JFK Assassination System 5/11/201 Identification Form Date: ‘Agency Information Peleased under the John Kennedy AGENCY: FBI . on a RECORD NUMBER: —124-90104-10168 Ssassinabzon mecores ollection Act of 1992 ; (44 USC 2107 Note). ,RECORD SERIES: HQ ase#: NW Sé792 Date: AGENCY FILENUMBER: _92-2940-45 aloo Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: PG TO: HQ TITLE: DATE: 03/19/1959 “PAGES: 31 SUBJECTS : SEBASTIAN JOHN LAROCCA DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : —_ Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4; 10(a)2 CURRENT STATUS:  Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 07/31/1998 . OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS: RPT a a v9.1 HW 56792 DBocld:32332670 Page 1 13
ul Ame oe nt HW 56792 PG 92-226 CRIMINAL INFORMANT COVERAGE The following. individuals are presently being utilized by the Pittsburgh Office in the SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA investigation: PG 573-C, who is extremely friendly with the . GENOVESE brothers and particularly FIORE GENOVESE, younger brother of MIKE GENOVESE, and who is presently being utilized for the general coverage of the Red Eagle Club and its visitors. yes Bot 8 18) @ PCI of the Pittsburgh Office, who is well acquainted with most of Pittsburgh's top hoodlums and who was formerly employed as a waitress in the Red Eagle Club, once known as the Genovese Cocktail Lounge, 412 Larimer Ave. Pitts- burgh, She still visits this establishment and comes in constant contact with MIKE GENOVESE and other members of Pittsburgh's racketeering element in her fole as a medium-priced prostitute. is presently travelling with MRS, JULIA MINTZ, widow of. JAKEMMINTZ, co-owner of EZZARD CHARLES, former \ World's heavyweight boxing champion. She is presently being utilized for the coverage of the GENOVESE- . LA ROCCA-NELSON interests. Ne nee JFK Act 6 (4) a PCI who is presently very - active in Sburgh numbers operations and who~ was arrested during the month of August, 1958, in connection with his operation. | lis intimately acquainted with many P. sburgh top hoodlums and racketeers through association with them when they began their racket careers. He is presently being utilized for coverage of the GENOVESE-NELSON interests dnd itsvaisoeconitributing information regarding the VOLPE brothers who are close associates. of GENOVESE and LA. ROCCA. JEK Act © (4) a PCI of the pittsburgh Office presently engaged in racket activity in the City of Pittsburgh who is being utilized for general coverage of lottery and numbers operations in the Pittsburgh area, ~-~B~ COVER PAGE AD LO d- MINER \ ale een ot —_ Doclda: 32332870 Page 2?
PG 92-226 - Lede PCI of the Pittsburgh office who part owner or the notorious gambling establishment at. Chester, W.Va., known as: Club 30, who is being utilized for information concerning the club and “the interest in it of Pittsburgh hoodlums associated with both LA ROCCA and GENOVESE. JFK Act 6 (4) a PCI of the Pittsburgh Office who 1S being utilized for information concerning Pittsburgh prostitution and as a check on the activities of JFK Act 6 (4) ‘ AL BUCK, former Allegheny County Detective and now Vice- President of the Fidelity Trust Company, Loan Department, Pittsburgh, who is being. utilized for his knowledge of the Bankers Exchange in Pittsburgh from which he can obtain information regarding bank loans made to Pittsburgh top hoodlums. . BUCK is also familiar with the activities of several of | Pittsburgh's top hoodlums, particularly those of LA ROCCA, from having worked on criminal matbe rs: for many years in the City of Pittsburgh. JFK Act 6 (4) a confidential source of the pittsburgh Office who is being utilized for information concerning the MANNARINO organization in New Kensington, Pa., and who is also furnishing information regarding tieups with the GENOVESE organization in Pittsburgh. JEK AcE © (4) a confidential source of the Pittsburgh: 0 ce who was extremely helpful to Pittsburgh Agents during the investigation of the RALPH KINER extortion.investigation several years ago and whose brother-in-law, NORMAN FARBER, is a member of the MANNARINO organization, In an effort to increase criminal informant coverage, the PCIs under development are being contacted on a continuing and regular basis so that information obtained from them amay be used on a day-to-day basis in connection with spot surveillances of the establishments frequented by the subject when he is in the Pittsburgh. vicinity. m | ~C~ COVER PAGE AS lod-LOIeg HW 56792 DBocld:32332670 Page 3
AJEK Law 10(a)2 PG 92-226 PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH, PA,, (ALLEGHENY COUNTY) 1) Will set out appropriate leads on tangible results obtained from a mail cover placed for the month of March, 1959, on the residence of subject at Ingomar, Pa., with the Postal Inspector at. the Pittsburgh Post Office. oe i 2) Will continue to conduct discreet surveillances of Subject whenever practicable to note pertinent contacts made‘ by him, Af i 3). Will maintain contact with the officers of the _MeCandless Township Police Department and arrange for immediate notification by them of any unusual activity in the vicinity of the’ LA ROCCA residence, 4) will maintain close liaison with HUBERT I, TEITELBAUM, USA, WDPA, so that any pertinent information received by him from ef dauring questioning of these individuals before e Federal Grand Jury on or about may be acted upon. immediatély.and other’ offices advised as the situation permits. 5) Will regularly contact established. PCIs so that ample coverage may be afforded the LA ROCCA~GENOVESE- NELSON interests and will, through this established coverage, endeavor to ascertain the specific whereabouts of LA ROCCA since December, 1957. 6) Will check the list of toll calls made from Forest 4.5296, the home telephone of LA ROCCA, for the names ' of racket associates and personal business contacts of subject not now known to the Pittsburgh Office, and will further identify and obtain appropriate background of Subscribers to telephone numbers called, \ 7) Will maintain contact with the offices of the Pittsburgh Offices of the U., S. Marshal, INS, and ; Internal Revenue Service so that any new developments é concerning their interests in this matter will be received | ‘ immediately. . : COVER PAGE i . IPO P4 ICL. Cas - 56792 Docld: 323327870 Page 4
_FD-204 (Rev. 9-28-58) vo a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Copy fo: Report of: ROBERT A VOEGE Office: PITTSBURGH Date: MAR 19 5 9 ; . File Number: PTTTSBURGH 92-226 BUREAU 92-2940 Twle: SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA , “WEK Law 10(a)2 Characters ANT T—-RACKETEERING Synopsis: réturned to Pittsburgh, Pa., vicinity on or | about 2/6/59 and was promptly served with four subpoenas by USM, WDPA, Agreement subsequently arrived_at_b which two subpoenas. requesting appearance error before. FGJ, pera a ‘and Attorney General's Specia roup may appear before FGJ at itn nationa op hoodlum, on or about USA , pittsburgh, advises representative of Attorney General's Special Group will be present on this occasion. Date has not been set for appearance of subject before U. S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the ' Tabor or Management Field. _LA ROCCA advised Bureau Agent on 3/9/59 that he could not answer questions without approval and presence of Attorney VINCENT CASEY but indicated he would remain in Pittsburgh area, During conversation he lost composure when questions posed concerning his affiliation with Mafia and citizenship status, Efforts being made to determine whereabouts of LA ROCCA and GABRIEL MANNARINO during absence from Pittsburgh. IN VIEW OF THE CONVICTION OF Soper FOR SSSAULT WITH INTENT TO KILL AND HTS B20 - VE SHAQ (- This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of any kind. I¥ is the property of the. FBI, and isa loan to your. Oe) it and/or its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.” Soa ot ‘ eragane1  6Ppo HW 56792 DBocld:32332670 Page 5
PG 92-226 THOMAS A, MC QUAIDE, Identification Officer, Pittsburgh, Pa., Police Department, advised on March 11, 1959, that on March 2, 1959, GEORGE "MOON" MESSER, former business associate and close friend of LA ROCCA, appeared in Allegheny County Court .on numbers charges. He stated that MESSER was fined $100 and costs: on one count and $200 and costs on a second count, bringing the total to $427200. HUBERT I, TEITELBAUM, U. S. Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, advised SA VOEGE on March 12, a ad been subpoenaed to appear before a Fed sitting att dauring the week 7 a | and would be requested to answer questions relating to. criminal activity inp . en, | SO ; JFK Law 10(a)2 ARTHUR D, "ARCHIE" NELSON, former Pittsburgh top hoodlum who is presently in partnership with .MIKE. GENOVESE, : was observed watching the construction of his new motel during a surveillance by SA. VOEGE on February. 17, 1959. . Upon contact @a.,, NELSON, who was driving. a white .1957 Cadillac sedan bearing 1958 Pennsylvania license 1028J, advised that construction is proceeding according to plan and that he visualizes completion of the project during the first week of August, 1959. He said he has a six-month construction ; contract with a masonry contractor named ZAMPARANA (phonetic) from Fox. Chapel, Pa., but. that the contract. is merely a gentlemen's agreement with no penalty clauses attached, He indicated that the builder submitted the lowest of . six construction bids after he and GENOVESE had advertised in the trade journals and had further guaranteed that he could do the job in approximately six months, barring personnel injuries, equipment breakdown and inclement weather. - so Ste NELSON advised that his motel would consist of fifty- three compact units in the shape of a "UY" with the open end facing the highway and would be of two~level construction. ie, ; AGI \ ai sh, ef ; PWT) & — - on — 2 N s HW 56792 DBocld:32332670 Page 6
BFK Law 10(a)2 PG 92~226 He advised that on February 6 51959, however, he received information from an. attorney who has handled many matters for both GENOVESE’ and LA ROCCA and whose name is VITO . RICH, that} —_—si was’ then at home and was awaiting the. arrival o ie U. S. Marshal to serve him with what- ever subpoenas were outstanding. against him, He stated i ately proceeded .to and served with two subpoenas which e ha een holding for approximately one year. He described the first.as-a subpoena for the appearance of before the Federal Grand Jury for the’ [ _ [before the Fea testify and _give evidence in _ regard to an alleged Sa oege and _ the second as a subpoena for € appear- before the U. S. Senate Select Committee On Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, DIMEOLO. could furnish no information regarding the where- abouts of LA ROCCA during. his disappearance from the Pittsburgh area and advised that he did not think it was his duty to ask him.such a question. He stated, however, that LA ROCCA had promised him that he would be available in ‘Pittsburgh for whatever came up.in the. future and was "sick of running.". He said LA ROCCA also advised. him that he would proceed to YalleyéRorge. Academy at Wayne, Pa., on that date to visit his adopted son and indicated that he would go by car, HUBERT TI. TEITELBAUM, U. S. Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, advised SA VOEGEM@ March 12, 1959, that he had been visited by two attorneys representing the Attorney General's Special Group and that they had worked out a means whereby would appear before a Fe sitting a during the week of He stated that this appearance would cance WO prev ously-scheduled appearances before a Federal Grand Jury for the which as to appear. on He stated that in all. probabili: associate, who. was successfully “JFK Law 10(a)2 secs BIB VERO | Bia 56792 Docld: 32332870 Page fF
HW 56792 ss ore ates =~ PG 92-226 served with > subpoenas by the U..- s. “Marshal ‘for the western District of pennsylvania. on March _4 195 94 WALL D before the Federal Grand Jury at| fk fd and. that either onevor two. represen atives o Attorney General's Special Group will. be present at the - hearing although he will ask the. pertinent/ Reidy vein He said that..no date has been set as fa the appearance off sor} 6 ee Senate Labor. Racke s Commi’ bees. oe ‘EITELBAUM indicated that 7 ' for. indicated to him that and were extremely hesitant about. appearing in. TT and ‘preferred to. appear in ee the | publicity. such an appearance would create. TEITELBAUM said. he. did ng —know_w y the racketeers feared.an ©. . appearance in| ——s J unless they connected it with the incarceration of their close associates, the oo VALENTI a He said that he indicated to[___] that if “and: finvoke.the Fifth Amendment when, asked questions regarding anything other than their. ‘ na he. would see to..it that they appeared | in regardless of their wishes. . Surveillances Conducted Relating to a | This Investigation a wt Hf spot surveillances were conducted on February 6, 9, 16, and 27,.1959, and on March 5, 10 and 13,. 1959, at 900 West Ingomar Road, Ingomar, Pa.; 12 McCandless St., Pittsburgh; and at 500 North Craig St., Pittsburgh, by . SA VOEGE, . Nothing of interest to this. investigation, other. than what has already been set forth, was. observed during ° these spot surveillances. ; a ~” . wh — ROC ssociate During TST E-RESSRGS From the Pi Tetsburah, Efforts Made. to Determine ‘Whereabouts Of oo, | Pas, Area as eS The Baltimore Office advised on February 26, 1959, that the following investigation was conducted in Washington County, Md.,- by SA ROBERT I, MC ENROE: 14 Doclda: 32332870 Page 6
PG 92-226 INFORMANT PAGE PG T-1 is H. W.. GLENN, Postal Inspector, pittsburgh, Pa., Post office, who was contacted on March 16, 1959, by SA ROBERT A,: VOEGE and who has requested that his identity be concealed. PG T-2 is GEORGE "MOON" MESSER, a potential criminal informant of the Pittsburgh Office who was contacted -on February 26, 1959, by SA VOEGE. PG he 3 is PAUL WILLIAMS, Manager of the First National - Bank of Mercer County, Farrell Office, Farrell, Pa., which bank is the successor of the S. J. Gully Bank of Farrell. WILLIAMS was contacted by SA HOBART C, LOVETT on February 13, 1999s and requested that his identity be. concealed, ‘ | pa mid "=" potential criminal | , - informant o ne P Ssburghn Office, who was. contacted f on February 27, 19595 by SA VOEGE. - | Sa ea Oo a re HW 56792 DBocld:32332670 Page 9