BARRICADE BOOKS
For Immediate Release
Contact: Carole Stuart
Former Chicago Mob associate William “Slick” Hanner
denounces mobster Frank Cullotta re upcoming Outfit
trial dubbed “Operation Family Secrets.”
May 2007, Las Vegas - William “Slick” Hanner, co-author of THIEF! The Gutsy, True Story of an Ex-Con Artist, 2006, was a key informant interviewed by KLAS-TV Eyewitness News investigative reporter, George Knapp. The subject of Knapp’s special 2-part I-team report was the upcoming Chicago Outfit trial, “Operation Family Secrets,” due to begin in June 2007.
In an excerpt from the Knapp newscasts, as seen on www.LasVegasNow.com, Knapp says:
Cullotta is expected to testify that his boss, Spilotro, reported to longtime reputed outfit kingpin Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, the best known of the fourteen defendants in the Operation Family Secrets case. Two other mobsters, Frank and Nick Calabrese, are ready to tell what they know about the other defendants. Lombardo's lawyer thinks those two will be tough witnesses, but he sounds like he will be ready for Cullotta.
Hanner gives George Knapp his take on Frank Cullotta:
Another Cullotta critic is former Chicago hoodlum William "Slick" Hanner, who grew up in the same Chicago neighborhoods, ran with the same crowd, but even before Cullotta.
Former mob associate, William "Slick" Hanner said, "What can he [Cullotta] say that they
don't know?"
Hanner said, "I ain't saying I'm better than him. I'm not a killer, but I don't embellish things. He said Tony sent for him. Tony never sent for him. He came out here to put a girl to work. She was a prostitute. Then he went to Tony and said he's gonna bring his crew out."
Hanner, who ended up working in licensed casinos despite his long criminal record, has written his own book about the bad old days, entitled "Thief." He admits to being a participant in skimming millions from the mob-tainted Stardust casino but feels Cullotta is exaggerating his own importance.
"I would have never given him witness protection, never. He's as bad as the ones he's testifying against," Hanner continued.
"Slick" Hanner said, "The reason they [Tony and Michael Spilotro] got killed was because they were going back to Chicago to take over The Outfit. He [Tony] was telling his crew we're going back to Chicago."
George Knapp plans to interview Hanner again live once the Outfit trial gets underway.
THIEF! character, Vince Eli
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Chicago's own William 'Slick' Hanner a major player in the upcoming Chicago Outfit trial
As you've read on Mob Speak recently, esteemed investigative reporter for Eyewitness News, Las Vegas, George Knapp, has interviewed Slick extensively in connection with the upcoming mob trial dubbed, "Family Secrets." Mr. Knapp added in an e-mail to me that he wants to have Slick back live on his show once the trial begins.
For the most up-to-date info on events surrounding the trial, check out Joe Batterz web site: www.ChicagoSyndicate.blogspot.com. It saves me the trouble of posting it again here and gives Joe some well-deserved exposure.
Anybody out there have an opinion about this stuff? Let us know!
CR
For the most up-to-date info on events surrounding the trial, check out Joe Batterz web site: www.ChicagoSyndicate.blogspot.com. It saves me the trouble of posting it again here and gives Joe some well-deserved exposure.
Anybody out there have an opinion about this stuff? Let us know!
CR
Thursday, May 17, 2007
JOE BATTERZ DOES IT AGAIN!!
The following excerpt appeared today on Mr. Batterz informative website www.ChicagoSyndicate.blogspot.com. The story from George Knapp's I-Team investigative report on KLAS-TV, Las Vegas is causing quite a stir. Check out www.LasVegasNow.com for more info. The Chicago Outfit trial is slated to begin in a few weeks. Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks again, Joe!
Read on:
Slick Hanner Challenges Frank Cullotta's Credibility on Family Secrets
Friends of ours: Frank Cullotta, Tony Spilotro, Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo, Nick Calabrese
Friends of mine: William "Slick" Hanner, Michael Spilotro, Frank Calabrese Jr.
Chicago's still powerful Mafia family, known as "The Outfit," is about to be pummeled by Operation Family Secrets, an FBI probe aimed at fourteen top mobsters.The Outfit once had considerable control of casinos and street rackets in Las Vegas. Now, the remaining bosses will be prosecuted for eighteen unsolved murders. Among the witnesses will be former mob soldiers, including one time Las Vegas hitman Frank Cullotta.
Will Cullotta be credible when he takes the stand? Other "wiseguys" aren't so sure.Frank Cullotta told Chief I-Team Reporter George Knapp, "I would think it's the end. I don't think it will ever be as strong or as organized as it was."Admitted hitman and thief Frank Cullotta was raised on the mean streets of Chicago. He robbed people, boosted cars, and ran with a bad crowd, including his future boss, tough Tony Spilotro. In the late '70s, Cullotta joined Spilotro in Las Vegas as part of a burglary ring known as The Hole in the Wall Gang.
Cullotta committed at least one murder on orders from Spilotro, eventually joined the witness protection program and testified against Spilotro and other former associates. Now, he is listed as a likely witness in the prosecution of what remains of the Chicago outfit -- 14 alleged mobsters charged with 18 murders -- including those of Spilotro and his brother Michael. "There's guys who killed guys that have been killed for murders. Jesus, there's a lot of guys," Cullotta said.
Defense attorneys found out what Cullotta might say in court by obtaining a preview copy of his soon-to-be released book about his life of crime. A former federal prosecutor who helped turn Cullotta thinks he's a credible witness.
Don Campbell explained, "Certainly Frank knew what was going on in Chicago. How intimate his knowledge might have been on any particular crime, it depends on the crime. Clearly he was in the loop on an awful lot of criminal activity."
But others, including Spilotro's defense attorney, now Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, have complained for years that Cullotta isn't believable. Oscar Goodman said, "He's a liar, he's a pimp, he's a thief."
Another Cullotta critic, former mob associate, William "Slick" Hanner said, "What can he say that they don't know?"
Hanner, who grew up in the same Chicago neighborhoods, ran with the same crowd, but even before Cullotta. Hanner said, "I ain't saying I'm better than him. I'm not a killer, but I don't embellish things. He said Tony sent for him. Tony never sent for him. He came out here to put a girl to work. She was a prostitute. Then he went to Tony and said he's gonna bring his crew out."
Hanner, who ended up working in licensed casinos despite his long criminal record, has written his own book about the bad old days, entitled "Thief." He admits to being a participant in skimming millions from the mob-tainted Stardust casino but feels Cullotta is exaggerating his own importance "I would have never given him witness protection, never. He's as bad as the ones he's testifying against," Hanner continued.
Cullotta is expected to testify that his boss, Spilotro, reported to longtime reputed outfit kingpin Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, the best known of the fourteen defendants in the Operation Family Secrets case. Two other mobsters, Frank and Nick Calabrese, are ready to tell what they know about the other defendants. Lombardo's lawyer thinks those two will be tough witnesses, but he sounds like he will be ready for Cullotta.
Rick Halprin, Lombardo's defense attorney, said, "Even though I've seen tapes of Cullotta, I don't know what he's gonna be like until I see him on the stand. I don't think he'll be what I've seen on the tapes. I really don't."Anyone who's seen the movie "Casino" probably believes the Spilotro brothers were murdered in a cornfield. Not so.Thanks to George Knapp
Thanks again, Joe!
Read on:
Slick Hanner Challenges Frank Cullotta's Credibility on Family Secrets
Friends of ours: Frank Cullotta, Tony Spilotro, Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo, Nick Calabrese
Friends of mine: William "Slick" Hanner, Michael Spilotro, Frank Calabrese Jr.
Chicago's still powerful Mafia family, known as "The Outfit," is about to be pummeled by Operation Family Secrets, an FBI probe aimed at fourteen top mobsters.The Outfit once had considerable control of casinos and street rackets in Las Vegas. Now, the remaining bosses will be prosecuted for eighteen unsolved murders. Among the witnesses will be former mob soldiers, including one time Las Vegas hitman Frank Cullotta.
Will Cullotta be credible when he takes the stand? Other "wiseguys" aren't so sure.Frank Cullotta told Chief I-Team Reporter George Knapp, "I would think it's the end. I don't think it will ever be as strong or as organized as it was."Admitted hitman and thief Frank Cullotta was raised on the mean streets of Chicago. He robbed people, boosted cars, and ran with a bad crowd, including his future boss, tough Tony Spilotro. In the late '70s, Cullotta joined Spilotro in Las Vegas as part of a burglary ring known as The Hole in the Wall Gang.
Cullotta committed at least one murder on orders from Spilotro, eventually joined the witness protection program and testified against Spilotro and other former associates. Now, he is listed as a likely witness in the prosecution of what remains of the Chicago outfit -- 14 alleged mobsters charged with 18 murders -- including those of Spilotro and his brother Michael. "There's guys who killed guys that have been killed for murders. Jesus, there's a lot of guys," Cullotta said.
Defense attorneys found out what Cullotta might say in court by obtaining a preview copy of his soon-to-be released book about his life of crime. A former federal prosecutor who helped turn Cullotta thinks he's a credible witness.
Don Campbell explained, "Certainly Frank knew what was going on in Chicago. How intimate his knowledge might have been on any particular crime, it depends on the crime. Clearly he was in the loop on an awful lot of criminal activity."
But others, including Spilotro's defense attorney, now Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, have complained for years that Cullotta isn't believable. Oscar Goodman said, "He's a liar, he's a pimp, he's a thief."
Another Cullotta critic, former mob associate, William "Slick" Hanner said, "What can he say that they don't know?"
Hanner, who grew up in the same Chicago neighborhoods, ran with the same crowd, but even before Cullotta. Hanner said, "I ain't saying I'm better than him. I'm not a killer, but I don't embellish things. He said Tony sent for him. Tony never sent for him. He came out here to put a girl to work. She was a prostitute. Then he went to Tony and said he's gonna bring his crew out."
Hanner, who ended up working in licensed casinos despite his long criminal record, has written his own book about the bad old days, entitled "Thief." He admits to being a participant in skimming millions from the mob-tainted Stardust casino but feels Cullotta is exaggerating his own importance "I would have never given him witness protection, never. He's as bad as the ones he's testifying against," Hanner continued.
Cullotta is expected to testify that his boss, Spilotro, reported to longtime reputed outfit kingpin Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, the best known of the fourteen defendants in the Operation Family Secrets case. Two other mobsters, Frank and Nick Calabrese, are ready to tell what they know about the other defendants. Lombardo's lawyer thinks those two will be tough witnesses, but he sounds like he will be ready for Cullotta.
Rick Halprin, Lombardo's defense attorney, said, "Even though I've seen tapes of Cullotta, I don't know what he's gonna be like until I see him on the stand. I don't think he'll be what I've seen on the tapes. I really don't."Anyone who's seen the movie "Casino" probably believes the Spilotro brothers were murdered in a cornfield. Not so.Thanks to George Knapp
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
George Knapp gives Slick and Thief major air time
Curious to see what Slick revealed on George Knapp's 2-part investigative reports on the Chicago Outfit? Check out www.LasVegasNow.com and see the shows in their entirety as shown on KLAS-TV Las Vegas, May 15 & 16. It's all about the Chicago Outfit, Tony Spilotro and key prosecution witness, Frank Cullotta. This isn't the same old stuff rehashed. Mr. Knapp has a knack for extracting the fresh and new, particularly when it's controvertial and sensational.
George Knapp gets Slick's in-depth take on the mob, from Slick's years of living at Chicago Outfit headquarters in Chicago to Las Vegas, bilking casinos and suckers out of thousands of dollars under the watchful eye of Tony Spilotro.
We'd love your feedback on the shows or anything else you'd care to contribute.
George Knapp gets Slick's in-depth take on the mob, from Slick's years of living at Chicago Outfit headquarters in Chicago to Las Vegas, bilking casinos and suckers out of thousands of dollars under the watchful eye of Tony Spilotro.
We'd love your feedback on the shows or anything else you'd care to contribute.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Slick & Cherie at Borders McCarran
Thanks to everyone who turned out for our hugely successful book signing, Mon. May 7 at McCarran Airport Borders Books in Las Vegas.
Sorry we couldn't post all of the photos.
Monday, May 14, 2007
SLICK INTERVIEW ON GEORGE KNAPP SHOW!
If you live in the Las Vegas area you won't want to miss George Knapp's interview with Slick regarding the upcoming Chicago Outfit trial. Slick mentions facts never before revealed like who really killed Marilyn Monroe.
Here's what Mr. Knapp said on KLAS-TV's website today:
"And Tuesday at 5, the I-Team will hear more from witness Frank Cullotta, and from another wise guy who thinks Cullotta is full of it."
I think we all know who the wise guy is that thinks Cullotta is full of it. His name starts with an "S."
What: George Knapp's I-Team investigative special report
Who: George Knapp interviews Slick in depth about the mob
Where: KLAS-TV, Channel 8
When: Tues. May 15 & Wed. May 16 at 5:00 p.m. Las Vegas time.
Here's what Mr. Knapp said on KLAS-TV's website today:
"And Tuesday at 5, the I-Team will hear more from witness Frank Cullotta, and from another wise guy who thinks Cullotta is full of it."
I think we all know who the wise guy is that thinks Cullotta is full of it. His name starts with an "S."
What: George Knapp's I-Team investigative special report
Who: George Knapp interviews Slick in depth about the mob
Where: KLAS-TV, Channel 8
When: Tues. May 15 & Wed. May 16 at 5:00 p.m. Las Vegas time.
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