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Exclusively Found
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Desert Rats
By: Frank Rosenthal
During the 50s and late 60s Frank Sinatra,
Dean Martin, Sammy Davis and Joey Bishop became legendary for their
performances as the great entertainers throughout Nevada. Enter the era of
“Rat Pack” who dazzled audiences in a style never before seen. They were the
great entertainers of a generation who launched the beginning of prosperity
to the Silver State and their luxury Hotel and Casinos. Frank was their
leader and deservedly so. I was fortunate to have witnessed and become an
industry player during those good times, prior to the corporate takeovers.
Little did I know that hidden in the desert background was another group
with a similar name. They were “The Desert Rats” extending from all corners
of the state. Their fortress was located in the Reno/Carson City area and
they were not your standard entertainers. Their specialty was “No Holds
Barred” all is fair in Love and War! Their leader was a clever and educated
scoundrel named Peter “The Czar” Echeverria, the all powerful chairman of
the Nevada Gaming Commission. His obedient Lieutenants were Claire
Hitchcock, John Swartz and the majority of the seven man board who dealt
with licensing of all Hotel and Casino properties, and their personnel. They
were politically appointed by the Governor and their individual career
backgrounds did not require any degree of expertise in the gaming industry.
Qualifications were loyalty to the throne, and the ability and willingness
to perform career ending executions whenever called upon. Peter had an
appetite for hanging anyone with absolute disregard for fair play. He
enjoyed his role, power and fame. He was articulate and bright. He was a
practicing attorney from Reno, and knew how to recruit and handle the
members of his board.
The Gaming Control Board is the investigative arm for the commission, and
Peter easily brought Jeff Silver and Jack Stratton, two of the three members
into his camp. Strangely enough, he couldn’t corrupt Phil Hannifin, the
chairman of that board. Phil Hannifin was a straight arrow of sorts who
prided himself for personal integrity. Admittedly, Phil was not a casino
wizard when he too was appointed by the Governor to oversee the sleeping
giant, casino gaming!
I became quite friendly with Phil once he determined that I was not an evil
two-headed monster. He asked if I would be willing to assist him towards
learning the intricacies of casino gaming. He was a gentlemen with unusual
honor, however he too eventually became a victim of compromise. When I
decided to settle into Las Vegas and raise a family, I was counseled and
cautioned to beware and alert for killer snakes, and desert rats. Peter and
his gang were a combination of both. I was also warned that in order to
survive in the desert I would have to avoid the 3 B’s. Booze, broads, and
betting. That was the easy part.
When it was determined that I would have to submit myself for “key employee
licensing” or reverse back into a lessor position in management, I pondered
endlessly.
During the course of climbing towards a top position within our corporation
there were several attempts to knock me out. One afternoon in particular, a
casino degenerate approached me with an offer to “get Shannon Bybee off your
back for a ham sandwich” Shannon was then a member of Control Board and a
former copper from Northern Nevada who joined the lynch mob. The price of
that “Ham Sandwich” was $5000.00, and I simply said “thanks, but no thanks”
I mentioned the incident to Phil, who then contacted Shannon Bybee. Shannon
was apologetic, however he did acknowledge that the extortionist was a
friend of his.
One afternoon prior to making my decision regarding the licensing adventure,
Phil Hannifin stopped by for lunch and a friendly visit. I decided to ask
the Chairman for advice, no more, no less. “Phil, you personally know my
entire back round, the bumps and the bruises, along with my reputation. May
I respectfully ask you, if I decide to go forward and submit for licensing,
can I receive a FAIR AND IMPARTIAL HEARING?” His answer was clear, crisp and
memorable. “YES YOU CAN, I WILL VOTE FOR YOUR APPROVAL, AND LOOK ANYONE IN
THE EYE AT THE SAME TIME.” For a moment I wondered if I were dreaming. I
immediately notified the President and Chairman of our board that I was
proceeding forward.
A hearing date was scheduled and I was ready to appear before the 3 man
Gaming Control Board in Carson City. The hearing room was packed with
spectators including the chairman of the Gaming Commission, Peter The Czar,
who had not fully recovered from a badly broken leg having been thrown by
his own horse. I wanted to send that horse a bag of Carrots, but I was
persuaded not to. Never before had the chairman from the commission sat in
on a preliminary hearing. This one was different. It was wired and stacked
against me. Phil had been persuaded to vote for denial. Straight arrow
became broken arrow. I was grilled for hours by Jeff Silver whose father had
been attempting to gain employment within our corporation for months with no
qualifications to match his ambitions. When the hearing concluded and the
vote came back 3-zip for denial I picked up my briefcase and was on my way
back to Las Vegas. Phil walked over to me in the hallway and said, “I’m very
sorry, I hope you accept my apologies.”
Two weeks later I was back in Reno facing Peter and his rats. I had retained
two of the top attorneys in the state, Oscar Goodman, and former Federal
Judge Harry Claiborne. It was the best one-two punch anyone could have
brought together as co-counsel. Peter and the gang shot us down just like
the massacre in China’s Tiannemen Square. Cold-blooded, and loving every
moment. He and his Desert Rats went right for the jugular and the bones.
They revoked and canceled my personal service contract worth $2.5 Million.
Additionally, my contract contained an option to exercise 49% of the
corporations stock that had a face value in excessive of $50 Million U.S.
Bucks. You win some, you lose a few!
…Stay tuned. |
Frank Rosenthal
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