Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal was the victim of an attempted homicide by bombing his Cadillac in October of 1982. Gangland Wire contains an interview with an eyewitness. Many persons have speculated who was responsible. A popular theory is Anthony “Tony” Spilotro because of a love triangle with Rosenthal’s wife, Jerri. That is crap, Mob guys don’t kill over women, they kill over money. Plus, most Mob killers have a distinctive method. The known hits either done or ordered by Tony were gunshot. Frank Balistrieri was known as a bomber and in this clip, his son, Joseph, is questioning the loyalty of Lefty and Frank is defending him. Even in death, the F.B.I. will not admit Lefty was an informant. Jane Ann Morrison of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2008 that he was a snitch.
In Kansas City, Nick Civella and the Civella faction had committed several car bombings to set examples. Nick and Tuffy DeLuna were already suspicious of Lefty as I demonstrated in Gangland Wire. The first of two prosecutions for skimming from the Tropicana and the Stardust was set to begin the following year. Lefty’s testimony would be devastating. I believe the heads of the Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Kansas City La Cosa Nostra Families all agreed to kill Lefty. I believe that Kansas City was responsible for carrying out this instruction. If you saw Gangland Wire, you will know that Nick was worried about even calling Lefty without the permission of Joey Doves Aiuppa.
Very interesting post. So Lefty was a Top Echelon Informant after all! But the “G” isn,’t confirming or denying anything,typical b.s.! Keep up the good work!!
You really have to thank Jane Ann Morrison for this. With lefty dead, I don’t understand why they will not confirm. During this time, Jackie Presser, a high level Teamster from Cleveland was also a Top Echelon Informant. I think something happened where Presser was exposed. This wikipedia article tells about an FBI scandal in connection with his work as an informant. Probably, that is the main reason he was exposed.
Gary:
I submitted this question shortly after your last post….A couple of years ago I read in the Star that via a FOIA request they (the Star) obtained Nick Civella’s FBI file. Have you seen the contents of their file?