Gotti Appearance

It was gentleman Junior John Gotti at the Westchester County Courthouse today. Gotti was in court today for the first time since winning his release on bail. While in the lobby a woman dropped a roll of quarters and he helped gather the coins scattered on the floor. In court, defense lawyer Gerald Shargel asked that 358-thousand dollars in cash and other assets be unfrozen. The money had been found in a Queens basement. Prosecutors claim the properties are the "direct proceeds" of racketeering, subject to forfeiture if Gotti loses his case. Gotti had spent more than eight months in jail after his January indictment on racketeering charges including robbery, extortion, loansharking, gambling and fraud. He could get 20 years in prison. He is the son of John Gotti, the "Dapper Don," who is serving a life-without-parole term. Prosecutors asked that three of Gotti's original codefendants, including former baseball star Dennis McLain, be tried along with him next year. Gotti had 22 codefendants at the time of the indictment, but several guilty pleas and severances reduced the number to six.