Witness in 'Junior' Gotti trial dies in prison
John Gotti speaks to reporters outside his Oyster Bay Cove home on Wednesday, the day after he was released from jail. Gotti's trial was declared a mistrial for the fourth time. (Dec. 2, 2009) Credit: Howard Schnapp
A convicted mobster who testified for Mafia heir John “Junior” Gotti is dead after prison officials say he was hurt in a fight with another inmate at a Pennsylvania federal prison.
A spokeswoman for the high-security prison in Waymart says Joseph O’Kane, 43, was pronounced dead early Monday morning from injuries sustained in a housing unit fight the previous night.
The prison says the FBI is investigating.
The facility was locked down after the altercation, but resumed
normal operations later Monday morning.
O’Kane was serving a life sentence for racketeering and murder.
He testified for the defense in October in a federal racketeering case against Gotti that ended in a mistrial.
