Gangland Wire

Richard Cain wore a badge, worked for the Chicago Outfit, and developed secrets that made him dangerous to both sides.  

Retired Kansas City Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins welcomes Michael Cain, Richard’s half-brother and author of The Tangled Web: The Life and Death of Richard Cain, Chicago Cop and Mafia Hit Man. Drawing on family letters, police records, court transcripts, and interviews, Michael traces Richard’s path from Chicago vice detective to a trusted associate of mob boss Sam Giancana.  

Michael describes allegations of police payoffs, compromised investigations, a leaked jury list in Tony Accardo’s case, and a staged recovery of stolen pharmaceuticals. He also discusses Richard’s wiretapping work in Cuba, his years in Mexico, and the convictions that sent him to federal prison.  

The conversation builds toward Michael’s account of Richard’s extraordinary plan to eliminate the Outfit’s leadership—and his murder at Rose’s Sandwich Shop before that plan could unfold. It’s a family perspective on one of Chicago’s most complicated underworld figures, with Gary bringing a detective’s eye to the difference between Richard’s stories and the evidence he left behind.  

In this episode:
• Richard Cain’s relationship with Sam Giancana.
• Cash envelopes and corruption inside the Chicago police.
• His rise to lead Cook County’s Special Investigations Unit.
• Tony Accardo’s jury list and the FBI’s response.
• Criminal cases, prison, and Richard’s return to Mexico.
• Michael’s account of a planned takeover of the Chicago Outfit.
• The fatal ambush at Rose’s Sandwich Shop.  

Featured book: The Tangled Web: The Life and Death of Richard Cain, Chicago Cop and Mafia Hit Man by Michael Cain.  

Follow Gangland Wire for more Mafia history, detective interviews, and stories from inside organized crime investigations. 

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Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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How did Las Vegas change from a mob-influenced gambling town into a casino empire dominated by corporations?  

Retired Kansas City Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins welcomes Nelson Conway Jr., author of *Vegas Incorporated*, to explore that transformation through casino history and his family’s experiences.  

Conway’s father was a Las Vegas CPA whose firm worked with legendary properties, including the Flamingo, Sands, Golden Nugget, and Binion’s Horseshoe. Nelson explains his father’s role in taking the Showboat public in 1969 and why he believes that transaction helped open the door to corporate investment.  

Gary and Nelson discuss Benny Binion’s larger-than-life personality, high-stakes gambling at the Horseshoe, and Lefty Rosenthal’s battles with Nevada gaming regulators. Gary adds his perspective on casino skimming, Teamsters pension fund financing, and the Kansas City mob’s connection to the Tropicana.  

They also recall the personal service that defined old Vegas, where returning guests were greeted by name and casino employees remembered their favorite drinks and games.   Finally, Nelson shares a memorable family story: his father’s face-to-face encounter with Bugsy Siegel at the Flamingo’s 1946 opening.   An inside look at the businessmen, gangsters, and corporate money that helped reshape Las Vegas.

Get Vegas Incorporated here by clicking on the title. 

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Retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins sits down with actor, writer, director, and Gravesend creator William DeMeo to discuss bringing 1980s Brooklyn mob culture to the screen. DeMeo discusses growing up around Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Mill Basin, and Dyker Heights—Brooklyn neighborhoods where organized crime figures were part of the landscape. Those memories helped shape Gravesend, his television series centered on Benny Zerletta and the world surrounding him.

William explains how his acting career began with a small role in A Bronx Tale, where Robert De Niro selected him from the extras, gave him lines, and helped him earn his SAG card on his first project. He eventually moved into writing, directing and producing his own films and television.

They also discuss the impressive Gravesend cast, including Chazz Palminteri, Armand Assante, William Forsythe, James Russo, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore, Tony Danza and Shaquille O'Neal.

Gary and William explore why audiences remain fascinated with Mafia stories, why The Sopranos became a cultural phenomenon, and how Gravesend attempts to capture something beyond organized crime—the social clubs, pizzerias, bakeries, churches, stoops, families, cars, clothes, and street culture of 1980s Brooklyn.


William DeMeo also explains why he doesn't want to glamorize organized crime. Gravesend portrays prison, broken families and the consequences that accompany the life, while still functioning as entertainment and a nostalgic trip back to old Brooklyn.

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Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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A body hidden in a barrel beneath Lake Mead sparked years of speculation about a Las Vegas mob hit. Now the victim has a name: Edward “Buddy” Jackson. But identifying him leaves the biggest questions unanswered: Who killed him, and why?

In this bonus episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City police intelligence detective Gary Jenkins examines the discovery near Hemingway Harbor, Jackson’s background, and the investigative work needed to reconstruct his final days.

Gary discusses why early speculation focused on missing Stardust casino employee Jay Vandermark and federal informant William Crespo. He also explains how detectives can develop leads through old criminal cases, former associates, employment records, and the barrel itself. A suspected mob connection remains unproven.

Gary separates the case information from theories surrounding this disturbing discovery. Have information about Edward “Buddy” Jackson? Contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. You can also reach Gary at [email protected].

For more true crime stories, listen to Gary’s other podcast, Murder Blueprint.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gangland-wire--5504357/support.

Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer use @ganglandwire
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To go to the store or make a donation click here.  
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Retired Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins discussed Henry Hill, Jimmy the Gent Burke, Paul Vario, and the Lucchese Family with former Federal prosecutor Ed McDonald.  

What happened to the $6 million stolen in the Lufthansa heist? Gary Jenkins talks with former federal prosecutor Ed McDonald, who investigated the robbery and worked with Henry Hill after he became a witness.

McDonald explains why Hill cooperated, how his information exposed the Boston College basketball point-shaving scheme, and why prosecutors took a chance on a case against Jimmy “the Gent” Burke. He also recalls meeting Burke in person and the unlikely path that led him to play himself in Goodfellas.

McDonald is the author of Chasing Goodfellas: Lufthansa, Henry Hill, Point Shaving, and Making Movies.
Chapters
- 00:00 Meet Ed McDonald
- 03:00 How the organized crime strike forces worked
- 08:00 The Lufthansa robbery and Boston College connection
- 11:00 Henry Hill and the Lufthansa investigation
- 28:00 How the point-shaving scheme worked
- 35:00 What happened to the Lufthansa money?
- 38:00 McDonald’s encounters with Jimmy Burke
Subscribe to Gangland Wire for more mob history from retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins. Which part of McDonald’s story surprised you most? Tell me in the comments.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gangland-wire--5504357/support.

Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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Meyer Lansky, Jewish gangsters, battles with American Nazis, and secret arms shipments to Israel—Myron Sugarman reveals a forgotten chapter of organized-crime history.  

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins sits down with Myron Sugarman, author of The Chronicles of the Last Jewish Gangster: From Meyer to Myron, for a revealing conversation about the Jewish underworld and its role in major events of the 20th century.  

Sugarman recounts how Jewish gangsters confronted Nazi sympathizers holding rallies in American cities during the years leading up to World War II. He discusses Meyer Lansky’s involvement and explains why these men relied on fists, clubs, and intimidation while carefully avoiding actions that might turn the Nazis into martyrs.  

The conversation also explores the largely forgotten role organized-crime figures played in supplying weapons to Jewish forces fighting for the creation and survival of Israel. Sugarman describes the risks involved in acquiring and secretly transporting arms when official assistance was unavailable.  

Gary and Myron examine Meyer Lansky’s place in Mafia history, the relationship between Jewish gangsters and the Italian Mafia, and the line separating historical fact from the legends surrounding the mob.  

Myron also discusses his personal connection to this world and what it means to call himself the “last Jewish gangster.” His stories offer an inside look at loyalty, violence, survival, and a generation of underworld figures who sometimes used criminal organizations to defend their communities.  

Subscribe to Gangland Wire for more Mafia history, true-crime stories, and interviews with authors, former investigators, and people who experienced the underworld firsthand.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gangland-wire--5504357/support.

Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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Retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins sits down with author Don Billy to uncover one of the lesser-known but potentially important gatherings in American Mafia history—the 1928 Cleveland Mafia Summit. Get the book Cleveland Mafia Summit: Siezed at the Statler

On December 5, 1928, during the height of Prohibition, mob figures from around the country gathered at Cleveland's Hotel Statler. A Cleveland patrolman noticed several carloads of suspicious men arriving at the hotel. Before long, dozens of police officers descended on the Statler and rounded up 23 men.

Among those caught were men who would become major figures in American organized crime, including Joe Profaci, future boss of the family that became the Colombo crime family, and Vincent Mangano, future boss of the organization that became the Gambino family. Other attendees had connections to Chicago and Al Capone.

But Don's research suggests the 23 men arrested may have represented only part of the gathering. Newspaper accounts indicated other mobsters escaped from the Statler and nearby hotels. Local Cleveland figures—as well as visitors who could stay with relatives or associates—may never have been identified by police.

So what brought all these gangsters to Cleveland?

Gary and Don examine several possibilities: the continuing violence and leadership struggles in New York and Chicago, the possibility that Joe “The Boss” Masseria was consolidating his power, disputes involving Prohibition rackets, and efforts to bring greater organization to an underworld still plagued by assassinations and territorial wars.

They also discuss what happened after the arrests. The mobsters were charged under Cleveland's broad “suspicious person” ordinance, but once lawyers got involved, the cases quickly began to fall apart. Some men pleaded guilty only to have their sentences effectively waived if they left town, while the remaining cases were dismissed.

Don explains how he used old newspaper accounts, police records, National Archives material and other primary sources to reconstruct the meeting and identify many of the mysterious men appearing in the famous police photographs.

Was Cleveland an important step toward the more organized national Mafia structure that emerged in the years that followed? This episode explores a forgotten gathering that brought some of America's future Mafia leaders together in one Cleveland hotel.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gangland-wire--5504357/support.

Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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Gary Jenkins sits down with author Scott Weller to discuss his book Stripping for the Mob and the dark history of organized crime’s involvement in the Las Vegas strip-club business. As federal investigations and increased regulation began squeezing the Mafia out of traditional casino operations, adult entertainment offered mobsters something they understood well: a cash-heavy business with fewer regulatory eyes on the money.  

Weller traces the story back to figures such as Tony Albanese, a Southern California mobster who moved into the Las Vegas adult-entertainment business. Albanese disappeared in 1981, and his severed head was later discovered in the Mojave Desert. His murder became part of the violent struggle surrounding control of Las Vegas adult businesses during the waning years of traditional mob power.  

Gary and Scott discuss the notorious Crazy Horse Two, its owner Rick Rizzolo, and the FBI investigations that eventually targeted the club. They also examine the unsolved death of Rizzolo adversary “Buffalo Jim” Barrier, who had spent years providing information about activities surrounding the club.  

The conversation moves into political corruption and Operation G-Sting, which exposed bribery involving strip-club interests and public officials. Weller explains how cash payments, political influence, intimidation, credit-card schemes, drugs, and violence could make mob-connected clubs extraordinarily profitable.  

Scott also tells the remarkable story of a 17-year-old dancer who was reportedly told her braces were a problem when she applied at Crazy Horse Too. She removed them herself and returned to get the job. She later became internationally known as Jenna Jameson.  

Gary and Scott also explore the bizarre history of the Palomino Club, including murders connected to people around the business, and discuss how New York organized-crime interests remained involved in Las Vegas after the Chicago Outfit's influence began to decline.   It is a look beyond the casino floor at another side of Las Vegas organized crime—where strip clubs, mobsters, politicians, federal agents, dancers, money, and murder intersected.

Stripping for the Mob: Murder, Corruption and the Men who turned the Las Vegas Strip into a Criminal Empire

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Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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In this episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit Detective Gary Jenkins welcomes former Cook County prosecutor Greg Owen, author of Convergence, for an insider's look at one of the most corrupt periods in Chicago's criminal justice history. Times when gangsters like Harry Aleman or Tony Spilotro evaded justice and even beat murder cases, aided by a system of corrupt lawyers like Bob Cooley and several corrupt judges. Gregg tells about these case and another interesting case about the murder of Gio Messina and Delphine Moore and how Chicago corruption can fix any case. The book is Convergence and click here to get that book  

Before entering the courtroom, Greg Owen enjoyed a successful career as a professional musician. He shares the unlikely path that led him from touring with a band to prosecuting violent criminals in Chicago's busiest courthouse, where he quickly discovered that corruption reached far beyond organized crime and into the very courtrooms entrusted with delivering justice.

Gary and Greg explore Operation Greylord, the landmark FBI investigation that exposed widespread judicial corruption in Cook County. Greg explains how traffic ticket schemes evolved into fixing serious felony and murder cases, revealing how judges, attorneys, court personnel, and organized crime figures manipulated the justice system for profit. The discussion also revisits attorney Bob Cooley, whose cooperation with federal authorities helped expose corruption at the highest levels of Chicago's political and judicial establishment. Greg offers his firsthand perspective on Cooley, the infamous Harry Aleman murder case, the influence of the Chicago Outfit, and the FBI's unprecedented undercover operation involving prosecutor Terry Hake, who spent years secretly recording corrupt judges and lawyers.

Greg also recounts remarkable behind-the-scenes stories from his own prosecution career, including jury tampering concerns, courtroom manipulation, and the extraordinary lengths honest prosecutors had to go to ensure justice prevailed in Chicago during the Outfit's most powerful era. If you're fascinated by the Chicago Outfit, judicial corruption, FBI undercover investigations, and the real history behind Operation Greylord, this episode provides a rare firsthand account from someone who lived it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gangland-wire--5504357/support.

Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
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Gary Jenkins, a retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective, sits down with author David Kinney to uncover a little-known chapter of Mafia history: a mob war between Stefano Magaddino and local bookies from Batavia, New York. Batavia is a small city located between Buffalo and Rochester that was strategically important to organized crime.     

Kinney is the author of Mobbed Up in Batavia, a nonfiction investigation into the bookmakers, bootleggers, murders, and Mafia connections that surrounded this western New York community during the Prohibition era and the years that followed.  

At the center of the story is powerful Buffalo Mafia boss Stefano Magaddino. During Prohibition, liquor moving south from Canada passed through western New York, and Batavia sat along an important route toward the rest of the state. Kinney explains how Magaddino's organization profited from bootlegging and later expanded its influence into gambling and bookmaking.  

But this story becomes much more personal—and much more violent.   Kinney examines the bombing of the home of Arcangelo Longo, Magaddino's sister, who was killed in the explosion. He believes the bombing may explain a subsequent series of killings traditionally described as Batavia's “Bookie War.”  

Gary and David discuss the murder of bookmaker Frank LoTempio, the killing of Alfred Panepinto, attempts on other Batavia gambling figures, and the possibility that these crimes represented something more than a fight over gambling profits. They may have been part of an old-fashioned Mafia vendetta.  

The conversation also explores illegal horse betting, dice games, prostitution, the racing wire, protection payments, and the remarkable amount of money bookmakers could generate even during the Great Depression.  

It is a fascinating look at how organized crime extended far beyond New York City and Chicago—and how one violent act in a small western New York town may have triggered a deadly Mafia campaign of revenge.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gangland-wire--5504357/support.

Subscribe to Gangland Wire and Murder Blueprint wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies.
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer use @ganglandwire
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To go to the store or make a donation click here.  
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