Victoria Gotti, daughter of Gambino family crime boss John Gotti, has made an emotional appeal to a judge on behalf of her son after he pleaded guilty to COVID-19 relief loan fraud.
In a letter submitted to the court on Wednesday, March 11, Victoria, 63, pleaded for leniency and requested that her son Carmine Agnello avoid prison time because he is planning to donate one of his kidneys to her. (Victoria shares kids Carmine Jr., 39, John, 38, and Frank, 35, with her ex-husband Carmine Agnello.)
TMZ was first to report the news.
Victoria explained to U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury that she has chronic kidney disease and her son’s health could be compromised if he undergoes the procedure behind bars. Victoria said that without his kidney, she faces a terminal condition or permanent debilitation, clarifying that her son is the only known compatible donor.
“He is there to help anyone,” she continued while pleading for the judge to give her son probation. “He is kind and generous to a fault. He is giving me the GIFT OF LIFE.”
Victoria further defended her son, calling Agnello her “Miracle Child” while noting he would “never do anything he KNEW was wrong.”
Victoria shared that he was a teacher’s pet while growing up, and viewed as a respectable young man during his time on the reality show Growing Up Gotti, which aired for three seasons from 2004 to 2005.
She made her desperate request before Agnello was set to be sentenced in Long Island federal court. His sentencing has since been postponed to next month.
Defense attorney Steven Metcalf also requested the court to consider Agnello’s medical role in the transplant as a factor in the decision about prison time.
“Undergoing this transplant means that custody in the [Bureau of Prisons] is a huge risk,” Metcalf agreed, urging the court to consider probation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Kelly argued otherwise in court docs obtained by the New York Daily News. “Being a kidney donor does not… constitute extraordinary family circumstances,” Kelly wrote, arguing that the Bureau of Prisons is equipped to handle any medical needs.
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 33 to 41 months in prison, along with roughly $1.25 million in restitution.
Agnello, who has been free on bond, pleaded guilty in 2024 to fraud charges tied to COVID-19 relief loans racking up to roughly $1.1 million.
“The defendant shamefully used the public health and economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to line his pockets with stolen funds,” stated United States Attorney Peace.
