John Gotti’s grandson Carmine Agnello heads to prison over COVID fraud after kidney transplant for mom Victoria Gotti falls through. Here's what happened

Carmine Agnello, grandson of late mob boss John Gotti, has begun his 15-month prison sentence after a planned kidney donation to his mother Victoria Gotti was cancelled because of her infection, ending his bid for another delay. Carmine Agnello has reported to federal prison after a last-minute effort to postpone his sentence failed.

Agnello had been hoping to donate one of his kidneys to his mother, Victoria Gotti, before beginning his 15-month prison term. But the planned transplant was canceled after Victoria developed a serious infection, leaving the family unable to complete the procedure by the court’s deadline.

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A federal judge ultimately rejected Agnello’s request for another extension, and he surrendered to federal authorities on Monday, according to reports. The 39-year-old was ordered by Brooklyn federal judge Nusrat J. Choudhury to self-surrender to prison to begin serving his long-awaited COVID fraud sentence. Victoria Gotti, the star of 2004 reality TV show, “Growing Up Gotti,” is the daughter of the late John Gotti.

Carmine Agnello reports to prison after judge denies delay

Agnello, 39, was originally expected to begin his sentence earlier this summer. His prison surrender was delayed so he could undergo the kidney donation procedure for his mother.

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The arrangement gave the family additional time to complete the transplant. But the operation did not happen as planned.

The surgery had been scheduled for August 3, but Victoria Gotti developed an infection and was not medically cleared to undergo the procedure. Her condition meant the transplant could not move forward on the original schedule.

Agnello's attorney, Robert Beltrani, subsequently asked the court to give his client more time, arguing that Agnello remained a suitable donor for his mother and that the transplant could still take place.

The latest request sought to push Agnello's surrender date to September 18. But the judge declined to grant another lengthy postponement.

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Why Carmine Agnello wanted more time

The request was not simply about avoiding prison, according to arguments presented by Agnello's legal team.

Agnello wanted to complete the kidney donation before entering federal custody because his mother needed the transplant and he was reportedly considered a strong match.

His attorney previously told the court that "It is undisputed that Carmine is a great match for Ms. Gotti" and argued that his ability to donate was important to the medical team's plans.

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The family had already been given additional time because of the planned operation. However, the medical complications affecting Victoria meant that the procedure was no longer imminent.

The judge ultimately determined that another delay was not justified under the circumstances. Prosecutors had also opposed additional leniency, arguing that Agnello could potentially undergo the donation process while incarcerated.

Victoria Gotti’s kidney transplant became the center of the case

The unusual circumstances surrounding Agnello's prison sentence have put his mother, Victoria Gotti, at the center of the story. Victoria Gotti, daughter of John Gotti, has previously been open about her health struggles. She also became known to a wider television audience as the star of the 2004 reality series Growing Up Gotti.

In a letter submitted to the court earlier this year, Victoria praised her son's willingness to donate a kidney to her.

"He is giving me the GIFT OF LIFE," she wrote.

The planned transplant was therefore not just a legal issue for the family. It was also an attempt by Agnello to help his mother before he was required to begin his prison term.

But the infection complicated the timing of the operation, and the surgery could not take place before the court-imposed deadline.

What sentence is Carmine Agnello serving?

Agnello's prison term stems from a federal fraud case involving COVID-19 relief funds. He pleaded guilty after admitting to fraudulently obtaining approximately $1.1 million in pandemic-related disaster loans intended to help businesses affected by the shutdowns.

He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and was also ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, according to reports.

The sentence was initially supposed to begin earlier, but the kidney donation plans resulted in the court allowing him additional time outside prison. That reprieve ultimately expired when the transplant did not happen.

Carmine Agnello is now in federal prison

With the latest request for additional time denied, Agnello surrendered to the Bureau of Prisons.

He is now serving his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in Fairton, New Jersey, according to a report citing the Bureau of Prisons.

The development closes an unusual chapter in the case: Agnello had been given an opportunity to delay his incarceration so he could donate a kidney to his mother, but a medical complication outside his control prevented the surgery from taking place on schedule.

For now, Agnello has begun serving his sentence while the question of whether and when the kidney transplant can eventually take place remains separate from his prison term.