Cusumano reportedly has helped Tabish parlay his movie rights into much-needed help with his mounting legal fees. Tabish, who has been behind bars since his June 24 arrest, doesn't stand trial with Murphy until March 13. He has a lot of fighting to do in court until then. His lawyers, Robert Murdock and Louis Palazzo, say they know nothing about the Cusumano movie deal. But they aren't discussing who's paying them.
Attorneys generally don' t like to disclose the source of their fees.
The name of another well-known Las Vegan, meanwhile, has surfaced in the Hollywood angle to the Binion case. Cusumano's longtime pal and business partner, Rick Rizzolo, a politically connected topless night club owner, is said to be involved in the movie deal. But Rizzolo and his friends, even Cusumano, strongly deny that he has had anything to do with the potentially lucrative project. Friends say Rizzolo, owner of the popular Crazy Horse Too, tries his best to shy away from Cusumano in public these days. Still, many believe that wherever Cusumano goes, Rizzolo can't be far behind.