Gotti grandson Carmine Agnello arrested on assault, other charges, records show

Carmine G. Agnello, the grandson of the late mob boss John Gotti, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly choking his girlfriend during an argument in East Norwich just weeks before he is due to surrender to federal prison on a COVID-19 fraud conviction.

Agnello, 40, pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in First District Court in Hempstead on charges of third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal mischief, court records show.

According to the criminal complaint, Agnello flew into a rage at the victim and began yelling at her and accusing her of cheating on him around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday at his East Norwich home.

She told police he shoved and pushed her in the house, prompting her to leave. When she was standing by her car, Agnello allegedly slapped her on the left cheek, punched her in the face with a closed fist and then put both hands around her neck and started choking her.

"The victim did struggle to breathe as a result of the pressure applied by [Agnello's] hands around the victim's neck," according to court papers.

He then pushed her to the ground several times and kicked her in the lower body repeatedly, the criminal complaint said.

He then took her cellphone and smashed it on the ground, according to court papers.

Agnello left the home, where he lives with his mother Victoria Gotti, then returned, according to authorities. Prosecutors said he asked police to wait until the Knicks game was over before surrendering, but eventually surrendered before the tip-off.

"I heard they won," he said after he emerged from the arraignment.

"Nothing happened," Agnello said of the allegations as he left the courtroom. He was released on his own recognizance but will remain under the supervision of the Nassau County Department of Probation on orders from Nassau District Court Judge Michael Alpert.

The victim, who is not being named because she's allegedly the victim of domestic violence, told Newsday that Agnello went through her phone before the attack and accused her of cheating on him. 

"I didn't cheat," she said. "It's just a regular couple's argument. I'm not going to pursue the charges."

She said she would stick by Agnello after he surrenders for his federal sentence on July 20.

Agnello pleaded guilty in Long Island federal court in 2024 to stealing $1.1 million from the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for COVID-19 relief.

He admitted lying on pandemic relief loan forms about the number of employees at his business, Crown Auto Parts & Recycling, and what the money would be used for. Prosecutors said he invested $420,000 in a cryptocurrency business.

Agnello made an “emergency request” in March asking U.S. District Court Judge Nosrat Choudhury for probation instead of incarceration so he could donate a kidney to his ailing mother.

His lawyer said his mother could die if he was unable to offer the organ transplant. A month later, a different lawyer withdrew the request, apologizing for his predecessor's legal maneuvering.

Choudhury sentenced him to 15 months in federal prison and ordered him to undergo mental health and gambling addiction therapy. He is scheduled to report to federal authorities on July 20 to serve his term.

It's unclear how this arrest will affect his federal sentence, if at all.

Aside from being the scion of the deceased head of Gambino crime family, Agnello is known for his turn as a frosted-tipped reality TV star in the series “Growing up Gotti.”

Agnello is due back in court on June12 on the latest arrest.