'SAMMY THE BULL' CORRALLED

NEW YORK - Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, the mob turncoat who
put John Gotti away, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison
Friday for running a multimillion-dollar Ecstasy ring in Arizona.

U.S. District Judge Allyne Ross departed from sentencing guidelines
that recommended no more than 151/2 years, saying the former underboss
of the Gambino crime family "has shown an utter lack of remorse."

Gravano, a 57-year-old notorious killer who had avoided hard time by
testifying against Mafia kingpins, didn't speak during the hearing and
showed no reaction to the sentence.

In 1994, Gravano received a five-year prison term for plotting 19
murders, receiving a break in exchange for his cooperation.

His testimony helped put away 37 mobsters, including Gambino boss
Gotti. Gravano later headed to Arizona under the Witness Protection
Program and the alias Jimmy Moran.

Prosecutors charged that after dropping out of witness protection in
1997, Gravano formed a syndicate with his son, Gerard, to buy the drug
Ecstasy in New York and sell it in Arizona. Informants told
investigators Gravano boasted about his credentials as a killer to
keep his underlings in line.

"For this man, it was a crime of arrogance," prosecutor Linda Lacewell
said. "He wanted the old days back. He wanted 'The Life' back."

Gravano and his son pleaded guilty last year. In July, Ross sentenced
Gerard Gravano to nine years and three months in prison. Gravano's
ex-wife and daughter received probation for their roles in the drug
ring.