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Sep 13, 2006 7:30 am US/Eastern
'Junior' Gotti Invested In Failed Prison Magazine
'Hottie' Magazine Venture Revealed At Racketerring Trial
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ―
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John A. "Junior" Gotti is back in court on this third racketeering trial in a year. (File)
AP
John "Junior" Gotti invested about $20,000 into a failed magazine for prison inmates called "Hottie." The magazine would have offered free legal advice as well as photos of female hip-hop stars, according to tapes played for jurors at Gotti's racketeering trial.
In the tapes, played Tuesday, Gotti discusses the venture with friend Steven Dobies, wondering about who should run the project. He said if the project failed, he'd write it off as a business loss. He claimed the investment was made with "clean" money -- something federal prosecutors dispute.
The conversation was among a series of tapes recorded with Gotti's knowledge while he was in federal lockup in Ray Brook, New York. Prosecutors introduced them in an attempt to demonstrate his continued involvement with organized crime. Dobies testified for the defense that he did not relay Mafia messages on Gotti's behalf.
Gotti was locked up for six-and-a-half years, and is now in his third racketeering trial in 12 months. The two previous trials on the charges ended with hung juries.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
