The CIA, the Mafia, and the Murder of Johnny Roselli

Johnny Roselli was a powerful Chicago Outfit mobster who moved between Hollywood, Las Vegas, and one of the CIA's most controversial Cold War operations: the secret plots to assassinate Fidel Castro. From Al Capone's criminal empire to Hollywood labor racketeering and the Mafia's casino interests in Las Vegas, Roselli built a career connecting organized crime with powerful figures in American society. But his most extraordinary chapter began when the CIA recruited him as an intermediary in its covert assassination plots against Cuba's communist leader. Working alongside Mafia figures including Sam Giancana and Santo Trafficante Jr., Roselli became part of a secret alliance between American intelligence and organized crime. In 1976, Johnny Roselli disappeared. His remains were discovered inside a steel drum floating in a Florida bay. His murder remains unsolved, and questions surrounding his Mafia connections, CIA involvement, and congressional testimony continue to attract attention. This MOB CHRONICLES documentary explores the rise and fall of Johnny Roselli, the Chicago Outfit's influence in Hollywood and Las Vegas, the CIA-Mafia Castro plots, and the mystery surrounding his violent death. Who killed Johnny Roselli — and what secrets did he take to his grave? Subscribe to MOB CHRONICLES for cinematic documentaries about American Mafia history, organized crime, mob bosses, betrayals, and the hidden power struggles of the underworld. #JohnnyRoselli #MafiaHistory #CIA