• Storming Las Vegas

  • How a Cuban-Born, Soviet-Trained Commando Took Down the Strip to the Tune of Five World-Class Hotels, Three Armored Cars, and Millions of Dollars
  • By: John Huddy
  • Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
  • Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (307 ratings)

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Storming Las Vegas  By  cover art

Storming Las Vegas

By: John Huddy
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
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Publisher's summary

Immediately gripping and thoroughly harrowing, Storming Las Vegas tells the story of a remarkable true-life crime spree—a story that was previously squashed so as not to disturb tourism, in the ultimate proof of "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas".

On September 20, 1998, a Cuban-born former Red Army lieutenant named Jose Vigoa launched a series of raids on the Las Vegas Strip. During a 16-month spree, Vigoa robbed five world-class hotels, three armored cars, and one department store. The casinos hit were the MGM; the Desert Inn; the New York, New York; the Mandalay Bay; and the Bellagio.

Lieutenant John Alamshaw, a 23-year-old veteran in charge of robbery detectives, was ordered to stop the robberies at all costs. He knew he was up against a mastermind. What he didn't know was that he was running out of time.

©2008 John Huddy (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This debut is a must for true-crime enthusiasts." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Storming Las Vegas

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it..

This book was really good. How could anyone actually hit the major casinos in Vegas? Jose Vigoa did with ruthless abandon. The author went into the background of the gang members, the key policemen, the armed car guards and the families. This book not only tells you how the robberies were conducted, it tells you about all of the lives that were affected. Bravo to the writer and the editor of a great listen.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

This REALLY is a great book

This book is non-fiction yet it reads better than most fiction crime or thriller books. The story of how a gang led by a Cuban commando can rob Las Vegas hotels and armored cars is amazing and would not be believable, except it really happened. The author did an excellent job of developing and weaving the stories of the many characters, into what would be a great fiction book, but it is non-fiction. Even the extensive Author's Notes following the book are an interesting listen. They tell how this information was obtained and the effect of this information being published. The reader also did an excellent job with the Cuban accent for the main character. Our friend from Bakersfield needs to download this again and have some more patience while the characters are developed.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting but TMI

This is an entertaining story and worth the listen, but it could have benefited from further editing. I usually appreciate and enjoy infodumps, but Huddy includes a good bit of information that is not only irrelevant to the story but simply boring, such as the complete mailing address of a house where one of the accomplices lived years before any of the events described took place. Nothing actually HAPPENED there, but we are told in minute detail where it is anyway. It's fairly clear the author's view was "I spent years researching this book and I want everybody to see how thorough I was." Mission accomplished, but it seriously bogs down and distracts from the narrative in places.

He also seems to ascribe emotions and thought processes to some people that it seems doubtful he could have derived from interviews long after the fact, particularly those who were killed before Huddy even began his research.

As always, Stefan Rudnicki's narration is excellent.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Waste of Time

Sorry, but this one left me cold. The author
spends much to much time on the personal background of the characters. I'm interested in surface information, but I really don't care how good bad or indifferent a characters sex life is. After two hours of listening, I did something I've never done in 212 audio books .... deleted it!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible true crime in SinCity!

I grew up in and live in Vegas so I enjoyed this book for obvious reasons. As a local I remember these crimes that put terror in the hearts of those that live in this valley. Vegas is still a small city and so these crimes and killings hit home with a certain rawness.
John Huddy did excellent research in preparing for this gripping account and takes the listener on a wild ride through the Vegas suburbs as well as right down the strip and inside the world of big casino security.
The narrator also did a great job of moving the story right along. Something I always appreciate from a narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed It

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

For any book to be considered good, I must learn from it. Within this account you will gain insights into casino security, marketing, police practices, criminal tactics and revolutionary Cuba (... yes, I said revolutionary Cuba.)

Would you be willing to try another book from John Huddy? Why or why not?

Sure, I like exciting non-fiction that is well researched and presented. Prose and fact combine for great entertainment and learning.

Did Storming Las Vegas inspire you to do anything?

Yes, it inspired me to never try robbing major Casinos and armored vehicles with assault weapons.

Any additional comments?

The author presents insights into this 2-year crime spree by helping us understand just who the players were. It is more than descriptions of crimes, it provides views into some men's souls.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

GREAT story about Vegas crime!

Well told, especially for being Non-fiction... Narration is superb. Highly recommend this IF you like Vegas, Bank robbery stories, and great character development.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Plain Good Crime Writing

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas – until crime reporter John Huddy decides to reveal it. In his “Storming Las Vegas”, Huddy details how a Cuban risked life and limb to come to Florida and ultimately took down Las Vegas hotels, armored cars and millions of US dollars. Little was published in the national press at the time by design, but Huddy recounts, blow by blow, what took place. This is an amazing story of violence, robbery, and public relations. After reading this “Blue Velvet” book, you’ll never look at a trip to the strip in the same way. The writing is okay – it reads like a news reporter’s work. The story is informative and entertaining. The reading of Stefan Rudnicki is very good.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating , listened to entire book

In four days. First of all, Stefan Rudnicki is one of Audible’s top five reader/actors: clear, deep voice, no mispronunciation s, and neutral tone. Most of the book’s setting is in U. S.,, recognizable places. Main characters
Is a shrink’s dream, he has a moral code of his own making, not one all would approve. It’s great “True Crime”.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

incredible from start to finish

great narration, sorry keeps your attention despite length of book. really bummed that they never came out with the movie that was planned. highly recommend

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