underworld Archives

Alphonse "Al/Scarface" Capone Anthony "Tough Tony" Capezzio Chicago--Illinois Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Kidnapping Edward "Red" Meehan Edward P. Jones Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins Games / Races: Policy / Numbers George Jones It Really Happened Matt Capone Mexico Murray "The Hump"/"The Camel" Humphreys Ralph "Bottles" Capone Sam "Golf Bag" Hunt Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo United States

Gambling Czar Abduction Mystery

1946 Two brothers — Edward P. and George Jones — freely controlled Chicago, Illinois’ policy* racket for 25 years, beginning in the 1920s. As a result, the two raked in money, $10 to $30 million…

Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling Laws / Regulations Gambling Laws / Regulations: Nevada's Black Book / Excluded Person List Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board It Really Happened John "The Bat" Battaglia Las Vegas--Nevada Louis Tom Dragna Marshall Caifano / Johnny Marshall Nevada Politicians / Politics: NV Governor Grant Sawyer

Nevada's Black Book: Civil Rights Violation?

1960-1967 Los Angeles mobsters, Louis Tom Dragna and John “The Bat” Battaglia, conversed in a hotel-casino cocktail lounge on the Las Vegas Strip one day in February 1960. But their visit was cut short when…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder / Killing Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling It Really Happened Los Angeles-California San Quentin State Prison (CA)

Gambling Defeat Leads to Calamity

1915-1935 James “Jimmy” Sidney Rogan, an active student and football player, was well liked by the principal of his high school in Tonopah, Nevada, a mining boom town halfway between Las Vegas and Reno. In…

Gambling Laws / Regulations: U.S. Transportation of Gambling Devices Act Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee United States

Thwarting Mob Activities

1950s The manufacture of slot machines, roulette wheels and other gambling equipment was big business in the United States until the mid-20th century when new federal legislation curbed it. In 1950, the Kefauver Committee, officially the…

Bernard "Mooney" Einstoss Casino: Financings Casino: Financings: Reconstruction Finance Corporation It Really Happened Louis "Lou" Wertheimer Mapes (Reno, NV) Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Was The Mapes' Financing Unethical?

1947 The United States’ Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) co-financed construction of a gambling enterprise via its $975,000 loan for the Mapes hotel-casino in Reno, Nevada in 1947. Under Attack Three years later, Senators William Fulbright…