Gotti associate denied early release

NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) -- Anthony "Tony Roach" Rampino, an associate of "Dapper Dan" John Gotti, has been denied early release from prison, a New York judge said.

Supreme Court Justice Arlene Goldberg said Rampino, 70, was not old enough or sick enough to be released from his 25-to-life sentence for heroin trafficking, The New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

"Defendant's medical condition or his age would not prevent him from

committing a crime or conspiring to do so if released from prison," Goldberg ruled Monday.

Rampino has been in prison since 1987 for a $30,000 drug deal with an undercover cop. He suffers from heart and respiratory problems, though a prison doctor found him improved and able to walk, eat and shower, the Post reported.

"Death is no longer imminent," Goldberg said.