A judge has declared a mistrial in the John “Junior” Gotti case after a jury deadlocked over charges he followed in the footsteps of his notorious father.

A jury deliberated 11 days before failing to reach a verdict against the son of the Gambino crime family boss at a trial in federal court in Manhattan. It was the fourth time the case has seen a hung jury.

In the latest case, the government linked Gotti to a string of murders in the 1980s and 1990s, and to drug trafficking. He denied the charges, claiming he quit the mob more than a decade ago.

He was charged with racketeering conspiracy, murder and cocaine trafficking.

His father died in prison while serving a life term for his 1992 murder and racketeering conviction.

Twice, the jurors considering the current charges had said they were deadlocked. Each time the judge instructed them to try again.

Gotti’s judge sent the jurors home, but only after first reciting a short lesson on the history of Thanksgiving. Gotti’s lawyer Charles Carnesi did not take the bait when a reporter tried to get him to make a remark about the judge.

“It was very interesting. I thought it was an interesting explanation of Thanksgiving tradition, and I wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving,” he said.

The lawyer put a good face on it, but it was hard for the Gotti family to do the same. When the second deadlock note came from the jury last Tuesday, they thought John Gotti would be home for the holiday because of a hung jury. Instead, the judge sent the jury back in.

“I don’t have any comment. We’re spent, I don’t have any, but thank you,” said Victoria Gotti.

Prosecutors say the son of the late Gambino family mob boss ordered or participated in several brutal attacks since the 1980s, including three murders.

Attorneys for Gotti say he quit the Mafia in 1999 and never participated in killings.

(Source: WCBSTV)