The Nevada Gaming Commission opted Thursday to keep a Las Vegas resident with alleged one-time mob ties in the state’s Black Book, while adding an illegal bookmaker whose money laundering led to multi-million in fines against two Las Vegas Strip casinos.
The Commission was unanimous in the cases involving felon Francis Citro Jr. and bookie Matthew Bowyer. In adding him to the list of excluded people from casinos, the Commission members went out of their way to criticize Bowyer, who was released from prison in March and is currently in home confinement, for using his notoriety to profit from writing a book and speaking engagements.
Citro, who appeared before the Commission without speaking, sought the ability to sing Italian folk songs and tell jokes in casinos where he has been excluded since 1991. After a hearing lasting more than one hour, the Commission didn’t even grant a hearing to consider the request, while criticizing his past behavior.
Nevada Deputy Attorney General Nona Lawrence talked about Bowyer documenting his activities in a book, with the media, on social media and a podcast. She said Bowyer plans to use his entry in the Black Book to market his book and speaker appearances. That prompted outrage from Commission members with Bowyer who did not attend the hearing.
“Mr. Bowyer has for several years been a blight on the regulatory structure in Nevada,” said Commission member Brian Krolicki. “Placing him on the list of excluded persons provides critical closure on this chapter of compliance failure. My only regret is Mr. Bowyer may successfully monetize his nomination.”
Commission member Rosa Solis-Rainey said she hopes whatever money Bowyer earns serves as restitution and fines rather than personal profit.
“It’s quite arrogant of him to be out there bragging about how he’s going to monetize it,” Commission member Abbi Silver. “Whatever he gets, I hope the justice system makes sure whether it goes to taxes or restitution for the fines. His illegal conduct is reprehensible.”
Citro, known as Frankie, has been excluded from casinos since the Commission ruled in 1991 on his criminal history and “notorious and unsavory reputation.” Citro’s attorney Tony Sgro said his client is not the same person he was 35 years ago.
“He’s no longer a present threat to the gaming community, and there must be a way to define what constitutes that,” Sgro said. “Certainly, 35 years ago has to be fair game for consideration as to whether he could now demonstrate through evidence he’s not the same person that was put on the list of excluded persons.”
Silver talked about once being a member of the Pardons Board of Nevada as a former member of the state Supreme Court. She said the board gave acts of grace to people who have been in prison for many years.
“Mr. Citro gave a statement to this Commission in 1991 that although he was convicted for crimes involving a 50-page indictment by a joint FBI task force, he was innocent and had no mob affiliations,” Silver said.
Silver said the denial of the hearing doesn’t deprive Citro of his constitutional rights or the ability to entertain people and that was being overdramatic in a national television interview when he said being in the Black Book is like being dead.
“We have in Nevada more than 2,000 restricted-license locations where he’s welcome eat with his family, entertain, and play slots and video poker,” Silver said. “He just can’t go into casinos with table games, horse racing and sportsbooks.”
Silver said it took hours to read the transcript of the prior Commission investigation into Citro, including “extortion and loan sharking,” and if the Commission thinks Bowyer has a bad reputation, “he’s an amateur compared to Citro.” Citro’s co-conspirators were heard on an FBI wire talking about killing people and breaking legs for those who couldn’t pay their loans back at 1,000% interest.
“Time may have passed, but Nevada is still the gold standard for gaming,” Silver said. The question is not whether Citro is a current threat, but whether the reasons he was placed on the list previously it would be in the best interest of the state and its reputation in the gaming world internationally to remove him from the Black Book.”
Commission member George Markantonis said the case comes down to “credibility and precedent.” The credibility deals with the state’s regulatory structure that casinos look at for guidance. What they do will be cited by others in the future.
Commission Chair Jennifer Togilatti said Citro has portrayed himself as a victim. “It’s not just the passage of time and you’re crime free.” Citro may have engaged in a tough-guy persona for professional reasons talking of breaking bones, but that may be who he is. “I’m not willing to take that gamble,” Togliatti said. “You live and die by it.”
Sgro said there’s a big difference between entertaining at Sierra Gold or PT’s Pub versus Mandalay Bay or Bellagio. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a hearing where witnesses and evidence can be received, so the Commission could articulate for the first time the standards that need to be met to be able to remove someone from the Black Book,” Sgro said.
Silver suggested Sgro change the state laws. It’s up to the Commission to decide whether to grant a hearing, she noted.
“All we have is a stain that remains from organized crime in Las Vegas,” Solis-Rainey said before the vote. “We still get asked if the mob is still here and I don’t think it sends the right message to the industry (to remove him from the Black Book).”
