Brooklyn Boro

Gotti grandson among trio of firebug mobsters who plead guilty to arson, bank robbery

June 27, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
"Goodfellas" mobster Vincent Asaro smiling after he was acquitted two years ago in the famous Kennedy Airport heist. Left, Asaro's lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio. AP Photo by Bryan R. Smith
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Three alleged mobsters, including John J. Gotti, the grandson of John “The Dapper Don” Gotti, pleaded guilty Tuesday to torching a car after the driver cut off “Goodfellas” crime boss Vincent Asaro, who ordered the act.

The 82-year-old Asaro, who was acquitted about two years ago for his involvement in the $6 million 1978 Lufthansa heist at JFK airport that was immortalized in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas,” was wearing a tan prison jump suit and slicked back grey hair when he pleaded guilty before Judge Allyne Ross at Brooklyn Federal Court.

“Another person burned a car at my request,” Asaro said next to his go-to lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio, who represented him in the Lufthansa trial.

The court questioned whether Macedonio could provide conflict-free representation, as she is representing Asaro’s nephew and alleged Bonanno family capo Ronald Giallanzo, busted for extortion charges.

“I would never cooperate against my nephew, I would never cooperate against anyone,” Asaro said.

Asaro and Giallanzo share a tattoo that says, “death before dishonor.”

On April 4, 2012, Gotti, 23, grandson of John “Teflon Don” Gotti, burned a car with Matthew Rullan at Asaro’s request, after the driver cut Asaro off three days before.

Gotti and Rullan got the driver’s Broad Channel, Queens address, doused the car in gasoline and lit it up in the sight of an unmarked police officer that tailed them in a high-speed chase before the cop gave up because the pair was driving too recklessly, according to court filings.

Gotti’s job was to drive his Jaguar sedan as the getaway car.

Asaro began to look at the judge with his mouth open and take time to consult Macedonio when Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Argentieri was presenting his recommended sentence of three to four years in prison.

Even though he was acquitted, his past heist trial can be taken into consideration at sentencing as well as accusations that he planned to murder a federal prosecutor believed to be Argentieri, according to a court letter from prosecutors.

Asaro allegedly said to another defendant in jail, “We need to do something about this b—h, and not f—k it up like Vinny.”

“Vinny” allegedly refers to former acting Bonanno boss Vincent Basciano, who was sentenced to life in prison and tried to direct the murder of a prosecutor.

In addition to the arson, Gotti and Rullan robbed $5,941 from Maspeth Federal Savings and Loan Association bank at 56-18 69th St. in Maspeth.

Another associate handed a teller a note that said, “I HAVE A BOMB,” before the teller put the money on the counter.

The trio was busted on March 22, 2017, nearly two weeks after Gotti was sentenced to eight years on state drug charges.

“He’s guilty of everything,” said Charles Carnesi, representing his third generation Gotti in this case.

While Gotti’s recommended sentence is five to six years, the judge may rule that half of his federal sentence could run with his state charge.

Rullan, who pleaded guilty to the bank robbery, is out on $1 million bail and walked out of court with his mother on his arm.

The three face a maximum of 20 years in prison, which would put Asaro at 102 years-old still behind bars, if he survived.

Sentencing is on for Oct. 24, but Macedonio hopes to expedite Asaro’s date for health issues, saying the sentencing is “going to be long before then.”

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