| oe OF MIAML DIVISION | Sufficient eopies. of this. cover ‘letter. are . being. made: avail- - able to the B ureau - -and designated* offices to allow for _ Anclusion: with. appropriate letterhead memoranda in. the | wvardous : ‘Substantive’ case: files. oa Ue TO: ne FBI Date: -8/23/61- ee PROM: “Sac, - PEDTSBURGH (92- Hon) SO PP “SUBJECT: -JOSEBH RAYMOND MEROLA © oe a -, -FORMER CRIMINAL INFORMANT - eR “Rnelosed. For’ “the - ‘Bureau - ‘are’ five. ‘copies each of. fifteen oo separate letterhead memoranda’ under: the Following. captions: 1. GABRIEL MANNARING .° alas, ‘AR (Bufile, 92- -2914)"- SAMUEL MANORIN alka AR. (Bufile g2- -2918) - Note, numbers L ‘and, 2 are a. dual caption. 3.0 UNKNOWN SUBJECT: Th eft: ‘of. $70, 000 in Diamond Rings ‘from HAROLD KLEIN, Salesman; Mi W: Schiffman Company, ‘New York | City, Eastern Supply, Company, 3/8/5H. = 4, FRANK THOMPSON- PHILLIES 5. UNKNOWN SUBJECT: ‘Theft of - $600, 000 Worth of jewelry from William Penn. Hotel Vault, ‘Pittsburgh, Pa., 4/29/54 - 6. . . GENERAL CRIMINAL ‘INTELLIGENCE © 7, ANTHONY LAPORE; =~) 000 30 | ok RICHARD BRAVIERE oy go oe - Gp pared (ene, 73) 2- “Little: Rock: (ane. 2) am Ene. 50 a -3--New’ York Ene 3- Cleveland. (Ene. 3) | nes) TW ES, 17 Chicago (Ene ,. 17) an | ) GA- 5414 —— Pos 7 m Wiceaien : a gf SEP 22 1961 86 SEP 9 71961 DoclTd: 32572439 Page 1 / M #United States Government. ann CL - o Af m4 fou aa or ad ~ ORIGINAL COPY FILED 18 LED
PG 92-407 8. UNKNOWN SUBJECT; Theft of Ten Contemporary Paintings; G. DAVID THOMPSON, Whitehall, Pa. - VICTIM, 7/28/61 9. UNKNOWN SUBJECT ; Theft of Unset. Diamonds Valued at $65,000 to $75,000, K. Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., 10/14/55; SIMOND -DIENSTAG - VICTIM 10. UNKNOWN SUBJECTS (2); Robbery of $126,000 in Jewelry; Mrs, TITUS HAFFA ~ VICTIM, 4/21/58, Chicago, Illinois 11. UNKNOWN SUBJECT; Theft of Approximately $350, 000 Non-negotiable Securities, 11/22 ~ 1222/90, Miami, Florida; Dr. ANSALMO ALLIGERO - VICTIM 12. UNKNOWN SUBJECT; Theft of $400,000 Worth | of Securities, 7/17 - 23/61, Queens, New York; BERNARD PAWNS - VICTIM 13.. UNKNOWN SUBJECTS (2); Robbery of Jewels and Cash in Excess of $249,180.48, Miami Beach, Florida, 1/20/58: Mr. and Mrs. HARRY BLUM, ETAL - VICTIMS ; ITSP; MT 14, UNKNOWN SUBJECT; Theft of $250,000 in Jewels from MARTIN LEHR, Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 3/27/57 3 ITSP 15. UNKNOWN SUBJECTS (2); Armed Robbery of Approximately $117,200 in Jewels and Cash, Residence of EDITH and FRITZ WERNER DORIGIO, Hollandale, Florida, 3/20/61; ITS P; MI Enclosed for Miami Division are copies of each of the fifteen memos for Miami files 137-1594 and 87-8049 and for various Substantive cases. Enclosed for New York are copies of letterhead memos concern- ing cases designated as numbers 6 and 12. Enclosed for Little Rock are two copies of memorandum designated as number 14 Enclosed for Chicago are copies of memos designated numbers 6, 7, 10, 14 and 15, Enclosed for Cleveland | are copies of memos designated as numbers 1 and 2. -2- Docld: 32572439 Page 2?
PG 92-407 It is noted that MFROLA was interviewed by Pittsburgh’. ' SAS” JOHN S, PORTELLA and THOMAS G,. FORSYTH III in Miami at the request of MEROLA, made to Departmental Attorneys WILLIAM KENNY and WILLIAM KEHOE. , - Prior to the commencement of the interview on S/I4/6l, DI Attorneys KENNY and KEHOE Spent approximately ten minutes alone with MEROLA, after which SAs PORTELLA and FORSYTH were called into KENNY's office, Room 201, Federal Building, Miami. Before the beginning ‘of the interview, DJ KENNY advised SAs PORTELLA and FORSYTH that MEROLA- had set the conditions that the Departmental Attorneys be present; that he would never testify to any information: furnished; that he requested his identity be protected so that none of his information ever could be traced back to him;and that he would not discuss any matter in which he had been a participant. — After the interview had progressed for some time, MEROLA relented and told of several matters in which he had participated, - On 8/15/61, the interview was resumed under the same con- ditions. At its conclusion, MEROLA advised SAS PORTELLA and FORSYTH that he intended to be in Pittsburgh, Pa., on 8/24/61, one day before she time he is scheduled to surrender to the U. 8, Marshal, Pittsburgh, to commence Service of his five year sentence in connection with his conviction in the - gun-smuggling case captioned "STUART SUTOR, ETAL; TGP; ITSP; FFA; NM; CONS PIRACY," MEROLA said he felt certain that between 8/15/61 and 8/24/61 he would have recalled additional information of value to the FBI and would be will- ing to italk. ‘without: Dg Attorneys’ being present. Arrange - ments for such contact were made, and results will be made available to the. Bureau and interested offices, © For the information of the Bureau, DJ Attorneys KENNY and KEHOE requested that they receive copies of all the informa- tion furnished by MEROLA. Attached hereto are copies for transmittal to the Department of Justice, ae , CAUTION SHOULD BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH USE.OF INFORMA - "NCI MEMORANDA SO THAT MEROTA ~ @) INE NCLOSED ME RO IDENTITY IS NoT DISCLOSED, a . Docld: 32572439 Page 3 ao
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Caf \ FEDERAL BUREAU. OF INVESTIGATION 7 ber | In Hep: Please Refer to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | August 23, 1961 GABRIEL MANNARINO, aka; SAMUEL MANNARINO, aka On August 14, 1961, and on August 15, 1961, JOSEPH RAYMOND . MEROLA, .2018 North Bay Road, Miami Beach, Florida, was inter- viewed at Room 201, Federal. Building, Miami, Florida, by SA JOHN S. PORTELLA and .SA.THOMAS Gq. FORSYTH III in the presence of U. S. Department of Justice Attorneys WILLIAM KENNY and WILLIAM KEHOE, who were there at the insistence of MEROLA. At the outset, MEROLA stated he would never testify - to any of the information furnished, and he desired his identity be protected, MEROLA advised as follows: A. PERSONAL HISTORY AND BACKGROUND Name Change No information has ever been received why the MANNARINO family name was legally changed from RUGGIERO to MANNARINO. Marriage of GABRIEL MANNARINO GABRIEL "KELLY" MANNARINO's wife, JEAN, had no choice in her . selection of mate. The marriage was arranged between her father, FRANK AMATO, of Braddock, Pa., ard KELLY MANNARINO, | JOSEPH PETER MANNARINO, aka, JOJO - Brother JOJO MANNARINO, who suffers from a palsSy-like twitching and from severe stammering, is a "nut" and "con man." He has dissipated the fortune of his wife, HAZEL, widow of motion picture actor LEWIS STONE, in just a few years. KELLY and SAM MANNARINO allow JOJO to come to New Kensington occasionally on the conditbn that he "stays out of trouble," but JOJO always - does something to get into trouble, such as writing worthless checks, and is forced to leave town. After such visits to ‘New Kensington, KELLY and/or SAM MANNARINO ordinarily make good the amount of the worthless checks written by JOJO. | RNCLOSUBR /-. _, 4 # Docld: 32572439 Page 4 ‘ / o
phases of the MANNARINO-controlled slot and pinball machines. — NORMAN ROTHMAN | NORMAN--ROTHMAN | has represented the MANNARINOs in their Cuban and some Florida interests for many. years, ROTHMAN, like all other MANNARINO employees, steals from them, ‘and when the - MANNARINOs have lost money in an investment, such as the Sans Souci Gambling Casino, Havana, Cuba , which ROTHMAN fronted for them, ROTHMAN always emerges with money. ROTHMAN's Cuban connections are over-rated and when anything actually difficult is to be accomplished in Cuba, ROTHMAN ordinarily needs the assistance of JOSEPHMEROLA. Currently, ROTHMAN has the franchise for the cocktail bar in the Bel. Aire Hotel, Miami ¢j . Beach, Florida, and his two sons are working at the bar, ROTRH- “MAN is, like SAM MANNARINO, an addict to cocaine, which he sniffs. ABE SED, aka, Al Ross Although AL ROSS has the reputation Gursies of having killed on many occasions, it is not believed that he deserves that reputation. He has never been known to brag about. any kill- ings. ROSS, who is under order of deportation to his native Russia, is worried that. the U. S. Government will. find some ‘nation which will accept him. ROSS is very much in love with his wife, MORMA, who is a nymphomaniac currently residing on > Palm Island, Miami Beach, Florida. ROSS gives the appearance of being a "tired old man, " and he shows no enthusiasm for taking. ‘part, in any illegal activity to obtain money, even. though he is in serious financial straits. . JOHN. CHRISTO PHER FONTANA . JOHN FONTANA was once KELLY MANNARINO's bodyguard. and most | trusted lieutenant. KELLY MANNARINO regarded FONTANA as his protege and made hima "don." After FONTANA's marriage about a year and a half ago, he and MANNARINO had a falling out. FONTANA thought that he was not getting enough money and > complained to .MANNARINO, who told him that he was getting all he was going to get. FONTANA then made the serious mistake of going over KHMLY MANNARINO's head and appealing to JOHN -LA ROCCA, who subsequently reported this to KELLY MANNARINO, Since then FONTANA has been relegated to.an unimportant, job _ fronting the Marbet Heating Company store in New Kensington, and he receives little or no income from the MANNARINO gant ing activities. - 10-- . Docld: 32572439 Page 6
ee me * Gun-running Although the Federal Government was not able to prove it, .. there is no question that SAMUEL’ MANNARINO was part of.the. . conspiracy in 1958 to run guns from New Kensington, Pa.,:.to Cuba. - ° ; ae . Los Originally -the plans to take guns to Cuba were JOSEPH MEROLA 's plans and the guns were scheduled to go to FIDEL CASTRO. In. the summer of 1958, AL ROSS told MEROLA that he, could obtain - M21 rifles and carbines. MEROLA met ROSS at the Warwick Hotel, | New York City, and gave ROSS: $4,000 as part payment for the guns, which money MEROLA had.received from CARLOS PRIO.... MEROLA was to return to the Warwick Hotel with-additional | money in a day or so and did so, but AL ROSS did not show up. ‘After MEROLA returned to Miami, Florida, MEROLA learned from Dr. LOUIS PESSOLANO, Miami Springs, Florida, that SAM MANNARINO was: interested in purchasing an Apache airplane. Because. ~ MEROLA is a pilot and acquainted with airplanes, he looked over the prospective plane with Dr. LOUIS. PESSOLANO and — advised Dr. PESSOLANO that. the airplane was too.defective. After that, MEROLA assisted Dr. PESSOLANO to lease a Twin Beech airplane from a company owned by HAL DUPONT, Miami, © Florida. When Dr. PESSOLANO told MEROLA that MANNARINO intended to'use the airplane to fly guns to Cuban dictator BATISTA, he realized that these were the guns that had been promised to him and that he. was being double-crossed.. MEROLA then abpranged with Dr. PESSOLANO for MEROLA to accompany the pilot, STUART -SUTOR, on the first flight to Pittsburgh, for the sole purpose of contacting SAM MANNARINO and asking him about the. double- cross, After SUTOR and MEROLA landed at Allegeny Airport, Pittsburgh, they took a cab to MEROLA's sister's house ‘in the. - Regent Square section of Pittsburgh and borrowed her car. -They drove to the Tour-Tel Motel on U. S. Route 22, Monroeville, where they registered for the night. MEROLA and SUTOR then traveled to New Kensington, where. MEROLA. attempted to locate SAM MANNARINO, MEROLA was unable to locate SAM MANNARINO, so . he went to Wilmerding, Pa., to the house of "Sarge" BOTTI,’ where KELLY MANNARINO was hiding from the service of subpoenas. KELLY MANNARINO stated that he knew nothing of the plan to smuggle guns to Cuba, that this was one of SAM | MANNARINO'S “hare-brained" schemes, and that he wanted nothing to do with it. MEROLA then returned to Miami, Florida, by way of Eastern Airlines. It was not until the pilot, STUART SUTOR, was -13- Docld: 325727439 Page ?F
stopped with ‘the second load of guns, resulting in consider- able newspaper publicity, that MEROLA realized that the ..weapons.-had.been..stolen from a..National Guard.Armory in... Canton, Ohio. MEROLA later learned from a source he could. not. ‘recall that the burglary of the armory was committed by | GEORGE FLOREA and RICHARD STEWART, with help from a "inside man," and that the guns had been stored: in the beer distribu- torship owned by VIC CARLUCCI in Arnold, Pa. RED GIORDANO, — who waS convicted in this case merely because it was proven ‘he had bought some burlap bags and the weapons, when found, had been wrapped in burlap bags, actually had nothing to do with the case.. ANDY MANGINI, who was never brought into: the case, actually helped load and unload the guns from CARLUCCI's beer distributorship to the truck and from: the truck to. ‘the - airplane. L | Lottery HYMEN MARTIN, aka, ‘PLipgSBURGH HYMIE, used” ‘to have the distributor- . ship in° Western Pennsylvania of the Empire. Treasury lottey ' tickets, and since he was ‘friendly with the MANNARINOs, they allowed his ticket to be sold at their numbers outlets in and near,New Kensington, Pa. HYMIE MARTIN, with whom MEROLA became’ friendly when MEROLA was a used car. salesman in Pittsburgh, Pa., was the one who first introduced MEROLA to the MANNARINOs, in approximately 1954. MARTIN, who now resides in Miami, Florida, ' probably turned over the. distributorship of the Empire Treasury lottery ticket to his brother, NATE: MARTIN, who is still in. the Pittsburgh area. — ——. Sweepstakes ticket, which is based on the running of the Dixie. ' Handicap horse race at Pimlico Track, Maryland, in the near ° future. "The. outfit" compelled KELLY MANNARINO to take 10, 000. books of these sweepstakes tickets, which he must dispose. ' of in his area of Western Pennsylvania. One of KELLY MANNARINO's employees, known as "SHRIGGS," undoubtedly will handle the. — delivery of the sweepstakes tickets, as he currently does with » _ the Empire Treasury lottery tickets. ‘Recently, "the outfit" has: come out with the Pan American | re Gambling Casino “Phe MANNARINO gamb1ing casino - in New Kensington, Pa. , operates Seven nights a.week. They are well patronized at this joint, and they even send "luggers" to the Squirrel Hill section of © ~ 14 - Docld:32572439 Page 8
Pittsburgh, which means that gamblers in Squirrel Hill are transported from that section to New Kensington for the pur- pose of gambling. Routine employees at the gambling casino ~ receive $150 per week flat, and those. in charge receive the $150 weekly salary plus a small percentage of the net take. It has been curious in the past to note that whenever they so desire, KELLY. MANNARINO or SAM MANNARINO would walk into the gambling casino and demand that. the cashier give them a sum of money. For instance, SAM MANNARINO might tell the cashier | to give him $1,000 and not to tell KELLY MANNARINO at the risk of being killed. Employees at the casino do not carry — weapons generally, but m: occasions, when there is a rumor that the casino may be robbed, everybody, : including the MANNARINOS , goes about town fully armed. . Prostitution and Narcotics Neither KELLY nor SAM MANNARINO has ever been known to  trartic in narcotics or to operate prostitution. Hideouts During the long period of time, in excess of one year, that KELLY MANNARINO was hiding to avoid service of subpoenas, commencing in December of 1957; he Stayed at two places; the house of "SARGE" BOTTI, in Wilmerding, Pa., and the house of FRANK D, "SONNY" AMATO, the brother-in-law of KELLY - MANNARINO, who ::residgs:: in East McKeesport, Pa. - During. the period in 1958 when SAM-MANNARINO was “avoiding service of subpoena, he stayed,at least part of the time, . at. the parish house of Mount Saint’ Peters Roman Catholle (Church, New Kensington, Pa. . F. POLICE PROTECTION AND POLITICAL TIES New ‘Kensington, Pa., Mayor RAYMOND GARDLOCK and the ‘majority of his City Council have been "owned" by the MANNARINOs, since’ their election approximately eight years ago. At one time, _ JOE MEROLA, at the instructions of KELLY MANNARINO, "wired" the New Kensington City Council chambers, so that tape recordings of the ‘proceedings could be made . - 15 - -Docld:32572439 Page 9