Carmine Agnello, the grandson of former mob boss John Gotti, has entered federal prison. Agnello, previously featured on the reality TV show “Growing Up Gotti,” was sentenced to 15 months for fraud charges. He made attempts to delay his sentence by claiming he intended to donate a kidney to his mother, Victoria Gotti, who suffers from chronic kidney disease.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Agnello began his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey. Originally, Agnello was supposed to report in July, but Judge Nusrat Choudhury allowed a delay until September 18 to permit Agnello time to recover from the potential surgery.
Agnello’s legal representation claimed that Agnello was a suitable donor, but delays occurred due to recurring infections in Victoria Gotti, making the timing of a transplant unclear. Judge Choudhury stated there was no tangible evidence of an upcoming transplant, warranting Agnello’s immediate surrender.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella highlighted that a medical report suggested the transplant was not imminent, as doctors needed to treat Gotti’s infections first. Prosecutors noted Agnello’s fraudulent actions in obtaining $1.1 million from a federal small business loan program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds, intended for his company Crown Auto Parts & Recycling LLC, were misrepresented, and Agnello used them for other ventures, including a cryptocurrency investment.
Agnello, now 40, gained attention as a teenager on “Growing Up Gotti,” showcasing the Gotti family on Long Island. His grandfather John Gotti, known for his flashy persona, evaded several charges before his death in federal prison in 2002.
The prison housing Agnello has also been associated with former inmates like ex-New York Congressman George Santos, who served part of a sentence there before receiving clemency from Donald Trump.