Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster, and Government Witness by Dennis N. Griffin, Frank Cullotta, Dennis Arnoldy (Contribution by)
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(Paperback)
- Pub. Date: July 2007
- 295pp
- Sales Rank: 80,116
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: July 2007
- Publisher: Huntington Press
- Format: Paperback, 295pp
- Sales Rank: 80,116
- ISBN-13: 9780929712451
- ISBN: 0929712455
Synopsis
From burglary to armed robbery and murder, infamous bad guy Frank Cullotta not only did it all, in Cullotta he admits to it -- and in graphic detail.
This no-holds-barred biography chronicles the life of a career criminal who started out as a thug on the streets of Chicago and became a trusted lieutenant in Tony Spilotro's gang of organized lawbreakers in Las Vegas. Cullotta's was a world of high-profile heists, street muscle, and information -- lots of it -- about many of the FBI's most wanted. In the end, that information was his ticket out of crime, as he turned government witness and became one of a handful of mob insiders to enter the Witness Protection Program.
Publishers Weekly
Mystery and nonfiction writer Griffin covered the Vegas reign of kingpin Tony "the Ant" Spilotro in The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law vs. the Mob. Digging deeper into mob history, he now focuses on Spilotro's lifelong pal, career criminal Cullotta, who appeared in Martin Scorsese's 1995 film, Casino, recreating an actual murder he committed in 1979. Spilotro and Cullotta met in Chicago as teenage troublemakers, and early chapters detail the violent escapades of Cullotta's youth before he escalated to major crimes. Spilotro rose in the ranks of the mob and became the Chicago Outfit's man in Las Vegas, and Cullotta eventually joined him, running a robbery and murder crew. Together, Spilotro and Cullotta extorted illegal bookmakers and drug dealers throughout Vegas. But in the early 1980s, Cullotta became a government witness, bringing down the house. In addition to poring through newspaper archives, Griffin interviewed various sheriffs, attorneys, agents and detectives, while primarily relying on information from retired FBI agent Arnoldy and what Pileggi calls the "phenomenal" memory of Cullotta himself. Griffin's flat, unemotional yet potent writing makes the bloodletting, murders and mayhem chilling and unnerving throughout. 30 b&w photos. (July 1)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationCustomer Reviews
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VERY GOOD BOOKby Anonymous
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March 04, 2009: THIS BOOK WAS VERY ENTERTAINING WELL WRITTEN AND KEEPS YOU WANTING TO READ MORE DEFIANTLY A 5 STAR BOOK
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October 25, 2007: Cullotta By Dennis N. Griffin and Frank Cullotta: In his newest book, Cullotta, Dennis Griffin paints a vivid picture of the life and times of a career criminal and Las Vegas mobster by the name of Frank Cullotta. What?s so intriguing about this fascinating account is every word of it is true, as told to Dennis by the real Cullotta. Once started, you will find it impossible to put this book down. Well researched and artfully crafted, this is a must read for all who ever wondered if, and how, the mob got its hooks into the lucrative Las Vegas casino scene. Dennis chronicles in vivid detail the burglaries, robberies, extortion, and murders that were the everyday business of the ?Outfit?. From the psychotic to the honorable, you will meet them all. Fact is stranger than fiction, and this factual account is a must read. Dennis weaves a solid, interesting story that will hold your attention from start to finish, and I highly recommend this intriguing tale. Review by John R. Schembra Retired Police Sergeant Author of M.P., A Novel of Vietnam, and Retribution
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