Releasedyunder the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 707 Hote) - (DATES andheepe 068 7 ; ffice Memoran 1 UNITED ST Aw ES GOVERNIERNT— cd Mr. . ie To’: ° DIRECTOR, FBI (62-5714-29) DATE: a ATTENTION: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ROSEN | | in sac, meant (62-1273) i esl af | iver ri SUBJECT: MIAMI WINTER SEASON, (i) 1958-1959 ee acd TOP Moabéo fe PRO CRAY va ‘Re Bureau airtel, B/s8. a) ~WAYNE THURMAN, Detective, North Miami Police Department, advised that on December 30, 1958, Circuit ~ Judge PAT:CANNON in Miami ordered the City of North Miami to continie paying the eight police officers whom the North | Miami city Council sought to eliminate since October. of 1958, - ‘claiming Sthe metropolitan government of Dade County should ’ tak€? over: part of the police and fire department functions. ST x a <> KARL ENGEL, Chief of Police, North Miami, pre- viously advised, as reflected in Miami letters to the,-Bureau, October 17% and 31, 1958, that the City Councih..of Nerth Miami = contemplated decreasing the police department, pudget® by $65, 000.00 and advocated that certain department s,. ‘as Well. as eight? 'police officers, be eliminated, stating: thatthe \ metropolitan government should immediately take over this » _. Pesponsi bility. - os : “eS = iM 673-C advEbed at a recent dinner in Miami, which wasi attended by Metropolitan Safety Director THOMAS _ KELLY, he heard KELLY state’ that he had considered alipen ae SE Ae LAW ENFORCEMENT z his position but that any consideration would depend upon reports submitted. by his physician relative to a heart condi tien that he “now possesses. = 3 aD, Bureau ’ “J 3 "REC. : aS set a Hie ee ‘ - BSUS , wef ee Pe OF RFF : ‘sil, . st ie a (7) 9 "Gp * © Eb 9 = ERY » Docld: 32339989 Page 2?
“Released under the John _F.. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of -1992-(44 USC 2107 Hote): DATE :’ 11214-2017 oo orks ae ea 5 | _ MM 62-1273 | GAMBLING WAYNE THURMAN, Detective, North Miami Police eon Department, advised that after a two weeks surveillance, “"": members of his department arrested MAX PYASTERN, age O7p approx /¥9 2. - owner of a news stand at, 581 Northeast 125th Street, and 2) q STERN's clerk, MARGAREPX, SH, age 42, for~engaging in ag PROS 7G) 9 e bookmaking operation at’ STERN's news stand on December TI Dewees \ 1958. He stated TOSH would only accept bets at the news a stand from individuals known to her and when a person un-~ | , known to her visited the news stand for the purpose of 4 placing a bet, she would telephonically contact STERN at . his home, 829 Northeast 160th Street, and STERN would then converse with the stranger over the telephone. He said that after STERN obtained the necessary personal history and back- ground of the stranger, he would either reject or accept the stranger's bet. _ The Miami Beach Kennel Club opened its thirty-first season on December 31, 1958. . TOM PARKER, Investigator for the Florida Racing Etp. , Commission, Miami, advised that the Florida Racing Commission™™~ fo jagain denied MORR¥F WEXLER, also known as "MUSHY ER, a license to operate a racing stable in Florida. He stated that. each year for the past three years, the Commission has refused to entertain WEXLER's request to. enter the racing field in | the state of Florida. He stated WEXLER is a well-known {Cleveland underworld figure who in 1958 owned the Theatrical | Grill, a night club and restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio, and was formerly operator of the Empire News, a race wire service firm. In 1955, WEXLER reputedly had an interest in the . - Thistledown Race Track, Cleveland, Ohio. f } | . With reference to the efforts to have gambling legalized, MM 673-C stated that he learned of additional activities on the part of some individuals who. were inter- ‘ested in having gambling legalized in Florida. He stated: . that DEANVALFANGE, who acted as JACKABEMPSEY's attorney Fela. iseveral months ago when legalized gambling was presented ~~ to the Dade County Commissioners, returned to Miami and was in the Miami area about five days in the middle of | | December, 1958. He also stated that while in Miami, ALFANGE -2.- j 4 ’ ‘ : ; . j Ca Docld: 32339989 Page 3
“ReDeased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 37107 Hote). ‘DATE: 11-14-2017 a MM 62-1273 FRA ; , — ‘held some conferences with JERRYAWEINKLE, an attorney, | relative to making preparations ‘for an appeal to the Supreme Court of Florida in their efforts to obtain legalized gambling casinos in the “HARDLY He said Ee a, Myr ALFANGE also had a conference with HARR » @ former S94 st New York gambler, who has been campaigning for legalized gambling in the Greater Miami area, claiming he has the backing of the Democratic Party on Miami Beach. This informant said LEVY is presaddent of the Democratic Club of Miami. He further advised that LEVY previously had flied a petition with the Dade County Commissioners for -a_ referendum “by the voters of Dade County" but it was ruled illegal by the Dade County Attorney. MM 673-C stated he understands ALFANGE by filing his appeal expects the Florida State Supreme Court to re- ject the Dade County Commissioners! ruling which held that the,appeal of this group for a referendum vote was illegal. He also related he was told that if ALFANGE and his group are. unsuccessful, they intend to file petitions to force the referendum election. is informant also stated that ANTHONY c XeWEEr, BLA, oO Th FBI _#317988C, a gambler who is secretary and treasurer of . ~~ the La Bastille, a private club in Surfside, has also become’ the owner of the restaurant formerly operated by FELTEYWOUNG, £4 FBI #177827, in Bay Harbor,Island. In addition, he stated that he recently. spent a. _ week end in Havana, Cuba, arid learned’ that MIKE\Mc LANEY, Cu 24 {in charge of the gambling casino at Ahe Nacionaf\ Hotel in Havana, issthe front man for FRA CKSON, FBI #1762258,¢ 4p. in this operation. He said the Hdvana Riviera Hotel is rr issuing credit cards to regular patrons of its gambling casino. Be cae said when in Havana, he was introduced to _ one G. Ts-RICHARDSON, who appeared to have considerable Rasy Es Be authority/ Around the Capri Hotel and Gambling Casino. ie He said he also learned that Nae MARRIS, a gambler, has the title of administrator at the Capri Casino. Cul fe -~3- ‘ ~ | Docld: 32339989 Page 4
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote}. (DATE: «11-14-2017 ' I — MM 62-1273 This informant further stated that PHILLIP YAWORSKY, also known as JERRYCBROOKS, FBI #220207,~C6- cumA, ELA. ower of the Luau Restaurant, North Bay Village, and wh6 = owns a part of the Capri Gambling Casino in Havana, Cuba, had a heart attack and is presently in the Miami Heart Institute. MM 509-C advised that NATHOR;PEARLMAN, an old- rs 0 = Aime bookie from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is staying at the Sea Gull Hotel and will undoubtedly remain in the Miami area the rest. of the winter season. He stated that PEARLMAN is a close friend of JOEWSILVERMAN, also known as WHITEY. © 4+FGA° QSILVERMAN, a bookmaker and numbers man from Pittsburgh, who is presently staying at the Sea Gull Hotel, Miami Beach. co He further advised that JeEMPISSELLI, a bookmaker JV, PLA: formerly from New York City, who has been in the Miami area / approximately fifteen years, has an established successful bookmaking business. among the bellhops who are employed in the varzous hotels on Collins Avenue North of Lincoln Road. He mentioned that FISSELLI is g crose personal friend of MA‘ DER, also known as MAX AYMOND, FBI #236413, a (Ld. -. Miami Beach gambler and strong arm man. oer 3 MM 509-C also stated that JORABEROER, bookmaker F&A, Wty, and fence, who arrived in the Miami area. from New York City — the first part of December, 1958, recently left Miami to take a position as pit boss at the Plaza Hotel Gambling Casino, Havana, Cuba. With reference to BERGER, he stated that. BERGER years. ago purchased merchandise for a fencing operating from JOBGANZ, Miami Beach Police Department #20664, a purglar.*: Fb : ( Wy» He further, stated that he observed SAI LLITONI, H¢@ also known as SAHNE;GHIELDS « New York Police Department. #B43737, conversing With. J WSSEL, FBI #597894, the past 744° week at the Carib Hotel, Mia Beach. He. .advised that Vie “SHIELDS still operates a floating dice game on Spring Street in New York City. MASSEI, a former Detroit hoodlum, now makes Miami Beach his residence. ~ 4 ~4 - boA | Docld:32339989 Page 5