Fear of Gotti Led Him to Wear Tape Recorder, Confidant Says

A confidant of John Gotti agreed to secretly wear a tape recorder to the reputed mob boss’ club because he feared Gotti would have him killed for getting caught selling drugs to undercover agents, prosecutors said Thursday.

The statements about Anthony Rampino came during a federal court hearing for Gotti’s upcoming murder-racketeering trial.

Prosecutors said Rampino told FBI agents who arrested him in June, 1987, on heroin charges that he would cooperate with them if they would keep his arrest secret from Gotti, the alleged head of the Gambino organized crime family.

“His first statements were along the lines that ‘John will kill me,’ ” Assistant U.S. Atty. James Orenstein said.

Orenstein also said Rampino admitted taking part in the Dec. 16, 1985, mob killing of Gotti’s predecessor, former Gambino boss Paul Castellano, and offered “to give up the other shooters.”

Gotti is accused of orchestrating Castellano’s murder to seize control of the Gambino family, one of the nation’s most powerful criminal syndicates. Rampino has not been charged in the Castellano slaying.

Rampino also said he was willing to wear a wire to secretly record conversations inside the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club, Gotti’s main hangout in Queens, Orenstein said.

Prosecutors said they would call Rampino as a witness against Gotti, but indicated they did not expect him to testify. Rampino, 51, is serving 25 years to life in prison for heroin trafficking.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 21 for Gotti’s trial.