Even Gotti jr quoted Sammy in his book

Goes to show how much he cares about getting Gravano. The only person who would probably care is Gene- when he gets out not
that he has the manpower to do anything anymore (nobody will
go down there for the Gotti’s) or anyone else for that matter

Hence Sammy can brazenly walk around. Even if he went up to NYC nobody is bothered/ so long as he doesn’t try to get back into the game