Israel "Icepick Willie" Alderman was a Las Vegas, Nevada casino investor and manager with ties to organized crime. Along with his associates Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Moe Sedway, David Berman, and Gus Greenbaum, he was involved in the El Cortez, the Riviera, the Flamingo, and the Las Vegas Club. Prior to living in Las Vegas, he was mob enforcer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was given his nickname based on his perfection of the icepick method of murder.
Israel "Icepick Willie" Alderman was a Las Vegas, Nevada casino investor and manager with ties to organized crime. Along with his associates Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Moe Sedway, David Berman, and Gus Greenbaum, he was involved in the El Cortez, the Riviera, the Flamingo, and the Las Vegas Club. Prior to living in Las Vegas, he was mob enforcer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was given his nickname based on his perfection of the icepick method of murder.
David "Davie" Berman (1903-1957) was one of the pioneers of the casino business in Las Vegas, Nevada. Berman was born January 16, 1903 in Odessa, Ukraine and grew up in Ashley, North Dakota. He was named Donald at birth but later changed his name to David. By age 16 he ran the biggest bootlegging operation in Iowa, and was also involved with organized crime in New York City and Minneapolis.
An event to gift land for the construction of the Guardian Angel 1962. From left to right: Elias Atol, Gus Greenbaum, Monsignor James Empey from the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church (1957 - his death, 10/26/1962), Jake Kozloff, Bishop Robert J. Dwyer (the Bishop of Reno 8/5/1952 - 1966), Willie Alderman (a.k.a. Icepick Willie), Cardinal James F. McIntyre (the Archbishop of Los Angeles 1948-1970), Bishop Thomas K. Gorman(?) or Monsignor Daniel Murphy(?), Benny Binion (Horseshoe Club), Moe Dalitz (Desert Inn), and Ben Goffstein.
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (1906-1947) was a well-known Las Vegas, Nevada casino investor and manager, most famously associated with the Flamingo and organized crime. Born Benjamin Siegelbaum in Brooklyn, New York on February 28, 1906, Siegel formed the Bug and Meyer Mob with Meyer Lansky while he was still a teenager. Later, Siegel was a founding member and chief operator of "Murder, Inc.," an organized crime "enforcement" group.