The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster

The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster
Author :
Publisher : Wildblue Press
Total Pages : 232
Release :
ISBN-10 : 1942266952
ISBN-13 : 9781942266952
Rating : 4/5 (52 Downloads)

Synopsis The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster by : Dennis Griffin

The Chicago organized crime family known as the 'Outfit' dates back to the reign of the infamous Al Capone and prohibition. As the years passed and prohibition was repealed, Outfit bosses had to adapt and seek new ways to make money illegally. One of those was the expanding gambling and entertainment oasis in the desert: Las Vegas. A lot of cash passed through the Vegas casinos and the mobsters devised a way to get some of it, using a process that came to be known as 'the skim.' To protect their interests, the Outfit sent an enforcer to Sin City in 1971 He was to make sure their casino operations ran smoothly and deal with interlopers, employees who were skimming the skim and other troublemakers, by any means necessary. His name was Tony Spilotro. To help him run his empire Tony imported several heavies from Chicago. Among them was his childhood friend Frank Cullotta, who would function as Tony's street lieutenant. His assignment was to assemble a crew of thieves, arsonists and killers to provide muscle for Tony as necessary, and carry out lucrative burglaries that Tony brought to their attention. Frank and his crew were dubbed by the news media as the Hole in the Wall Gang. The Spilotro era in Vegas was dramatized in the 1995 blockbuster movie Casino, in which Joe Pesci played a character based on Spilotro. Character actor Frank Vincent played 'Frankie' based on Frank Cullotta. The real Frank Cullotta was a technical consultant to the film and appeared in several scenes as a hit man. As screenwriter Nick Pileggi said, 'Without Frank Cullotta there would have been no Casino.' In 'The Rise and Fall' of Tony Spilotro, Frank tells the true story of Tony Spilotro, his rise up the ladder to become an Outfit boss, his subsequent fall from power and murder at the hands of the Outfit. Frank also talks about the many murders Tony committed, ordered or planned. In several instances Frank names the killers in cases that are officially unsolved. It's a story that only Frank Cullotta could tell.

Casino

Casino
Author :
Publisher : Open Road Media
Total Pages : 275
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781504041621
ISBN-13 : 1504041623
Rating : 4/5 (21 Downloads)

Synopsis Casino by : Nicholas Pileggi

The true story behind the Martin Scorsese film: A “riveting . . . account of how organized crime looted the casinos they controlled” (Kirkus Reviews). Focusing on Chicago bookie Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and his partner, Anthony Spilotro, and drawing on extensive, in-depth interviews, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Mafia classic Wiseguy—basis for the film Goodfellas—Nicholas Pileggi reveals how the pair worked together to oversee Las Vegas casino operations for the mob. He unearths how Teamster pension funds were used to take control of the Stardust and Tropicana and how Spilotro simultaneously ran a crew of jewel thieves nicknamed the “Hole in the Wall Gang.” For years, these gangsters kept a stranglehold on Sin City’s brightly lit nightspots, skimming millions in cash for their bosses. But the elaborate scheme began to crumble when Rosenthal’s disproportionate ambitions drove him to make mistakes. Spilotro made an error of his own, falling for his partner’s wife, a troubled showgirl named Geri. It would all lead to betrayal, a wide-ranging FBI investigation, multiple convictions, and the end of the Mafia’s longstanding grip on the multibillion-dollar gaming oasis in the midst of the Nevada desert. Casino is a journey into 1970s Las Vegas and a riveting nonfiction account of the world portrayed in the Martin Scorsese film of the same name, starring Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. A story of adultery, murder, infighting, and revenge, this “fascinating true-crime Mob history” is a high-stakes page-turner (Booklist).

Cullotta

Cullotta
Author :
Publisher : Huntington Press Inc
Total Pages : 309
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780929712451
ISBN-13 : 0929712455
Rating : 4/5 (51 Downloads)

Synopsis Cullotta by : Dennis N. Griffin

From burglary to armed robbery and murder, infamous bad guy Frank Cullotta not only did it all, in Cullotta he admits to it -- and in graphic detail. This no-holds-barred biography chronicles the life of a career criminal who started out as a thug on the streets of Chicago and became a trusted lieutenant in Tony Spilotro's gang of organised lawbreakers in Las Vegas. Cullotta's was a world of high-profile heists, street muscle, and information -- lots of it -- about many of the FBI's most wanted. In the end, that information was his ticket out of crime, as he turned government witness and became one of a handful of mob insiders to enter the Witness Protection Program.

The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster

The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster
Author :
Publisher : WildBlue Press
Total Pages : 299
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781942266945
ISBN-13 : 1942266944
Rating : 4/5 (45 Downloads)

Synopsis The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster by : Frank Cullottta

The true crime story behind the film Casino from the mob enforcer who lived it and the author of The Accidental Gangster. Tony Spilotro was the Mob’s man in Las Vegas. A feared enforcer, the bosses knew Tony would do whatever it took to protect their interests. The “Little Guy” built a criminal empire that was the envy of mobsters across the country, and his childhood pal, Frank Cullotta helped him do it. But Tony’s quest for power and lack of self-control with women cost the Mob its control of Vegas, and Tony paid for it with his life. From Dennis N. Griffin: “I was a little nervous before my first meeting with former mobster Frank Cullotta. It turned out we had a pleasant conversation that ended with an agreement for me to write his book. As I drove home, I realized I had made a deal with a career thief and killer on a handshake. What was I thinking?” “Extraordinary insights.”—Nick Pileggi, #1 New York Times–bestselling author and screenwriter of Casino

Mob Mayhem Volume One

Mob Mayhem Volume One
Author :
Publisher : WildBlue Press
Total Pages : 1339
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781948239547
ISBN-13 : 194823954X
Rating : 4/5 (47 Downloads)

Synopsis Mob Mayhem Volume One by : Dennis N. Griffin

If you liked The Godfather and Goodfellas, you’ll love these three up-close-and-personal true accounts of gangsters and organized crime. THE RISE AND FALL OF A “CASINO” MOBSTER: The Tony Spilotro Story Through a Hitman’s Eyes by Frank Cullota and Dennis Griffin Bestselling “mob expert” Dennis Griffin and former mob enforcer and Spilotro confidant, Frank Cullota, tell the story of the Las Vegas gangster whose quest for power and lack of self-control with women cost the Mob its control of Vegas—and lost Tony his life. “Sets the record straight about Tony the man and Tony the mobster. It’s an eye-opener.”—Frank Calabrese, Junior, author of Operation Family Secrets SHOTS IN THE DARK: The Saga of Rocco Balliro by Daniel Zimmerman In 1963, Rocco Balliro and a pair of associates stormed an apartment in Boston and were immediately caught in a shootout with Boston police officers, waiting in ambush for him. It was a rescue mission that went downhill in a hurry, leaving his beloved girlfriend and her toddler son dead. “Fascinating . . . a real page-turner for Mob enthusiasts and organized crime history buffs.”—Dennis N. Griffin, bestselling author of The Rise and Fall Of A “Casino” Mobster THE GANGSTER’S COUSIN: Growing up in the Luciano Family by Salvatore Lucania Young Sal navigates the streets of Harlem, experiencing the inherent corruption of the US justice system and discovering the truth about the secret world of outlaw figures—like his cousin and namesake, Charles “Lucky” Luciano. “A wonderfully different take on the usual Mafia story . . . a sometimes exciting, sometimes poignant, and often humorous adventure.”—Thrive Global

Frank Cullotta's Greatest (Kitchen) Hits

Frank Cullotta's Greatest (Kitchen) Hits
Author :
Publisher : WildBlue Press
Total Pages : 220
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781952225390
ISBN-13 : 1952225396
Rating : 4/5 (90 Downloads)

Synopsis Frank Cullotta's Greatest (Kitchen) Hits by : Frank Cullotta

The mobster portrayed in Casino “swaps his gun and fedora for an apron and chef’s hat and shares the recipes for some of his favorite dishes.” —Nicholas Pileggi, #1 New York Times–bestselling author and screenwriter of Casino Includes over 40 color photographs Frank Cullotta was best known for his exploits as an associate of the Chicago Outfit and his role as Tony Spilotro’s enforcer and street lieutenant in Las Vegas. However, he had another interest besides crime. He loved to cook. In this book he shares some of his favorite recipes for your eating pleasure. Dennis Griffin first met Cullotta in 2005, and the two became close friends and co-authors of four books, including the bestseller The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster. As Cullotta’s health failed, he was determined to bring their final collaboration into the world. The result is this collection of anecdotes, photos, and recipes—from the pizza served at the Las Vegas restaurant Cullotta opened (using stolen money) in 1979 to the mostaccioli his mom made and much more. “I have known Frank Cullotta since he served as a technical consultant for the movie Casino. Frank’s reputation is primarily that of a master criminal and an enforcer for Chicago Outfit mobster Tony Spilotro. While that is true, he also had a softer side that few people knew about. He loved to cook . . . If you like to prepare and eat delicious meals, this is the book for you.” —Nicholas Pileggi

Enforcer

Enforcer
Author :
Publisher : Ivy Books
Total Pages : 353
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780804113106
ISBN-13 : 0804113106
Rating : 4/5 (06 Downloads)

Synopsis Enforcer by : William F. Roemer, Jr.

Bugsy Siegel built Las Vegas, but it was Tony "The Ant" Spilotro who ran the show. Now William F. Roemer, Jr., veteran FBI agent and scourge of the Cosa Nostra, tells the shocking story of how a teenage wiseguy grew up to become "the man" in Vegas. From the gritty streets of Chicago to the neon-lit Nevada wonderland, Roemer assembles a rogue's gallery of the highest-ranking capos and the lowest creeps of organized crime. As incredible as any work of fiction -- but it's all fact!

The Battle for Las Vegas

The Battle for Las Vegas
Author :
Publisher : Huntington Press Inc
Total Pages : 260
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780929712376
ISBN-13 : 0929712374
Rating : 4/5 (76 Downloads)

Synopsis The Battle for Las Vegas by : Dennis N. Griffin

From the 1970s through the mid-1980s, the Chicago Outfit dominated organized crime in Las Vegas. To ensure the smooth flow of cash, the gangsters installed a front man with no criminal background, Allen R. Glick, as the casino owner of record, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal as the real boss of casino operations, and Tony Spilotro as the ultimate enforcer, who’d do whatever it took to protect their interests. It wasn’t long before Spilotro, also in charge of Vegas street crime, was known as the “King of the Strip.” Federal and local law enforcement, recognizing the need to rid the casinos of the mob and shut down Spilotro’s rackets, declared war on organized crime. The Battle for Las Vegas relates the story of the fight between the tough guys on both sides, told in large part by the agents and detectives who knew they had to win.

Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti

Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti
Author :
Publisher : Penguin
Total Pages : 428
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781440695803
ISBN-13 : 1440695806
Rating : 4/5 (03 Downloads)

Synopsis Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti by : Gene Mustain

He was a little-known wiseguy out of Howard Beach, Queens, who blasted his way into the public eye with the assassination of Gambino Family boss Paul Castellano in December 1985, a rubout that’s the stuff of Mafia legend. Ruthless, cunning, and tougher than the streets that produced him, John Gotti seized control of the nation’s most powerful crime family, beat the law on rap after rap, and became an American legend. First published in 1988 and fully revised and updated for this edition, Mob Star traced John Gotti’s spectacular rise and eventual downfall after the betrayal of his closest ally, Salvatore “Sammy Bull” Gravano. At his death, ten years after he was jailed for life and four years after he began battling cancer, John Gotti was still the biggest name in today’s Mafia.

Hollywood Godfather

Hollywood Godfather
Author :
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Total Pages : 305
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781250181398
ISBN-13 : 1250181399
Rating : 4/5 (98 Downloads)

Synopsis Hollywood Godfather by : Gianni Russo

Hollywood Godfather is Gianni Russo's over-the-top memoir of a real-life mobster-turned-actor who helped make The Godfather a reality, and his story of life on the edge between danger and glamour. Gianni Russo was a handsome 25-year-old mobster with no acting experience when he walked onto the set of The Godfather and entered Hollywood history. He played Carlo Rizzi, the husband of Connie Corleone, who set her brother Sonny—played by James Caan—up for a hit. Russo didn't have to act—he knew the mob inside and out: from his childhood in Little Italy, where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing, to acting as a messenger for New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello during the Kennedy assassination, to having to go on the lam after shooting and killing a member of the Colombian drug cartel in his Vegas club. Along the way, Russo befriended Frank Sinatra, who became his son's godfather, and Marlon Brando, who mentored his career as an actor after trying to get Francis Ford Coppola to fire him from The Godfather. Russo had passionate affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, and scores of other celebrities. He went on to become a producer and starred in The Godfather: Parts I and II, Seabiscuit, Any Given Sunday and Rush Hour 2, among many other films. Hollywood Godfather is a no-holds-barred account of a life filled with violence, glamour, sex—and fun.