Las Vegas gangster John Spilotro's former home is on the market
Do you want to own a piece of gangster history? The former home of Las Vegas gangster John Spilotro is for sale. Spilotro is the little-known brother of evil Mafia enforcer Tony "Ant" Spilotro, who inspired Joe Pesci's character in the movie "Casino."
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom property at 3179 Desmond Boulevard in Las Vegas is on the market for $550,000. It has a "huge" backyard with a 2,392-square-foot swimming pool complete with a zip line, as well as a climbing wall and an observation deck loft net, according to the listing.
Spilotro co-owned the home with his wife, Arlene, from 1975 to 2002. Some of these outdoor features were added later. So if you're imagining a gangster zip lining and rock climbing, you're probably wrong.
Profit Skimming
Like his infamous brother, Spilotro moved from Chicago to Las Vegas in the 1970s. Tony Spilotro, a Chicago Outfit capo, was assigned to the city to oversee the group's four casinos in Nevada (Stardust Casino, Fremont Casino, Profit Stealing Business at Manor Casino and Pier Casino.
"[John and Arlene] bought the house at the peak of prime location and their newfound money," real estate agent Kyle Simmons told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "They did. Survived and mourned the death of two brothers while living in that house. Simmons added: “Those local neighbors who remember the past remember the stories of gangsters coming to the house. "
John is one of Tony's four brothers and a member of the Hole in the Wall Gang. This is a group of robbers and murderers led by "Ants," so named because of their penchant for puncturing exterior walls to gain access to houses.
Tony's "extracurricular activities" with the gang may have hastened his downfall. He and another brother, Michael, disappeared on June 14, 1986.
A month later, they were found buried together in an Indiana cornfield. They were stripped down to their underwear and beaten to death.
Federal Fees
Just a few months ago, both John and Tony were tried on federal racketeering charges, but the prosecution failed after the court ruled that key evidence could not be produced. That's because the search warrant used to obtain the evidence did not specify the crime the men were accused of.
All but one of the Spilotro brothers became gangsters. PhD. Pasquale "Patrick" Spilotro was a dentist and upstanding member of the community who later made it his life's mission to find out who murdered his brother. In 2009, Chicago Mafia boss James "Little Jimmy" Marcelo was convicted.
It is unclear whether John, now in his eighties, is still alive.
Read also:
- ESPN's Daily Bet Shows "Bye Bye Vegas."
- Brazil's match-fixing investigation due to 'maximum penalty' entering new phase
- NFC South: An open division in the post-Tom Brady era
- Carrot Top extends stay in Las Vegas until age 65
Source: www.casino.org
