Mob hit man out of the closet: Robert Mormando is gay
Mob hit man out of the closet: Robert Mormando is gay and regrets life of crime, his lawyer says
BY JOHN MARZULLI
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, October 20th 2009, 4:00 AM
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Mob hit man Robert Mormando stunned a veteran Brooklyn judge Monday when he renounced his membership in La Cosa Nostra and - for good measure - acknowledged he was gay.
"That's the first time I've heard this in court," Federal Judge Jack Weinstein said of the mobster's renunciation of his blood oath.
"I've asked many Mafia members and they've always refused," added Weinstein who was appointed to the bench in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson.
Mormando, 44, a divorced father of two sons, was being sentenced for participating in the shooting of Queens bagel store owner Angelo Mugnolo, who was wounded in the driveway of his Howard Beach home in 2003
The rubout was ordered by Vincent Gotti, the younger brother of late crime boss John Gotti, who suspected the baker was fooling around with his wife.
Mormando became a government informant shortly after the shooting. He did not have have to testify against accomplices Vincent Gotti, his nephew Richard Gotti and Angelo Ruggiero Jr., because they pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy charges last year.
Sources said Mormando's cooperation was kept a closely guarded secret until he came out Monday.
The court calendar did not identify him by name and he was referred to as "John Doe" throughout the proceeding.
Defense lawyer Nancy Ennis told the judge Mormando was given the contract a month after he was inducted into the crime family in 2002.
"He was summoned to perform an act that he found totally unacceptable afterward," Ennis said.
"He did follow through, but he found the incident to be so disagreeable shortly after that he started having strong thoughts about leaving the mob.
"He was living in hiding, not from law enforcement, but from La Cosa Nostra."
Ennis' biggest bombshell was announcing that Mormando is out of the closet.
"He has been openly gay since he left the mob," Ennis said.
Mormando's partner has refused to enter the witness protection program, but they have relocated and together they "live a peaceful working life," she said.
Members of the Mafia do not accept a gay lifestyle within its ranks although there is no specific rule that inductees must accept, like the prohibition from having an affair with another gangster's wife.
Former DeCavalcante crime boss John D'Amato was whacked in 1992 for being gay.
A burly gay hit man named Vito Arena was a member of the murderous Roy DeMeo crew. He, too, became a mob informant, but he returned to a life of a crime and was shot dead in a botched armed robbery.
In any event, Weinstein was more interested in asking Mormando what attracted him to the mob.
"As a young kid growing up in Ozone Park, John Gotti was a hero," Mormando explained. "He had cars. Power. I regret that now."
Weinstein asked: "Are you publicly willing to resign that organization?"
"Yes your honor, I already have," Mormando said.
The former wiseguy was sentenced to time served - which was no time at all. He faced up to 17 years in prison.
jmarzulli@nydailynews.com
BY JOHN MARZULLI
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, October 20th 2009, 4:00 AM
RELATED NEWS
ARTICLES
Mob rats describe other side of Junior Gotti
Junior Gotti's defense considering putting turncoat Sammy Gravano on stand
Intimidating jurors was the Gotti way, tapes reveal in Junior Gotti trial
Boo-hoo for the mob boss: Prison food is too starchy, he says
Mafia turncoat testifies he made payoffs to Junior Gotti
Juror released from Gotti trial amid fears over near-accident wasn't accident
Mob hit man Robert Mormando stunned a veteran Brooklyn judge Monday when he renounced his membership in La Cosa Nostra and - for good measure - acknowledged he was gay.
"That's the first time I've heard this in court," Federal Judge Jack Weinstein said of the mobster's renunciation of his blood oath.
"I've asked many Mafia members and they've always refused," added Weinstein who was appointed to the bench in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson.
Mormando, 44, a divorced father of two sons, was being sentenced for participating in the shooting of Queens bagel store owner Angelo Mugnolo, who was wounded in the driveway of his Howard Beach home in 2003
The rubout was ordered by Vincent Gotti, the younger brother of late crime boss John Gotti, who suspected the baker was fooling around with his wife.
Mormando became a government informant shortly after the shooting. He did not have have to testify against accomplices Vincent Gotti, his nephew Richard Gotti and Angelo Ruggiero Jr., because they pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy charges last year.
Sources said Mormando's cooperation was kept a closely guarded secret until he came out Monday.
The court calendar did not identify him by name and he was referred to as "John Doe" throughout the proceeding.
Defense lawyer Nancy Ennis told the judge Mormando was given the contract a month after he was inducted into the crime family in 2002.
"He was summoned to perform an act that he found totally unacceptable afterward," Ennis said.
"He did follow through, but he found the incident to be so disagreeable shortly after that he started having strong thoughts about leaving the mob.
"He was living in hiding, not from law enforcement, but from La Cosa Nostra."
Ennis' biggest bombshell was announcing that Mormando is out of the closet.
"He has been openly gay since he left the mob," Ennis said.
Mormando's partner has refused to enter the witness protection program, but they have relocated and together they "live a peaceful working life," she said.
Members of the Mafia do not accept a gay lifestyle within its ranks although there is no specific rule that inductees must accept, like the prohibition from having an affair with another gangster's wife.
Former DeCavalcante crime boss John D'Amato was whacked in 1992 for being gay.
A burly gay hit man named Vito Arena was a member of the murderous Roy DeMeo crew. He, too, became a mob informant, but he returned to a life of a crime and was shot dead in a botched armed robbery.
In any event, Weinstein was more interested in asking Mormando what attracted him to the mob.
"As a young kid growing up in Ozone Park, John Gotti was a hero," Mormando explained. "He had cars. Power. I regret that now."
Weinstein asked: "Are you publicly willing to resign that organization?"
"Yes your honor, I already have," Mormando said.
The former wiseguy was sentenced to time served - which was no time at all. He faced up to 17 years in prison.
jmarzulli@nydailynews.com
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