Sam Lazes (June 22, 1915 – February 26, 2006) was an alleged bookmaker who worked in southern California, United States.
[3] According to the Mob Museum, the hit was ordered by Jack Dragna and carried out by Jimmy the Weasel and Charley Battaglia after the two Tonys had relieved Lazes of $3,000 that was claimed by the organized crime syndicate in the area.
[4] In August 1953, a series of articles in the Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News suggested that a Culver City club called Toddle House was a hangout for bookmakers, racketeers, and pimps, namely Lazes, Farkas, Fratianno, and Jimmy Utley.
[5] In 1957 Lazes was arrested for possession of marijuana, at which time the Los Angeles Mirror stated, "Lazes has never been convicted of a felony but his arrest record in Los Angeles includes suspicion of murder, robbery, extortion, and bookmaking.
[7] Lazes was arrested in 1974 by an organized-crime task force focused on illegal bookmaking at Del Mar Racetrack.