Frank Cullotta also known as "The Las Vegas boss" was an enforcer and associate for the Chicago Outfit and was a good friend of notorious Las Vegas mob boss Tony Spilotro. He began his decades-long criminal career as a teenager, graduating from petty theft to burglary, armed robbery, arson and murder. In 1979 Anthony Spilotro started a gang that operated out of a jewelry store Spilotro owned. The crew had several members including Spilotro's brother Michael Spilotro, Cullotta, Matecki, Laurence Neumann and many others. The crew became known as the Hole in the Wall Gang because of its penchant for gaining entry by drilling through the exterior walls and ceilings of the buildings they burglarized. The gang committed many burglaries made large amounts of money through stolen items. In 1981 following a botched burglary at Bertha’s Household Products, Spilotro, Cullotta, Matecki and several other members of the Hole in the Wall Gang were arrested and each charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted grand larceny and possession of burglary tools. Cullotta then became a government witness and admitted to the FBI that he had arranged the murders of James Miraglia and Billy McCarthy, known as the "M & M Murders," on behalf of Tony Spilotro, Cullotta also admitted to the 1979 murder of Jerry Lisner, he also provided them with information regarding other burglaries. Martin Scorsese's 1995 film Casino is based on the lives of Spilotro and Frank Rosenthal. Cullota — renamed "Frank Marino" — was portrayed by actor Frank Vincent in the film. He was hired as a technical advisor for the movie; he also played a small role as a hitman by the name of "Curly" who carries out several murders, one of which is similar to the 1979 murder of Sherwin "Jerry" Lisner. Cullotta is now an accomplished author and has written several books such as Cullotta and The Life of a Chicago Criminal. In 2009 the book Cullotta help name Larry Neumann as the murderer in a 27 year old double homicide that went cold. Larry Neumann was part of Frank Cullotta's Hole in the Wall Gang. That lead to one of the victims sons publishing a book about Frank Cullotta's help in naming the murderer called Murder In McHenry.”* Tune in as Mel Blossom sits down with this mobster turned witness to learn all the details of his life on both sides of the law. Links about Frank If you are going to Vegas and would like to meet Mr. Cullotta yourself here is the web address to find out about his tours www.vegasmobtour.com Information about Mob-Con 2014 Sept. 27 & 28 mob-con.net To purchase books and request autographed copies or for general info about the mob museum go to: themobmuseum.org Links to sponsors: El Estudio: elestudio41.com Broken Spoke Jerky Co. www.facebook.com/brokenspokejerky

• published: 14 Sep 2014
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