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About The Book

"Sin City Secrets: The Mobsters Who Shaped Las Vegas" delves into the intricate relationship between organized crime and the development of Las Vegas, revealing how mobsters influenced the city's transformation into a gambling mecca. The book is structured in five parts, each chronicling different eras of mob involvement in Las Vegas from the 1920s to the present day.

Part 1 explores the origins of organized crime during Prohibition, highlighting figures like Bugsy Siegel and Virginia Hill, who played pivotal roles in establishing criminal networks that would later target Las Vegas. In Part 2, the narrative shifts to the legalization of gambling in Nevada and Siegel's ambitious vision for the Flamingo Hotel, which ultimately faced financial turmoil and led to his assassination.

Part 3 discusses how after Siegel's death, the Chicago Outfit took control of Las Vegas casinos, implementing skimming operations that siphoned millions while maintaining a façade of legitimacy through entertainers like Frank Sinatra. The focus then moves to law enforcement efforts in Part 4, detailing significant crackdowns on mob activities and high-profile scandals such as those involving Tony Spilotro.

Finally, Part 5 examines the transition from mob influence to corporate control in Las Vegas during the 1990s and beyond. This comprehensive account not only highlights key historical events but also provides insights into how organized crime shaped modern-day Las Vegas as an entertainment powerhouse.

Author, Songwriter, Marine Corps Veteran, Mother and Grandmother

Mary Elizabeth Baker is a Marine Corps Veteran, author, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the mortgage and finance industry. A former upper-level sales executive, she led, trained, and mentored hundreds of professionals, helping them take command of their careers, finances, and personal responsibility. Her no-excuses approach to leadership was forged during eight years of service in U.S. Marine Corps aviation, where discipline, accountability, and resilience were not optional—they were survival skills. That foundation shaped her career in corporate leadership, where she became known not just for managing teams, but for transforming them. Mary specialized in developing mental toughness, instilling personal accountability, and teaching individuals how to build real financial stability in a results-driven world. As a sought-after motivational speaker and sales trainer, Mary has coached professionals across multiple industries, challenging them to abandon victimhood, break free from limiting beliefs, and adopt the habits required for long-term success. Her work emphasizes self-discipline, responsibility, and leadership—principles she believes are essential not only in business, but in life, relationships, and family. Now retired from the corporate world, Mary devotes her time to writing and speaking, using her lived experience to confront cultural myths and restore truth, balance, and accountability. Her books span self-improvement, financial literacy, cultural commentary, and fiction, all united by a common thread: the belief that strong individuals build strong families—and strong families build strong societies. Mary lives by the principles that shaped her life and career: discipline, resilience, accountability, faith, and an unwavering commitment to personal responsibility.

Sin City Secrets

About The Book

Mary Elizabeth Bakers Books

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