The Story of Gene Gotti

I was at the FCI in Pollock, La. One day the head of the S.I.S for the yard (The investigating division of the prison guards. They are also in charge of any criminal activity happening in the prison) stopped me as I was walking into the Chow Hall. "Crawford, you got a minute" he said. I stopped, walked over to him and said, "What's up?" At this time I had the KEYS for the yard, (Shot Caller for the white boys).  "I want to give you a heads up. You have a problem headed at you." This of course got my attention. I stood by as he told me that none other than Gene Gotti was on his way to the yard. I thanked him and went about my business, but it loomed big in my mind, Gene "Frigging" Gotti. That's a big name. But I had done time with all kinds of famous guys over the years ... I wondered why SIS would think I would have a problem with him. Two days later he hit the yard. Of course we were introduced and I went about my business waiting to see what kind of a problem he was going to be. "Maybe", I thought he is going to want to take the keys from me. Which I was okay with; in my mind he had earned it and if he wanted it he could have it. But time went by and nothing happened.; Gene had no interest in running the yard. 

We would see each other daily, and speak and shake hands. All seemed good. He certainly didn't act like he was a problem, he didn't try to tell me how to run the yard .. in fact, he was quite pleasant. As time went by one of the Italian guys on the yard, a big supporter of mine named Tommy Fiore (his picture is also in 101 Faces) put Gene and I together. And you know what, we became fast friends.

Gene, Mr. G. to me, was not big on hanging out with the other guys, he simply preferred solitude. But he also understood that he was a celebrity and that the guys, from all the different "Cars" (gangs, groups, races) wanted to take pictures with him, so about once a month he would leave his comfort-zone, go out to the yard and take photos with any and all comers; always smiling as if they were his best friends. Gene was, well, a hell of a man. 

I took a few pictures with him as well. I sent one home to my kids and my youngest son, Chris, said that he couldn't believe his father was hanging out with, GENE GOTTI! I laughed and said, yeah, I do. When I relayed this conversation to Mr. G he replied, "You tell your son that the people I count as friends, I could count on one hand. And his father is one of them." That's a true story. That's how close we were. In fact he never tried to cause me problems but instead, when asked, offered advice on how I should handle this situation or that problem.

If you've read my Shot Caller Series (On this site under "books") you know that the Cons gave me full run of the yard. In case you're wondering, I was a peace keeper rather than a bad-ass. 

On all prison yards there are different cell-blocks and the rule is, if your assigned to one you can enter that one building but not any other ones. Strictly enforced. The day before I was scheduled to leave that yard, Mr. G., Chopper (my right hand man. Colt Marlin, went home and was killed in a motorcycle accident), Alaska Mike (Mike wrote the theory of my case; on this site) and two Italian guys name Anthony Piqa (probably spelled wrong) and my buddy Thomas Fiore, violated that rule and showed up in my building. We all crowded into my cell and spent a couple hours talking and reminiscing. You out there can not know what an honor it was for Gene to show that level of respect. It is unprecedented. It was the ... well, it was a hell of an honor is all I can say.

THE DRAWING

Mr. G. was a runner, he jogged every day for hours ... man had wind for days. Well as a result of this time outside he has this very dark tan ... and for an artist using a black and white media this is a nightmare to do. In fact, the picture you are looking at was the hardest picture I have ever done. Why, you ask? Because on a deep tan like that everything is reversed. For instance the nose is darker that the surrounding cheeks. The forehead is darker that the face and so forth, a reversal of what is normally shown. Very difficult drawing, and to tell the truth, It is one of the only drawings I've done that I was not satisfied with. But, here it is. I hope you enjoy it.

Happy to tell you that Mr. G. went home after, I think 35 years in prison. 

#Respect. Gene Gotti. Friend.

 

Gene Gotti	Tommy Fiore

 

 

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