino crime family demoted Gene Gotti from a head to a soldier after he was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison in 1989 for dealing heroin

By Namrata Tripathi
Updated On : 07:06 PST, Sep 17, 2018
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Tags :New York
Gene Gotti is finally out from prison after 29 years, so why is the mob so worried?

Gene Gotti, the brother of the Italian-American gangster John Gotti, was released from prison on parole on September 14 after serving 29 years for dealing heroin. Gene was a New York mobster with the Gambino crime family and was a major drug trafficker. 

According to the New York Post, Gene's release has the mob on edge as many are anxious about what this means for crime organizations and their rackets. The Post published an exclusive picture of the 71-year-old outside his family home in Valley Stream.

 

The gangster was reportedly released on parole from a federal lockup in Lousiana last week. The picture shared by the news outlet shows a stark change in Gene's appearance after he spent nearly three decades behind bars. Gene was sporting thick black hair when he went to prison but he is almost bald now with patches of white hair on his head. 

Friends and family stand in front of the Papavero funeral home to attend the wake for mobster John Gotti, June 14, 2002 in the Queens borough of New York City. Gotti was interred in a crypt the following day at St John's Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.
Friends and family stand in front of the Papavero funeral home to attend the wake for mobster John Gotti, June 14, 2002 in the Queens borough of New York City. Gotti was interred in a crypt the following day at St John's Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.

Reports state that the Gambino organized-crime family is now led by Domenico Cefalu, with Frank Cali as its “street boss,” according to law enforcement sources.

The Post's sources said that the dynamics of the family is set to change with the release of Gene, who was a mob captain when we went to prison. He is entitled to a role in the family and the prospect is reportedly worrying his cronies.

An admirer of legendary crime boss John Gotti salutes and holds a sign which reads,' John Gotti Forever' as Gotti's funeral procession passes by the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club June 15, 2002 in Queens, New York. Gotti, 61, died in a federal prison hospital June 10, 2002 from complications of head and neck cancer. Gotti was laid to rest at St. Johns Cemetery in Queens.
An admirer of legendary crime boss John Gotti salutes and holds a sign which reads,' John Gotti Forever' as Gotti's funeral procession passes by the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club June 15, 2002 in Queens, New York. Gotti, 61, died in a federal prison hospital June 10, 2002 from complications of head and neck cancer. Gotti was laid to rest at St. Johns Cemetery in Queens.

“The Gambinos are running smoothly — gambling, pills, construction unions, etc. The last thing they want is someone to put them back in papers and on TV," a law-enforcement official said, adding that they do not want any flashy leaders anymore as John Gotti’s penchant for publicity “set them back 30 years."

While his peers avoided attracting attention, especially from the media, Gene's brother John Gotti became known as "The Dapper Don" for his expensive clothes and larger-than-life personality in front of news cameras.

A floral arrangement with the name John spelled in flowers is placed in front of the Papavero funeral home for the wake of the late mobster John Gotti, June 14, 2002 in the Queens borough of New York City. Gotti will to be interred in a crypt the following day at St John's Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.
A floral arrangement with the name John spelled in flowers is placed in front of the Papavero funeral home for the wake of the late mobster John Gotti, June 14, 2002 in the Queens borough of New York City. Gotti will to be interred in a crypt the following day at St John's Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.

“They don’t want no flashy leaders, no weekly social-club meetings,” The Post reported the source as saying.

The Gambino family demoted Gene from capo — a member of the family who heads a "crew" — to soldier because he was in prison. It is not yet clear whether Gene will resume his role as capo or insist on a higher rank in the family. Reports allege that he oversaw a loan-sharking operating while he was in prison.

“Everyone hopes he will be low-key and just make a living, but that is very un-Gotti-like,” the law-enforcement official said.

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