Jurors yesterday saw photos of John A. “Junior” Gotti in the Atlanta trial of a strip-club owner accused of funneling cash to the mob, and hookers to Knick players and other sports stars.
Blown-up surveillance photos taken in 1993 of Gotti and alleged Gambino captain Michael “Mikey Scars” DiLeonardo near the Bergin Hunt and Fish club in Queens became evidence in the sensational trial of Gold Club owner Steven Kaplan.
“We’re trying to put people together,” FBI agent Robert Vandette said of the photos.
DiLeonardo is on trial with Kaplan and four others for alleged racketeering, credit card fraud, prostitution and obstruction.
Prosecutors have devoted the first seven days of the case trying to link Kaplan, 42, to the Gambinos.
Vandette also said he tried in vain to recruit Kaplan in 1996 as an informant to help bring down the Gambinos.
“The contacts with him weren’t interviews per se,” Vandette said. “It was to gain his cooperation and recruit him as an informant.”
Under cross-examination by Kaplan lawyer Steven Sadow, Vandette admitted he did not tape-record the meetings or make any notes on them until submitting a report in February 2000.
FBI agent William Grover testified about a May 1999 meeting between Kaplan and an FBI informant in Florida who wore two recording devices while he listened from a nearby location and took notes.
“Mr. Kaplan was concerned who was the rat in his case,” the agent said.
Rerferring to his notes, Grover said Kaplan admitted knowing Gotti and that their children attended the same Long Island schools, but the club owner denied any criminal involvement with the mob scion.
“That’s bull- – – -,” Kaplan allegedly said.