COLUMN: John L. Smith

     Blood from the January murder of Herb Blitzstein continues to splash on organized crime associates in Southern Nevada.
      It has, sources say, stained the hands of two local men with ties to mob figures in Las Vegas, New York and California.
      FBI and Metro police on Tuesday arrested Antone "Tony" Davi, 29, and Richard Friedman, 55, on felony charges linked to the murder of Blitzstein, who was shot in the back of the head Jan. 7 at his Las Vegas town house. Blitzstein, an ex-felon and longtime associate of late Chicago mob enforcer Anthony Spilotro, was fighting inclusion in the state's casino Black Book at the time of his death.
      Davi has been charged with violence in aid of racketeering, and Friedman has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The men are scheduled to be arraigned today in U.S. District Court, where they are likely to be hit with more extensive charges.
      The violence-related charges indicate that authorities believe the two men are connected to the actual shooting of Blitzstein.
      Search warrants were conducted at the Davi and Friedman residences Tuesday, where evidence was seized. The search warrants remain under seal.
      In April, nine men were indicted on racketeering-related charges in connection with a federal and local investigation into traditional street mob activity in Southern Nevada. Two of those men, Peter Vincent Caruso and Alfred Mauriello, were charged with murder, aiding and abetting and murder-for-hire. But authorities would not confirm whether they believed either Caruso and Mauriello actually shot Blitzstein. On the street, Caruso has a reputation as a burglar.
      Others indicted in April include Joseph DeLuca, a Blitzstein friend linked to Any Auto Repair on Fremont Street; Steve Cino and Bobby Panaro, whom authorities have linked to mob families in Los Angeles and Buffalo, N.Y.; and Anthony DeLulio, Stephen Mauriello, Charles Librizzi and Louis Caruso on charges ranging from loan sharking to extortion.
      Blitzstein had been tied by investigators to Lonnie "Ted" Binion, son of Horseshoe Club casino patriarch Benny Binion. The relationship focused increased scrutiny on Ted Binion, who was later linked in a business deal with Kansas City mob associate Pete Ribaste and now has been banned from the gaming industry.
      -- Casino Trouble: Joint ventures are the hottest development in the casino industry, but the partnership alleged between a Sands executive and an Orleans blackjack dealer promises to add a new twist to that trend.
      Sands Vice President Roger McElfresh and dealer Laura Hernandez were hauled off a blackjack table and arrested Saturday at the Orleans on cheating-related charges, official sources confirm.
      McElfresh is one of the executives in charge of the development of businessman Sheldon Adelson's $1.8 billion, 6,600-room Venetian megaresort, which broke ground April 15.
      Hernandez and McElfresh were booked Saturday on charges of fraud and conspiracy to cheat at gambling.
      Orleans owner Michael Gaughan declined to comment on the arrests. Reached at the Sands offices, McElfresh also refused to elaborate.
      "You'll have to refer that question to Richard Wright's office," McElfresh said.
      A call to attorney Wright's office was not returned.
      Sources close to the investigation confirm McElfresh regularly visited the Orleans and frequented Hernandez' blackjack table. Once there, his luck defied House odds.
      After the first two cards were dealt, sources say Hernandez was captured on surveillance videotape tipping her "hit" card to McElfresh. It is common for inexperienced dealers to accidentally expose one or both of their own cards to players.
      But surveillance tapes showed a pattern of activity when McElfresh sat at the table, sources say. Hernandez, 22, received her gaming card in December 1996 and was hired at the Orleans when the casino opened earlier this year.
      One source estimated the losses to the casino at from $15,000 to $20,000.
      Gaming agents are investigating whether cellular phone records link the hotel executive with the casino dealer. One source close to the case confirmed the connection.
      The cheating-move allegation is one of the most basic in the business, knowledgeable sources say.
      "You can beat the game with that," one Las Vegas casino insider said, laughing. "Peeking at the hit card makes you a whole lot luckier."
      It appears Mr. McElfresh's luck has changed.
     
     John L. Smith's column appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. He may be reached at John_L._Smith@lvrj.com.