Norman Rothman (aka "Roughhouse", December 26, 1914 in
New York City – October 1985) was an American
gangster.
Life
Rothman was an infamous member of the
La Cosa Nostra operating in South
Florida. In 1945 he joined the
U.S. Army. He was a close associate of
Santo Trafficante, Jr. with whom he would operate
casinos in
Havana, most notably, the Sans Souci. He ran a bookmaking operation in Havana where he also was involved in running guns to
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; ; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 200 ...
with Joe Merola and the Mannarino brothers, for which he was convicted February 4, 1960.
After moving back to
Miami, Rothman purchased a notable gangster hangout, The Albion Lounge, in the late 1960s and early 70s. He was also involved in
narcotics trafficking in Miami. In 1962, he was acquitted for conspiracy to transport, and transporting, stolen securities. In 1969, he was arrested and indicted, and in 1971, he was convicted, of conspiracy relating to the theft of securities.
Criminal record
*1/29/48 – Vagrancy – Miami Beach, Fla.
*3/27/59 – Firearms Act violation – Miami, Fla.
*4/05/59 – Stolen property –
Pittsburgh, Penn. (sentenced to 5 years in prison in 1961)
*5/01/62 – Receiving and transporting stolen property – Federal Correctional Inst.,
Tallahassee, Fla.
*9/11/63 – Stolen property – Eglin Air Force Base prison camp, Okaloosa County, Fla.
*3/17/69 – Vagrancy – Las Vegas, Nev.
Associates
*
Pasquale "Patsy" Erra
Pasquale is a masculine Italian given name and a surname mainly found in southern Italy. It is a cognate of the French name Pascal, the Spanish Pascual, the Portuguese Pascoal and the Catalan Pasqual. Pasquale derives from the Latin ''pasc ...
*
Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal
Frank Lawrence Rosenthal (June 12, 1929 – October 13, 2008), also known as "Lefty" Rosenthal, was an American professional sports bettor, former Las Vegas casino executive, and organized crime associate. Rosenthal, who was once called "the gre ...
(of the movie "Casino" fame)
Habits
Rothman was known to drink
Canadian Club straight with water on the side.
Further reading
*
References
*The Education Forum/Spartacus Educational
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rothman, Norman
1914 births
1985 deaths
Jewish American gangsters
Gangsters from New York City
20th-century American Jews