Carmine Gotti Agnello, the 40-year-old grandson of the late Gambino family crime boss John Gotti, is in trouble with the law again, this time facing a new felony charge stemming from an alleged attack on his girlfriend. The case adds to the legal woes of a man already headed for federal prison, and it has drawn fresh attention to one of the most notorious names in New York organized crime history.
Agnello was already a convicted man before this week. Back in April, he was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for pandemic fraud, and he had been due to surrender to begin serving that term in July. The new allegations surfaced while he was still free and preparing to report to prison, complicating an already precarious situation for the Gotti relative.
According to police, the latest episode unfolded on Tuesday night at Agnello's home in East Norwich, on Long Island. Officers said they received a call from a 29-year-old woman who identified herself as Agnello's girlfriend and told them he had been accusing her of cheating. What followed, prosecutors allege, turned violent inside the house.
A new felony complaint lays out disturbing accusations. Agnello allegedly slapped the woman, punched her and put both of his hands around her neck, causing substantial pain, swelling and bruising. The woman told police she struggled to breathe as he choked her, an allegation that elevated the matter from a domestic dispute to a serious criminal charge.
The timeline of his arrest drew scrutiny in court. Agnello was not taken into custody until Wednesday, and his defense attorney stated on the record that his client had been in contact with a detective and was working on arranging a surrender after the Knicks game. Police, however, said the alleged victim had called them back to the house earlier, before that planned surrender could take place.
In East Norwich, a small hamlet of fewer than 3,000 people, the Gotti name still carries weight, and not the kind most residents welcome. Neighbors said many people hear the name and simply keep walking, and several reacted bluntly to the latest allegations. Agnello's home, by several accounts, sits somewhat in disrepair, with cars bearing no plates collecting dust outside.
Reaction from those close to Agnello was muted. His defense attorney did not return calls seeking comment, and his mother, Victoria Gotti, who was approached outside the family home, declined to comment. Agnello was granted supervised release following the new charge and is due back in court on June 12th, with the assault case now hanging over him alongside his looming prison term.