I was asked about former KC Mob boss and Nick Civella mentor, Tony Gizzo. Bill Ouseley reported Nick’s climb to boss included a stint as Gizzo’s driver. Nick’s constant companion and driver was Pete Tamburello. The Kefauver hearings provide much insight into KC mafia persons. An opening paragraph to these hearings: “Coates House enterprise which, …
Here is a story I have not told. Not really about the Mafia, but about the River Quay. Back in 1972-73 a few of us started working for the River Quay Merchants Association. Ray Karnes, Doug Perry and I all were young police officers working out of Central Patrol. Somebody, Ray Karnes I think, made …
I am going to explore the Kefauver Hearings in Kansas City in this blog. In April 1950, the body of Kansas City mobsters Charlie Gargotta and Charlie Binnagio were found in the Democratic Club at Truman and Charlotte. These assassinations intensified national concerns about the post-World War II growth of powerful crime syndicates and the …
As this is my first experience with an app, I am learning all the time. I started looking into push notifications and location services. Push notifications appear on your smartphone’s screen without warning. The user has control of which push notifications they receive. I have inactivated several on my phone. This is done by accessing …
On January 27, 2015 I am going to conduct a Gangland Wire program at the Clark County Nevada Public Library. Back in 2013, when I presented at the first Mob-Con, I was approached by a library representative. She told me she wanted to schedule my program for the library sometime in the future. I had …
I am preparing to take my film and road show to Las Vegas at the Clark County Library in January. In going back and looking at the events leading up to the Strawman prosecutions, I find the pivotal event was recorded by an F.B.I. wiretap. Carl “Tuffy” DeLuna was ordered by Nick Civella to go …
On June 9, 1980, the night Frank Bluestein, aka “Frankie Blue”, died, Frank Culotta warned him, “These ‘fuckin’ cops here are real cowboys.” Frankie thought somebody was following him with the intent to rob. Frank tried to tell him it was the cops. Frankie Blue replied, “I got a gun if anybody tries to rob …
A popular culture phenomenon has been the success of a reality show titled The Mob Wives. My friend and fellow Mob chronicler, Ed Scarpo publishes a page dedicated to inside information about the show on his blog, Cosa Nostra News. I think the most interesting person on Mob Wives is Karen Gravano. Karen’s father is Sammy …
The Chicago Mob‘s man in Las Vegas, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal was operating without a casino license. I did some legal work for the Missouri Gaming Commission and I know the background check is extensive, even for a retired police officer. Lefty could never have been approved with an arrest for bribery of a college athlete …
Think of yourself as a New York State Trooper in upstate New York. Now, picture that trooper observing a gathering of men entering a country estate owned by a shadowy character who is unknown to neighbors. Then, visualize these men all dressed in sharkskin suits, alligator shoes, skinny ties and fedora hats. See the circle driveway filled …
