Columnist Jeff German: Doumani brothers looking to move forward with their lives

Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 10:51 a.m.

FRED DOUMANI SAYS he has new faith in the jury system.

And why shouldn't he?

A jury this week acquitted the longtime hotelman and his brother Ed of bankruptcy fraud stemming from a $34 million judgment they won over the 1979 sale of the once-troubled Tropicana hotel-casino.

The Doumani brothers have a colorful past in Las Vegas. They were the landlords of the Tropicana while the mob was skimming millions from the casino in the 1970s.

Some of the Midwest's biggest mob bosses were convicted of stealing money from the Tropicana as a result of a massive Justice Department investigation.

But the Doumanis, who did not operate the casino, never were charged in the probe.

They caught the government's attention more than a decade later after allegations arose that a sizeable chunk of their $34 million judgment in 1989 was being illegally diverted to Midwest mobsters.

But this week, the brothers were vindicated when the jury came back with a not guilty verdict following a six-week trial in federal court.

Over the years, Fred Doumani has not hidden his friendships with underworld figures.

It has never been a crime, after all, to have a drink with a mobster.

His associations, however, probably are what landed Doumani and his brother in trouble with the government.

Today, Doumani is a little more careful about picking his friends.

He says he isn't bitter about being dragged into court by the government. And he's not gloating over his acquittal.

He just wants to move on with his life and stay out of the headlines.

Doumani can thank the jury system for giving him that opportunity.

Believe it or not, Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren says his political options are expanding, as Monday's filing deadline approaches.

Hammargren says someone with political clout has offered to raise him as much as $400,000 to run for Lorraine Hunt's County Commission seat.

Hunt is running for Hammargren's job.

Hammargren says he's intrigued with the idea of serving on the County Commission.

But he insists he still won't make up his mind until Monday.

Most believe Hammargren likely will run for governor and face Kenny Guinn and Aaron Russo in the Republican primary.

Hammargren says Russo tried to persuade him to stay out of the race.

Russo, he says, offered him $500,000 in campaign support if he sought re-election.

"I'm getting all kinds of offers," Hammargren says. "I've never had this much attention before."

Making a bid for Congress still is an option, Hammargren says.

Russo, meanwhile, says there's no truth to rumors he once considered bolting from the GOP to run for governor as an independent.

He says he's filing as a Republican Friday or Monday.

On the Democratic side, Las Vegas Assemblyman Mike Schneider has put the word out he may file for governor.

That has to please mainstream Democrats, such as Gov. Bob Miller, who aren't willing to back the candidacy of state Sen. Joe Neal of North Las Vegas.

Schneider once considered challenging Shelley Berkley in the Democratic primary for Congress.

The Culinary Union hopes to join forces with casinos along the Strip next week to drum up more support for its meal tax fight with the IRS.

Banner-size "telegrams" voicing opposition to members of Congress will be put up in casino lunchrooms for employees to sign.

Voter registration drives will be conducted, as well, in an effort to strengthen the union's political clout in Campaign '98.

The union has a lot on its plate this year.

But nothing is more important right now than stopping the IRS from taxing free meals casinos provide employees on the job.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich recently pledged his support in the fight.

Nevada lost a true public servant last weekend.

Deputy Attorney Gordy Fink was one of the real nice guys in state government.

His untimely death shocked his many friends and co-workers.

The easy-going Fink, 44, wore several hats in the attorney general's office and wore them well.

He was a trusted political advisor to Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, a member of the AG's Gaming Division and legal adviser to the Nevada Athletic Commission.

He'll be missed.