Digital Social Hour
The Shocking Truth About Mob Life in Vegas | Anthony Ruggiano DSH #1168
08 Feb 2025
🎲 Get ready to uncover the shocking truth about mob life in Vegas! In this gripping episode of the Digital Social Hour, Sean Kelly sits down with Anthony, a former insider, to explore mind-blowing stories about the mob's control over Sin City, the rise and fall of its influence, and the untold secrets behind infamous mafia moments. From personal tales of mob bosses to the connections with Hollywood hits like *Casino* and *The Sopranos*, this conversation is packed with jaw-dropping insights you won’t hear anywhere else. 😱 Discover how Vegas evolved from being "mobbed up" to its glittering modern-day persona, the truth about the mafia's behind-the-scenes power, and the emotional toll of living a double life. You’ll even hear about Anthony’s crazy experiences in witness protection and his take on mob stories like the mysterious disappearance of Hoffa! 🤯 Don’t miss out on this exclusive insider look into the darker side of Vegas history. Watch now and subscribe for more insider secrets. 📺 Hit that subscribe button and join the conversation today! 🚀 #crimedocumentary #truecrime #historydocumentary #truecrimestories #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimestories #crimedocumentary #michaelfranzese #goodfellas CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Vegas in the 70s 03:19 - Where is Hoffa 05:24 - Consulting for Movies 06:20 - Mob Therapy 08:22 - Father's Double Life 11:15 - Dad’s Meatball Recipe 13:18 - The Third Trial 15:08 - Unlimited Money for Feds 18:25 - Faking Hospitalization for Trial Delay 19:08 - Longest Sentences in Prison 19:20 - Prison and Witness Protection 21:56 - Witness Protection in Idaho 26:30 - Living in Fear in Witness Protection 36:00 - Father's Role in JFK Assassination 39:38 - The French Mob 41:43 - Italian Mob and Heroin Trade 42:50 - Marijuana Business Insights 44:15 - New Jersey Mob's Power 46:10 - Politicians Under Mob Control 47:50 - Bad Blood with Gottis 49:40 - Reconciliation with Sammy the Bull 50:30 - Domenico Cefalu: Shelved Boss 51:40 - Joey Merlino's Influence 54:34 - Downfall of Philadelphia Mob 55:56 - Michael's Sports Betting Ventures 57:06 - How to Find Anthony APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [email protected] GUEST: Anthony Ruggiano https://www.instagram.com/anthonyruggianojr/ LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/
Full Episode
And he looks at the lawyer and he tells the lawyer, now it's time to talk money. He tells the lawyer, got a razor blade on you? The lawyer looks at him and goes, what do I need a razor blade for? He said, cause all we got left is blood. Take our blood. We have no more money. All I got left is blood. So he took a lot less.
All right, guys, we got Anthony back on the show. Hasn't been to Vegas in, you said, what, 30 years? I haven't been to Vegas since 1977. Holy crap. October of 1977. Dude, so there's a lot of new buildings and stuff out there now. Oh, my God.
You know, I was at Caesar's Palace yesterday or yesterday. And when I, so let me tell you how I got to Vegas. So I got married October 2nd. in New York. Congrats. And Arnel de la Croce, who was the under boss of the Gambino family, was in prison at the time. But another main member, Joe the Cat, had a travel agent. And Neil's present to me was my honeymoon in Vegas.
So he sent me, I'm 24 years old. So he sent me to Vegas and it was Caesars Palace. And when I got in there, I was treated like, forget right this way, Mr. Ruggiano, because they knew it. Because back then Vegas was all mobbed up. Yeah. And across the street from Caesars was just like a little strip mall. Now there's beautiful buildings and it's just completely, totally different.
Yeah. When did the mob get ran out of Vegas? Do you know what time frame?
I would say sometime in the 80s. Well, I was there in 77. They had it on lockdown. I mean, I was treated like O'Neal sent me there. The guys, the people in Cedars Palace knew I was coming. They were waiting for me. I had a big suite. I had a credit line of like $2,000 in the casino, which was a ton of money back then. And everywhere I went, I went to all the shows. I got right in. I had no issues.
I would say... The 80s, going into the 80s, and then by the 90s, they were gone, and now they're totally out of it. I heard some might be on the old strip, the downtown one, but I don't know.
I don't know. Listen, the mob is never going to go away. Never going to go. I mean, it was built with Team Stamani. We all know that. Tony Provenzano, I actually met him once. I was getting transferred out of Greenhaven, and he was getting transferred out of Greenhaven, And when the correctional officer put me on the bus, the prison bus, he was there. And he saw me.
We didn't know each other, but he must have known, Italian. And I sat down next to him, and I told him I was Fat Andy's son. And he heard, you know, he knew my old man. He goes, oh, how is he? And bah, bah, bah. And we had a conversation. And I was dying. to ask him about Hoffa. Where's the body? Yeah, it was like on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't do it.
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