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Knappster: Ricin scare wasn't first in Las Vegas

By George Knapp

The term "ricin" is one that certainly gets the attention of law enforcement and health officials. We saw evidence of that last weekend when a suicidal man told authorities he had injected himself with the toxin. If anything, the well-coordinated response involving Metro, the FBI, the Clark County Health District and Clark County Fire Department should reassure residents that local agencies have a solid game plan for dealing with such incidents.

But contrary to some reports, this wasn't the first incident of its kind here. Not by a longshot. More than two years ago, a massive task force of state, federal and local agencies descended on a Southern Nevada lab in search of biological agents. The raid involved close to 100 personnel, including Metro intelligence detectives, California investigators, agents from the FBI and BLM, hazardous materials teams from the CCFD, NHP troopers and sleuths from the Nevada Division of Investigation. It was a massive, military-style operation, but the public never heard anything about it, and for good reason.

The raid was centered on an old milling site dubbed Gold City, located within eyeball range of Railroad Pass south of Henderson. The probe began in Irvine Calif., where police were piecing together very scary details about a suicide victim named Dr. Larry Ford. After Ford killed himself, police found a huge stash of biological agents, including ricin, anthrax, botulism and other goodies in Ford's refrigerator. They also found an arsenal of weapons and explosives buried in his back yard. And they learned that Dr. Ford had been working with a South African scientist dubbed Dr. Death. Dr. Death had been charged by apartheid leaders with coming up with biochemical agents that might be used to wipe out the black majority if things hit the fan in that troubled country.

Informants told the cops that Dr. Ford, a one-time CIA operative, had stashed an even bigger pile of biochem agents and weapons "somewhere in the desert near a gold mine, within a certain radius of Las Vegas." The trail soon led them to Gold City. After months of surveillance, the huge task force swooped down on the mill site in search of dangerous stuff. They didn't find the buried barrels they had expected. They did find Larry Ford's business card at the site. They found what they first thought were castor beans, the same beans used to make ricin. According to one report, they also found directions for making anthrax. At another location in Henderson, they found a pile of literature about biological warfare and bomb-making.

It's amazing, even to lawmen, that the story of the raid never made the news in Nevada. Most of those who are knowledgable about the operation are still reluctant to talk about it because they don't want to scare the hell out of locals. You see, they never found Dr. Ford's suspected treasure trove of deadly poisons. Now, maybe the informants were wrong and it never existed to begin with. Then again, maybe it's still hidden somewhere else in the desert. It's the second possibility that still raises goosebumps on the necks of those familiar with the case.

Cops and robbers

Chicago mob boss Joey "The Clown" Lombardo is still missing. As noted in this space last week, Lombardo dropped out of sight after being paid a visit by federal agents about a month ago. Veteran mob watcher and crime writer Dan Moldea tells Knappster the disappearance is likely related to the emergence of a new FBI informant, a loanshark and outfit enforcer named Nick Calabrese, who is now behind bars and may be telling tales. Joey the Clown was a Mafia chieftain during the years that the Chicago family controlled street rackets and casino skimming in Las Vegas. ... Word on the street is that the local sex club business (detailed elsewhere in this issue) has been infiltrated by "the Hawaiian Mafia." Not much is known about the alleged Hawaiian tough guys, but they seem to instill considerable respect (and fear) among those locals who've come into contact with them. Are intelligence cops hot on their trail? ... Former Metro supercop Lt. Loren Stevens says he's surprised no attention was given to the recent passing of infamous safecracker Joe Kish. Stevens says Kish was one of the very best safe burglars in the Western states, and that Kish and his partner, Ace McCarter, could "get into anything that was heavy, had a dial and a door." Stevens finally nabbed Kish, but retains grudging respect for the old pro, who spent his last years living behind the local VFW hall.

Miscellany

Say, is it true that a prominent local developer plans to resurrect a

proposed development atop Blue Diamond Hill, on the edge of Red Rock Canyon? And is it also true he has hired a former county commissioner to help pave the way? ... Former Nevada Gov. Mike O'Callaghan is heading to the Middle East this coming week, just as war clouds are gathering. O'Callaghan has considerable contacts in the Israeli government and military, and has written extensively about the turmoil in the region. Still, it would seem to be a perilous little jaunt, considering what happened to Israel the last time Saddam Hussein was attacked. ... March 7 is a red-letter day for the Las Vegas Paiute tribe. A three-year battle over the seemingly illegal ouster of several tribal members will come to a head in a tribal courtroom. The outcome is by no means certain, and the tribe remains deeply divided over the disenrollment fight. ... Famed Las Vegas writer and former magazine editor Jack Sheehan has cranked up his typewriter again. Sheehan has just cut a deal to write a book about a side of Las Vegas that many locals never see. That's all we can say at this point.