Docld:32576574 Page 2 : eS , ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO BE ADDRESSED: THE COMMISSIONER a LE COMMISSAIRE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE OTTAWA 8, CANADA j HEADQUARTERS — DIRECTION GENERALE i your NO. . . . OTTAWA 8, CANADA VOTRE N° our no. _HQ+330-Q-1~3 (Vol. 2) March 26, 1965. NOTRE N°? . : . PROPERTY OF R.C.M_P. — THIS POLICE REPORT 1S SUPPLIED TO YOU BY THE R.C.M. POLICE FOR WATE ETRE ADRESSEE COMME SUIT: GENDARMERIE ROYALE DU CANADA \ . > + * fe a . bad “ * ; ‘ ~ ; : : C E pte “4 _ . TOUTE CORRESPONDANCE DOIT 4 OTTAWA 8, CANADA i i ; . ON OF YOUR DE BPART MENT ONLY, v is c/o U.S. Embassy, Oe PERSON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF Ottawa, Ontario. THE R.C.M.P: Re: ta Cosa Nostra, Montreal, Quebec Canada a \ \ New York report of 26-Jan-65 on La,.Cosa Nostra was referred to our Montreal office for/ their “comments and attached are copies of their report dated 8-Mar-65 in this regard. | Re _ Regarding the information concerning Vic ee eeeey position as leader of the Montreal/ Group, since “the 1957 Appalachin Meéting, we have suspected | that Vic — COTRONI has been a member of the "Mafia". Our opinion is N pPew - CHLABR Wop MAL Wie /ig Na that COTRONI has had control or played a major roll in ar directing all major criminal activities in the Montreal CANMAO Ne area and as a result derived an enormous financial benefit. SE This conclusion has been reached as a result of information a received from various sources, subsequent to the Appalachin’ Meeting, when it was disclosed that Vic COTRONI may have also attended the Appalachin Meeting, but was one of several persons who escaped apprehension. 36 Persons of importance who have had contact or dealings with Vic COTRONI in the past and who we consider could be part of the COTRONI organization are as follows:- > (1) Frank! TRONI - FPS #648069, born 9-Sept-30,. Montreal, He is the brother 6f Vic and Guiseppe COTRONI and reported to be en "enforcer" for the protection and prostitution rackets in Montreal. Reported to act as supervisor. for the Eastend Gang, assisted by one Joseph COCCOLICHIO, referred to below, for the COTRONI organization. 94 basy- 1027. ENCLOSURE, ° ay La.
~ en | DIVISION - fon < )SUB-DIVISION : ‘OTHER FI) REFERENCES: Mf RCMP FILE REFERENCES: ep NA G3 BORQR123 an oeracument Mtl. N.C.I.U.- |. . ae nn wee 4 ti) | PATE 8 March 1965 9 cerqecbelen see 1 STITT SR OpERTY OF RCMP, — THIS OLIGE REPORT moot Plog hy , "sys SUPPLIED TO.yOU RY T Pant ONLY ris ee - H os an MATION OF YOUR eee ne ARENG’ - Vincent Cotroni’ °| eee ne MADE KNOWN TO AMY OTHER AGENCY te . aaa ; . br PERSON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION oF . THE R.CMT. : fit tee tee a oe Further to memo from H.Q. Assistant C.I.B. Officer - Gated 12 FEB 65, requesting information relévant to the . ow | dnvolvement of the COTRONIS, GALENTE, GRECO, etc., with the re a BONANNO family at this time, please be informed of the , following. . BL . There exists a definite link between BONANNO and — > these other individuals. Joseph BONANNO Alias "BANANAS" FPS . No. 89110) is alleged to entered this country as early - as 1938, In 195) CarminefCGALENTS Alias “LILLO THE CIGAR" »_ Po pie) FPS No. 815013, retently’ reported by Joseph VALACHT as an. “A )ppiiunde rboss to BONANNO, considered a top U.S, hoodlum at the Ne time, took over the Montreal Syndicate. He controlled. ~ organized gambling, protection rackets, stock frauds, gam-. bling, among other major crime specialties. He was known | _ to have dictated on policies relevant to the Syndicate's er operations. - a . Oe up to this time, Frank alias "FRANKIE P PET RUEA sexe | WO “Fbs No. 389562, a wel known Toeal hoddium, who had succeeded | v7. |° "Edge. Man".HarryYDAVIS, following the latter's slaying in | | - 1946,:was knéwn as strong arm man for GALENTE's newly formed | oo: tod Ganadian Syndicate. He lost his job in 1955 and subsequently / “| end e—d4 sappeared. mysteriously in 1956, PETRULA is reported to § | 7, | have had close associations with Harry SHIP, FPS.No. U7LT7 5: a top.syndicate member and Luigi alias Louis GRECO FPS No. | ., 815813, then considered an enforcer for the syndicate, - By 1956 the vice syndicate controlled all forms of crime. ° fy whe ole \ it is at this juncture that Police opinions are |. , the most conflicting and speculative. The chain of command -48 presented earlier is generally accepted. Following PE- ~ _ TRULA's disappearance, one conjecture is that the city was . divided into two distinct and separate groups, namely "The -. “ East End Gang" and "The West End Gang", Othersmaintain that ‘this division was never madé at all in terms of area but rather in relation to the type of crime committed. . 5e | _—-~ Irrespective of the motivations, the city was . ; @Givided. Replacing PETRULA we find that Harry SHIP had. | control of the West End with GRECO as his counterpart in ° | __ the Bast End. The West had the French Canadian and Jewish. ; elements whilst the East comprised mostly of Italians anda . _ lesser number of French Speaking followaérs. . This set-up was. | Lyfe WAP aiQROSURE “Tn on PABA Bt
ROMP 6886 Oy a 0 CONTINUATION C-237% . : REV. 15-2-63 Ea — is — a “y o[ 09" CO) vincent cotronz oe oT is Ne De t y {| THIS SET-UP WAS in evidence as late as 1961 when Vic COTRONI, 2*°* ' FPS No. 183003 was reported as gradually taking over both . ., Hast and West. His brother, Frank CO!RONI FPS No. 64,8069 with Giuseppe COCOLICCHIO FPS No. 758891 were responsible | for the East End. Stal larly Peter ADAMO FPS No. 354597 -and William COE FPS No. 9818) had control. of the West End |. mob also under Vic COTRONI. Louis GRECO's decisions, as | _, &n enforcer were relegated to and acted upon by Vio COTRONI, ; his chief Lieutenant, until the late 1960. At this timo, an -: internal struggle was beginning to show between the East and “West factions. The Jewish element from the West were gra=. | , dually loosing ground and the COTRONI mob began showing cone / _- tempt. At this Juncture, SHIP is shot at from close Prange... -.|, He was wounded in the legs=: and obviously it was only inten- gh 894 to scare him into submission rather than an attempt on | vil “his Lite, Salomon SCHNAPP FPS No. 963768, an influential Poel Weat ind edgeman had his establishment, the mi7 PARED.NIGHT | CLUB demolished by goons. This we consider;*was the final . |= BLOw to the. East and West divisions. Oe ° et arora '.6.. .  Prtor to the East-West amalgamation, a second _ | theory, less probable then the first, was also advanced. _; Since Carmine GALENTE was using both Louig GRECO and Vic a . COTRONI as enforcers as early as 1955, a two way split in | _ crime specialties may have existed. GRECO could have hand- - led drugs, gambling, stock frauds, counterfeiting, booke - making and receiving. Vic COTRONI, through his associates  . may have been responsible for prostitution, bonds and secu- © rities, hold-ups and major rackets. Drugs could have been «. an open field. Bootlegging into one another's specialty --. ., Could. have been: tolerated within: reason with some measure - of control. © re wes “fe. . Sinee 1961, Vie COPRONI's influence and prestige | within the syndicate is.known to have flourished rapidly. We suspect that he is prosently the Commission boss. His © brothers Frank and Michel COTRONI are considered his enfor- cersi GRECO, on the contrary, is renewing acquaintances - with petty hoodlums. As a result.his activities are becoming increasingly susceptible to detection. GRECO is also report- ed financially onthe decline. This figures since he now ... . (hee hos a second rate restaurant. in Three Rivers, PQ.” SS ~~; GONT'D ON PAGE Zee. >
- ees SRS ‘RCMP 68860 «0 co on. Lo oo "CONTINUATION €-23. a ans vo So, - ; | REV. 15-2-63", 0 Vincont oon | 8. Referring to Para. 2 where a request is made for '. -the names of 20 members whom we feel belong to the Montreal [| "Decina", Inasmuch as wo are convinced that the "Cosa Nostral’ - has extended its tentacles here, wa have no evidence to sub- {: . stantiate the existence of even one "Cosa Nostra" family in { . Montreal. We have received no information at any time to -_ - the effect that other than CALENTE, any of the local commis= | sion belonged to this organization as we know it to function...“ ‘The allegation that BONANNO, in 196, came to form a family f of "borgatta", comes as no surprise. Had he been given the - opportunity of settling here, this may have come about.: Between his incarceration, legal proceedings and subsequent '. deportation, it is most doubtful that he had made any gains at forming such a family, halaman Ie since the Montreal group wanted to be left alons. CC 9 Since we have been alerted to- the poseibility « of . 2 Neosa Nostra" family being formed here, the matter will - . be borne in mind and any information of value will be “Promptly reported... pe 7 ee a | GAS L. Libotron, 15383: Of ox Montreal Ne 0. I. U. '} ws - - . mo Se ee ae en sae Dea cae hit on Soe se tin gic salen TN t ‘ 5 -
- 2 - (2) JosephfceccOLICHIO - EPS. #758891, born 28-Jan-20, ee Montreal. (ANA OA Reported to be "strong-arm man" and “enforcer" | | _ for the COTRONI syndicate and assists Frank COTRONI in the supervision of the so called Eastend Gang. v4 -- FPS #354597, born 29-June-1k, . ya : ntarios po ANA DLE ADAMO is a gambler who is connected with race and bookmaking businesses. Heported to be supervisor of the so.called Westend Gang with one George WilliaitCOHEN, referred to below, ifor the Vic COTRONI“organization. Members of ifthe Westend Gang are reported to be well-known ,»safecrackers and also dispose of stolen bonds. It is reported that ADAMO and COE do not take , an active part in the safecracking or thefts but establish new outlets for distribution of the bonds and plan places to be robbed. (4) George Wiig - FPS #98184, born,3-May-05.,, omeomeygndon, England: \ COE is well-known Montreal gambler and reported & . p \ to be a "pressure man" for the syndicate (one _. Who contacts managers of nightclubs demanding protection). Also note information on Peter ADAMO. ‘ \ . ks) ArmanayCOURVILLE - FPS #356432 “Ye is a close associate of COTRONI and acts as a front in various businesses for the - | - COTRONI organization. a - oN | | a , (6) vernana, aerné cesar - no known record. |e AE ERS LATHER PEN SOE ESTO OTE ODEN SSRI PRE RT aear TT, ae at He is a close associate of COTRONI and owner of Jacques Cartier Motel in Montreal, possibly another business interest of COTRONI. Believed to act as courier for COTRONI. A | (7) PaulfAVIOLI - FPS #820579, born 6-Feb-32, Reggio, we mae teen Ea a See LBS SRS De Sa ete ae neers reeremane-snaiiirnanine amen nery . 1 Docld:32576574 Page 6 a>. a
4 deo VIOLI. is a naturalized Canadain and has been involved in illicit alcohol, counterfeit, _ protection, arson and land fraud. Recent investigation has shown a close association between VIOLI and the COTRONI organization. (8)_trving}finis > aE. #833862, FBI i 068775, born 16-Jan-65, Montreal. CBN MDA Ly ELLIS is reported to be an "edge man" and collector of protection fees from the gambling syndicate. Past investigation has shown that ELLIS has accompanied COTRONI to Miami, Elonida in 1958 and was believed to be the contact man between “COTRONI and the Carmine GALANTE organization. Recently ELLIS has been involved in the Embassy Steel investigation. (9) Jackie HUGAR - FPS #335733, born g-July-08, Russia. He is a well-known gambler and recent investi- aya, gation has shown his involvement in the Embassy ==" seeet operation. , (10) Hym STERNMAN - FPS #17851A, FBI BI_#1080534, born ‘itt aenenetealnaremmsanacrmmamanavennes he CtrLO , _ New York York City, N.Y. G Dips h v 4 A well-known gambler and steel broker who . eee is now subject of the STERNMAN-BERCOVITCH et al investigation. ; 4 \ a (11) Lecj\BERCOVITCH - FPS #486134, born 26-Dec-O4, Canada... Well-known Montreal gambler and is the subject of recent investigation concerning STERNMAN~ BERCOVITCH et al. 2 S HNAPP 1 SILVERS - ar: - (1 ) Solomon; Spades 7r220e 7 ae S - FPS #963768, BMA bd He is well-known "middleman" and "edge man" - for the Montreal.criminal element and presently subject -of the STERNMAN-EMBASSY | STEEL investigation. Cw nN AbF \ ear ee ner AINSI TE pial hint Foe nn fhe APES “  Well- known ‘Montreal, gambler and "edge man" for the syndicate. [CN BOR , Docld:32576574 Page 7 - . a
- k, - (14) Lous sco - FPS #225228, born 19-Sept-13, Montreal, CAN ML, ~~onemenen the [950s reported to be one of Carmine GALANTE'ts top enforcers in the protection and stock racketeering activities. Recent reports indicate that he has lost his influence in the organization to a certain = (15) Albert/REAN - FPS #415880, FBI #305157B, born 13-Sept- -11/12, 26 esterr-Mass.. (Granted landed status at ™ pommnemuwneWontreal, 9-Apr-53- ) CANASLA | Investigation in the past revealed that LEAN was involved in gambling, prostitution, protection, narcotics and stock rackets. In 1957 connected with George BRISBOIS, FPS #882285, FBI #683656C in the narcotic field and also associated with Louis GRECO in the latter part of 1950 and early °1960 in the Welland Investment Limited stock rackets with such well-known stock racketeers as Arthur TORTORELLA (FBI #471455), Carmine LOMBARDOZZI (FBI 1290860) and Stanley YOUNGER (FBI #27238hd) Recent enquiries indicate LEAN residing in Quebec City, P.Q. and that there has been contact between LEAN and Vic COTRONI. SSS SST (16) Vincen LANDO @ Jimmy - FPS nereal, porate tebe 15, “—_______Preniouws menrescrgatton-revealed that ORLANDO ae . is an ex-hockey player for the Detroit Redwings and has been banished from entering the U.S. He refereed wrestling matches in the Montreal Forum and other locations in the province in ‘the 1950s and associates with known gamblers, nightclub people and wrestlers. Some of his associates in the past were Solly SCHNAPP, Harry SHIP, Harry SMITH, Stanley PAPADAKIS (FPS #668151 - brother- in-law of Peter ADAMO) and other well-known Montreal hoodlums. 2 ORLANDO is married and his wife is from Miami, florida where in the past they spent considerable time each year. He has a brother Joseph "Josie" . ORLANDO, FPS #615331, who, in the 1950s managed ‘a gambling establishment on St. Antoine St., * oo © 5 [ ¥ mS, “ . ; i Z Docld: 32576574 Page & ' : wa
~ ———— me ee poe oo - a a ae oR Montreal. ORLANDO is also mentioned in our correspondence dated 22-Feb-65, your reference 88-157, our reference 62 HQ-1180-1-C-4 concerning Joseph Vincent ASARO. CANZANO - FPS #587119, born _7-Jan-25. fation réceived in 1960 revealed that ‘ SCANZANO made application for permission to CANAL enter the U.S.A. as a non-immigrant. Enquiries _ at that time revealed that he was involved in gambling and on his application for permission to enter the U.S. gave his destination as one William FIORE of Springfield, Mass. who was a well-known gambler and operator of bookie joints in the western Mass. area. Enquiries also revealed that SCANZANO operated gambling establishments and the Chance Cafe, 1236 Crescent St., Montreal, a front for card games and a randevous for prostitutes and hoodlums etc. in the 1950s. Confidential information received at that time revealed that SCANZANO operated the Aldos restaurant, 1061 Mountain Street, Montreal along with his brother Frank SCANZANO, . | Joseph ORLANDO and Vincent ORLANDO. Frank ; SCANZANO has a police record and is recognized as a "strong arm" type. Leo SCANZANO, in the c 1950s was active in white slave traffic | between the U.S. and Montreal for a few years. He is married and has two children. It is. reported that SCANZANO and Vincenzo ORLANDO , “cs were king pins for the Mafia organization in Montreal at that time. SCANZANO is also | referred to in our correspondence of 22-Feb-65, your reference 88-157. Keuzzo - FPS #117817 oO ‘xj ue) fo 5 He is the son-in-law of Vic COTRONI and has | accompanied him on trips to U.S. and other. CHNNLA countries in the past. “bemeemmeentcntt ania OH MER POR RT RETA RAE T ORE | Se sheN BEATERS TLE I ITT a Fe ART PORT” EMIT OS ei (19) Ral pROEZO - 905 Welder Street, Montreal. CANWHES He is the father of Frank GUZZO and in 1959 managed the Chez Paree Nightclub which was then partly owned by COTRONI. (20) Michael (MichelF7COTRONI @ "Nick" - FPS #623532, born 127 June: 26 y-Montreal CANADA... He is the brother of Vic and Frank COTRONI. ——ee DocId:32576574 Page 9 ’
| . (21) Paul a aasfe psSomstses - FPS 7235595, born _ ais Oct-13 ontread,, (/ BN AD PH csomeact AVAL K | Residence - 664,7...Chauv.in..St..,,Montreal +/ “He Ie is the father-in-law of Frank COTRONI’ and recent enquiries revealed that in 1960 was the sole owner and president of the Lakeshore Lines Ltd., Montreal, P.Q. and after a four month operational period claimed to have earned approximately $300,000. In the Fail of 1960 the Island King, a cruhse ship owned by DESORMIERS, was burned and supposedly ~ _ destroyed by gangland violence. He received ; over $100,000 for local insurance companies for the damage incurred. He has only two minor convictions in 1930 - 1941 for theft and immorality. He presently declares himself as unemployed and his estimated worth is valued at over $800,000. | | Fernando (Ferdinand MUCELLI - born boJan=28, | Sc awars S™E phew of Vic COTRONI and | : is presently employed with the firm of . ,, | Guiseppe SUPUTO & FIGLI Itd., @510-8th Ave., “ meet Ville St. Michael, P.Q. mentioned in previous correspondence concerning Joseph BONANNO, _—_——— A. nae eae aT wee “en ormation on : brother Joseph DeFRANCESCO _ mentioned below. Past Tivestigation 1 hae shown ‘close association between Joseph DeFRANCESCO and his brother Dominic with the COTRONI organization. Joseph in the past has often acted as a chauffeur for Vie COTRONI. Enquiries as recent as October 1964 revealed that a private party was held at the "One and Two Nightclub", 755 Butler Street, Montreal, a hangout for various racketeers. Persons observed attending this party were Frank COTRONI, Dominic DeFRANCESCO , Joseph DeFRANCESCO, Orlando DeFRANCESCO (FPS #915011), John Patrick McGUIRE, FPS #640757, Vincenzo ORLANDO and other criminals from the Montreal area. \ PPocld: 32576574 Page 10 ' : , _S
| tae dnd Docld: 32576574 Page 11 ay ce he Most of the persons mentioned above have been the subject of correspondence with your agency on separate files. There are other persons we could name who have had contact with Vic COTRONI and his brothers in various criminal activities, however, we have tried to give you the names of persons we feel have played a major part in the criminal fields such as gambling, protection, prostitution, etc. This is not to say that all these persons mentioned belong to the so called Montreal branch of the "family", however, such persons as his brother Frank COTRONI, Joseph COCCOLICHIO, Peter ADAMO, George William COE, Armand COURVILLE, Paul VIOLI, Irving ELLIS, Vincenzo ORLANDO, Leo SCANZANO, the GUZZ0$ and DeFRANCESCOs could be part of the COTRONI "family". De This information is forwarded to assist your Department in any further enquiries. We would appreciate any additional information you may obtain in this matter. E.L. Martin, Supt., Officer in Charge, Criminal Investigation Branch. Hnels.