Mob link to Binion case investigated

Thursday, March 9, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

Private detective Tom Dillard flew to Chicago this week to step up an investigation into ties between murder defendant Rick Tabish and reputed mob associate Salvatore "Sammy" Galioto.

Dillard, who has been investigating Ted Binion's 1998 slaying for his estate, spent three days off the shores of Lake Michigan pursuing new leads.

"There was an ongoing relationship between Tabish and Galioto before and after Ted Binion's death," Dillard told the Sun by telephone today.

Dillard said cellular phone records show monthly calls between Tabish and a Chicago area beeper number belonging to Galioto dating back to January 1999. A man identifying himself as Galioto also visited Tabish at the Clark County Detention Center on Aug. 16.

Tabish and Binion's live-in girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, are charged with killing Binion at his 2408 Palomino Lane home on Sept. 17, 1998.

Records show Tabish called Galioto's beeper in the hours after Binion's death before heading to Pahrump to dig up the gambling figure's silver fortune.

"There has been speculation that the silver may have had a Chicago connection," Dillard said. "That's one of the things we're looking into."

He said he was trying to determine whether Galioto had knowledge of what Tabish intended to do with the $6 million in silver bars and coins after the alleged theft. Tabish, his employee Michael Milot and former Binion ranch manager David Mattsen were arrested in Pahrump before they could move the silver.

Dillard, who is working closely with homicide detectives, said he also was investigating whether Galioto was involved in a movie project with Tabish and another reputed mob associate, Las Vegan Joseph Cusumano. Galioto, like Cusumano, has ties to the movie industry.

The Sun reported last November that Cusumano, a reputed lieutenant of slain Chicago mob kingpin Anthony Spilotro, had been negotiating with Tabish to put together a movie deal on Binion's death.

Well-placed sources said an agreement may have been struck with Tabish to assist him with his legal fees in return for a piece of his movie rights.

Dillard said he became more interested in pursuing the Galioto link to Tabish after Jason Frazer, a Tabish friend and business associate, pointed out a relationship between the two men in sworn courtroom testimony last week.

Frazer, who has stepped forward to disclose an alleged plot by Tabish to pay off alibi witnesses, testified that he had dinner with Tabish, Galioto and Cusumano several years ago. Adult nightclub owner Rick Rizzolo also was at the dinner, Frazer said. But Rizzolo through his lawyer denied being there.

Frazer said Tabish told him that Galioto, a frequent Las Vegas visitor, could be helpful in establishing union connections with Tabish's trucking company.

Tabish also once bragged that he expected to earn $200,000 to $300,000 from selling the rights to his story in the Binion case, Frazer said.

Frazer testified that Tabish promised him $50,000 from that money for running his trucking business for him.

On Wednesday, Frazier, who has been given immunity for his testimony, was released from the Clark County Detention Center on $100,000 bail. He was to be held under house arrest in his hometown of Missoula, Mont., until called to testify at the March 27 Binion murder trial. Frazer was arrested in Missoula on a material witness warrant in the case on Feb. 14.

Dillard, meanwhile, said he attempted to meet with Galioto in Chicago Wednesday, but his lawyer said the reputed underworld figure didn't want to talk.

Dillard said he made his presence known in the Chicago area.

He said he showed up at the All Star Gentleman's Club in Melrose Park, Ill., an adult nightclub reportedly owned by Galioto's father, and gave an interview to a Chicago television reporter.

The private detective booked a return flight to Las Vegas today.

Jeff German is the Sun's senior investigative reporter. Reach him at german@ lasvegassun.com or 259-4067.