JFK Assassination System - Date: —5/20/201 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: _ 124-10297-10123 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER:  92-6054-2389 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: VOEGE, ROBERT A. TO: DIRECTOR, FBI TITLE: DATE: 08/21/1968 ‘PAGES: 40 SUBJECTS : LCN, MEMBERS, ASSOC, CRIM ACT, GAMBLING ACT, MISUR DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: = 4; 11(a) CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 06/26/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF IRS COMMENTS : RPT, TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES i, ii, INDEX PAGES 31-33 a ep v9.1 WW 45839 Doocld: 32308996 Page i
PG 92-599 CLEVELAND ~ PHILADELPHIA ~ INFORMATION _ Information copies of this report are being furnished to the Cleveland and Philadelphia Divisions because of the ties between several members of the Pittsburgh “family” and members in those divisions, SAN FRANC ISCO AT SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Will obtain a complete run-down of activities relating to the Pittsburgh “family” of La Cosa Nostra from SF 2689-C-TE when he returns from his visit to the - Pittsburgh~-Johnstown, Pa., areas. PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH, PA. (ALLEGHENY COUNTY) 1, Will follow and report the activities of those members determined to be actual leaders of the Pittsburgh “family” in accordance with Bureau instructions and will con- tinue to develop sources of information in the vicinity of their legitimate enterprises, who will be able to furnish even more complete coverage of the financial interests of the group. 2, Will remain alert, through intensive informant eoverage, to any extension of interest of the Pittsburgh “family” in the Chester, W. Va., area, where gambling enter- prises were, until recently, being supervised by JOSEPH PECORA, the organizational front=-man. In this regard, will ascertain what plans are being made for the utilization of PECORA in the Pittsburgh area, noting that informants have advised that he has been moved back to Pittsburgh in order to assume new La Cosa Nostra responsibilities, 3. Will closely follow the activities of SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA, characterized by member sources as the “Capo” of the Pittsburgh Burgata, and his contemplated retirement to the southern Florida area. BC COVER PAGE : ee | 7 a a MW 45839 Docld: 32308996 Page 2
PG 92~599 4, Will develop additional informants familiar . with the operation of the Pittsburgh organization in an effort to effect further identification, leadership, and membership in this area, / 5, Will attempt to ascertain whether the heart attack suffered by MIKE GENOVESE on May 13, 1968, brings about a status change in the hierarchy of the Pittsburgh “family” of La Cosa Nostra. 6, Will take any action deemed advisable upon learning of the results of the visit of SF 2689-C-TE to the Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Pa., areas during July and August, 1968, INFORMANTS CONTACTED IN RELATION TO THIS REPORT PG T-1, PG T-11, PG T-14, PG T-15, and PG T~19 are 89-C-TE, who has been contacted since November, 1965, ecial Agents of the San Francisco Division. SF 26 by Sp PG T-2 is PG 804-PC, who was contacted by SA THOMAS G, FORSYTH, III. PG T=-3 is PG 789-C=-TE, who was contacted by SA \ THOMAS G, FORSYTH, III. PG T=4, PG T-5, PG T-6, PG T=18, and PG T-25 is PG 603-C-TE, who was contacted by SA JOHN S, HUGHES, | i | PG T-7 and PG T-8 is PG 632 -~C, who was contacted ; by SA ROBERT A, WOEGE. PG T-9 is PG 843=PC, who was “contacted by SA ROBERT A. VOEGE, PG T-10 is PG 585-C, who was contacted by SA ROBERT A. VOEGE. PG T-12 is BU 82-C*, who was contacted by Special Agents of the Buffalo Division. ce) PG T-19 is BU 280-C*, who was contacted by Special Agents of the Buffalo Division. . / . ’ Cc ; % COVER PAGE MW 45839 Docld: 32308996 Page 3
PG 92~599 Acting upon information furnished by the afore-= mentioned informant, an investigation was conducted by the Pittsburgh Division. It was ascertained that BECK, BILOTTA, and BENJAMIN JOSEPH CORBISELLO, of Wellsville, Ohio, all travel to. RD 2, New Cumberland, W. Va., for employment at the Lantern Ynn gambling casino, Special Agents of the Pitts- burgh Division entered the casino on twelve separate occasions and cbserved BILOTTA working at the craps table, CORBISELLO aS a dealer at the blackjack table, and BECK as the manager. On November 4, 1967, an authorized complaint was filed in the Northern District of West Virginia charging these three individuals with the violation of Section 1952, Title 18, United States Code, Warrants were issued on the same date along with a search warrant for the premises of the Lantern Inn, On the morning of November 5, 1967, at 12:09 a.m., Special Agents of the Pittsburgh Division entered the Lantern Inn and arrested DONALD B, BECK, BENJAMIN J. CORBISELLO, and FRANK E, BILOTTA, The search warrant was executed and property seized included two craps tables, one blackjack | table, one beat~the~dice table, six slot machines, and other gambling paraphernalia, The recovery value of these totaled $20,026,360, | On November 5, 1967, Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, at Pittsburgh, Pa,, raided the Red Dog gambling casino on Route 30 near Chester, W. Va. Avrrested were i JOSEPH MOCHAN, of Wilmerding, Pa. ; JAMES BECK, of McKeesport, Pa.; and RALPH FISCHETTI, CHARLES AYOOB, and MERALDO BERTONT, JR., all of Pittsburgh, Pa Inte rnd "Agents indicated that FK Law 11(a) REWiSNTD SY DAY IFK TASK FORCE 200 ON _7Ja2/4 3 Ger RELEASE IN PULL ~ i RELEASE IN PART C] TATA! OPMTAL 9L-b0S¥ - 2367 MW 45839 Docld: 32308996 Page 5