Evan Glusman, son of Piero's founder/owner, arrested for stealing $1.5m via fraudulent loan, then threatening to kill people

[Dan Druff]

Piero's is a well known, high-end Italian restaurant on the corner of Paradise and Convention Center, fairly close to the Westgate (former LV Hilton).

It originally opened in 1982 near downtown on Karen Ave, founded by Freddie Glusman. Five years later, in 1987, Freddie moved it to its current location, which took over the space which housed a different Italian restaurant, Villa D'Este.

In 1995, the movie "Casino" featured Piero's.

At the time of Piero's founding, Freddie Glusman's son Evan was just 3 years old. Today he's 46, and is in a whole heap of trouble.

Evan was the operating manager of Piero's. According to TV station KLAS, which broke the story, Evan took out a $1.5 million loan against Piero's in September 2024, claiming to be the owner of the restaurant. In reality, it was still wholly owned by Evan's father Freddie, and Evan had no ownership himself. Freddie also had no idea Evan was taking this loan. When he found out in mid-April 2025, he was furious, and fired Evan.



But it got worse from there.

Evan, who did not take the firing well, allegedly texted a Piero's manager, "I hope you realize I’m drinking and I’m going home to get a gun and fucking kill them in the middle of Piero’s" on April 25.

When Evan heard that police had been called as a result of the threat, he called the restaurant and spoke with officers. It's not clear what was said.

He was arrested the following day by a SWAT team at his home. He was charged with harassment and making terrorist threats.

Amazingly, he only had to post $20k bail, and is now out with an ankle monitor.

He has not yet been charged regarding the $1.5m loan, but that is likely to occur, as well. Court documents regarding the loan state, "Evan Glusman provided outdated, inaccurate, and/or altered trust documents to the financial institution in support of the loan application, thereby misrepresenting his legal authority over the trust and the property."

[Dan Druff]

I have never been to Piero's, despite visiting Vegas often since the 1970s, and despite living there for 8 years.

I always meant to go, but never got around to it.

Reviews are mostly good. There are some complaints about the service, and other complaints about reservations occasionally not being honored, and the parking lot sometimes being rented out to third parties. The food seems to mostly be liked, as most of the complaints are about non-food issues.

Anyone been there?

[Dan Druff]

BTW here is a blog from 15 years ago, featuring lots of pictures of Evan Glusman, including his wife. The blog was written by his friend.

https://www.shulmansays.com/archives...-Evan-Glusman/

It involved the two guys attending various Las Vegas parties, including one at Piero's (which, oddly, the blog did not identify as being affiliated with Evan).

Evan was only 31 at the time, but already looked somewhat older. But he looks far rougher in the above post's picture from the courthouse -- as if life has beaten him down.

His wife is apparently still with him.

[The Boz]

Went there once…..to see Pia Zadora sing. Was always infatuated with her for some reason.

Food was decent but nothing I couldn’t get in any city USA.

[MDawg]

If he’d simply borrowed money with all legitimate documents and not repaid it would be a civil matter only but the way it’s alleged looks like criminal fraud.

[kewlJ]

I have never been to Piero's, despite visiting Vegas often since the 1970s, and despite living there for 8 years.

I always meant to go, but never got around to it.

I have never been, despite, driving by a million times to get to LVH/Westgate which used to be in my blackjack and VP rotation. There are other Italian places I prefer.

When I went to the implosion of Debbie Reynolds old casino, which was next door, a guy was telling me that there had been several Mob shooting at Piero's. I looked online, but never found anything confirming that. Probably some folk lure that just sprang from its history with the movie Casino.

The "kid" sounds like a typical entitled brat that never grew up.

[mcap]

BTW here is a blog from 15 years ago, featuring lots of pictures of Evan Glusman, including his wife. The blog was written by his friend.

https://www.shulmansays.com/archives...-Evan-Glusman/

It involved the two guys attending various Las Vegas parties, including one at Piero's (which, oddly, the blog did not identify as being affiliated with Evan).

Evan was only 31 at the time, but already looked somewhat older. But he looks far rougher in the above post's picture from the courthouse -- as if life has beaten him down.

His wife is apparently still with him.

I think he looks like someone who just spent the night in jail and has legal troubles rather than life beating him down. Other recent pictures he doesn't look bad for his age at all. Definitely no worse than if you look at your pics from poker boom years vs recently....you both generally look like you're in the age range you are in and could use more sleep.

[MisterV]

A couple questions:

What did this yay-hoo use the money for, and is any of it left?

Why didn't the lender do the necessary "due diligence" required with a loan of this amount?

[MDawg]

You read every now and then of carpet cleaning or janitorial businesses that borrow double digit millions or raise even larger sums from investors all based on hot air.

I recall one Indian who did that, got the multi millions, and then fled to India. When my Dad read about it he blamed the banks - if they were stupid enough to lend him the money without collateral they got what they deserved.

In this case, perhaps the documents presented were documents that would not have been filed. Ownership records of even registered entities are not always public record. For example a private corporation makes its top officers public record but not the division of stock (ownership).

Son might have been listed as an officer, and the bank thought that was good enough when supported with transfer of ownership docs.
Look on the Piero's website you will read "Under the leadership of Freddie and Evan Glusman" where the restaurant story is discussed.
There is mention of a trust, perhaps he was a beneficiary or somehow named in the public records, and then provided private docs that were altered. The way a trust works is that it is named publicly but the terms of the trust are private. That is the whole point of a trust - to keep things out of the public eye.
Plus when the borrower signs he attests to being the owner and signs on as guarantor.

Why did he borrow the money - gambling problem? Sounds like he has an anger problem at a minimum, also drinking. Some people just spout unintelligible nonsense when drunken (A.Wolf) some make terrorist threats (this guy Evan).

Probably the story will come out that the original application was somehow more or less straight forward, and then when the bank asked for some "closing docs" to fund, the son got desperate and just filled in the blanks with something creative.

[MisterV]

Good analysis, hound.

Trusts are the antithesis of transparency.

[Rob.Singer]

We've (wife & I) been to dinner there once. Mr. DiRocco took us a week after he signed me up for my weekly column, which was immediately after witnessing me playing my vp strategy and winning what I said I would (pre-DU bug play). Dinner was decent, the Chianti was great, and we had a nice chat with (who else) Wayne Newton.

I know this stuff pains a local loser like kew, who's a go-nowhere/do-nothing kind of slug.

Ain't it great!

[MisterV]

Dinner was decent, the Chianti was great, and we had a nice chat with (who else) Wayne Newton. Ain't it great!

That 's pretty cool: usually we "little people" lack the cred to meet and chat with celebrities.

Just wondering whether Wayne is still performing at the Flamingo?

He's in his early eighties now...is dementia nibbling at his noggin?

[Dan Druff]

I deleted some trolling posts (none about me). Keep that shit out of my threads.

[Dan Druff]

BTW here is a blog from 15 years ago, featuring lots of pictures of Evan Glusman, including his wife. The blog was written by his friend.

https://www.shulmansays.com/archives...-Evan-Glusman/

It involved the two guys attending various Las Vegas parties, including one at Piero's (which, oddly, the blog did not identify as being affiliated with Evan).

Evan was only 31 at the time, but already looked somewhat older. But he looks far rougher in the above post's picture from the courthouse -- as if life has beaten him down.

His wife is apparently still with him.

I think he looks like someone who just spent the night in jail and has legal troubles rather than life beating him down. Other recent pictures he doesn't look bad for his age at all. Definitely no worse than if you look at your pics from poker boom years vs recently....you both generally look like you're in the age range you are in and could use more sleep.

Fair that it obviously wasn't his best moment, and probably looked his worst.

However, you don't take a fraudulent loan of $1.5m against your dad's company if life is going great.

I'm 7 years older than Evan. The mid-2000s poker boom pics were 20 years ago. Hard not to age in 20 years. Sometimes in poker pics I look like I need sleep because I do. Most people don't think I'm 53 when they meet me and don't know my age. Usually they guess me as 45-50. I never get anyone thinking I'm older than I am (such as 55).

[Dan Druff]

I'm guessing his desperation for money was either gambling, reckless spending, or both.

He might have gotten caught up in trying to fit in with the big spenders in Vegas, posturing as a successful restauranteur, when in reality he was pulling down a pedestrian salary as a manager.

It's a bit strange for a longtime Vegas resident to suddenly get caught up in compulsive gambling in his mid-40s, but perhaps that's always been an issue, and Daddy Freddie just bailed him out.

[mcap]

BTW here is a blog from 15 years ago, featuring lots of pictures of Evan Glusman, including his wife. The blog was written by his friend.

https://www.shulmansays.com/archives...-Evan-Glusman/

It involved the two guys attending various Las Vegas parties, including one at Piero's (which, oddly, the blog did not identify as being affiliated with Evan).

Evan was only 31 at the time, but already looked somewhat older. But he looks far rougher in the above post's picture from the courthouse -- as if life has beaten him down.

His wife is apparently still with him.

I think he looks like someone who just spent the night in jail and has legal troubles rather than life beating him down. Other recent pictures he doesn't look bad for his age at all. Definitely no worse than if you look at your pics from poker boom years vs recently....you both generally look like you're in the age range you are in and could use more sleep.

Fair that it obviously wasn't his best moment, and probably looked his worst.

However, you don't take a fraudulent loan of $1.5m against your dad's company if life is going great.

I'm 7 years older than Evan. The mid-2000s poker boom pics were 20 years ago. Hard not to age in 20 years. Sometimes in poker pics I look like I need sleep because I do. Most people don't think I'm 53 when they meet me and don't know my age. Usually they guess me as 45-50. I never get anyone thinking I'm older than I am (such as 55).

Fair, but like I said he looks his age not that his life is going well. He looks 47. Didn't say you were the same age or that you look older than you are. If you want to take that as you look 47 go for it

[DGenBen]

A couple questions:

What did this yay-hoo use the money for, and is any of it left?

Why didn't the lender do the necessary "due diligence" required with a loan of this amount?

Most banks / lenders do not try to underwrite loans to a zero percent fraud and / or default rate.

If they did that they would either decline too many profitable loans or lose business to competitors that are easier to do business with / qualify for.

They already anticipate a certain amount of fraud / defaults & they try to maximize growth, profit & ease of doing business within expected fraud / default rates.

[TheGrimReaper]

A couple questions:

What did this yay-hoo use the money for, and is any of it left?

Why didn't the lender do the necessary "due diligence" required with a loan of this amount?

Most banks / lenders do not try to underwrite loans to a zero percent fraud and / or default rate.

If they did that they would either decline too many profitable loans or lose business to competitors that are easier to do business with / qualify for.

They already anticipate a certain amount of fraud / defaults & they try to maximize growth, profit & ease of doing business within expected fraud / default rates.

Similarly as investing in a/the TOE, then where would we be if we stick only to the ones that guarantee humanity's material salvation, spring only from positivism, and, instantly make sense, to everyone?

[theywontpayontuesday]

I'm going admit, defrauding a financial institution and threatening to kill people when caught, well that's a pretty good plan and I'm surprised it didn't work out.

[mickeycrimm]

Back in the day Piero's was noted not only as a celebrity hangout but also a hangout for mob wannabe's. The Behnen's, who were the family of Becky Binion also hung out there. Some scenes in the movie, Casino, were filmed there.

As a longtime gambler at the Horseshoe I followed all the juicy gossip of the soap opera we called As The Horseshoe Turns. The most famous story out of Piero's was the Stupak/Behnen feud. The Behnen's owned the Horseshoe from about 1998, I think, until 2004. Instead of telling all this shit that I might remember wrong I'll just post some links to news stories of the day:


http://stevemiller4lasvegas.com/StupaksAssaulted.htm

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/au...sity-heats-up/

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/oc...upak-incident/

https://www.americanmafia.com/inside...ide_Vegas.html

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/s...murphy-behnen/