Surviving the Mob - Dennis Griffin [31]
As the jurors left the courtroom, Gotti, the other defendants, their lawyers, and supporters gave them a standing ovation. As Gotti was heading for the door, a reporter asked him how he and his associates were able to prevail. Gotti pointed to the now-empty jury box and said, “With these people here.” But it may have been more appropriate had he said, “Thanks to Mr. Pape.”
George H. Pape was the jury foreman for the 1987 trial. On February 24, 1992, after years of rumor and speculation that Gotti had inside help in his string of victories over government prosecutors, Mr. Pape was indicted for selling his vote and exerting influence on the other jurors to vote in Gotti’s favor. He’d collected $60,000 for his services.
In Pape’s subsequent trial, Mob turncoat Sammy Gravano provided crucial testimony on behalf of the government regarding the Mob’s arrangement with Pape to assure there would not be a conviction. Pape was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. But although the acquittal may have been tainted, it was an acquittal nonetheless.
ALLIANCES
Over time, Andrew had his share of problems with members of crews from other crime families, particularly the Gaspipe Casso faction of the Luccheses. However, he also developed friendships or at least working relationships with others. And contrary to what some may believe, associating or committing crimes with members of other families didn’t violate Mob protocol. There was one caveat, though, as Andrew explains.
“If you wanted to commit crimes with guys from another family it was okay. But you had to remember one thing. At the end of the day, your loyalty had to be with your own crew and family. When I was out there earning with these guys, I had to make sure I kicked some of the money up to Nicky. And if trouble ever broke out between crews or factions, my loyalty was to Nicky and nobody else.”
Andrew conducted his various business ventures according to that rule. Nicky received financial benefits from all of Andrew’s endeavors. And if push ever came to shove, Andrew’s gun would be on Nicky’s side.
Because it was all about making money, Andrew sometimes did business with individuals he didn’t like. One example was his involvement with Robert, a drug dealer associated with the Teddy Persico crew of the Colombo family.
“This Robert was kind of an asshole. I didn’t like him and neither did Mike Yannotti. But he had connections at Kennedy Airport for drugs to be flown in—I believe they originated in Arizona. When the drugs got to Kennedy, Robert’s people set them aside for him to pick up. They were making a fortune and I made a deal with Robert to get in on the action. It was a good marriage, but it only lasted a few months.
“In June I got a phone call in the middle of the night saying that Mike Yannotti had been involved in a shooting at a club called the Player’s Lounge. It was a Colombo hangout and some of the Gambinos went there, including Sammy Gravano’s Bensonhurst crew.
“I don’t know exactly what caused it, but on this particular night, there was an altercation between Mike and Robert. Later that night, they found Robert in his car in a parking lot at Caesar’s Bay Bazaar on Shore Parkway. He was bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. He was in bad shape for a while, but he survived.
“The next day Mike Yannotti called me. We still had that rivalry thing going in our personal relationship. When it came to business, though, we were a team. Mike admitted that he’d shot Robert. And then he told me that I was spending all my time at the horse room or with the other guys I’d become involved with in the drug operation. He said he could use my help and I needed to spend more time with him and my own crew. He asked me to keep away from the Colombos until the dust cleared over Robert’s shooting. That would happen after Teddy Persico and Nicky had a sit-down [a personal meeting] to resolve the matter. I said okay.
“Next