Las Vegas, famous for its glamorous casinos, neon-lit Strip, and vibrant nightlife, also has a darker side. Beneath its glitzy surface lies a history of powerful and dangerous figures who wielded influence, instilled fear, and shaped the city’s underworld. Here’s a look at five of the most dangerous individuals who once called Las Vegas home.
1. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel:
No list of dangerous Las Vegas residents is complete without the legendary Bugsy Siegel. A notorious mobster affiliated with the New York Mafia, Siegel played a pivotal role in transforming Las Vegas from a sleepy desert town into a bustling entertainment hub. His vision led to the development of the Flamingo Hotel, one of the first major casinos on the Strip. While Siegel was celebrated for his charisma and charm, he was also known for his brutal methods of maintaining control. His mob connections and violent temper ultimately led to his assassination in 1947, a murder that remains unsolved.
2. Tony “The Ant” Spilotro:
Tony Spilotro was a feared enforcer for the Chicago Outfit and one of Las Vegas’s most notorious gangsters. Known for his violent nature and ruthless approach, Spilotro handled the mafia’s casino interests in Las Vegas, overseeing loan sharking, extortion, and skimming operations. Spilotro also ran a criminal group known as the “Hole in the Wall Gang,” notorious for robbing local businesses by breaking through walls. His life and crimes were famously portrayed by Joe Pesci in the movie Casino. Spilotro’s violent reign ended when he was killed in 1986, likely at the orders of mob bosses who had grown tired of his recklessness.
3. Frank Rosenthal:
Frank Rosenthal, or “Lefty,” was a genius when it came to sports betting and casino management, but his success was overshadowed by his close ties to organized crime. Although he was never formally part of the mafia, Rosenthal’s connections to mob bosses allowed him to control four Las Vegas casinos in the 1970s. Rosenthal was innovative, even introducing sports betting parlors within casinos. However, he often clashed with law enforcement and faced attempts on his life, including a notorious car bombing in 1982 that he survived. His story also inspired Robert De Niro’s character in Casino.
4. Marshall Caifano:
Marshall Caifano, a mob enforcer for the Chicago Outfit, was among the first to be dispatched by the mob to oversee interests in Las Vegas. Known for his ruthlessness, Caifano had a reputation for using intimidation and violence to keep others in line. He was often involved in the casino skimming operations that funneled profits back to mob families in Chicago. Caifano, who never officially resided in Las Vegas but spent substantial time there, was often suspected of orchestrating murders and extortion schemes. Despite multiple charges over the years, he managed to evade serious conviction and remained a powerful force in Vegas.
5. Herb “Fat Herbie” Blitzstein:
A long-time associate of Tony Spilotro, Herb Blitzstein was known for his involvement in Las Vegas’s underworld during the 1970s and ’80s. Blitzstein specialized in loan sharking, extortion, and insurance fraud. Even after Spilotro’s death, Blitzstein remained active in organized crime, eventually becoming a key target for rival gangs aiming to take over his lucrative operations. In 1997, Blitzstein was murdered in his Las Vegas home, allegedly by members of the Los Angeles and Buffalo crime families attempting to claim his territory.
Conclusion:
These five individuals played pivotal roles in the darker chapters of Las Vegas’s history. From mob enforcers to casino masterminds, their actions and influences left a lasting legacy on the city. While Las Vegas has since cleaned up its image, the tales of these dangerous men remain woven into the city’s complex tapestry, a reminder of the days when the mob ruled the Strip and power was won through fear and violence.
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