Editing Michael Spilotro (section)

==The Hole In The Wall Gang==

Spilotro, in 1978, formed a burglary ring with his brother Anthony and [[Herbert Blitzstein]], utilizing about eight associates as burglars. The crew became known as the Hole in the Wall Gang because of its penchant for gaining entry by drilling through the exterior walls and ceilings of the buildings they burglarized. The Hole in the Wall Gang operated out of The Gold Rush, Ltd.

Other gang members included his younger brother John Paul Spilotro, [[Polish-American]] brothers Peanuts Pancsko, Butch Pancsko and Pops Pancsko, Frank DeLegge, [[French-Canadian]] Michael LaJoy, Joseph D'Argento, [[Swedish-American]] Gerald Tomasczek, Peter Basile of [[Wilmette, Illinois]], Carl Urbanotti of Chicago, Illinois, Ernest Lehnigg of [[Addison, Illinois]], Samuel Cusumano, Joseph Cusumano, Ernesto "Ernie" Davino, 34, Las Vegas, "Crazy Larry" Neumann, Wayne Matecki, Salvatore "Sonny" Romano, Leonardo "Leo" Guardino, 47, Las Vegas, [[Frank Cullotta]], 43, Las Vegas, and former [[Las Vegas Sheriff's Department]] Detective, Joseph Blasko, 45, Las Vegas, who acted as a lookout and who later worked as a bartender at the Crazy Horse Too, a gentleman's club, and died of a heart attack in 2002.

Following the botched burglary at Bertha's Household Products on July 4, 1981, Cullotta, Blasko, Guardino, Davino, Neumann, and Matecki were arrested and each charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted grand larceny and possession of burglary tools. They were locked into the Las Vegas police department's holding cell in downtown Las Vegas. The only members of Spilotro's gang not arrested for the July 4 burglary were Blitzstein, Michael Spilotro, Romano and Cusumano. Meanwhile, Cullotta had turned state's witness, testifying against Anthony and to a lesser extent Michael Spilotro. But the testimony was insufficient, and Michael was acquitted and Tony Spilotro had a mistrial.