Despite the stereotype that mob family members never talk out of turn, Victoria Gotti is speaking up about growing up in one of America's most infamous crime families. Not only that, she says that her late father "The Dapper Don" was fine with her writing about their family secrets.Gotti's new book, "This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti," chronicles her life as a Mafia princess, and she's talking to CBS's "48 Hours" on Saturday about her family.
She describes growing up in a life of luxury, though she had mixed feelings about the source of that luxury. She admits that she had a pretty good idea of what her dad -- late Gambino crime family boss John Gotti -- did for a living, including ordering the deaths of rivals.
Like Father, Like Son
The family is back in the news because Victoria's brother, John Gotti Jr., is on trial for the fourth time for crimes associated with his role as head of the Gambino family between 1993 and 2008. Gotti Jr. insists that he retired in 1999, and that the statute of limitations on his crimes has run out. Seven jurors on the case are said to have asked to be dismissed from the trial this past week, possibly out of fear of retribution.
Victoria, who's had some money trouble, will reportedly discuss her heartbreak over the crime legacy on "48 Hours." "My brother is not in that courtroom," she told CBS's Troy Roberts. "It is my father, always, all over again, day in, day out. It's not about what John [Jr.] did, is doing or will do. It's about John Gotti." She and two siblings talked to "48 Hours" in the hopes of helping clear their brother's name by showing the world they grew up in.
Victoria says the trial is part of what inspired her to finally write her life story, and that her father gave her his blessing to do so before his death in 2002. A Brother Lost
One of the more notable revelations in the book is Victoria's discussion of the disappearance of Gotti neighbor John Favara, who was involved in a car accident that killed Victoria's 12-year-old brother Frank in 1980. Four months after the incident, Favara was abducted in a van and never seen again.
Victoria admits that she initially demanded that her father seek vengeance, but that he insisted she accept that it was an accident. She vehemently denies that her father was involved in Favara's death, though she admits it's likely that someone in the Gambino crime family was responsible.
Scandal Overload?!
While we appreciate the candor, we've got to ask: How is any of this shocking, exactly? That John Gotti ran afoul of the law is not exactly news. (Back in the day, he was also known as the "Teflon Don" because it took four trials to convict him, despite mountains of evidence.) Any remaining doubts about his non-involvement were more or less put to bed when he was convicted on 13 counts including murder, loansharking, racketeering and tax evasion in 1992.
We feel a little sorry for her, though. If you're pushing a book about your life with an infamous father, this was a bad week to do it. Mackenzie Phillips' revelation about the 10-year affair she had with her dad sort of stole all the father-daughter thunder this week.
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Comments:
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Saturday 26 September
By Leslie
Whine whine whine. Your father was a mobster. Your brother is a mobster. Not sure that you're not a mobster. Shut up and get a life. Afraid that if the convict your brother the money well will run dry?
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Saturday 26 September
By R Langdon
I've read several comments praising Mama Gotti for her outstanding parenting skills.
Since when do privelege, excess and a lack of boundaries set the stage for a stable. well adjusted adult? They will grow up expecting friends, partners and business associates to respond accordingly. The sense of entitlement is learned early and reinforced over time. To eliminate the problem...seek professional help. To eliminate the kids...order a hit. Your call.
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Saturday 26 September
By Dick Hurtz
and her brother John Jr. is the BIGGEST RETARD going
DUMBER THAN A BOX OF ROCKS..............and she is still a SKANK
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Wednesday 30 September
By meanwhatusay
i pray you will find God you are ignorant!
Reply
Saturday 26 September
By Dean
Can`t believe anyone would want to hear about this family of trash.
Reply
Saturday 26 September
By conrad
AWESOME.!!!!!!
Reply
Saturday 26 September
By bite me
Get a life instead of ranting in caps on a message board. No one cares about your opinion anyway, stupid bitch.
Reply
Saturday 26 September
By strikhammer
GREASE BALLS
Reply
Saturday 26 September
By MIKE
OH MY GOD, YOU ENJOYED WATCHING THAT SHOW ABOUT THAT SCUMY BUNCH! AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE FAGGY KIDS. EVERYONE OF THOSE LITTLE CREEPS WILL BE IN PRISON SOON AND THEN YOU CAN WATCH A SHOW ABOUT THERE WIFES AND FAGGY KIDS! WHATS WITH THE SHAVED HAIR LINES WITH ALL THOSE WIERDOS UP IN JERSY.
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Saturday 26 September
By Ceceila
Victoria could not live in denial all her life. Life is funny. In the end
everyone gets what they deserve.
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Saturday 26 September
By elizwashere
It always makes me sick to hear her called a mafia princess,she is nothing no more than the daughter of a man that is behind the death of people.Also no one took it upon themself to go and kill there neighbor with out it being ordered.The FBI pretty much stamped out the mafia to where you don't even hear about them anymore.You hear more about Charlie Manson and his gang of free loving(old) children then you do the mafia anymore9& that crime is 40 something years old).
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Saturday 26 September
By Rhonda
GOOD GOD SANDY ...TAKE A PILL!!!!
Reply
Saturday 26 September
By Kraiguar
Wow!
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Saturday 26 September
By Mary
I had watched her show a few times and can tell you that I don't think that education was that important with the family. They are all rude and only think of themselves. How can anyone admire this family is beyond me? Shame cause they are all nice looking people but who could or would want to be friends with them.
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Saturday 26 September
By Head Nurse
You claim you're Dick Hurtz. Tone down the rhetoric and get a good nights sleep Morning would bring favorable results.
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Sunday 27 September
By Vegas Boy
Does she tell what happened to Susan Berman???
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Saturday 26 September
By ozone
UNFORTUNATELY,WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT LOVES REAL VIOLENCE,EVERY CHANNEL ON TV THRIVES ON IT, CAUSE THATS WHAT PEOPLE WANT,THEY WANT TO SEE REAL LIFE GANG MEMBERS STRUTTING THEIR GARBAGE,MAKING THEM FAMOUS ON TV ,SHOWS ABOUT PRISON AND PRISONERS ,PEOPLE KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENTS,PEOPLE SHOT,STABBED, DURING CRIMES,THATS WHERE WE ARE. AS FAR AS VICTORIA SHE IS DOING WHAT ANY OTHER PERSON IN HER SHOES WOULD DO,BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
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Saturday 26 September
By John Bello
....As for La Cosa Nostra. Live By The Sword, Die By The Sword.
As for Italians not being white, I Beg to differ. North of Naples there are many Blond, and red headed Italians with green eyes. It is the Sicillians that are not white. Centuries ago the Moor's invaded Sicily....The Moor's are black. This is why most Sicillians have olive skin, and dark kinky hair. ....And we must also consider their superstitions.....and rampant criminal behavior. There is major predjudice between northern Italians, and Scillians. There is NO love loss here.
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Saturday 26 September
By ANNA
Go 2 Hell U shameful person... I am and always will B a PROUD ITALIAN, Rot N Hell U Stugotts... Never compare nor exemplify YOUR DISTORTED IDEALS..
U Make Me Sick, U No Italian American U Merida.. Never Speak of Me Gotti or his family with No respect, I spit on U.. And the rest... We Italians R Great of people U lazy Americans sit and collect.......................................
Sunday 27 September
By none
I take exception to your comments, John. You seem to imply that being black is the reason for crime and violence. If you look at the history America was built by by so called 'good' white on the backs of people taken from their homes and the death of people that were already here. White people destroyed whole civilizations just because they too greedy and lazy to make it work in their own country. Where they originally came from. For all the Italians who are angry about the not being white comments don't be. If being destructive,lazy and greedy is the privelege of being white then you're not missing much.