AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : Date: 5/11/201 JFK Assassination System Identification Form e—r_— A ee Peleased under the John Kennedy WSssassination Records Agency Information FBI 124-90104-10170 . . Ollection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). asex#: NW Sa7g2 Date: -10-2018 HQ 92-2940-47 I Doctiment Information . \ ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: PG TO: HQ TITLE: - DATE: 05/12/1959 “PAGES: 28 SUBJECTS : SEBASTIAN JOHN LAROCCA DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4; 10(a)2; 11(a) CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 02/05/1999 OPENING CRITERIA : INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF EOUSA, IRS COMMENTS : RPT ‘, v9.1 - 14 56792 Docld:32332872 Page 1
PG 92-226 JEK Law 10(a)2 Information Relating To_Testimony Before Federal Grand Jur At Pa., On of On 3/23/59, U. S. Attorney HUBERT I. TEITELBAUM, Pittsburgh, furnished the following information to SAC E, H. WINTERROWD and SAs RICHARD GORDON DOUCE and THOMAS G. FORSYTH III: During his appearance before the Federal Grand Jury meeting took the protection of the Fifth Amenament when he was asked if Outside the Federal Grand Jury room, however, advised the U. S. Attorney that he had not attended the meeting at Apalachin. During his appearance before a Federal Grand Jury at | on advised | He took advantage o phe iti Amendnent when he was asked — regarding and he also pleaded the Fi endment when he was aske La | questions regarding a his appearance before the Federal Grand Jury meeting advised he | REVIEWED Bi ON _ 10/0 S_€ la 1 O7 RELESSE IN FULL COVER PAGE 0] RELEASE IN PART +9 “O) YOTAL DENIAL . e | RKKCAC Ww / a a 72H2 HW 56792 DBocld:32332672 Page 2?
PG 92-226 /JEK Law 10(a)2 [a . The following individuals are presently being utilized by the. Pittsburgh Office in the SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA investigation: CRIMINAL INFORMANT COVERAGE PG §73-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. PG 585-C, 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, hie Larimer Ave., Pittsburgh. Informant still visits this establishment and comes in constant contact with MIKE GENOVESE and other members of Pittsburgh's racketeering element in her role as a medium-priced prostitute. Informant is presently travelling with Mrs. JULIA MINTZ, widow | of JAKE MINTZ, 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. GEORGE "MOON" MESSER, a PCI who is presently very active in Pittsburgh numbers operations and who was arrested during the month of August, 1958, in connection with his operation. . MESSER is intimately acquainted with many Pittsburgh top ~B- COVER PAGE G- 2909 YP +6) HW 56792 DBocld:32332672 Page 3
PG 924226 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 and is also contributing information regarding the VOLPE - brothers who are close associates of GENOVESE . and LA ROCCA. ; - GEORGE "ZIP" ZAPPA, 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. HENRY J. BARBER, a PCI of the Pittsburgh office who is part owner of the notorious gambling ~ establishment at Chester, W. Va., known as Chub 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. Miss MARIAN FOGEL, a PCI of the Pittsburgh Office who is being utilized for information concerning — Pittsburgh prostitution tivities and 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 matters for many years in the City of Pittsburgh. HERMAN ISRAEL, 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. oy -C-= . COVER PAGE AS \oQ-\0\ dO | | HW 56792 DBocld:32332672 Page 4
PG 92-226 WILLIAM A. DOBKIN, a confidential source of the Pittsburgh Office 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 eriminal informant coverage, the PCIs under development are being contacted ona continuing and regular basis so that information obtained from them may 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. It is anticipated that THOMAS MARTIN, Vice=President of the Real Estate Department of the Fidelity Trust Co., Potter Branch, in Pittsburgh,: will keep the Pittsburgh . Office advised of any new developments :concerning the Proposed construction of a motel financed. by MIKE GENOVESE . and ARTHUR D. NELSON-in the -Monroeville, Pa., vicinity which would undoubtedly have to have the approval and overall financial backing of SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA, _ LEADS — BALTIMORE, JACKSONVILLE, MIAMI, AND PHILADELPHIA — INFO One copy of this report is being furnished to the.Baltimore Office inasmuch as that office has, leads outstanding relating to. the whereabouts of national top hoodlum GABRIEL "KELLY" MANNARINO and the subject during the period of their disappearance from the Pittsburgh area. Uy One copy of this report is being furnished to the Jacksonville and Miami Offices for. informational purposes because. of allegations made by the wife of LA ROCCA and Pittsburgh informants concerning subject's travel to Florida and Cuba during his disappearance from Pittsburgh following the. Apalachin, N. Y¥., conference during. November, 1957... With the background thus supplied, .it is felt that these offices can intelligently handle: the coverage of future leads requested in that vicinity. Do te, \ . ~ De- . COVER PAGE QOL S A> V\OVKY ~ HW 56792 Bocld: 32332672 Page 5
FD-204 (Rev. 9-23-58) eee . Pa Copy to: a Report of: Date: File Number: Title: Character: Synopsis: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ‘ROBERT A. VOEGE oe Office: PITTSBURGH MAY 12 1958 Pittsburgh 92-226 | Bureau 92-2940 -_ SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA - rn ANTI+RAC KETEERING “SEK Law 10(a)2 appeared before Federal.Grand Jury at on[ Jana was elstine for_more than one hour about matters relating to Hearing was attended by repre+_ sentative of U. S. Attorney General's Special” Group. Appearance of since shortly after meeting of hoodlums in November, 1957, received widespread newspaper publicity citing his Apalachin connection and stories were accompanied by photographs, for which subject unhesitatingl i posed. Appearing before same_grand ereor, has not been made public ‘to date. United States Attorne id of before future Jury. ate has not been se or appearance of subject before U. S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. IN VIEW OF THE CONVICTION OF SUBJECT FOR ASSAULT LTH INTENT TO K ND H of F A CONCEALED WEAPON, HE MAY BE ARMED AND SHOULD FE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. - Po “y > This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of any kind. It is the property of the FBI, and isa loan t to your ager it and/or its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. “oe os 1g—740a5-i ge 4 HW 56792 DBocld:32332672 Page 6
"PG 92-226 Out Of Jail." In a lengthy coverage of VALENTI's appearances before the New York State Commission this article quoted VALENTI as saying he had not only met GABRIEL MANNARINO at the meeting but had also met MICHAEL JAMES GENOVESE of Gibsonia, Pa. He stated there were 30 or 40 persons at Apalachin, according to his estimate, but that there could have been 50. He said he only knew 4 or 5 of them of the day during the middle i 1. I be e i of the week, and said that he did not inquire how it was that such a large gathering was held in BARBARA's home in the middle The article quoted him as saying that he was at the BARBARA home for about six'hours eating and drinking brandy. him as saying that he was undismayed when it was made known It also quoted | _that State Police were on the premises and that even if P J; EDGAR HOOVER, FBI chief, was there he would not have been i bothered. | An article appearing in the "Pittsburgh Press" dated. March. 26, 1959, and entitled "VALENTIS Fail In Freedom _ 4 ' Bid" stated that the New York State Supreme Court had qe useless as complete refusals ‘Information Regarding Possibl Associates of LA ROCCA (ULE ST GO ee to answer." refused on that date to set free FRANK VALENTI, ex- Pittsburgh racketeer, and his brother, COSTENZE, who had been in’ jail since August, 1958. ) EDGAR J. NATION as saying "The court to shut its eyes to reality and accept answers which are ‘replies in’ form only but, which in substan . It quoted Justice is not required ce, are as e New Business PG T-3, who has furnished reliable information in the past. advised that he has reason to cree ye e 56792 Docld: 32332872 Page fF believe that ~82 * 7 ~ S\A ALY 7 7)
PG 92-226 a croupier at the MANNARINO gambling establishment in New Kensington, Pa. He said that he has been present at that establishment with RINALDO and that RINALDO mentioned to him approximately 5 or 6 days prior to the time the MANNARINOs. and LA ROCCA were to appear — before the Federal Grand Jury at Pittsburgh, that no one was to call his home under any circumstances because he would have a couple from out of town staying there and that they did not want to be bothered. He described them only as a man and girl and the informant advised he never saw them because they never left. the house but had "CHIPS" bring in food for the girl to cook. He believes they exchanged cars also and ‘that RINALDO drove this car to New Kensington nightly while the couple stayed at his house. The: informant stated |. that he had an idea the couple had something to do with the Federal Grand Jury and wondered whether there was anyone who did not answer a subpoena and could not be located. He further advised that RINALDO has a roomi.im a house almost directly across the street from the Pepsi- Cola bottling plant near the 5700 block of Center Avenue and answers telephone number EMerson 2~2298, Ao review of the Crisscross Telephone Directory for the City of Pittsburgh reflects that one ALFRED RONALLO oF DOR Fifth Avenue, subscribed to telephone EMerson 2-2298, —— PG T=2 advised that on March 10, 1959, a collect telephone call was made to the aforementioned number from GALE RUSH, Room 411, Mayfair Hotel, Baltimore, Md., and that on March 15, 1959, a call was made from the aforementioned number to LE 9=76h0. The party was identified as GALE RUSH, Room 411, Mayfair Hotel, Baltimore. PG 1-5 advised that when JOHN LA ROCCA returned to Pittsbureh, from the location at which he was hiding since shortly after the Apalachin meeting in November, 1957, his youngest brother JOHN, who is known in racket circles as "Young JOHNNIE" left his racket setup in Johnstown, Pa., and spent almost: 3 weeks in Pittsburgh,- presumably for conferences with his. brother. .._He said that: "Young JOHNNIE" telephoned FRANCES PRIAM, Pittsburgh prostitute and former: paramour of the ‘subject, for dates on 3 occasions -13- — , AD Ag SON S0 HW 56792 DBocld:3233267T2 Page 6
PG 92—226 while in Pittsburgh and was desirous of having that individual come to Johnstown with him for a short stay. He said that when "Young JOHNNIE" comes to Pittsburgh he always stays with his brother TONY, a barber whose children are grown. ‘He explained that TONY is ostensibly not connected with the rackets in any manner and is’ more lenient about late hours and carousing than is the subject. PG T-4 advised that the term "Mafia. was never used when he was closely associated with LA ROCCA, FRANK AMATO, and the MANNARINO brothers. .He said that everyone knew these individuals during the late 1930's and early 4o's as "blackhanders" and that this term was bandied about without fear at the offices of the Coin Machine Distributing Company on Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh where LA ROCCA held Sway. He said that the aforementioned individuals hired groups of “toughs" to do their work for them and that these hoodlums of low intelligence and poor Italian background carried no knives or guns. He said that he recalls that they were armed with cue sticks which they had ostensibly Stolen from poolrooms throughout the Pittsburgh area and ‘which had been sawed off to 12-15" lengths. He explained that the heavy end of the cue stick was used as the business end and that a hole was bored into the bottom and lead used as a further weight. He said that after the lead was inserted into the hole, the hole was corked or filled in some other manner to make a flat surface. aan The informant recalled that he was given one of the aforementioned cue sticks as a present by MIKE GENOVESE, who HW 56792 fashioned it for his own use, and that he was told by. GENOVESE to use .it "for protection." He said he would still have the stick if he had not left it in a glove compartment of a car he sold and does not recall just when these sticks went out of fashion. He recalled that in those days the Italian element in Pittsburgh had a great fear and respect of. LA ROCCA who was, to all intents and purposes, the leader of the "blackhanders." He said that LA ROCCA was overshadowed on many occasions, however, by FRANK AMATO, a more mature and calm racketeer who gave many orders himself and was far more respected than was LA ROCCA because of his restraint and thought— fulness in dealing with men working for him. He said that working in the same office AMATO was a direct contrast to LA ROCCA and tempered LA ROCCA's orders and blusteryness somewhat. 14 AS VO ~ Loh 46 Docld: 32332872 Page 9
PG 92-226 will have to be handled, however, within the next five or six weeks, and that at the end of that time LA ROCCA will probably be called before him to answer some questions concerning his whereabouts during his disappearance and for further instructions regarding his petition for naturalization. HEIMOVITZ advised that he will immediately contact the Pittsburgh Office of the FBI should any new recommendations concerning the petition filed by LA ROCCA come to his attention and that he will advise SA VOEGE as to the date he will request -LA ROCCA to appear. * . t \ - Liaison Maintained With Pittsburgh Offices of the ‘i United States Attorney and United States Marshal HUBERT It, TEITELBAUM, United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh, advised SA VOEGE on May 3, 1959, that no date has been set as far as he knows for the appearance of either SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA or GABRIEL, "KELLY" MANNARINO before the U. S. Senate Select . Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, He stated that his official records reflect that appeared before a Federal Grand Jury sitting at on and _ was questioned about tters relating to “He..stated that this hearing was. attended by a representative of the.U. S. Attorney General's Special Group_and that appearing beforethis same Grand Jur hearing were He Stated as no plans z estimony or lack ex Law tite 4 thereof of these individuals and that he has made none~ ee public to date. He also advised that_he-is “givin Lous” consideration to the appearance of efore a Federal Grand Jury meeting at Pittsburgh in the future despite the fact that he has already appeared before a Federal Grand Jury in New York City. f ALBERT DIMEOLO, United States Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh, advised SA VOEGE on April 30, 1959, that he has received no other subpoenaes for SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA or for any of his racket associates. He stated he will immediately advise the Pittsburgh Office should subpoenaes arrive for any racket individuals within his | jurisdiction. » REVIEWED BY ean TASK FORCE 9 et EASE IN FULL : i | i RELEASE INPART d. : - ) pr - | TOTAL DENS pe oe) if 4 IHW 56792 Docld:323327872 Page 10
PG 92=226 INFORMANTS PG T-1 is H. W. GLENN, Postal Inspector, Pittsburgh, Pa., ; Post Office, who was contacted on April 20, 1959, by SA ROBERT A, VOEGE and who has requested that his identity be concealed. PG T+2 is WILLIAM MEREDITH, Special Agent, Bell Telephone Co., of Pennsylvania, who was contacted by SA HAROLD L.: STEVENS on April 24, 1959, and wno has requested that- his identity be concealed. PG T+3 is ROBERT GANLEY of the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Office, | New Federal Building, Pittsburgh, Pa., who was contacted by SA VOEGE on March 18, 1959, and who has requested that his identity be concealed. PG T+4 is GEORGE "MOON" MESSER, a potential criminal informant of the Pittsburgh Office who was contacted by SA VOEGE on April 28, 1959. PG T-5 ig PG 585-C, who was contacted by SA VOEGE on | April 7, 1959. -2l1- AD LNA -VOVIG —_ ~. Docld: 323327872 Page i1