THE BLACK HAND FORUM

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So was like in the movie? "I went to Vegas to protect the golden jew?"

My sense was that the outfit bosses felt they needed a muscle guy out there. Someone who could intimidate and protect their interests.

It’s also important to remember that they didn’t really “give him Vegas.” He still had to report to people back in Chicago, including Joey Lombardo. Rosenthal was the one running the business side of the casinos, Spilotro was the outfits eyes and ears and muscle

[quote=furiofromnaples post_id=233844 time=1658254388 user_id=137]
In 1971 he was only 33 y old and the Outfit gave him Vegas.
Who were the reasons that led to Spilotro and not a more expert wiseguy?
[/quote]

Spilotro was close to Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who was an Outfit associate already living in Vegas and managing casinos which were secretly owned by the Outfit. He was also close with Phil Alderisio, a prominent and high-ranking Outfit member who probably spoke on Spilotro's behalf when the decision to make a Vegas-liaison was being made. Spilotro also had a violent reputation, which could be used to protect Rosenthal from other criminals looking to shake him down or make trouble in Vegas. The book [i]Casino[/i] probably also goes into more detail, but I don't have my copy handy at the moment.

In 1971 he was only 33 y old and the Outfit gave him Vegas.
Who were the reasons that led to Spilotro and not a more expert wiseguy?