Former Las Vegas blackjack dealer Michael "Mickey" Candela was a bookie for the Colombo Mafia. In the 1960s records discovered at his North Babylon home led to Candela becoming a government informant. The government extended protection to the bookie and his family. His wife and children were taken to an undisclosed location for their safety. Candela was considered a close associate of Colombo hood John "Sonny" Franzese who lived in Herricks, Long Island. Other close mob connections maintained by Candela were friendships with Patsy Guariglia and Felice Vizzari.