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December 3, 2009

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Figure in mobster’s slaying dies at 59

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999 | 11:23 a.m.

A central figure in the execution-style slaying of aging mobster "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein has died at a Las Vegas hospital.

Peter Vincent Caruso, who has spent 18 months in the Clark County Detention Center awaiting trial as one of six men charged in the January 1997 killing of Blitzstein, died of heart failure Sunday. He was 59.

Caruso had a longtime chronic heart ailment.

Palm Mortuary officials said today that services are pending. The family had a noon appointment today with the mortuary to sign paperwork to release Caruso's body from the Clark County coroner's office and make arrangements for burial.

Caruso had been cited as a prime target in the FBI's racketeering probe of Los Angeles and Buffalo organized crime figures.

It was alleged that Caruso and five others killed Blitzstein, a former associate of the late Las Vegas mob kingpin Anthony Spilotro, to muscle in on rackets he was running locally.

New York-born Caruso was arrested in April 1997 following a grand jury indictment related to Blitzstein's killing. Caruso also was accused of extorting a Las Vegas businessman and unlawful possession of a bomb.

His survivors include his wife, Pauline Caruso of Las Vegas.

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