Herbert Blitzstein
Described by the Ninth Circuit in 1986 as "an associate of Anthony Spilotro" and an officer of Gold Rush, Ltd. in its account of an FBI investigation; the same court in 2001 summarizes testimony that he was killed in Las Vegas in January 1997.
- Died
- 1997-01-06
- Aliases
- Herbie Blitzstein
- Role
- "an associate of Anthony Spilotro," in the Ninth Circuit's summary of an FBI investigation (1986)
- Rights
- Biography on this page is limited to what the cited federal records state.
On the record
- 1977 — United States v. Spilotro, 800 F.2d 959 (9th Cir. 1986), recounting a 1977 and 1978 FBI investigation of "Herbert Blitzstein, an associate of Anthony Spilotro." The opinion says Blitzstein and John Spilotro "were corporate officers and directors" of Gold Rush, Ltd., and that wiretaps confirmed that "Blitzstein telephoned gambling information to Chicago and took instructions from Spilotro for the collection of debts." The court held the search warrants too general.
- January 1997 — United States v. Panaro, 241 F.3d 1104 (9th Cir. 2001), summarizing trial testimony: Blitzstein, "a 'gangster' with ties to the Chicago La Cosa Nostra ('LCN'), gave" a witness "$25,000 to set up Any Auto Repair in Las Vegas." It records that "the coroner determined that Blitzstein had been killed the evening of January 6."
This page is limited to two Ninth Circuit opinions. The 1986 words are the court’s summary of an FBI investigation and the 2001 words are the court’s summary of trial testimony, so neither is a finding about membership in any group. The role line is the 1986 phrase. No family is stated.
Records
itemUnited States v. Spilotro, 800 F.2d 959 (9th Cir. 1986)Ninth Circuit opinion of September 26, 1986 affirming suppression of evidence seized in 1978 searches, including at the Gold Rush jewelry store, because the warrants were too general, and recounting the FBI's 1977-1978 investigation of Anthony Spilotro and others.itemUnited States v. Panaro, 241 F.3d 1104 (9th Cir. 2001)Ninth Circuit opinion of February 28, 2001 affirming convictions tied to the extortion and killing of Herbert Blitzstein in Las Vegas in January 1997, with the court's summary of trial testimony about him.