Uncovering the Truth: The Mafia's Secret Graveyard in the Desert Unveiled
The mafia used to have an immense influence on the Las Vegas casino industry, lasting from the mid-'40s until at least the late-'70s. The common belief is that they buried hundreds of victims in the Las Vegas desert while running the show. However, as Geoff Schumacher, Vice President of Exhibits and Programs for the Las Vegas Mob Museum, points out, the number of bodies found in the desert is quite different. He stated in a recent interview with KNPR, "If you look back in the records, the bodies found in the desert or dumped in the desert, you can count them on two hands, probably, as opposed to the hundreds that people believe are out there."
Origins of the Myth
The myth stemmed from a 1963 New York Times best-seller, "The Green Felt Jungle," which was the first to expose the hidden criminal ownership behind most of the major Las Vegas Strip resorts. Before then, people had a general idea of crime in the city, but they weren't aware of the details or specific names. The book helped create a notorious reputation for Las Vegas.
Another widespread belief is that someone who "knows where the bodies are buried" is a figure with significant information. This popular expression comes from the idea that the mob buried hundreds of victims in the desert. However, this turns out to be a myth as well.
Some say the expression "86" originated from the mob's practice of driving a victim 80 miles out of town and burying them six feet under. But, the Oxford English Dictionary claims that it actually began as bartender code for being out of a menu item.
Avoiding Killing Enemies
To maintain a positive image for their casino businesses, the mob avoided killing enemies inside Las Vegas proper. They'd move their victims to somewhere beyond the city limits to carry out their deeds. For instance, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was murdered in Beverly Hills, while Gus Greenbaum, Siegel's replacement at the Flamingo, met his demise in Phoenix. Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, who ran skim operations at the Stardust, was also killed in Chicago and buried in Indiana. And, racketeer and bookmaker "Russian" Louis Strauss was taken from the Desert Inn and driven to his murder site in California.
Sadly, the myth of the mafia involuntarily burying people in the desert remains largely unbusted.
Casinos in the Hands of the Corporations
The mafia's control over the Las Vegas casinos began to decline in the late '60s. In 1967, Nevada passed the Corporate Gaming Act, which allowed corporations to own casinos without every shareholder needing to have a gaming license. This paved the way for the wide array of corporate resorts found on the Las Vegas Strip today.
In 1967, billionaire Howard Hughes purchased the Desert Inn from Cleveland syndicate member Moe Dalitz to avoid the upcoming eviction. Hughes became addicted to the casino business, eventually going on to acquire the Sands, Frontier, Silver Slipper, Castaways, and Landmark.
By the '80s, Nevada's Governor Michael Callahan played a major role in eliminating the residual mafia presence in the casino industry. He appointed individuals to the Gaming Control Board who were less prone to corruption and threats.
Geoff Schumacher provided a possible explanation for the body found in a barrel in Lake Mead last year. The victim may have been someone discovered to be a government witness. At that time, the mafia was riddled with paranoia about those potentially betraying them.
Nowadays, while the mafia still exists, they are relegated to the shadows of Las Vegas commerce. Their primary activities include illegal drugs, prostitution, and money laundering.
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Source: www.casino.org
