Ribaste eyed for Black Book

John Wilen

Friday, May 8, 1998 | 9:56 a.m.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Thursday officially recommended Peter J. Ribaste's inclusion in the Nevada Black Book of undesirables banned from casinos.

"He seems to me like he's a very good candidate for inclusion on the list," said Board Chairman Bill Bible.

Ribaste, a convicted felon, has 30 days to appeal the Board's recommendation. If he appeals, Ribaste will be granted a hearing before the Gaming Commission. If he does not appeal, the Commission will likely approve his inclusion in the Black Book at a future meeting. That could happen as early as July.

Attempts to reach Ribaste for comment were unsuccessful.

Law enforcement sources have long tied Ribaste to the Kansas City Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra, alleging that he at one point took direct orders from the late Kansas City mob boss Carl Cirella and his underboss, Carl DeLuna, who is in federal prison.

Ribaste allegedly ran a lucrative illegal gambling operation in Kansas City for La Cosa Nostra in the 1980s. During that period, he ran two Kansas City-area adult nightclubs.

Ribaste also apparently tried to get into the Kansas City car dealership business during the 1980s. In 1989, Ribaste was convicted of mail fraud, wire fraud and failing to disclose $90,000 in Las Vegas gambling debts on loan applications related to his attempts to buy a Kansas City car dealership. For those convictions, he served six months in jail and three years of probation.

In 1989, Ribaste moved to Las Vegas' upscale Spanish Trails development. He subsequently got into the car business here, buying into the Carriage Car III dealership on South Decatur. Ribaste bought into the dealership with the help of $100,000 loaned by Horseshoe Club co-owner Ted Binion, part of the reason gaming regulators added Binion to the Black Book last month.

Another Carriage Car owner, Joseph Ulrey, gave up an attempt to get a business license for the dealership in October, after questions were raised about his association with Ribaste. Ulrey has since reportedly left town.

Last month, Ribaste's Kansas City connections came back to bite him. Ribaste pleaded guilty to charges that he evaded $85,000 taxes in the years 1987-89. Prosecutors charged he was trying to hide his interests in the two Kansas City nightclubs. Ribaste was sentenced to six months home detention and four years probation, sentences he is serving now.

Ribaste's mob associations continued as recently as last year, when he was observed in a car in Las Vegas with a "made member" of the Kansas City mob, said Deputy Attorney General Charlotte Matanane, speaking before the board.

The attorney general's office became particularly concerned with Ribaste when news of the Binion loan surfaced last year.

Ribaste is a known sports better, who has been extended credit by Las Vegas casinos as recently as 1995, Matanane said.

"Peter Ribaste is a proper candidate to be placed on the list," Matanane told the Board.

Board members were quick to agree.

"His activities around Las Vegas do indicate a history of concealing his business interests," said Board member Steve DuCharme.

"I think he represents a clear and present threat to gaming interests in the state of Nevada," agreed Bible.