'Teflon Gotti Jr.' Dodges 5th Trial

Federal prosecutors have given up on trying to make racketeering charges stick against John Gotti Jr. Gotti—chip off the old block and son of the late "Teflon Don" John Gotti Sr.—was tried four times on murder and racketeering charges, and all of them ended in hung juries. Prosecutors say they have decided not to seek a fifth trial "in light of the circumstances," AP reports.

Gotti's pop similarly skated in several trial until he was convicted and imprisoned for life. Prosecutors said Gotti Jr. took over from his father as the ruthless head of the Gambino crime family, and they sought to tie him to multiple murders as well as to the kidnapping and attempted murder plot against Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Dropping the case is the "right decision," said one of Gotti's lawyers. "I hope they let John and his family be at peace." (More John Gotti stories.)