Frank Cullotta

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Frank Cullotta (July 2012)

Frank Cullotta (born December 14, 1938 in Chicago , Illinois ; † August 20, 2020 in Las Vegas , Nevada ) was an Italian-American mobster and associate of the Chicago outfit as well as the leader of a gang that was reported by the media due to the entry method used Burglaries as "Hole in the Wall Gang" (in German: "Wall Hole Gang") was designated, which is said to have perpetrated around 200 burglaries in Las Vegas between 1980 and 1981. Cullotta later became a key witness and testified against various mafiosi.

Life

Early years

Cullotta was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 14, 1938 and went to Steinmetz College Prep High School in 1953 . He began his decades-long criminal career as a teenager with minor thefts, robberies and arson. At the age of 12 or 13 he got into a small argument with another boy named Tony Spilotro . The two then became friends and criminal allies when they found out that Cullotta's gangster father had helped Spilotro's father, a restaurant owner, deal with Black Hand extortionists . According to Cullotta, his father had her killed. Cullata's father died in a car accident in 1947 while on a high-speed chase with the police while he was doing an assignment for the Chicago outfit . Later, Frank Cullotta also did various jobs for the outfit and became a well-known associate of the organization.

Las Vegas

In May 1978, Cullotta moved from Chicago to Las Vegas because the Chicago pavement was getting too hot for him. On site, he contacted his childhood friend and local Chicago outfit boss, Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro. Spilotro allowed him to do business locally for a fee of 10 percent of his profits; Cullotta agreed and received information from Spilotro through a household insurance agent about ideal locations for theft.

Later, Cullotta was responsible for protecting Spilotro and supporting him in his business. Among other things, he was supposed to keep in touch with the bosses and casino managers of the Stardust Casino , where the Mafia illegally siphoned off funds. In addition, Cullotta was supposed to put together a versatile group of criminals for Spilotro, which consisted of Ernie Davino, the master thief Leonardo "Leo" Guardino, the robber Wayne Matecki and the killer Larry "Crazy Larry" Neumann. They robbed various drug dealers and jewelry stores. The burglar gang became known in the media as the "Hole in the Wall Gang" because they broke open outer walls and thus gained access to the houses.

Cullotta opened a restaurant of his own called Upper Crust , which served Italian food and where the gang would meet to discuss their business , for the sake of reputable appearances .

At this time, Cullotta came into contact with a petty criminal named Sherwin "Jerry" Lisner, but he mistrusted him. Spilotro and Cullotta learned that Lisner was cooperating with the FBI and Spilotro asked Cullotta to get Lisner out of the way. Cullotta and Wayne Matecki murdered Lisner on October 10, 1979 in his house and threw him into an adjacent swimming pool.

Later, the Chicago outfit's Las Vegas branch was monitored 24 hours a day, but they beat the local authorities at their own guns. They monitored calls and radio messages from officers and always had a hand over their mouth when they spoke about business in public, as the FBI used lip readers to see what the gangsters were discussing while monitoring the open air.

Treason and vengeance

On July 4, 1981, Cullotta and his gang committed a well-planned break-in at a well-known jewelry store called Bertha's Gifts . Ernie Davino hired Salvatore "Sal" Romano to drive the theft; What no one knew, however, Romano was an FBI informant and gave the FBI all the details about the job. All those involved were caught and arrested on site by the FBI. In prison, Cullotta was played a tape by the FBI of a member of the Chicago outfit asking Spilotro to look after Cullotta because they suspected him because of his incarceration and believed that he might betray her. So Frank Cullotta made a deal with the FBI and told them everything he knew.

In 1982, Cullotta was made a key witness and a year later, his testimony charged 18 people with organized crime and won 15 convictions. Cullotta testified in court that Spilotro was the brain behind the "Hole in the Wall Gang" and brought him, among other things, to the murder of Lisner in connection. The trial ended without a verdict for Spilotro for lack of evidence; however, Spilotro was brutally murdered together with his brother Michael Peter "Micky" Spilotro in 1986 by the Chicago outfit, shortly before a new trial was to be scheduled.

Frank Cullotta spent 8 years in prison for his crimes and went into the witness protection program . He later became a consultant for various TV shows and films. During his time lived in the witness protection he by his own admission in places like Estes Park ( Colorado ), Biloxi and Gulfport in Mississippi , or in Mobile ( Alabama ). Cullotta says he feels a little safer today as all of his former enemies are either dead or serving life sentences.

He died on August 20, 2020 at the age of 81 from complications from COVID-19 .

Films and documentaries

  • 2016: The Making of the Mob ; Docu-drama series about the emergence of organized crime organizations in America in the 20th century. Cullotta is represented in episodes 2, 5, 7 and 8 of the second season.
  • 2013: Las Vegas Mafia (OT: Vegas Mobster ); Documentary episode from the documentary series Horror Trips - When journeys become a nightmare (OT: Banged Up Abroad ) with Frank Cullotta, about his work for the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas.
  • 2012: Frank Cullotta ; Documentary episode of the documentary series The Law of the Road: Confessions of the Mafia with Frank Cullotta, about his work for the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas.
  • 2012: “Mad Sam” DeStefano ; Documentary episode about Sam "Mad Sam" DeStefano , from the Mobsters documentary series .
  • 2008: Tony Spilotro ; Documentary episode about Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro , from the Mobsters documentary series .
  • 2007: Sam Giancana ; Documentary episode about Sam Giancana , from the Mobsters documentary series .
  • 1995: Casino ; Representation in the film character Frank Marino by Frank Vincent .

literature

  • Frank Cullotta: The Rise And Fall Of A 'Casino' Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story Through A Hitman's Eyes . WildBlue Press, 2017, ISBN 1-942266-95-2 .
  • Frank Cullotta, Dennis N. Griffin: Hole in the Wall Gang . Houdini Publishing, 2013, ISBN 1-936759-21-7 .
  • Frank Cullotta: Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster, and Government Witness (True Crime) . Huntington Press, 2007, ISBN 0-929712-45-5 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ex-mobster Frank Cullotta, crony of Tony Spilotro, this in Las Vegas
  2. ^ A b c The Daily Beast - Frank Cullotta, the Hitman Turned Vegas Tour Guide
  3. ↑ a b c National Crime Syndicate - On This Day in 1938 Frank Cullotta was Born
  4. ↑ Chicago Suntimes - Ex-Chicago hitman's new Spilotro book starts at the beginning
  5. ↑ Los Angeles Times - 5 Mob Figures Guilty in Vegas Skimming Case
  6. ↑ Los Angeles Times - Mobster Spilotro, Brother Found in Grave in Indiana
  7. ^ Forbes - How An Infamous Mafia Hitman Rebuilt His Identity From Scratch
personal data
SURNAME Cullotta, Frank
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American mobster
DATE OF BIRTH December 14, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago , Illinois
DATE OF DEATH 20th August 2020
Place of death Las Vegas , Nevada