Historic Las Vegas Mobster Passes Away At 81 From COVID-19 ComplicationsFrank Cullotta, Who Served As A Consultant For "Casino" Died In A Las Vegas Hospital |
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A legendary mobster entrenched in the history of Las Vegas organized crime died from complications due to COVID-19.
Frank Cullotta, 81, passed away in a Las Vegas hospital last Thursday morning, suffering from “a variety of ailments, including COVID-19,” according to an ABC affiliate.
Cullotta was a Chicago native that moved to Las Vegas in the 1970s. He was a childhood friend and right-hand man of Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro, an infamous Las Vegas mobster who was played by Joe Pesci in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino. The duo moved to Las Vegas around the same time.
When he arrived in Sin City, Cullotta formed a group of criminals known as the “Hole in the Wall gang.” They staged burglaries throughout the city and got the name because of their inclination to drill through walls and ceilings to gain access to businesses and residneces without setting off alarms.
Cullotta and his group performed the robberies, while Spilotro took his cut. Eventually, one of the burglaries landed Cullotta in custody and sparked fear that he would be the target of a hit put out by Spilotro.
Cullotta decided to enter witness protection and testify against his long-time friend. He requested his release from witness protection a couple years after Spilotro was assassinated by the mob in 1986.
Once released, Cullotta embraced his mob roots and made a career out of it. According to a Deadline report, Cullotta served as a consultant for the Scorsese film and even made an appearance as a hit man near the end of the movie. He created his own YouTube channel documenting the mob’s influence on Las Vegas and created a “Vegas Mob Tour.”
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