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 3-21-05
Inside Vegas - Steve Miller

Steve Miller is a former Las Vegas City Councilman. In 1991, the readers of the Las Vegas Review Journal voted him the "Most Effective Public Official" in Southern Nevada. Visit his website at: http://www.SteveMiller4LasVegas.com

Rizzolo's Worst Nightmare
INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller
AmericanMafia.com
March 21, 2005

As indictments in "Operation Crazy Horse" draw near, a source close to Rick Rizzolo tells INSIDE VEGAS that the
topless bar mogul is more concerned about being inducted into the Nevada Gaming Control Board Excluded Person List also known as the "Black Book," than being indicted in the federal racketeering take down. Some folks just have different priorities.

Something Rizzolo takes great pride in is his being known on the Strip as a "whale" with a million dollar plus line of credit at several casinos, a subject that has not skipped the attention of the Fraud Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

"He marches into the casino surrounded by eye candy. The bosses only let males deal to him because of his foul language. After usually losing up to $350,000 per night, he makes a scene screaming obscenities. If he wins, he throws thousands of dollars at the dealers and bosses. What a nut!"

These are the words of a local dealer who says he often deals to Rizzolo.

For a gambler like Rizzolo, being banned from casinos could be a punishment worse than prison.

         

State of Nevada

NEVADA GAMING COMMISSION
and
STATE GAMING CONTROL BOARD

Seal of Nevada

GCB Excluded Person List



Authority      Implementation


Michael Joseph Balsamo
Michael Joseph Balsamo
Douglas Joseph Barr
Douglas Joseph Barr
Douglas William Barr, Sr.
Douglas William Barr, Sr.
Tommy Glen
			 Carmichael
Eugene A. Bulgarino
Tommy Glen
			 Carmichael
Tommy Glen Carmichael
William Dominick Cammisano, Jr.
William Dominick Cammisano, Jr.
Timothy John Childs
Timothy John Childs
Stephen Anthony Cino
Stephen Anthony Cino
Fancis Citro
Francis Citro
Anthony Thomas Civella
Anthony Thomas Civella
John Joseph Conti
John Joseph Conti
Jerry Dale Criner
Jerry Dale Criner
Joseph Vincent Cusumano
Joseph Vincent Cusumano
Michael DiBari
Michael DiBari
Louis Tom Dragna
Louis Tom Dragna
Ronald Dale Harris
Ronald Dale Harris
Alvin George Kaohu
Alvin George Kaohu
William Gene Land
William Gene Land
Peter Jay Lenz
Peter Jay Lenz
Harold Travis Lyons
Harold Travis Lyons
Frank Joseph Masterana
Frank Joseph Masterana
Dennis Sean McAndrew
Dennis Sean McAndrew
John Edward Mealey, Jr.
John Edward Mealey, Jr.
Brent Eli Morris
Brent Eli Morris
Louis John Olejack
Louis John Olejack
Charles Joseph Panarella
Charles Joseph Panarella
Fred Anthony Pascente
Fred Anthony Pascente
Ramon David Pereira
Ramon David Pereira
Richard Mark Perry
Richard Mark Perry
Chris George Petti
Chris George Petti
Wilford Kalaauala Pulawa
Wilford Kalaauala Pulawa
Peter Joseph Ribaste
Peter Joseph Ribaste
Michael Anthony Rizzitello
Michael Anthony Rizzitello
Frank Larry Rosenthal
Frank Larry Rosenthal
Dominic Anthony Spinale
Dominic Anthony Spinale
Anthony Michael St. Laurent
Anthony Michael St. Laurent
James Tamer
James Tamer
John Joseph Vaccaro, Jr.
John Joseph Vaccaro, Jr.
Sandra Kay Vaccaro
Sandra Kay Vaccaro

Is Rick Rizzolo next?
(Photo added by author)

See Also: List of GCB Most Wanted Persons   List of Individuals Who Have Been Denied or Found Unsuitable

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gcb-031
This page is Bobby Approved
Federal Rehabilitation Act (Section 508)


(Excerpts from) NRS 463.151 Regulations requiring exclusion or ejection of certain persons from licensed establishments: Persons included.
3. In making that determination, the board and the commission may consider any: 
(b) Violation or conspiracy to violate the provisions of this chapter relating to: 
(2) Willful evasion of fees or taxes;
(c) Notorious or unsavory reputation which would adversely affect public confidence and trust that the gaming industry is free from criminal or corruptive elements;

Its becoming clear that one of the most incriminating elements of the upcoming "Operation Crazy Horse" indictments will be tax evasion based on what is estimated to be millions of unreported dollars Rizzolo and his associates dole out to cab drivers to allegedly divert customers to their place of business.

According to investigative journalist George Knapp in last week's Las Vegas Mercury, "The drivers tell potential customers that the topless joint has either burned down or become a gay hangout." 

This allegedly happens if a customer asks to go to a club that does not pay the cabbie between $20 and $40 cash per customer delivered. Even in the most legitimate clubs, little record is kept of such "tips" as the cabbies like to call them, and the Crazy Horse is known as the poster child for this practice.

Rizzolo was the first to call club owners together in 1999 to try to persuade them to stop the pay offs. They met at Pizzeria Uno and made a pact that all complied with until seven months later when business fell off so much at the Crazy Horse that Rizzolo was the first to re-initiate the scheme.

When it was revealed through an undercover investigation by Darcy Spears of KVBC TV News that Rizzolo was again paying off cabbies, the other clubs immediately resumed the illegal practice. Meanwhile, the Nevada Taxi Authority turned their backs saying it was up to the City Council to threaten the privileged business licensees who violated the law. The Mayor and his Council did nothing possibly based on a $40,000 campaign contribution Goodman took from Rizzolo.

Enter the IRS.

Its clear the feds want to close the blood soaked Crazy Horse especially after funding a multi-year investigation involving as many as 80 special agents. Its suspected that the bar is the front for a new infestation of organized crime activity in Las Vegas.

According to sources, Rizzolo is not so concerned with losing his job or going to prison, but is reportedly going out of his mind over the very real possibility of never being able to enter a casino again.

He may not be far off the mark based on statements made by the local Sheriff and the state Gaming Control Board.

"He violated department policies prohibiting officers from accepting gifts from suspects and consorting with persons of ill repute (emphasis added)," were the words of  Clark County Sheriff Bill Young in August 2003 on a police officer taking money from Rizzolo.

"I am also very knowledgeable regarding some of the criminal elements here and those with unsuitable or shady type backgrounds, so I'm very familiar with this Mr. Rick Rizzolo...
People such as you, very successful, very young, are considered marks. People in organized crime try to set you up, to get some of your funds. And I think that's what they were trying to do with you
(emphasis added)," were the words of  Nevada Gaming Control Board member Bobby Siller on January 8, 2004 during the license hearing for the new owners of the Golden Nugget.

If Rick Rizzolo's worst nightmare comes true, at least he'll be among friends in the Black Book. Joey Cusumano, his "best friend in the world," resides on the same page with several other friends including disgraced Chicago ex-cop Fred Pascente who Rizzolo was with in 1999 when Pascente was arrested at McCarran International Airport.

Even Rizzolo's employees are subject to GCB scrutiny though his bar doesn't have gaming. On October 2, 2002, Randall Sayre, the Nevada Gaming Control Board Chief of Investigations told the Las Vegas City Council, "It's no secret that we have concerns with some of the associations that he has," referring to Albert Rapuano, an applicant for a key employee license at the Crazy Horse. Sayre was referring to Rapuano's close association with Cusumano and others.

Rapuano worked as the general manager of a Mesquite, Nevada casino once owned by Merv Griffin. He lasted only two weeks until he was fired when the casino's owners learned details of Rapuano's past including allegations of a possible friendship with Cusumano, a man police said was connected to organized crime, but someone who is also a close friend of the Mayor.

Nonetheless, with Mayor Oscar Goodman's blessings, Rapuano was granted the license while smearing egg on the faces of certain members of the state Gaming Control Board, a favor that might come back to haunt Rizzolo in the near future if he is convicted of one or more felonies.

Lets talk about Rizzolo's protector the Mayor who prior to being elected was the criminal defense attorney for Rapuano and other Rizzolo associates including Cusumano and Joey "The clown" Lombardo, brother of another Crazy Horse executive. Also keep in mind that Goodman's law partner David Chesnoff is currently representing Vinnie Faraci, the general manager of the Crazy Horse, and Goodman's two lawyer sons may represent others about to be indicted. There's big money available to criminal defense attorneys who represent Rizzolo and his crew, and let us not forget how Oscar Goodman made his fortune.

After embarrassing the Control Board during the Rapuano hearing, Goodman invited Cusumano to his home for a social event. This was not the first time the mayor was caught entertaining Black Book members. Charles "Charlie Moose" Panarella was even a guest in the Mayor's office at City Hall!

It was Goodman who once said "There is no Mob," and "I'd rather have my daughter date Tony Spilotro than an FBI agent." Goodman is no friend to law enforcement, and Rizzolo likes to flaunt his Mob connections. An unhealthy combination.

Don't underestimate the effect this type of arrogance can have on those entrusted with the care and enforcement of Nevada's casinos, and don't underestimate the knowledge the Control Board has of Goodman's continuous covering up for Rizzolo and his cronies. With a friend like Goodman, Rick Rizzolo will need no enemies at trial.

Al Capone and Frank Costello were finally brought down for tax evasion - the least impressive of their crimes. Though less than exciting, tax evasion is easy to spot and prosecute especially when a guy squanders millions of dollars in cash paying off cabbies and shooting craps at Caesar's Palace.

Sometimes one's worst nightmare can actually come true.











* If you would like to receive Steve's frequent E-Briefs about Las Vegas' scandals, click here: Steve Miller's Las Vegas E-Briefs

Copyright © Steve Miller


email Steve Miller at: Stevemiller4lv@aol.com





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