The Battle for Las Vegas summary

Early Days of Mob Influence

In The Battle for Las Vegas, Dennis N. Griffin takes us back to the late 1960s when the Chicago Outfit, the organized crime syndicate, began to exert its influence in Las Vegas. The Outfit, under the leadership of Sam Giancana and later Tony Accardo, saw Vegas as a golden opportunity for expanding their operations. They infiltrated the casinos, taking control of their skimming operations, and making millions of dollars in unreported income.

Griffin introduces us to the key players of this era - Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal, a sports handicapper with ties to the mob, and Tony Spilotro, a ruthless enforcer. Rosenthal was installed as the manager of the Stardust Casino, while Spilotro became the Outfit's man in Vegas, overseeing their criminal operations. Despite their criminal activities, the duo managed to maintain a facade of respectability in the city.

The Rise of Law Enforcement

As the 1970s progressed, the federal government and local law enforcement agencies began to take notice of the Outfit's activities in Las Vegas. Griffin describes the formation of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Intelligence Unit, both established to combat organized crime in the city. These agencies, led by determined individuals like Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal and Oscar Goodman, began to gather evidence against the mob.

The book also delves into the personal lives of the key figures. Rosenthal's tumultuous relationship with showgirl Geri McGee, Spilotro's increasing brutality, and the widening schism between the two men due to Spilotro's violent methods are all explored. Griffin paints a vivid picture of the glitz and glamor of the Vegas strip, contrasting it with the dark underbelly of crime and corruption.

The Battle Intensifies

By the early 1980s, the battle between the law enforcement and the mob had escalated. The authorities were closing in on Rosenthal and Spilotro, amassing evidence against their criminal activities. In response, the Outfit ordered a series of brutal murders in Vegas, the most notorious being the death of Rosenthal's wife, Geri. These killings were meant to send a message to anyone thinking of betraying the Outfit.

Meanwhile, the federal government was building a case against the mob. The FBI, under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, had launched the RICO Act, a powerful tool designed to prosecute organized crime. Griffin details the meticulous work of the FBI agents, their surveillance operations, and the eventual arrest and conviction of several high-ranking members of the Chicago Outfit.

The Fall of the Mob

In the mid-1980s, the battle for Las Vegas reached its climax. Spilotro, who had become the face of the Outfit in Vegas, was lured to a meeting in Chicago and brutally murdered. His death marked the end of the Outfit's influence in Las Vegas. Rosenthal, fearing for his life, left the city and later died of a heart attack.

With the fall of its key players, the Chicago Outfit's control over Vegas was effectively broken. The casinos were now firmly regulated, and the era of unchecked mob influence was over. Griffin ends the book by reflecting on the legacy of this period, the impact of the battle for Las Vegas, and the enduring allure of the city that survived and thrived despite its turbulent past.