CIA, Castro, and the Vegas–Hollywood Skims: John Roselli | Gangster Stories for Sleep

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John Roselli, born Filippo Sacco in 1905, was perhaps organized crime's most sophisticated strategist—a man who operated in the shadows connecting Hollywood studios, mob families, Las Vegas casinos, and even government intelligence agencies.

Unlike flashier gangsters who courted headlines, Roselli cultivated a refined persona that allowed him to move seamlessly between legitimate boardrooms and criminal backrooms.

His legacy reveals how organized crime succeeded not just through violence, but through creating complex systems of influence where everyone believed they needed a middleman.

From his early days running rum in Los Angeles to orchestrating studio labor extortion schemes, Roselli understood power resided in relationships, not gunfire.

He helped design the notorious Hollywood extortion plot through IATSE that drained millions from major studios. Later, his connections took him to the casinos of Las Vegas, where he oversaw hidden interests for Chicago, and ultimately into a startling partnership with the CIA to eliminate Fidel Castro.

Though he lived by a code of silence for decades, his final act was breaking omertà by testifying about CIA-mob plots. Shortly after, in 1976, his dismembered body was found stuffed in a 55-gallon drum in Florida's Dumfoundling Bay—the ultimate price for knowing too many secrets.

✨ What You Will Hear

• How a poor Italian immigrant transformed himself into Hollywood's polished criminal liaison
• The blueprint behind one of the most successful labor rackets in American history
• Roselli's hidden role in shaping iconic film noir productions following his prison term
• The Las Vegas "skim" system he helped perfect for Chicago interests
• His recruitment by the CIA for Castro assassination plots under the alias "John Rawlston"
• Why federal prosecutors finally succeeded using simple, jury-friendly cases
• The chilling significance of his barrel-entombed execution after Senate testimony

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⚠️ Disclaimer
We never glorify crime, and the information in this video is based on historical facts and is intended for educational purposes.


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