I have not addressed the “elephant in the room” much, if at all. As most of you know, in the film, Casino, Producer Martin Scorsese and writer Nick Pileggi tell about the Las Vegas casino skim. They show a clip indicating the FBI hidden microphone was inside a vent in the back of a store. […]
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I am researching the next exciting story right now.  In 1990, the Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit conducted an investigation into Kansas City Klu Klux Klan activities. Now, listen below to a short wrap up of the Civella/Spero mob war. If you have enjoyed my true crime stories, please support this work and go to the
Episode 6 Wrap Up Read More »
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This is the exciting conclusion where the informant, Lyle Neal, finally is shown the actual bomb and gets to watch Joe Spero test the bomb remote control detonator.
Episode 5 Take-down Read More »
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In this episode, I tell about the Civellas working on their Las Vegas skim while Joe Spero makes his first attempt to kill Tuffy DeLuna. This may have been better titled as the gang that could not detonate a bomb. Listeners will get an inside look at the difficulty in knowing a murder was about
Episode 4 The bomb Read More »
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In this episode I tell about the development of some informants. For example, one guy had worked for a mob owned used car lot and auto repair garage. He had been able to listen through a thin wall and hear some snippets of mob plans. When we approached him and asked about his work at
Episode 3 Informants Read More »
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As  KCPD Intelligence and the FBI monitor Civella family soldiers and the Spero brothers, the war heats up. I will tell how law enforcement almost stumbled into the middle of a mob hit going down at a public place.
Episode 2 Ambush at the Virginian Read More »
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In this exciting podcast, I will describe how the origins of the Civella/Spero war began. The murder of Nick Spero followed by revenge from his brothers.
Episode 1 Civella versus Spero Read More »
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This post marks the first of my podcast series, Gangland Wire -Crime Stories. After this first short explanation episode, the next 5 episodes will chronicle the 1970s gang war between the Nick Civella crime family and the upstart Spero brother’s faction. I hope this to be the beginning of a long lasting series of Kansas
Gangland Wire – Crime Stories Welcome Read More »
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. Â An opening paragraph to these hearings: “Coates House enterprise which,
Anthony “Tony” Robert Gizzo Read More »
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
