35 episodes

Mobbed Up chronicles the rise and fall of organized crime in Las Vegas through the eyes of those who lived it: ex-mobsters, law enforcement officials, politicians and journalists. From back alleys to bank vaults, dimly lit basements to the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip, the Review-Journal’s Reed Redmond will guide listeners through the 20th-century criminal underworlds of Chicago, Kansas City and Las Vegas.

This 11-part narrative series is produced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, in partnership with The Mob Museum. For more information, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup.

Mobbed Up: The Fight for Las Vegas Las Vegas Review-Journal | The Mob Museum

    • True Crime
    • 4.9 • 1.1K Ratings

Mobbed Up chronicles the rise and fall of organized crime in Las Vegas through the eyes of those who lived it: ex-mobsters, law enforcement officials, politicians and journalists. From back alleys to bank vaults, dimly lit basements to the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip, the Review-Journal’s Reed Redmond will guide listeners through the 20th-century criminal underworlds of Chicago, Kansas City and Las Vegas.

This 11-part narrative series is produced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, in partnership with The Mob Museum. For more information, visit www.reviewjournal.com/mobbedup.

    The Crime of the Century | S3E1

    The Crime of the Century | S3E1

    In the premiere episode, Oscar Goodman sets the stage for what has been described as the crime of the century. Oscar talks about how he landed in the middle of the Jimmy Chagra case in which Chagra allegedly paid Charles Harrelson $250K to murder Judge John Wood outside his home. This case put Oscar under the microscope and in turn, the spotlight on Las Vegas.  
    The feds indicted Jimmy Chagra, Charles Harrelson, Joe Chagra, Liz Chagra, and Jo Ann Harrelson in the judge’s murder. In a plea agreement, Joe Chagra got a 10-year sentence. Charles and Jo Ann Harrelson and Liz Chagra were convicted at trial. Liz got a 30-year sentence. Jo Ann got a 25-year sentence. Charles got double life sentences but due to an error in the renderings of the murder scene, Oscar was able to render witness testimony as not credible. Chagra was the only one who received a not guilty verdict to the murder charge and walked on that case but received an additional 10 year sentence in a drug case - a much lesser crime. With audio from The Mob Museum’s Courtroom Conversations: The Life and Crimes of Jimmy Chagra, we will help tell this story as the made-for-movie moment it was in the courtroom.
     
    We will highlight the tie that actor Woody Harrelson has to the case through audio clips in the process of being cleared. We also hear from Jimmy Chagra’s daughter, Catherine who reveals a never before heard excerpt from her mother’s diary during the trial. Author, Jack Sheehan speaks on the prominence of the case and how Jimmy Chagra felt about Oscar Goodman and the time the two men reunited. We will explore how this case and the national attention primed Oscar to be known as the ultimate Mob lawyer and set up his successes in Las Vegas with another well-known name: Tony Spilotro.
     

    • 25 min
    The Ant | S3E2

    The Ant | S3E2

    Special Attorney Stan Hunterton starts by rolling back time through his description of what Las Vegas was during the mob era of the 70s. This will set the scene for helping the audience understand the mob’s presence in the community at a time that was very glamorous for our town. We will flash forward to today where Oscar talks about his homage to Spilotro in his downtown restaurant. This has been met with some controversy from outsiders but Oscar fiercely maintains there is nothing controversial about it and it instead represents history. Part of that history was a telephone soliciting in 1981 in which 67 federal agents snuck into Nellis Airforce for a raid in which LAPD officer Mike Powell was the only undercover operative. Mike will recap that case and describe his encounter with Spilotro. We will then hear from Oscar about the 1986 case and how he got involved in defending Spilotro. We will dive deeper into Spilotro’s death and find out what Oscar thinks happened in the days between Spilotro going missing and then his body being found.
     

    • 36 min
    No Judgment | S3E3

    No Judgment | S3E3

    Oscar Goodman’s long list of clients includes names like Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Meyer Lansky. The third episode focuses on Oscar Goodman’s relationships in and out of the courtroom with the crime associates.  Goodman talks about the depiction of these men in the movie Casino and addresses some of the things the movie got wrong, including the portrayal of Rosenthal’s wife and his infamous silk pajamas.

    • 30 min
    Rats | S3E4

    Rats | S3E4

    In Oscar Goodman’s words, “flippers are rats – and I wouldn’t represent rats.” He highlights several past and more recent cases where he feels this scenario occurred. Goodman’s disdain for flipping witnesses to obtain convictions extends back to another well-known name and mob associate: Frank Cullotta. Hear how Cullotta’s turn as a government witness led to a contentious relationship with Goodman.

    • 25 min
    The War with the FBI | S3E5

    The War with the FBI | S3E5

    The public and private war between Oscar Goodman and the FBI heats up with the Phil Leonetti case. Goodman represented Leonetti in Philadelphia and received backlash for going back to his hometown to represent him. Former special attorney Stan Hunterton breaks down why witnesses in high-profile cases might change their tune in court in favor of the prosecution. Goodman discusses his courtroom strategy, which led to a high-profile public dispute between the mob defense attorney and the FBI.

    • 24 min
    From Mob to Mayor | S3E6

    From Mob to Mayor | S3E6

    After rising to prominence defending some of the biggest names in organized crime and trying more than 300 criminal cases over his career, Oscar Goodman makes a big change — from mob attorney to mayor of Las Vegas. His wife, current Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman, also provides her take on being married to Goodman from the start of his career through the height of the mob era to today.

    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
1.1K Ratings

1.1K Ratings

Mikeyman6129 ,

Loved it!

Absolutely loved this series, please add more seasons, there are so many families I would love to hear more about.

T.Scott54 ,

Well done

Awesome pod

sacto11c ,

You think you know, you have no idea

I have written more essays for college that involve the mob requiring extensive research, but after listening to this show I know that I didn’t even scratch the surface. Some historical events they talk about made me pause and look up, guess what, 100% fact!!! If it is speculation, the host clearly discloses it and makes sure that “hear say” is also noted, but when they interview first hand witness I don’t consider that hear say. Great show.

Top Podcasts In True Crime

Three
Wavland
Crime Junkie
audiochuck
Dateline NBC
NBC News
Morbid
Morbid Network | Wondery
20/20
ABC News
SERIALously
10 to LIFE

You Might Also Like

Gangland Wire
Gary Jenkins: Mafia Detective
The Sit Down: A Crime History Podcast
Better Than Vegas, Inc
Original Gangsters, a True Crime Talk Podcast
Original Gangsters, a True Crime Talk Podcast
A Lifetime Of Mafia Tales
Salvatore Polisi
Mafia
Audioboom Studios
Original Gangsters, a True Crime Talk Podcast
Original Gangsters, a True Crime Talk Podcast

More by Las Vegas Review-Journal

Vegas Nation - Raiders Football
Las Vegas Review-Journal
PodKats! Las Vegas Entertainment
Las Vegas Review-Journal | John Katsilometes
Critical Condition: Accounts from One October
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Golden Edge - Vegas Golden Knights Hockey
Las Vegas Review-Journal
RJ Politics
Las Vegas Review-Journal
RJ Ringside: An MMA & Boxing Pod
Las Vegas Review-Journal