Nevada Gaming Commission Reviews Removal of Deceased Mob Figures from Black Book
Nevada Gaming Commission Considers Removing Deceased Mobsters from Black Book
The Nevada Gaming Commission is currently evaluating the potential removal of William Cammisano Jr. and Peter Ribaste from Nevada’s List of Excluded Persons, commonly referred to as the Black Book. Both men, who have passed away, were linked to organized crime in Kansas City and were once banned from Nevada casinos.
Policy on Removing Deceased Individuals from the Black Book
It is customary for the Nevada Gaming Commission to clear the names of individuals from the Black Book following their deaths. William Cammisano Jr. died in 2023, and Peter Ribaste passed away in 2021, with both reportedly succumbing to COVID-19. Cammisano was first added to the Black Book in January 1997 after authorities noted his multiple visits to Las Vegas and his connections to the Kansas City crime syndicate.
Peter Ribaste’s ties to organized crime were well documented, including a 1998 report highlighting his role under Kansas City crime boss Carl Civella and underboss Carl DeLuna. Given their deaths, the Commission is now considering removing these names from the exclusion list. Although there is no fixed timetable for such updates, changes to the Black Book happen periodically, with the most recent amendment occurring in April when an illegal bookmaker was added to the list.
Background on William Cammisano Jr. and Peter Ribaste
William Cammisano Jr. was the son of Kansas City mob enforcer William “Willie the Rat” Cammisano Sr. In 1997, he was placed on Nevada’s Black Book for his involvement in organized crime, including allegations from a 1989 report that accused him of orchestrating violent acts to maintain his status within the syndicate. He was also reported to have liaised with members of the Chicago Outfit over financial interests related to four Argent casinos, and profited from illegal casino activities such as skimming.
Peter Ribaste, associated closely with Kansas City crime boss Carl Civella, relocated to Las Vegas’s affluent Spanish Trails community in 1989. He later gained part ownership of the Carriage Car III dealership, with some financial backing from Horseshoe Club co-owner Ted Binion—a transaction that contributed to Binion losing his gaming license. Ribaste’s criminal affiliations continued into the years before his inclusion in the Black Book; he was last seen sharing a vehicle with a made member of the Kansas City crime family just one year prior to being blacklisted.
