From Late Night with David Letterman's Top 10 Answers to "How Hot is it in New York?"
9. "It's so hot mob informants look forward to getting dumped in the river
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
RICO indictment anyone?
Dick Cheney spoke at a fundraiser in New York on Monday for Congressman Vito Fossella. He called Supreme Court nominee John Roberts one of the country's very best lawyers.
Why do they always assume the Italians need a really good lawyer?
Thanks to Argus!
Friday, July 22, 2005
Reports of Rick Rizzolo Dining with the Chicago Outfit's Joey "The Clown" Lombardo Should Close Doors of Crazy Horse Too Strip Club #LasVegas #Chicago
Mob-watchers from here to Chicago are buzzing over the news that organized crime members dined and discussed ways by which they might profit from a casino development in Rosemont, Ill.
Joey "the Clown" Lombardo was at the head of the table, at least metaphorically speaking, when the meal and meeting occurred in May 1999 at Armand's restaurant in a Chicago suburb, according to an FBI informant who monitored the supper.
Lombardo was there along with several mob soldiers, according to the recent testimony of Chicago FBI organized crime squad supervisor John Mallul, who spoke at an Illinois gaming hearing. The meeting supposedly included controversial Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens, a charge he vehemently has denied.
Informant skinny is often inaccurate, but until it's refuted the development is damning. It makes it appear that traditional organized crime was involved in the creation of the Emerald casino project.
One element of the story isn't much in doubt: A face in the crowd at the Lombardo dinner was Crazy Horse Too topless club owner Rick Rizzolo. You might know Rizzolo as the hail-fellow-well-met who for many years has contributed heavily to political campaigns. That is, until one of his executives was indicted and his club came under FBI and IRS investigative scrutiny.
The protestations of Rizzolo's attorneys aside, his close friend, Al Rapuano, already has admitted under oath in a civil deposition that he and Rizzolo attended a dinner with Lombardo. Rapuano didn't specifically name Armand's in May 1999, but I presume the point of this exercise is the organized crime link, not whether they like their steaks medium rare.
Rizzolo evaded questions about the Lombardo connection from attorney Stan Hunterton during a deposition this week, but the Rapuano confirmation is rock solid. The Lombardo-Rizzolo link is an element of a story the Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported May 1.
If Rizzolo held a gaming license, he'd be toast. Although the adult license is considered privileged in Southern Nevada, this side of criminal convictions it's rare to see a licensee lose the privilege of selling overpriced booze to gawking tourists and having skinny girls dance with their tops off.
It's also no crime to chew the fat with the Godfather, as long as you're not paying him tribute and he doesn't secretly have a piece of your topless club.
It does, however, tend to make a laughing stock out of the City Council and Metro licensing investigators who, at least in theory, are supposed to keep the wiseguy element out of our proliferating girlie rackets. Let's just say they've fallen short of the mark on this one.
Authorities would like to call Lombardo to have him confirm the meeting, but that's not possible. He's made himself scarce since being indicted in a separate, murder-riddled RICO case. He's currently wearing funny-nose glasses, calling himself John Smith or some other obvious alias, and I guess Rizzolo's friend and former employee Rocco Lombardo, Joey's brother, doesn't know where to look for him.
Hanging with an infamous mob boss, albeit one who in 1999 had paid his societal debts, is pretty cavalier for a man whose license to practice T&A in Las Vegas is revocable. Who knows, maybe Rizzolo was picking up pointers from Lombardo on how to deal with local politicians. ("Gee, Mr. L., should I purchase them one at a time, or save money by buying in bulk?" "Well, Rick, it's been my experience that it pays to stock up on politicians for use at a later time.")
Allowing Rizzolo to continue to operate in the face of all this controversy and the promise of a federal indictment makes the City Council look particularly weak.
News reports don't equate to felony charges, and no realistic person expects the gentlemen's club racket actually to be run by gentlemen, but Rizzolo's cover as the bon vivant of the silicone circuit pretty much has been blown to pieces by his mob connections.
Unless Rizzolo bought tickets to a "Goodfellas" fantasy weekend, breaking bread with a big-time gangster should be more than enough to close the Crazy Horse Too.
Thanks to John L. Smith.
More from John L. Smith
Joey "the Clown" Lombardo was at the head of the table, at least metaphorically speaking, when the meal and meeting occurred in May 1999 at Armand's restaurant in a Chicago suburb, according to an FBI informant who monitored the supper.
Lombardo was there along with several mob soldiers, according to the recent testimony of Chicago FBI organized crime squad supervisor John Mallul, who spoke at an Illinois gaming hearing. The meeting supposedly included controversial Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens, a charge he vehemently has denied.
Informant skinny is often inaccurate, but until it's refuted the development is damning. It makes it appear that traditional organized crime was involved in the creation of the Emerald casino project.
One element of the story isn't much in doubt: A face in the crowd at the Lombardo dinner was Crazy Horse Too topless club owner Rick Rizzolo. You might know Rizzolo as the hail-fellow-well-met who for many years has contributed heavily to political campaigns. That is, until one of his executives was indicted and his club came under FBI and IRS investigative scrutiny.
The protestations of Rizzolo's attorneys aside, his close friend, Al Rapuano, already has admitted under oath in a civil deposition that he and Rizzolo attended a dinner with Lombardo. Rapuano didn't specifically name Armand's in May 1999, but I presume the point of this exercise is the organized crime link, not whether they like their steaks medium rare.
Rizzolo evaded questions about the Lombardo connection from attorney Stan Hunterton during a deposition this week, but the Rapuano confirmation is rock solid. The Lombardo-Rizzolo link is an element of a story the Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported May 1.
If Rizzolo held a gaming license, he'd be toast. Although the adult license is considered privileged in Southern Nevada, this side of criminal convictions it's rare to see a licensee lose the privilege of selling overpriced booze to gawking tourists and having skinny girls dance with their tops off.
It's also no crime to chew the fat with the Godfather, as long as you're not paying him tribute and he doesn't secretly have a piece of your topless club.
It does, however, tend to make a laughing stock out of the City Council and Metro licensing investigators who, at least in theory, are supposed to keep the wiseguy element out of our proliferating girlie rackets. Let's just say they've fallen short of the mark on this one.
Authorities would like to call Lombardo to have him confirm the meeting, but that's not possible. He's made himself scarce since being indicted in a separate, murder-riddled RICO case. He's currently wearing funny-nose glasses, calling himself John Smith or some other obvious alias, and I guess Rizzolo's friend and former employee Rocco Lombardo, Joey's brother, doesn't know where to look for him.
Hanging with an infamous mob boss, albeit one who in 1999 had paid his societal debts, is pretty cavalier for a man whose license to practice T&A in Las Vegas is revocable. Who knows, maybe Rizzolo was picking up pointers from Lombardo on how to deal with local politicians. ("Gee, Mr. L., should I purchase them one at a time, or save money by buying in bulk?" "Well, Rick, it's been my experience that it pays to stock up on politicians for use at a later time.")
Allowing Rizzolo to continue to operate in the face of all this controversy and the promise of a federal indictment makes the City Council look particularly weak.
News reports don't equate to felony charges, and no realistic person expects the gentlemen's club racket actually to be run by gentlemen, but Rizzolo's cover as the bon vivant of the silicone circuit pretty much has been blown to pieces by his mob connections.
Unless Rizzolo bought tickets to a "Goodfellas" fantasy weekend, breaking bread with a big-time gangster should be more than enough to close the Crazy Horse Too.
Thanks to John L. Smith.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Junior Gotti Writes of Regrets
The son of late Mob boss John Gotti says he regrets "involvement in this life" and doesn't want his children to follow his path.
John "Junior" Gotti, set to go to trial next week on charges he tried to kill the founder of the Guardian Angels crime-fighting group, never defines "this life" in an interview published Monday in the New York Post. "My father was such a dynamic figure that you felt the need to be around him," Gotti wrote from the Metropolitan Correctional Center. "Whatever the sacrifice, he would never betray what he believed to be right -- for better or for worse."
John "Junior" Gotti, set to go to trial next week on charges he tried to kill the founder of the Guardian Angels crime-fighting group, never defines "this life" in an interview published Monday in the New York Post. "My father was such a dynamic figure that you felt the need to be around him," Gotti wrote from the Metropolitan Correctional Center. "Whatever the sacrifice, he would never betray what he believed to be right -- for better or for worse."
Sunday, July 03, 2005
The Mafia Boss
I found a pretty cool simulation Mafia game which you can find by clicking on the icon. This is a free web based Massive Multiplayer Online Game, based on the Real Mafia Life so called "La Cosa Nostra".You wanna be a real Mafia Don like Al Capone, John Gotti or Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo and have all the little mafiosos "Kiss Your Ring ... or Die"?
Enter the The Mafia Boss World, where you will become a boss of a crime gang. You have the choice to collect money from your casinos, whorehouses, loan sharks and gambling dens. You could also produce drugs, liquor and Counterfeit money. You will use bribes, and minor crimes during your daily routine. You will embark in street wars against other gangsters for control. You can bring your gang forth to join a Crime Family with a well structured hierarchy or even form your own Crime Family. The options are endless under a proven business logic with extra scope for illegal businesses and use your legal businesses to clear out the money.
When first starting out, building a strong crew is the best way to go. Keep your happiness levels up, or else your units will start to leave you. Buy liquor and have coke for your operatives; defensive units need guns, weed and liquor. Assure that they are enough defensive units to protect your operatives. If all else fails to keep your operatives happy raise the payroll, see what makes each group happy. Glocks are the best for a starter, when you can afford it go straight up to AK's. Cars can make a difference while doing a drive-by or being attacked. Best car to get, of course, is the S-CLass Limo but if u cant afford it go with the next best for you. The last thing to remember is try everything in the game!! If you don't like the city you're in, leave! If you aren't making enough money try other ways to get money (attack someone in your range) but this is the real Mafia World "an eye for an eye, an arm, and a leg"
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Reward Offered in Search for Mob Fugitives
Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today that a reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the location and arrest of suspected "Chicago Outfit" members JOSEPH "The Clown" LOMBARDO and FRANK "The German" SCHWEIHS.
Both LOMBARDO and SCHWEIHS have been the subject of an international manhunt since April 25th of this year, after being charged along with 12 other individuals by a Federal Grand Jury in Chicago with numerous violations of federal criminal law, including involvement in as many as 18 previously unsolved murders.
LOMBARDO, whose last known address was on Chicago's near west side, is described as a white/male, 76 years of age, 5'7" tall, 185 pounds, medium build, with black hair and brown eyes with glasses.
SCHWEIHS, whose last known address was in Dania, Florida, is described as a white/male, 75 years of age, 6' tall, 180 pounds, medium build, with gray hair and brown eyes and walks with a slight limp.
In announcing this reward, Mr. Grant said " In many of the investigations that the FBI conducts, we rely heavily on the assistance of the public. We're hoping that by offering a reward the public's attention will once again be focused on this investigation and will generate tips that could lead to the arrest of one or both of these fugitives."
Both men should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of either LOMBARDO or SCHWEIHS is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 431-1333 or their local police department.
 |
| Joey "The Clown" Lombardo and Frank "The German" Schweihs |
Both LOMBARDO and SCHWEIHS have been the subject of an international manhunt since April 25th of this year, after being charged along with 12 other individuals by a Federal Grand Jury in Chicago with numerous violations of federal criminal law, including involvement in as many as 18 previously unsolved murders.
LOMBARDO, whose last known address was on Chicago's near west side, is described as a white/male, 76 years of age, 5'7" tall, 185 pounds, medium build, with black hair and brown eyes with glasses.
SCHWEIHS, whose last known address was in Dania, Florida, is described as a white/male, 75 years of age, 6' tall, 180 pounds, medium build, with gray hair and brown eyes and walks with a slight limp.
In announcing this reward, Mr. Grant said " In many of the investigations that the FBI conducts, we rely heavily on the assistance of the public. We're hoping that by offering a reward the public's attention will once again be focused on this investigation and will generate tips that could lead to the arrest of one or both of these fugitives."
Both men should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of either LOMBARDO or SCHWEIHS is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 431-1333 or their local police department.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Prison Inmate, Charles Miceli, Says He Has Information on Mob Crimes
Yet another unsolicited, handwritten letter relating to a major mob case has been sent to U.S. District Judge James Zagel.
This time, Florida inmate Charles Miceli is the author, and he complains the feds have ignored his overtures to provide information about reputed organized crime figures. Miceli -- who said he has no reason to lie because he's going to be released from prison in a few years even without his cooperation -- indicated that reputed mob boss Joey "The Clown" Lombardo is innocent of a murder he's been accused of. And Miceli suggests other reputed hoodlums, including John DiFronzo, should be investigated.
Miceli said in the letter, a copy of which also was mailed to the Chicago Sun-Times and U.S. attorney's office, that FBI agents have refused to interview him despite his claims to have valuable knowledge of mob activities. "It's not right to arrest Mr. Lombardo for things that other people did and it's equally wrong to let really guilty people go free and laugh at the system," Miceli wrote.
Lombardo and other alleged mob figures were charged in a sweeping federal indictment this spring that aims to solve 18 mob hits. Lombardo is on the lam but previously wrote Zagel, who's handling the case, in an unsuccessful attempt to set conditions for coming in from hiding. Miceli reportedly is serving time in Florida on state theft charges.
As the letter came to light, questions surfaced over Miceli's reliability, with sources saying federal investigators have grave concerns about Miceli sending agents on wild goose chases.
However, Chicago ATF agent John N. Rotunno once wrote a letter on Miceli's behalf to Judge Mark Shames in Clearwater, Fla., asking for "Any consideration you could afford him" in another, unrelated court matter.
Rotunno wrote that Miceli had been on the mark in detailing violent crime incidents and had intimate contacts with high-ranking individuals in organized crime. But in 2001, Miceli took ATF agents on a fruitless search for murder victims or weapons in wooded areas near River Grove and River Forest. He's given other unreliable tips to other agencies as well, sources said.
Miceli sent similar letters and additional correspondence to Lombardo's attorney, Rick Halprin, who plans to turn over the information in a court hearing before Zagel today. Halprin will ask the court to appoint a federal public defender to represent Miceli.
Thanks to Natasha Korecki and Carol Marin.
This time, Florida inmate Charles Miceli is the author, and he complains the feds have ignored his overtures to provide information about reputed organized crime figures. Miceli -- who said he has no reason to lie because he's going to be released from prison in a few years even without his cooperation -- indicated that reputed mob boss Joey "The Clown" Lombardo is innocent of a murder he's been accused of. And Miceli suggests other reputed hoodlums, including John DiFronzo, should be investigated.
Miceli said in the letter, a copy of which also was mailed to the Chicago Sun-Times and U.S. attorney's office, that FBI agents have refused to interview him despite his claims to have valuable knowledge of mob activities. "It's not right to arrest Mr. Lombardo for things that other people did and it's equally wrong to let really guilty people go free and laugh at the system," Miceli wrote.
Lombardo and other alleged mob figures were charged in a sweeping federal indictment this spring that aims to solve 18 mob hits. Lombardo is on the lam but previously wrote Zagel, who's handling the case, in an unsuccessful attempt to set conditions for coming in from hiding. Miceli reportedly is serving time in Florida on state theft charges.
As the letter came to light, questions surfaced over Miceli's reliability, with sources saying federal investigators have grave concerns about Miceli sending agents on wild goose chases.
However, Chicago ATF agent John N. Rotunno once wrote a letter on Miceli's behalf to Judge Mark Shames in Clearwater, Fla., asking for "Any consideration you could afford him" in another, unrelated court matter.
Rotunno wrote that Miceli had been on the mark in detailing violent crime incidents and had intimate contacts with high-ranking individuals in organized crime. But in 2001, Miceli took ATF agents on a fruitless search for murder victims or weapons in wooded areas near River Grove and River Forest. He's given other unreliable tips to other agencies as well, sources said.
Miceli sent similar letters and additional correspondence to Lombardo's attorney, Rick Halprin, who plans to turn over the information in a court hearing before Zagel today. Halprin will ask the court to appoint a federal public defender to represent Miceli.
Thanks to Natasha Korecki and Carol Marin.
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