Gotti Grandson Enters Prison After Judge Rejects Further Delay for Kidney Donation

Carmine Agnello, the grandson of late mob boss John Gotti and a former reality TV personality, has begun serving a 15-month federal prison sentence for fraud. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Agnello reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, on Monday.

Agnello, now 40, had sought to postpone his surrender to undergo a kidney transplant for his mother, Victoria Gotti, who suffers from chronic kidney disease. His lawyers argued that he was a strong match for the transplant and needed to remain available while her doctors assessed her condition, which had been complicated by recurring infections.

However, U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury ruled that there was no concrete evidence a transplant would be scheduled before the proposed new date of September 18, 2026. The judge ordered Agnello to surrender immediately, stating that another deferral was unjustified.

Prosecutors had opposed the delay, noting that a medical report indicated doctors were still working to identify the cause of the infections and that no transplant could occur until they were fully treated. They described the surgery as not imminent.

Agnello pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining $1.1 million in pandemic-relief loans intended for small businesses. He applied for the funds on behalf of his company, Crown Auto Parts & Recycling LLC, but misrepresented its workforce, his criminal record, and his intended use of the money. The company had already ceased operations, and prosecutors said he used the funds for other ventures, including a $420,000 investment in a cryptocurrency business.

Agnello gained public attention as a teenager on the mid-2000s reality show "Growing Up Gotti," which followed his family's life on Long Island. His grandfather, John Gotti, the former head of the Gambino crime family, died in federal prison in 2002.

The New Jersey facility where Agnello is now held previously housed former New York Congressman George Santos, who received clemency from President Donald Trump last year.