Friday, March 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gaming official critical of mayor's Black Book guest

Oscar Goodman Mayor says comments by gaming official are based on personal animosity

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's decision to host at his home a mob associate banned from Nevada's casinos "is an embarrassment to the state, an embarrassment for Las Vegas and an embarrassment for gaming," one outraged gaming regulator said.

Gaming Control Board member Bobby Siller, former head of the FBI in Nevada, said Goodman's action made him question whether he could support the former mob lawyer if he sought so much as a gaming industry work card.

If Goodman held a gaming license, Siller said, the mayor's decision to invite Joey Cusumano to his daughter's engagement party would cause him to be called before the board to review the status of that license.

Goodman responded Thursday to Siller's comments: "Poor guy, he has this thing about me and he's let it come out now. I could care less."

Cusumano was among about 100 guests at Goodman's home at a Feb. 22 engagement party celebrating Cara Goodman's 30th birthday and engagement to Adam Schwartz.

Goodman reiterated: "This was at my home. I didn't walk into a casino with Mr. Cusumano. It's none of their business."

Siller said gaming regulators "work very hard to keep these people out of Nevada casinos, and it's tough for me to accept that someone like that (Goodman) can't demonstrate more leadership."

"You know, it would be questionable whether I could support Oscar Goodman for a work card. I'm offended. It truly is an embarrassment to us," he said.

Goodman said he isn't contemplating seeking a gaming license, although he is advocating a bill that would allow him to invest in a bar and restaurant within the city's downtown redevelopment area.

Assembly Bill 538 would make it legal for "certain officers and employees of redevelopment areas" to invest in real property within the redevelopment area. The bill said the investment would be allowed if it was disclosed and if the property didn't receive any direct benefit from the redevelopment agency.

Without a change in the law, Goodman would be prohibited from investing in a restaurant and bar within the downtown redevelopment area. He wants to open a place he's been calling "Oscar's Speak-easy."

The mayor and City Council act as gaming regulators themselves, approving gaming licenses for businesses within city limits after state regulators have acted.

Jim DiFiore, head of the city's Business Services Division, said if Goodman seeks a liquor license in the future, he didn't believe an association with Black Book members would be an impediment to the license. "You'd have to show some sort of criminal activity has occurred or a business license code violation," he said.

Goodman said earlier it was a mistake for regulators to put Cusumano, whom he represented, in the Black Book, known formally as the List of Excluded Persons.

But Siller said Cusumano received his due process before the Gaming Control Board and the Gaming Commission and was found to be a threat to the industry.

Cusumano, 67, was placed in the Black Book in 1990. He has a conviction for his role in a conspiracy to skim $315,000 from a Culinary union life insurance policy. Goodman was his attorney and considers Cusumano a family friend.

"I don't have anything personally against Oscar Goodman. But as the mayor he needs to behave more responsibly," Siller said.

Goodman said Siller's comments were based on a personal animosity. "Mr. Siller didn't speak to me when he was head of the FBI here, and he hasn't spoken to me since at any social gathering, so I've never considered him a friend. The fact the man's never said hello to me, I think it's personal."

As a defense attorney for alleged mobsters, Goodman often accused FBI agents of being liars. He offended federal agents when he once said he'd rather see his daughter date the late Anthony Spilotro than date an FBI agent.

When Goodman was profiled in 1999 by the New Yorker, he said, "When I made that statement about my daughter, I meant it. Tony was more honorable than the people who were trying to get him."

Goodman said earlier if Spilotro had been alive, he would have invited him to the engagement party.

Spilotro was beaten to death in 1986 and buried in an Indiana cornfield.

Spilotro and Cusumano attended Goodman's daughter's bat mitzvah, which was held at at a lodge on Mount Charleston rather than a casino, so they could attend.

Control board Chairman Dennis Neilander declined to comment on Goodman's guest, but defended the Black Book.

"The list is designed to keep Nevada gaming free of criminal and corruptive elements, and I think it does just that," Neilander said.

Attorney General Brian Sandoval, through his press secretary Tom Sargent, declined to comment on Cusumano's presence at the Las Vegas mayor's home.

"The invitation was to a private function," Sargent said.