Cosa Nostra News

Charles (Chuckie) Russell, who boasted of pulling off thousands of burglaries in a four-year period,   died before he could be sentenced for gun possession in connection with a 2016 robbery plot, the Chicago Sun-Times reported , attributing this to court filings. Chuckie Russell  Russell, 70, a reputed member of the Chicago Outfit's Grand Avenue Crew (Joey the Clown Lombardo’s old bailiwick), was suffering from prostate cancer. On Dec. 21, 2016, he was arrested after purchasing eight guns from an undercover federal agent in Chicago. He pleaded guilty last year to possession of a revolver that agents found during a search of his home in Schaumburg. He reportedly faced at least 15 years in prison. However, because of his illness, Russell was released from jail and allowed to live at home via electronic monitoring, and was never healthy  enough to be sentenced. Russell had arranged to stay in a condo owned by girlfriend Patricia Spilotro, a relative of ...

Tony Spilotro was sent by the Chicago Outfit to oversee their interests in Las Vegas, and was the inspiration for the Joe Pesci character in Martin Scorsese's Casino . Caifano Spilotro protected the Outfit's money, aka the skim (illegal casino profits "skimmed” off the top). Because the Outfit 's interests in Las Vegas predate Spilotro, before Tony the Ant, another mobster terrified people on the fabled Las Vegas strip (as well as in Chicago and elsewhere). Marshall Caifano was sent to Las Vegas to purchase land but also looked out for the Outfit's interests, which included the Riviera casino then run by Gus Greenbaum, formerly of the Flamingo. Caifano was a suspect in numerous unsolved murders, typically involving Outfit associates. He was also suspected of committing the notorious, grizzly murder of Estelle Carey, a beautiful young cocktail waitress. One of the perceived motives for the killing is that she was "made an example of" to keep he...

"Nevada owes a debt of gratitude to Frank Schreck," a Las Vegas Sun editorial recently noted . Schreck was named this year's International Association of Gaming Advisors honoree and in recognition gave quite a speech. It included a head-turning revelation about a major Mafia figure notorious for his stint working in the  Stardust hotel and casino  (among other places), which once occupied a prime slot on the fabled Las Vegas strip. Geri, on Lefty's left, looks like Sharon Stone.   Schreck, considered a premier gaming attorney in Nevada and elsewhere, recounted his personal take on Las Vegas history, including the enduring legacy of oddball billionaire Howard Hughes . Schreck's rise commenced in 1971 when then-governor Mike O’Callaghan’s appointed the then-27-year-old lawyer to the Nevada Gaming Commission, setting a record. Schreck remains the youngest commissioner ever appointed to that regulatory body, which was charged with policing whether someone could...

Frank Cullotta warned "Frankie Blue" An interesting story on  Tony Spilotro is on Gangland Wire : On June 9, 1980, the night Frank Bluestein, aka “Frankie Blue” , was murdered, Frank Cullotta had warned him that the Las Vegas police department was following him. "Frankie Blue" knew someone was on his ass, but he was certain it was criminals -- a group with bad intentions, looking to rob him. And that didn't give him a moment's pause. It was actually an occupational hazard. Garbage men may tweak their back while hefting trash cans, mobsters might get shot or robbed or both. So "Frankie Blue" was like “ I got a gun if anybody tries to rob me .”

Frank Cullotta I am interviewing a former Outfit guy at an undisclosed location at an undisclosed time and day... Well, not really -- I am interviewing him, just don't know when exactly. By phone... Got my list of questions for Frank Cullotta, but if any of you Mafia enthusiasts have a question you'd like me to ask Tony Spilotro 's former pal, who killed people on The Ant's orders (until Frank flipped and then the Ant tried to get him whacked), leave it in the comments. Serious questions only; others will be, you got it, deleted.... Here's some background on the guy: Frank Cullotta, the Hitman Turned Vegas Tour Guide - The Daily Beast : Retired Chicago mobster Frank Cullotta comes from a family of wheelmen. Making a clean getaway is in his blood.