Gambino
PER
Gambino
John A. Gotti's lawyer declared in open court yesterday that Mr. Gotti was the heir apparent to the Gambino organized crime family in 1992, after his father, then the boss of the family, was sentenced to life in prison. Mr. McGovern said that for the withdrawal defense to stand, the jury would have to be convinced that Mr. Gotti did not receive any financial or other benefit from the Gambino family after July 21, 1999, five years before he was indicted in the current case. Mr. McGovern listed examples of Mr. Gotti's continuing participation in the racketeering conspiracy, including his use of a Mafia lawyer, or 'house counsel,' as he put it, to send messages while he was in jail and his continuing collection of rent from commercial property in Queens, which the prosecution contends he bought with Gambino money.
 John A. Gotti's lawyer declared in open court that Mr. Gotti was the ''heir apparent'' to the Gambino organized crime family, after his father, then the boss of the family, was sentenced to life in prison. John Gotti was involved in the Gambino organized crime family which is said by Mr. Carnesi in his closing argument. Not only was he involved, he was in 1992 the heir apparent.