Spilotro associate Blitzstein stays mum in Binion's case
By Jeff German , LAS VEGAS SUN

Reputed underworld figure Herbie Blitzstein isn't in the habit of helping investigators uncover wrongdoing. The one-time associate of the late Chicago mobster Anthony Spilotro kept up that tradition Tuesday.

Blitzstein, accompanied by his longtime lawyer, John Momot, asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 21 times, refusing to answer questions at Ted Binion's reinstatement hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Blitzstein -- who once spent months in jail for not testifying before a federal grand jury investigating Spilotro -- read a statement asserting his constitutional privilege when questioned about his recent association with Binion.

The former Spilotro lieutenant refused to even answer a question posed by Deputy Attorney General Donald Haight about whether he knows Binion, a suspended Horseshoe executive.

The State Gaming Control Board is investigation Blitzstein's relationship with Binion, who has acknowledged being in his company at least 25 times within the past year.

Gaming licensees are not supposed to associate with unsavory characters.
Haight attempted to question Blitzstein about more than $11,000 in insurance checks he cashed at the Horseshoe New Year's Day with the help of Binion, who has been ordered to stay out of the downtown casino's operations.
Binion has indicated that Blitzstein asked him if he could cash the checks when the two ran into each other at Club Paradise, a topless nightclub, on New Year's Eve.

In an interview with the SUN, Binion said he has run into Blitzstein on the adult nightclub circuit several times in recent months.

Blitzstein also took the Fifth when Gaming Commissioner Bill Urga, who was chairing the Binion hearing, asked him if he had ever seen Binion use drugs.
The Control Board has indicated it plans to file a complaint against Binion in the near future over his ties to Blitzstein.

Note Binion has acknowledged being in Blitzstein's company at least 25 times within the past year.