Mar 13, 2007 10:47 pm US/Central
Mob Informant Talks About Life In Chicago Gangland
Frank Cullotta, One-Time Associate Of Joey 'The Clown' Lombardo, Writes Book
by Jay Levine
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Frank Cullotta is writing a book and talking for the first time about his years in Chicago's gangland.
CBS
-
-
Tony Spilotro, who once ran Las Vegas for the Chicago Mob, was found slain in a cornfield with his brother in 1986.
CBS
Former gangster Frank Cullotta is among the most notorious mob informants ever to survive. A one-time associate of Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, Cullotta is now writing a book. And, for the first time, he is speaking out about life in the mob in Chicago.
As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, Cullotta has been in hiding for 25 years, since trading mob secrets for freedom from a life on the run.
"Anywhere from 36 to 50 guys I know who were murdered by our friends, and they were our friends who got murdered," Cullotta said.
He is now living out west, and speaking with our Las Vegas affiliate, KLAS.
Cullotta has been questioned twice by investigators preparing for the Family Secrets trial of 14 alleged mobsters linked to 18 Chicago gangland murders – and he may testify.
One of those hits, on mob boss Tony Spillotro and his brother Michael, involved vicious beating deaths; their bodies were buried in an Indiana cornfield in 1986.
The infamous Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, Culotta says, would have had to sign off on the murders.
"I know that Tony was a violent person himself and that he killed a lot of people and hurt a lot of people, but I grew up with this guy. I just don't think, if I had to kill him, I could kill him that way. I'da just shot him," Cullotta said.
Even though Cullotta was convinced that Spillotro was about to kill him, he got out, he says, just in time. If he hadn't he would not be here today.
"I'd either be dead or in prison," he said.
Cullotta was originally in the federal witness protection program, but left it several years ago. Living now in an undisclosed location, he says he will make appearances to promote his book, but they won't be announced ahead of time.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Get breaking news alerts
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
