Civella may be added to Black Book

Gary Thompson

Friday, July 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

State gaming regulators have voted to add reputed mobster Anthony Civella to the Black Book that bars unsavory people from Nevada casinos.

Calling him "a member of La Cosa Nostra, the largest criminal organization in the United States," prosecutor Michael Wilson urged the State Gaming Control Board to take the action just three days after Civella's release from a four-year prison term.

Once served with notice of his nomination to the Black Book, Civella will have 30 days to respond before final action is scheduled by the Nevada Gaming Commission, said Wilson, assistant chief of the gaming division for the state attorney general's office.

Civella, who didn't appear at Thursday's Control Board hearing, and others "acquired hidden interests in the Fremont, Stardust and Tropicana" in the 1980s and participated in skimming operations, Wilson said.

Noting Civella has a felony record dating to 1975 for such crimes as racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and conducting illegal gaming enterprises, Wilson said, "He has a notorious and unsavory reputation and meets every criteria required for inclusion" on the list of those barred from casinos.

The 66-year-old Civella's father, Carl, and uncle, Nick, ran Kansas City's crime hierarchy for years and oversaw the skimming operations at the Las Vegas casinos.

The two older Civellas, both dead, were also Black Book members.

Control Board Chairman Bill Bible indicated Anthony Civella's nomination to the Black Book is more than a mere formality.

"There is evidence that he frequents Nevada casinos when he's not in jail," Bible said before he and fellow board members Steve DuCharme and Brian Harris voted to add Civella to the 25-person list.

Earlier this week, Civella was released from federal prison after serving four years for wire fraud and violations of interstate trafficking laws connected with the resale of prescription drugs.

Las Vegas attorney Oscar Goodman, who has represented Civella in the past, said he doesn't know whether his former client will appeal the nomination.

"I haven't heard from him since he got out," Goodman said, "but I hope he's home enjoying his family rather than worrying about some stupid action in Nevada.

"It just amazes me that they don't have anything more important to do. It's incredible they use this arcane device that doesn't benefit the gaming industry but is just a waste of time and money."

A longtime foe of the Black Book, Goodman said Bible's concern about Civella's gambling habits is meaningless.

"Who cares where he places a bet?" he said. "Have they ever accused him of cheating?"