Mobbed Up: The Fight for Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review-Journal | The Mob Museum)

Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance led to a big push against organized crime across the country, including Las Vegas, where Hoffa, the mob’s banker, had breathed life into the casino industry. And today, 46 years later, just what happened to the charismatic labor boss who helped shape the Strip skyline remains one of this country’s biggest mysteries.

It’s a moment of jubilation for Wayne Newton in September 1980 as he appears before the Nevada Gaming Commission. He has just been approved as the new co-owner of the Aladdin. But he and his attorney are confronted by an NBC crew, asking questions about alleged ties to the mob. An investigative report out days later came as the Midnight Idol’s career was rocking. He was not only a casino owner but also the biggest draw on the Strip. Fallout from that broadcast would be big news in Las Vegas for years. And Newton vowed a “fight that could last the rest of my life.”

"You don’t buy Mr. Spilotro drinks. He buys you drinks." In 1971, Tony Spilotro moves from Chicago to Las Vegas to look after the mob's interests, alongside a longtime oddsmaker named Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal. A few years later, a mob-connected holding company, the Argent Corporation, begins buying up casinos using loans from the Teamsters Union Central States Pension Fund.

For more information on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

'Mobbed Up' chronicles the rise and fall of organized crime in Las Vegas through the eyes of those who lived it: ex-mobsters, law enforcement officials, politicians and journalists. From back alleys to bank vaults, dimly lit basements to the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip, the Review-Journal's Reed Redmond will guide listeners through the 20th-century criminal underworlds of Chicago, Kansas City and Las Vegas. This 11-part narrative series is produced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, in partnership with The Mob Museum.

 

It’s July 2, 1976. Music legend Neil Diamond is opening the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, one of the finest stages ever constructed in Las Vegas. The theater is $10 million worth of class. It was designed to be part of the city’s future, but it was built on the city’s past - part of a $50 million hotel expansion financed by the Teamsters Central States Pension fund, a mob-controlled financial institution that had loaned millions of dollars to casinos. The Aladdin loan helped the Detroit Mafia get a big piece of the resort. The fight for Las Vegas was on.

You’ve heard from former reporters, members of law enforcement, mob family members, and experts. Some have referred to Oscar Goodman as a hero and others question some of his recollections. Now, Goodman gets the chance to respond as he hears from our guests for the first time.

"It supersedes family." 

Tony Spilotro always dreamed of becoming a ‘made’ man—a full-fledged member of the Chicago Outfit—according to his childhood friend Frank Cullotta. In the spring of 1962, as Cullotta recalls, an unauthorized triple murder on mob turf would give Tony an opportunity to make that dream a reality and cement his claim to fame. 

For more information on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

In November, a sixth set of human remains was found in Lake Mead and a Texas woman got confirmation that the 5th body found this year belonged to her father, who drowned in the lake 20 years ago. These discoveries come in the wake of water levels reaching their lowest point since the reservoir was being filled in 1937. Officials have yet to identify the victims, but that isn’t stopping Las Vegas from buzzing with speculation, curiosity… and tactless billboards. Given our infamous history with organized crime, it’s no surprise that people have been bursting with theories about their connection to the mob. Today, we’re bringing you a conversation that co-host Vogue Robinson had with Geoff Schumacher, Vice President of Exhibits and Programs for The Mob Museum, in August 2022. They discuss why most of these theories relate to the mob, why they may or may not be true, and what Las Vegans aren’t thinking about as we romanticize the mob’s involvement. Do you have a wild Lake Mead story? Call or text us at 702-514-0719 or find us on Twitter @CityCastVegas. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter for updates on all things Vegas at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Website: https://lasvegas.citycast.fm Podlink: pod.link/citycastlasvegas

“He always said if you pull a gun on somebody, you finish it.” 

Tony Spilotro goes missing in June of 1986, last seen driving away from his brother's home in suburban Illinois. Over two decades later, a racketeering trial in Chicago reveals what happened after that.  For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

Season 2 of “Mobbed Up: The Fight for Las Vegas,” an eight-part, true-crime series, takes you to the late 1970s and early 1980s, an unforgettable era in the battle against organized crime in Las Vegas. Mafia families wielded hidden control over more than a third of the Strip's casinos, and federal and state agents were waking up to the enormous task of pushing them out. This series is produced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in partnership with The Mob Museum. For more information visit, www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup.

"You never become a rat."

Following their arrests for attempted robbery of a home furnishings store in Las Vegas, Frank Cullotta and five other members of the "Hole in the Wall Gang" face steep prison sentences. Loyalty wears thin, and the FBI sees an opportunity.

For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

Mafia is an Audioboom Original that delves into the criminal underworld, exploring the lives and careers of America’s most infamous gangsters. This season will cover mafiosos from around the US; including LA’s Aladena ‘Jimmy the Weasel’ Fratianno (an acting mob boss turned informant), ‘Silver Dollar’ Sam Carollo (a Sicilian immigrant who established Cosa Nostra in New Orleans), and the leader of the New England Syndicate, Raymond Patriarca, whose reign lasted over three decades. Do you know who was ‘The Queen of Policy Racket’? Do you know what James ‘Whitey’ Bulger was up to while in hiding from the local Massachusetts police, FBI, and US Marshalls? You’ll find out all that and more on this season of Mafia. Catch new episodes of Mafia every Wednesday wherever you listen to podcasts. You’re about to hear a preview of Mafia. While you’re listening, be sure to subscribe to Mafia on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows!

Federal judge Harry Claiborne frustrated federal prosecutors hunting the mob in Las Vegas - he was not afraid to block efforts if he thought they were being unfair. The judge also fought with gaming regulators over his decision to wrestle away control of the Aladdin. In 1986, Claiborne became the first federal judge in 50 years to be impeached, convicted and removed from the bench by Congress because he refused to resign after he was convicted in court of filing false tax returns and not reporting income. It was a long fall for a man who had become a legal legend.

“The mob had been, of course, heavily integrated in the casino industry here from day one.”

To understand the city of Las Vegas as it existed in the 1970s, we have to back up to Dec. 26, 1946: opening night at the Flamingo Hotel on what we know today as the Las Vegas Strip. The project, started by Hollywood Reporter founder Billy Wilkerson before being taken over by notorious mob figure Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, would set a new standard for hotel-casinos in Las Vegas.

For more information on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

"Now I’m getting this directly from, you know, Cleanface. You follow me?"

In 1977, future Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was appointed chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. Before long, Reid would find himself battling bribery accusations, working with the FBI on a sting operation and going toe-to-toe with Chicago mob associate Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal at licensing hearings.

For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

Special Attorney Stan Hunterton starts by rolling back time through his description of what Las Vegas was during the mob era of the 70s. This will set the scene for helping the audience understand the mob’s presence in the community at a time that was very glamorous for our town. We will flash forward to today where Oscar talks about his homage to Spilotro in his downtown restaurant. This has been met with some controversy from outsiders but Oscar fiercely maintains there is nothing controversial about it and it instead represents history. Part of that history was a telephone soliciting in 1981 in which 67 federal agents snuck into Nellis Airforce for a raid in which LAPD officer Mike Powell was the only undercover operative. Mike will recap that case and describe his encounter with Spilotro. We will then hear from Oscar about the 1986 case and how he got involved in defending Spilotro. We will dive deeper into Spilotro’s death and find out what Oscar thinks happened in the days between Spilotro going missing and then his body being found.

 

"I'm probably the only guy standing right now." 

Decades after it was at the center of a federal racketeering case, the aging Stardust hotel-casino is imploded to make way for a new resort project. Meanwhile, Frank Cullotta has returned to living under his own name in Las Vegas. 

 

Join us for Mobbed Up LIVE on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. Pacific on the Las Vegas Review-Journal Facebook page. Send your questions in advance to rredmond@reviewjournal.com. 

 

For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. For more on the Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org. 

A bonus episode for Season 2 of Mobbed Up. Jeff German, Review-Journal investigative reporter and host for Season 2, interviews longtime Golden Steer waiter Venko Nikolov about his memories of mob hitman Frank Cullotta at the iconic Las Vegas steakhouse.

“This was the end of organized crime in Las Vegas.”

In 1978, mob-connected thief Frank Cullotta moves from Chicago to Las Vegas to work alongside his childhood friend, reputed Las Vegas mob enforcer Tony Spilotro. When he arrives, Frank says his first assignment was to put together a crew of guys⁠—a crew that would soon earn a reputation as one of the most prolific burglary outfits in the country.

For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

In the final episode of Season 3, we go back to the beginning of what shaped Oscar Goodman, including the death of his late sister, whose death has impacted his life for decades. Despite his worldwide notoriety as a public figure and bon vivant, Goodman still finds some of his fondest memories tied to the place he calls home and the foundation for the mob: Las Vegas.

This week, Mobbed Up host Reed Redmond and Mob Museum VP of Exhibits of Programs Geoff Schumacher hosted 'Mobbed Up Live,' which aired on the Las Vegas Review-Journal website and Facebook page. The livestream included panel discussions with voices from the podcast, as well as a follow-up interview with Sen. Harry Reid about his time on the Nevada Gaming Commission. 

Full video of 'Mobbed Up Live' is available at www.reviewjournal.com or on the Las Vegas Review-Journal Facebook page.

The public and private war between Oscar Goodman and the FBI heats up with the Phil Leonetti case. Goodman represented Leonetti in Philadelphia and received backlash for going back to his hometown to represent him. Former special attorney Stan Hunterton breaks down why witnesses in high-profile cases might change their tune in court in favor of the prosecution. Goodman discusses his courtroom strategy, which led to a high-profile public dispute between the mob defense attorney and the FBI.

"And I said, 'What's your name?' And he says, 'Tony Spilotro.'" 

As a kid, Frank Cullotta’s first job was stealing. His second job was shining shoes on Grand Avenue in Chicago. One day, another young shoeshine yelled at him from across the street, and the two kids stepped into the middle of the road to defend their turf, both ready for a fight. Instead, the encounter sparked a friendship that would span decades.  For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

Armed with a mass of FBI wiretap transcripts, newly sworn-in Nevada governor Robert List was embarking on one of the most critical tasks in the history of the state - breaking the mob’s grip on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. During his term, he received death threats, wore a bulletproof vest, and faced an undercover sting. Other officials found bombs in their cars. The FBI was stepping up the pressure on Mafia families and their hidden influence downtown and on the Strip. Among the casinos named: the Aladdin, Stardust, Tropicana, Dunes, and Fremont.

"Las Vegas was the last thing on our mind."

In the spring of 1978, the FBI’s Organized Crime Squad in Kansas City placed microphones in a restaurant, hoping to pick up information about local mob activity. Instead, they picked up on something far bigger: casino skimming operations in Las Vegas.

For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.

Wayne Newton and Johnny Carson, two of the biggest stars in the entertainment world, both set their sights on buying the Aladdin after regulators stripped the resort’s owners of their gaming licenses. Newton, the “Midnight Idol,” was the number one headliner at several hotels. Carson co-owned a Las Vegas television station and performed stand-up comedy on weekends on the Strip. Once friendly, their feud started after Newton got the upper hand in buying the resort. Carson started skewering Newton in monologues, ending with a sudden confrontation in Carson’s office in Burbank. But untangling the Aladdin from mob allegations wasn’t easy.

In Oscar Goodman’s words, “flippers are rats – and I wouldn’t represent rats.” He highlights several past and more recent cases where he feels this scenario occurred. Goodman’s disdain for flipping witnesses to obtain convictions extends back to another well-known name and mob associate: Frank Cullotta. Hear how Cullotta’s turn as a government witness led to a contentious relationship with Goodman.

In the premiere episode, Oscar Goodman sets the stage for what has been described as the crime of the century. Oscar talks about how he landed in the middle of the Jimmy Chagra case in which Chagra allegedly paid Charles Harrelson $250K to murder Judge John Wood outside his home. This case put Oscar under the microscope and in turn, the spotlight on Las Vegas.  

The feds indicted Jimmy Chagra, Charles Harrelson, Joe Chagra, Liz Chagra, and Jo Ann Harrelson in the judge’s murder. In a plea agreement, Joe Chagra got a 10-year sentence. Charles and Jo Ann Harrelson and Liz Chagra were convicted at trial. Liz got a 30-year sentence. Jo Ann got a 25-year sentence. Charles got double life sentences but due to an error in the renderings of the murder scene, Oscar was able to render witness testimony as not credible. Chagra was the only one who received a not guilty verdict to the murder charge and walked on that case but received an additional 10 year sentence in a drug case - a much lesser crime. With audio from The Mob Museum’s Courtroom Conversations: The Life and Crimes of Jimmy Chagra, we will help tell this story as the made-for-movie moment it was in the courtroom.

 

We will highlight the tie that actor Woody Harrelson has to the case through audio clips in the process of being cleared. We also hear from Jimmy Chagra’s daughter, Catherine who reveals a never before heard excerpt from her mother’s diary during the trial. Author, Jack Sheehan speaks on the prominence of the case and how Jimmy Chagra felt about Oscar Goodman and the time the two men reunited. We will explore how this case and the national attention primed Oscar to be known as the ultimate Mob lawyer and set up his successes in Las Vegas with another well-known name: Tony Spilotro.

 

After rising to prominence defending some of the biggest names in organized crime and trying more than 300 criminal cases over his career, Oscar Goodman makes a big change — from mob attorney to mayor of Las Vegas. His wife, current Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman, also provides her take on being married to Goodman from the start of his career through the height of the mob era to today.

Longtime gaming executive and consultant Ed Nigro was in the middle of the battle between Wayne Newton and Johnny Carson to buy the Aladdin Hotel after the mob was kicked out. 

 

Nigro was appointed to manage the Aladdin until it could be sold to reputable buyers, and then partnered with Carson in his bid to take over the Aladdin.  

 

In this season-ending forum at The Mob Museum, Nigro joins Season 2 host Jeff German and former Gov. Robert List in a discussion about the Aladdin’s troubles under the control of the mob and how the state and the courts dealt with it.

 

Nigro also provides a revealing look behind the scenes of the high-stakes battle between Carson and Newton. 

Oscar Goodman’s long list of clients includes names like Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Meyer Lansky. The third episode focuses on Oscar Goodman’s relationships in and out of the courtroom with the crime associates.  Goodman talks about the depiction of these men in the movie Casino and addresses some of the things the movie got wrong, including the portrayal of Rosenthal’s wife and his infamous silk pajamas.

The Nevada Gaming Commission voted unanimously to close the Aladdin’s mob-controlled gaming floor in August 1979, but colorful federal judge Harry Claiborne ordered it reopened. It was a big blow to both state regulators and federal mob-fighting prosecutors. Everyone was mad. The state had taken away the gaming licenses of the Aladdin’s top executives following their federal convictions in Detroit and fought Claiborne to regain control over the casino. Eventually, an unprecedented feud erupted between federal organized crime prosecutors and Nevada’s two federal judges.

On the evening of April 27, 1998, there was an almost festive atmosphere on the Las Vegas Strip. Television news helicopters were hovering and an estimated 20,000 onlookers gathered on the streets. At 7:30 p.m. the financially unstable Aladdin Hotel tumbled down in a coordinated implosion. Some say it was cursed since its days of pillaging under hidden mob control. With all of its troubles, the resort played a key role in the history of Las Vegas. It ignited the campaign to push the mob off the Strip, paved the way for corporate America to take over, and transformed Nevada’s gaming process into the world's gold standard.

"They didn't care if you were a mobster or a corporate executive or a politician or a federal agent." 

When Frank Cullotta arrived in Las Vegas in 1978, one of his first stops was The Golden Steer Steakhouse, where he and Tony Spilotro sat down to discuss their plans for the future over dinner. The restaurant's current owner, Dr. Michael J. Signorelli, shares a few tales from the Steer's storied past.

To learn more about The Golden Steer, or to order online, visit www.goldensteerlasvegas.com.

“You never become a rat. That’s against our religion, let’s say.”  Thursday, October 11, 1979. Around 4:30 a.m., a woman returns to her home in Las Vegas to find her belongings tossed around, bullet holes marking the walls and a trail of blood leading to her backyard. Hours later, the front page of the evening edition of the Las Vegas Review-Journal displays the headline, “Con Suspect Killed in ‘Bloody Murder.’” Forty years later, we revisit the scene of the crime with someone who was there when it happened.  For more on this episode, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup. To learn about The Mob Museum, visit www.themobmuseum.org.