I As for how he handled the Gotti issue, he went to a mobster he knew, and did turned dome police and FBI help. plus got advice to get a gun and kill Gotti. He is sounding more and more like he was no legitimate person.
I read somewhere the police approved a carry permit for him, (nearly impossible to get in NYC), so the gun was legal. Going to a wiseguy for help may have been out of fear and desperation rather than following some underworld code.
