Frank Cullotta: Las Vegas Mobster Turned Legit

Frank Cullotta is one of the few mobsters that was lucky enough to spend some time in the criminal underground world with success and also make it out alive and spend some time in a legit world with success. Frank was part of the "The Whole Wall Gang" formed in Las Vegas ran by the notorious gangster Tony "The Ant" Spilotro.

Tony Spilotro and Frank Cullotta were both portrayed in the movie "Casino", a movie about the mob and how it effected Las Vegas. Spilotro was arrested in real life and charges were brought on him for murder among many other things. He was not left to chance, the Mafia had him and his brother beat with bats and tossed in a shallow grave where they were left to die. The Mafia bosses were scared that Spilotro was going to flip and start to talk; they were also not happy with the rules that he broke set forth by the Mafia and he broke a lot of them; so they made an example of him and his brother.


Frank on the other hand was picked up while trying to commit the biggest robbery of "The Whole in the Wall Gang's" career. While sitting in prison he learned that the bosses of the Chicago outfit where planning on having him rubbed out as well to keep him from talking, so he decided to flip. Frank stayed in witness protection for a while but dropped out and decided to take his chances.

Most mobsters who get put in witness protection usually drop out because they can't stand the boring lifestyle and end up back in trouble, dead, or substance abuse user and homeless. Great examples of this is "Sammy The Bull" and Henry Hill. Sammy The Bull ended up getting involved in a Ecstasy ring where he squandered his freedom and is now serving life in prison. And Henry Hill died just recently from many complication stemming from his smoking and alcohol abuse and was known to be homeless for quite a long time.

Frank found a way to use his time out of prison useful. After leaving witness protection he enjoyed spending time writing a book that sold quite well. Frank also put a lot of time on the set helping producers with the movie "Casino" even playing a part as a hitman. A lot of people attribute the Mafia authenticity of the movie due to the help of Frank and his know how of the true ins and outs of the Mafia mentality and slang.

Till this day Frank is a regular figure in Las Vegas and still does interviews, public speaking and has his hands in a lot of cookie jars, all legal of course. But he is one of very few Mafia figures that enjoyed success in the Mafia before being caught, and then transforming himself to find success and live a normal life on the other side of the law.