Betha's - Part I

In July 1981 an event took place that represented a major turning point in the law’s battle against the Las Vegas Mob. Following is the first part of that story.

It was the Fourth of July and it was hot. It was always hot in Las Vegas in July, but to many of the 40 or so FBI agents and Metro officers working a special assignment it seemed even hotter than normal. And that was only the temperature. If things worked out as planned, the heat would get even more intense for Spilotro’s Hole in the Wall Gang.

The center of the law’s focus that day was Bertha’s Gifts & Home Furnishings, located at 896 East Sahara. The store was in an upscale single story building, and included a jewelry shop on the premises. The lawmen believed a burglary was scheduled to take place there in the evening, with the thieves expecting a take of around $1 million in cash and jewelry. That kind of haul was a big score, especially in 1981 money, and the HITWG crew assembled to carry out the burglary reflected that. Criminal stars Frank Cullotta, Wayne Matecki, the homicidal Larry Neumann, Leo Guardino, Ernie Davino, and former cop Joe Blasko were poised to hit Bertha’s.

Their opposition was headed on-scene by the FBI’s Charlie Parsons and Joe Gersky, and Metro’s Gene Smith, now a lieutenant. Their bosses — Joe Yablonsky and Kent Clifford — were nearby, available if needed to make any necessary command decisions.

Although the actual crime wouldn’t take place until after dark, the lawmen were at work much earlier in the day. After weeks of preparation, the final plans had to be made and a command post and necessary equipment needed to be set up. Surveillance teams were active around Bertha’s all day, monitoring activity and making sure they were thoroughly familiar with the area. They had to keep an eye on the bad guys as well, looking for any indication of a change in their plans or other potential problems.

With two different agencies participating in the operation, communications were particularly important. Their radios had to have a common frequency, but one that wasn’t known to the burglars. A secret frequency was obtained and divulged only to those with a need to know. At the same time they continued to use the regular frequencies, those likely to be monitored by the thieves, to disseminate bogus information as to the location and status of personnel. In the late afternoon, the balance of the agents and officers deployed to the field.

The main observation point to observe the roof of Bertha’s was from the top of a nearby five-story building. Charlie Parsons and Joe Gersky took up positions there, along with the equipment and personnel to videotape the scene. Gene Smith worked with the surveillance detail, riding with an FBI agent. The burglars were not to be arrested until they actually entered the building, making it a burglary rather than the lesser charge of an attempted crime.

The cops believed that at least four vehicles would be used by the crooks, three of them to conduct counter-surveillance activities and one to transport the three men who would go on the roof and do the break-in. Frank Cullotta, driving a 1981 Buick, Larry Neumann in a late model Cadillac, and an unknown individual — possibly Joe Blasko — in a white commercial van with the name of a cleaning business and a “Superman” logo on the side would represent the gang’s forces on the ground. The occupants of all three vehicles would be equipped with two-way radios and police scanners. The burglars, Matecki, Guardino and Davino, would arrive by station wagon and go on the roof to gain entry to the store. They would also have radios to keep in contact with the lookouts on the ground.

At around 7 p.m., the HITWG counter-surveillance units began to appear. Cullotta and Neumann repeatedly drove around the area, apparently checking for a police presence or anything that seemed suspicious. In turn, they were being tailed by cops and agents. The white van took up a position in the driveway to the Commercial Center shopping plaza, across the street from Bertha’s. From this vantage point, the operator — believed to be Joe Blasko — had an unimpeded view of the store. As the man in the van watched, he was under constant surveillance himself.

While this game of cat-and-mouse continued, the whole operation almost came to an abrupt end. Gene Smith and the FBI agent were stopped at a traffic light when a car pulled up next to them. Out of the corner of his eye, Smith saw the driver of the other car was none other than Frank Cullotta. The cop − very well known to Cullotta − went to the floor of the vehicle as fast as he could. The light changed and Cullotta pulled away. It’s almost a certainty that had Smith been spotted in the area the burglars would have scrubbed their plans.

At approximately 9 p.m., a station wagon bearing Matecki, Guardino, and Davino arrived and parked behind a Chinese restaurant located at 1000 East Sahara. A police surveillance vehicle was parked nearby, but went unnoticed by the burglars. The three men exited their vehicle and unloaded tools and equipment, including a ladder. They next proceeded to the east side of Bertha’s and gained access to the roof, hauling their gear up with them.

From the roof a few buildings away, the videotape was rolling. The burglars were obviously unaware they were walking into an ambush. Plugging into electric outlets located in the air-conditioning units, they went about their business, using power and hand tools to penetrate the store’s roof. Everything was going smoothly for both sides. Other than Lt. Smith’s close call with Cullotta, the only thing that had gone wrong for the law so far was that a member of one of the surveillance teams had to be treated for dehydration.

Everything was in place and the trap was about to be sprung.

Next: Bertha’s Part II