All In The Family

John Gotti made it clear he was still the Godfather yesterday. And he did it the way the boss always does it, by making others do his dirty work.

Although Gotti said nothing in court, the words of his consigliere and the riotous and bush-league actions by his son's mob crew left no doubt about the convicted don's intentions for the future of the Gambino crime family.

When Judge I. Leo Glasser asked whether he had anything to say, the defiant don smirked and shook his head no, as if to say, "You're not worth my time."

In court, Frank LoCascio was Gotti's designated hitter, and he spoke his lines perfectly: "I am guilty of being a good friend of John Gotti. If there was more men like John Gotti, we would have a better country."

Outside the courthouse, Michael McLaughlin, who doubles as a bodyguard chauffeur for reputed capo John (Junior) Gotti, manned a bullhorn to lead rowdy demonstrators in their chant for justice: "FREE JOHN GOTTI."

Gotti's son-in-law Carmine Agnello wasn't spotted, but a flatbed tow truck bearing the name of his Queens salvage company circled the courthouse honking its horn, leaving no doubt the demonstration was a Gotti family affair.

Steven Kaplan, a reputed member of Junior Gotti's crew, also was seen chanting: FREE JOHN GOTTI. Two years ago, Kaplan and Junior Gotti were arrested with six others for pummeling two men whose dates spurned advances by the wannabe gangsters at a Long Island bar. The assault charges were dismissed later when the victims suddenly forgot who hit them.

Junior's crew members Anthony Amoroso and George (Fat Georgie) DiBello, who runs Junior's "Our Friends Social Club" in South Ozone Park, were handling out placards and keeping up with a new chant. "What did he get? RAW DEAL. What do we want? FAIR TRIAL."

Norman Dupont, the former bartender and current caretaker or Gotti's Ravenite Social Club in Little Italy, was there to lend his support. Dupont, who was arrested in a brawl with cops outside the Ravenite last fall, didn't do anything yesterday to earn a follow-up arrest, at least nothing that anyone saw.

When the mini-riot ended with one car overturned, four damaged, seven cops injured, seven residents of Howard Beach and South Ozone Park were arrested on assault and riot charges.

One arrested demonstrator, Richard Valley, 20 is an associate of Junior Gotti who frequents his social club, and another, Joseph Gotti, 22, is Junior's cousin. A third, John Gurino, is a Howard Beach deli owner whose acquittal of murder in 1984 earned his then-unknown defense lawyer, Bruce Cutler, a spot next to John Gotti.

It's a safe bet that Gotti will never take credit for yesterday's affair.

Nothing but bad things happened to the only other New York Mafia family whose flamboyant and publicity minded boss authorized and encouraged protests.

Joe Colombo, who organized demonstrations outside the FBI building 20 years ago, was gunned down at a massive Columbus Circle rally of the Italian American Civil Rights League he founded.

Gotti's actions also resemble the efforts by Colombo's successor, Carmine Persico, to run the Colombo crime family from federal prison for the eventual benefit of his son, Alphonse.

The bloody war between Persico supporters and those loyal to acting boss Victor Orena has resulted in at least eight deaths and many injuries to rival hoods as well as innocent bystanders.

Gotti's ego has apparently made him decide to ignore his promise to step down as boss if he were convicted and sentenced to a long jail term. This decision--especially if it entails the ascension of Junior to the top spot--will surely be resisted by more traditional Gambino gangsters.