Joseph “Joey” Cusumano, a prominent figure in mob history associated with Chicago Outfit enforcer Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro, passed away in Las Vegas at the age of 90. (DIGNITY Obituary)
Entry into Las Vegas Organized Crime
Born in New York, Cusumano relocated to Las Vegas in 1968, taking a job at Caesars Palace during an era when mob influence was prevalent. His duties included courier work—personally transporting skimmed casino profits to New York mob bosses Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno and Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes” Alo of the Genovese crime family. By 1970, Cusumano pivoted to the restaurant industry, opening Joey’s New Yorker near the Sands Casino, which quickly became a famed hangout spot along the Strip. In the early 1970s, he partnered with Spilotro, participating in street-level mob operations.
Refusal, Conviction, and an Assassination Attempt
Following the 1986 murders of Spilotro and his brother Michael, Cusumano declined an offer to take over Spilotro’s role leading the Chicago Outfit’s Las Vegas operations. Nevertheless, in 1987, he was convicted of labor racketeering for defrauding the Culinary Union’s life insurance fund.
Upon his release from federal prison in June 1990:
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Casino Ban: The Nevada Gaming Commission placed him in the “Black Book,” permanently banning him from all state casino properties.
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Surviving an Ambush: That same year, an unidentified masked shooter ambushed him in front of his home. Despite being hit by three of the five shots fired, Cusumano managed to escape in his Mercedes-Benz convertible, drove himself to Sunrise Hospital, and survived (though he lived with two bullet fragments lodged in his shoulder).
Later Years and Legacy
Cusumano spent his remaining 36 years residing quietly in Las Vegas, playing tennis and spending time with family and friends. In his final years, he faced escalating medical issues, with his longtime defense attorney and close friend, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, noting that routine medical procedures continuously uncovered new complications.
Additional Background & Context
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Connection to Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995): Cusumano’s real-life associate, Tony Spilotro, served as the primary basis for Joe Pesci’s character, Nikki Santoro, in the iconic film Casino. Cusumano’s own exploits and presence in 1970s–80s Las Vegas were part of the same historical backdrop that inspired the movie.
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The “Black Book” (Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons): Created in 1960, Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons is an official registry maintained by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Commission. Inclusion on the list makes it a crime for the individual to step foot inside any licensed Nevada casino, and casino operators face heavy regulatory penalties or license revocation if they knowingly allow a listed individual on their premises.
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Oscar Goodman’s Role: Before serving as the charismatic Mayor of Las Vegas (1999–2011), Oscar Goodman was one of the nation’s premier criminal defense lawyers, famously representing top mob figures including Tony Spilotro, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, and Joey Cusumano. Goodman even played himself in Scorsese’s Casino.
