Enforcer: Spilotro: The Chicago Mob's Man Over Las Vegas

by William F. Roemer Jr.

Book Overview

Bugsy Siegel built Las Vegas, but it was Tony "The Ant" Spilotro who ran the show. Now William F. Roemer, Jr., veteran FBI agent and scourge of the Cosa Nostra, tells the shocking story of how a teenage wiseguy grew up to become "the man" in Vegas. From the gritty streets of Chicago to the neon-lit Nevada wonderland, Roemer assembles a rogue's gallery of the highest-ranking capos and the lowest creeps of organized crime. As incredible as any work...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804113106
• ISBN13: 9780804113106
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Ivy Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

BETTER THAN CASINO

Tony Spilotro is Chicago's answer to Roy DeMeo. Las Vegas's deserts are filled with his "work". I love the movie CASINO, and this book helped me to enjoy it even more. This guy broke every rule in the book. How he survived as long as he did I'll never know.

Spilotro ain't a nice guy

Tony Spilotro rose from the poor streets of Chicago to the glitzy strip of Las Vegas to end up face down in a shallow grave in Indiana,beaten viciously but buried alive,along with his brother.Quite a trip!Anyone interested in the mob,particularly the Chicago mob,will enjoy the stories and information in this book.Spilotro,although a big name gangster in Las Vegas,was basically a street thug,the kind of guy the bosses rely on to go out and intimidate,beat up,and kill people in order to collect money.Brought up in the mob by two of Chicago's most notoriously brutal hitmen,first "Mad" Sam DeStefano and then Felix Alderisio,it's small wonder Spilotro became what he did.Although some complain they didn't get a personal feel for Spilotro and what he was really like I say so what.The guy was a murderer,thief,and extortionist.By definition I'd say he wasn't too good of a guy.I did read where his son said toward his end Tony couldn't fall asleep unless he was resting his head in his son's lap.He knew he was going to reap what he had sown.Roemer's all over the place in this book but if you want to read about the real Chicago mob of the 1960's through the 80's and how they robbed Vegas blind,pick this up,as well as Casino.Most or at least some of you probably know in the movie Casino Joe Pesci was playing Tony Spilotro.

Great

This book was very real and very true, I know from firsthand experience. The Chicago outfit runs everything, including out east, which makes this book very realistic. One thing that I think should have been included was how Anthony "the Governor" Fratto and his band of misfits took on the Facce Bruggats at the Depot to solidify their stranglehold on Vegas. Other than that , this book was very good.

"Great detail and account of first-hand information"

I thought that this book is great for anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of the Chicago Mafia, organized crime, and law enforcement in general. When people think of the Mafia, they tend to lean towards New York as "the model". Little do they know that Chicago, commonly referred to as the "Second City", has a serious history, and are forces to be reckoned with. Bill Roemer Jr. tells all in this book, from an FBI agent's point view of course. He weaves a web of important players in the Chicago Outfit, with chilling accounts from characters such as Tony Accardo aka "Joe Batters", the outfit's most respected and feared leader/counselor. The inside scoop on Sam Giancana, Joey Aiuppa, and Joe Ferriola a few of the many Mob Bosses depicted. A must read chilling chapter on "Mad" Sam DeStefano will leave the insides of your stomach churning! You will see how Tony Spilotro(the cover boy)fits into the scheme of things, and after reading this book and watching CASINO, you will see how the two resemble each other almost identically, scary!! Pick this book up.

Excellent book

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who ever saw the movie Casino. If you also love Las Vegas and the mafia, then Iwould recommend this to you also.