I made my pitch to Metro and they accepted my proposal. A lieutenant from the department’ s Public Information Office was assigned to work with me to assure I had access to personnel and records. The book was published in 2005. The contacts I developed through Policing opened a whole new world to me and served as my introduction to the infamous Chicago and Las Vegas mobster, Tony Spilotro. Prior to that I had seen the hit 1995 movie Casino several times, but never realized the character Joe Pesci played was based on Spilotro. I became very interested in Spilotro’ s criminal career and his Las Vegas reign in particular.
So the movie Casino played a part in your becoming a prolific true crime author. How did you go about that with your first true crime book?
I had to see if I could secure the cooperation of enough current and former lawmen, both FBI and Metro, to put together a comprehensive book about what was really going on in Vegas during the time dramatized in the film. It turned out that many of them were actually eager to talk. The movie was primarily from the Mob perspective and they welcomed the opportunity to get their side of the story out. The result was The Battle for Las Vegas— The Law vs. The Mob.
In retrospect, is there anything you wished you could have done different for that book?
My one regret was that I didn’ t have any input from an involved mobster. They were either deceased, in witness protection or couldn’ t be located. Just before the book went to the printer that changed, though. A retired FBI agent introduced me to Spilotro’ s former street lieutenant in Vegas, Frank Cullotta. I was able to add a comment from Frank to the manuscript, but that was only the beginning of my dealings with Frank and we have since written four books together.
Denny, you are regarded as an organized crime author and Mob historian. Did that evolve from your relationship with Frank Cullotta?
Yes. That’ s exactly right. As a result of that relationship and my law enforcement background and other sources, I am now established as a credible organized crime author and Mob historian. Unlike with my fiction-writing days, I have name recognition now and a fan base. I am routinely contacted by other former mobsters asking me to write books for them. Like I said, my switch to nonfiction was the turning point in my career. I thank God I went to that conference and met that speaker. I am now experiencing successes I never imagined prior to that and have to turn away book proposals. It was a long time coming, but now that it’ s here I’ m really enjoying myself.
What is happening in the life of Dennis N. Griffin now?
Earlier this year I received some good news regarding my most recent book, The Rise And Fall Of A‘ Casino’ Mobster. The book was co-authored with Frank Cullotta and tells the story of Chicago Outfit enforcer Tony Spilotro’ s life through Frank’ s eyes. My publisher, WildBlue Press, was contacted by the United Kingdom documentary
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