The Black Book and the Mob: The Untold Story of the Control of Nevada's Casinos

9. Cusumano "The Typical"

9 Cusumano "The Typical" Joseph Vincent Cusumano, an alleged loan shark, was known on the streets of Las Vegas as Anthony Spilotro's replacement for Chicago organized crime interests in town.l Recall that the Nevada Supreme Court had upheld Spilotro's Black Book entry in 1983, so for a little while Las Vegas seemed free of his imminent threat. Nevertheless, there remained a concern on the part of some that Chicago might still be around, and that concern focused on the person of "Joey" Cusumano. Cusumano was an easy target of concern-he was Italian, his personal manner seemed consistent with the stereotype of organized crime, and he was from Chicago-and could be said to be typical of most who have been seen as posing a threat to the gaming industry. Indeed, even the attorney who represented Joey recognized the likelihood of his being seen as disreputable, referring to him as an easy target, a "good scapegoat," a "person who fits the stereotype."2 What makes the case of Cusumano unique is its explicit attention to the issue that has ever so subtly appeared in other cases: differential selection, especially toward Italians. His being so typically Italian illustrates the selection process. In 1985, Cusumano thought that he was to be nominated to the Black Book. He claimed there were reliable accounts that such a nomination was imminent, and on this basis he filed a federal lawsuit challenging the book's constitutionality and calling for an "injunction prohibiting his inclusion."3 His action may have been precipitated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's gathering of the names of 100 persons to submit to the Gaming 167 Copyrighted Material THE REVITALIZATION PERIOD Control Board for recommendation to the Black Book, and the likelihood that his name was among them.4 It was also at a time when he was undertaking a career as a line producer in motion pictures, most notably for the movie The Cotton Club.s Although the lawsuit was dismissed, being held to be "premature" in that the board had taken no action at that time,6 what Cusumano had anticipated did come to pass. It was in December of 1989 that Joseph Vincent Cusumano was indeed nominated to the Black Book? Two years earlier, when he already suspected he would be nominated, he acquired a felony record. He was convicted of conspiracy, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and aiding and abetting in violation of Title 18 of the U.S. Code for his 1980 role in a kickback scheme involving the skimming of $315,000 from a life insurance policy for culinary union members.8 It was this three-count federal conviction , his being named by the Chicago Crime Commission in 1983 as an affiliate of organized crime, and his alleged association with organized crime figures, including three Black Book members , that formed the bases for the board's decision to nominate him.9 Cusumano served two years of a four-year sentence, and was released from prison just three days prior to the board's hearing.10 Once the formal bases of his nomination were read into the proceedings, two board members engaged in a facetious discussion of the candidate. They contended that Cusumano had had contact with the law beginning at age 17, contact involving bookmaking , bribery, burglary, fencing, labor racketeering, and receiving stolen property,ll but entered no evidence in support of those contentions. What followed was this dialogue: MEMBER CUNNINGHAM: ... I couldn't help noting, it took him 22 years to drop out of school in the 11th grade. I don't know that that had an effect on his subsequent social activities. But it's there to be noted. CHAIRMAN BIBLE: He probably wasn't devoting his full time and attention to his studies. MEMBER CUNNINGHAM: Possibly that's true. CHAIRMAN BIBLE: At least that curriculum. (p. 585) 168 Copyrighted Material Cusumano "The Typical" The vote to nominate Cusumano to the Black Book was unanimous , with William Bible and Gerald Cunningham the only board members in attendance. Within six months, the Nevada Gaming Commission met to consider the board's nomination of Cusumano.12 It was a meeting that illustrated how images of threat and of good and evil are created and maintained. The Las Vegas newspapers played a major role in creating the perception of the man in the proceedings that day. The newspapers had...