Blitzstein murder case figure Cino kept from his brother’s funeral

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 9:49 a.m.

Richard Cino Sr., the brother of one of the central figures in the recent Herbie Blitzstein murder trial, died just two days after Stephen Cino was sentenced to 15 years in prison on extortion charges related to the slaying.

Richard Cino, the owner of a Southern Nevada gasoline station, died Thursday of lung cancer in Henderson. He was 70.

Stephen Cino, 61, who was acquitted of helping to orchestrate the January 1997 slaying of longtime mob associate Blitzstein, was sentenced on the lesser charge in federal court on Aug. 31.

The brothers, Stephen Cino's attorney T. Louis Palazzo said, "shared a special bond ever since their father, Joseph, died in 1941." At the time Stephen was 4, Richard was 12 and their brother, Gaspar Cino of Buffalo, N.Y., was 13.

Stephen Cino was not allowed to attend his brother's funeral on Saturday, Palazzo said.

Richard, who had no criminal history, was regularly in the courtroom during his brother's trial.

Richard Cino was born May 6, 1929, in Buffalo. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and a resident of Las Vegas for two years.

In addition to his two brothers, Richard Cino is survived by his wife, Lucy Cino of Henderson; two sons, Joseph Cino of Las Vegas and Richard Cino Jr. of Henderson; and a daughter, Maria Cino of Alexandria, Va.

Donations can be made in Richard Cino's name to Nathan Adelson Hospice.