I read the book also (my comments are in the Book thread http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=200578&page=39).

As I recall, Al D'Arco talked with Gene Gotti after they had already been convicted, and were getting ready for sentencing. I think Al was advising Gene to go on the lam because of all the publicity surrounding John Gotti. Al was asserting that the judge was going to give Gene and his co-defendants long sentences because John Gotti had beaten a couple of cases and was thumbing his nose at the government. I think this supposition has merit - the judge was likely influenced by the John Gotti publicity and Gene and his co-defendants paid the price.

D'Arco was right - those guys should have plead out. They almost certainly would have gotten shorter sentences.