I think I read somewhere he was released but eventually got killed in a shootout with the police, although I may be mistaken. What I am sure is that the mafia never got to him, I would have remembered if I ever read that.
Im surprised Peter Gotti never went after Johnson when he was released, it would have caused a lot less heat then killing Gravano...
Don't think anyone cares too much about the beatdown
Sammy on otherhand put a lot of guys away for life... Whereas a jail house beatdown is just that... A beatdown... It happens