Mob son John "Junior" Gotti has evaded conviction again, walking free yesterday after his fourth racketeering trial in five years ended in a fourth hung jury. Charges against Gotti, the son of the notorious Gambino crime family boss, included murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion and drug dealing. "Why me? I am blessed. I can't complain," Gotti told Reuters. "I am walking out the door. I am going to have a healthy and happy Christmas."
Prosecutors portrayed Junior as a vicious thug who took over for his father as the street boss of the Gambinos, reaping millions from cocaine trafficking. His lawyer claimed he had left organized crime in 1999 after pleading guilty to separate racketeering charges.
(More John Gotti stories.)