Author to lecture on mob

Author Dennis Griffin will present "Las Vegas and the Mob," a lecture on the life of Chicago mob enforcer Tony Spilatro, at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 in the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive.

The program is free.

Registration for the lecture is required. Those interested in "Las Vegas and the Mob" must call the Winchester Cultural Center at 455-7340.

In 2006, Griffin released "The Battle for Las Vegas," the story of Spilotro's Vegas reign.

The presentation and lecture will use clips from the Martin Scorsese film "Casino" to highlight similarities and differences in the movie version, starring Joe Pesci as Spilotro, and the real events included in Griffin's book.

Before he became an author, Griffin was an investigator with Pinkerton's Inc. and the Department of Health as well as a deputy sheriff in Madison County, New York.

He wrote "The Morgue," a fictional account of the operation of a medical examiner's office, and "Red Gold," also based on personal experience.

"Policing Las Vegas," the history of law enforcement in Las Vegas and Clark County from 1905 to 2004, was released in 2005.

"The Battle for Las Vegas" is his second foray into nonfiction and is the subject of a bus tour that leaves from the Greek Isles six nights a week.

Griffin's most recent work, "Cullotta -- The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster and Government Witness," was released in 2007.