Starting from:

$12.95

Moe Dalitz "Godfather Of Las Vegas" FBI Files

Moe Dalitz "Godfather Of Las Vegas" FBI Files

3,100 pages of FBI files covering Morris "Moe" Dalitz. Some of the files were not declassified until November 2017.

Morris "Moe" Dalitz, a former prohibition rum runner with a tough reputation, went to Las Vegas in 1946, he was destined to become the "Godfather of Las Vegas."

The FBI investigated Moe Dalitz for racketeering, bank fraud, and numerous other criminal activities. From the early 1930s to 1968, Dalitz maintained associations and/or contacts with notorious "hoodlums" throughout the country.

During the prohibition era, Dalitz was active in the Detroit, Akron, and Cleveland areas. He eventually settled in Cleveland where he became the leader of the powerful criminal mob called the Mayfield Road Gang. Meyer Lansky sent Dalitz to Las Vegas to straighten out operations at the Flamingo because Bugsy Siegel was not performing his job well and, it was thought, Siegel was skimming money from the Family.

Throughout the 1940s, Dalitz expanded his interests in gambling operations in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. Dalitz later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, acquiring interests in hotel properties. In 1949, Wilbur Clark was experiencing financial problems while building the Desert Inn. Dalitz and his associates took over the hotel, and Clark acted as the front man. In 1955 the Accardo Family took over  the Stardust and brought Dalitz in from the Desert Inn to run the Stardust.

He was indicted on federal tax evasion charges in 1968; however, the charges against him ultimately were dismissed.

Dalitz contributions to charitable causes lead to him being named Humanitarian of the Year by the American Cancer Research Center and Hospital in 1976. In 1982 he received the Torch of Liberty Award by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith.

Dalitz died of natural causes in 1989.


FBI Files 

The files chiefly cover Dalitz's Las Vegas activity. Of special interest to the Bureau was Dalitz and Cleveland investors, including Sam Tucker, Thomas McGinty, and Morris Kleinman opening the Desert Inn. In 1958 Dalitz's association with Jimmy Hoffa lead to millions in Teamsters loans to take over the Stardust. Files show Dalitz was a key backer of Pat McCarran,  Nevada's powerful U.S. senator.

 
Kefauver Committee Testimony

Transcript of  Dalitz's February 28, 1951 testimony to the Kefauver Committee.
 

The Kefauver Committee report on organized crime. United States Congress Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce.

In addition to the material above this collection includes a copy of the final report of the U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce.








More products