Gotti Rat Was Also Disloyal To Feds
source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/09/19/2008-09-19_adopted_gotti_strayed_while_r...
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Lews Kasman, shown seated (far r.) beside John (Dapper Don) Gotti, admitted hiding $80,000 scam from feds.
The late John Gotti's "adopted son" admitted Friday he continued his criminal ways while working as an FBI informant.
Lewis Kasman had a lot of 'fessing up to do in a Florida courthouse where he's star witness against reputed Gambino gangster Vincent Artuso.
The trial is essentially a rehearsal for his next turn on the stand at the upcoming murder trial of John A. (Junior) Gotti in Tampa. "I came down here to Florida to get away from the rat race," Kasman, 51, said, prompting laughter from those who got the joke.
The FBI recruited Kasman as a snitch 12 years ago, when the elder Gotti was still boss of the Gambinos. He was promoted to full-fledged cooperating witness in 2005 as the mob family struggled with internal turmoil and some Gotti relatives leaned on Kasman for money.
Even a $12,000-a-month retainer from the feds wasn't enough to keep Kasman straight.
Under the noses of his handlers, Kasman tipped off a pal who was under investigation for selling steroids, lied to his wife's divorce lawyer, withdrew money from his children's trust fund and scammed a businessman out of $80,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McCormick asked why he hid the scam from the FBI, and Kasman replied, "I wanted to keep the 80 grand."
The prosecutor played secretly recorded tapes of Kasman and Gambino consigliere Joseph (JoJo) Corozzo discussing the dysfunctional Gottis.
"He [John Sr.] died hating that kid [John Jr.], you know that," Kasman told Corozzo.
At one point, as Kasman was testifying, a loud clanking noise was heard, caused by construction work in another part of the courthouse.
"There must be a rat in the building," one spectator cracked.
The late John Gotti's "adopted son" admitted Friday he continued his criminal ways while working as an FBI informant.
Lewis Kasman had a lot of 'fessing up to do in a Florida courthouse where he's star witness against reputed Gambino gangster Vincent Artuso.
The trial is essentially a rehearsal for his next turn on the stand at the upcoming murder trial of John A. (Junior) Gotti in Tampa. "I came down here to Florida to get away from the rat race," Kasman, 51, said, prompting laughter from those who got the joke.
The FBI recruited Kasman as a snitch 12 years ago, when the elder Gotti was still boss of the Gambinos. He was promoted to full-fledged cooperating witness in 2005 as the mob family struggled with internal turmoil and some Gotti relatives leaned on Kasman for money.
Even a $12,000-a-month retainer from the feds wasn't enough to keep Kasman straight.
Under the noses of his handlers, Kasman tipped off a pal who was under investigation for selling steroids, lied to his wife's divorce lawyer, withdrew money from his children's trust fund and scammed a businessman out of $80,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McCormick asked why he hid the scam from the FBI, and Kasman replied, "I wanted to keep the 80 grand."
The prosecutor played secretly recorded tapes of Kasman and Gambino consigliere Joseph (JoJo) Corozzo discussing the dysfunctional Gottis.
"He [John Sr.] died hating that kid [John Jr.], you know that," Kasman told Corozzo.
At one point, as Kasman was testifying, a loud clanking noise was heard, caused by construction work in another part of the courthouse.
"There must be a rat in the building," one spectator cracked.
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- credits:
- LISA LUCAS AND JOHN MARZULLI DAILY NEWS WRITERS
