‘Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.44. USC 2107 Hote}. DATHs (tdv- 1D4A2bY rs ee yy hac 7 Transmit the fo’ owing in _ PLAIN TEXT °° AIRTEL - - -that.there is no organization, as, Such, operating in. the ‘ Dallas area. He has stated: \CIVELLO" is an "inactive" IE9 2 - Dallas vs ; y. “Le COL/11 | “fm CL AVA 7 SEP 17, 1961 -(5) ad \ ve . 6. ©. Wick serge 198y Be ge peo _ Apptoved: a wit RU sd shad \ Ss cael May A bet i ________— { . _ Special Agent | insCharge .. ; x - : NG Oleg, & ae we GR-ge-la 4) . . i Mr. Tolson2 >> _ $n — _ i Mr. Belmont {> - x Mr. Mohr. Cf ; ; \ \ Mr. Cellaban aed Mr. Conrad... 7 Pet art | | | | FBI : | | | | { it i [| Pec ly i. tot td il Roa Po a mit ve ye , A alone. oD ene 6 ALOGTEH, Date: , 9/8/61 “oh x x 4 =] Me Tavel.. . Protter. cle, Room... Mr. Ingram Miss Gandy FS eR FR Soars 2 “(Type in plain text or code) SRE SS ar: best (Priority or Method of Mailing) ft DIRECTOR, ‘FBI: (92-2824) SAC, DALLAS (92- 36) : JOSEPH meaner CIVELLO, aka. AR Re Bureau letter to Dallas, 9/5/61. Based on a file review, as instructed in relet, * the following observations and recommendations are set, forth for the Bureau's consideration. .Information that CIVELLO is “boss in Texas" . answering to a "commission" that controls organized crime in Canada and the United States came from NY-3123-C* ‘on 1/23/61. On 3/31/59, DL-105-C described CIVELLO as the top ranking member of an Italian criminal organization sometimes referred to as the "mafia", in the Dallas area (report SA MILTON L. NEWSOM, 6/23/59, Dallas). Informant based this information on a. statement that CIVELLO achieved this rank during his more active years and primarily because of a murder CIVELLO committed in 1928. He stated CIVELLO shot one JOE DeCARLO with a sawed-off shotgun in a drug a store in Dallas on 7/14/28. _CIVELLO was exonerated of the ‘¥ murder charges after claiming the shooting was accidental. (\. Informant claimed the murder was ordered by the: organization" | after DeCARLO had attempted to hold out a considerable sum of . al money accumulated through illegal activities. Informant 4 was pressed for facts concerning the above and stated that _ this information came from him indirectly-and he has no oe. information concerning actual proof of: the above but is convinced that the information is correct. Beh 4. % YNRECORDED COPY FILED IN od é ’ DL-105-C, while stating that CIVELLO is the top ranking member of this organization, has continuely advised (Ber a. “ef recta wr EEK Doclda:32307377FT Page 2
‘Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 2107 Hote). ) t qi ‘\ Doclda:32307377FT Page 3 11-14-2017 e -) | ; _ “BL 92-36 of the group that met at Apalachin but had reiterated that CLvELLO would be the number 1 man of any operation sponsored ' by the group in Dallas. In Dallas airtel to the Bureau, 2/26/58 entitled, Meeting of Hoodlums, Apalachin, New York, 11/14/57, AR, Dallas advised that this informant stated that CIVELLO had reported to those in attendance at the meeting that Dallas has never had an organized syndicate and will never have one. He said CIVELLO pointed out that there were small time gamblers and hoodlums who on individual basis had operated in the past but who never had any national connections. CIVELLO reportedly told the group that the Italians in the Dallas area were not strong enough to gain control. Informant has continued to state that CIVELLO and his associates are unable to organize any illegal activity due to local, city and county administration in the Dallas area, On 7/28/61, DL-105-C advised he could furnish no further details concerning investments CIVELLO has made in oil leases for himself and other Italians and had no details concerning the legal or illegal activities concerning the "Italian group" from which CIVELLO allegedly derives 2% of the proceeds. Informant said he gathered this informa- tion over a period of time from conversations with CIVELLO's associates and by his observation of dealings made in the past. He said he could furnish no specific details as most of the information was hearsay and his personal opinion. In report of SA VINCENT E, DRAIN, 1/29/58 considerable information was furnished by PCI HODGES DUBOISE HAMILTON who at that time was secretary to HARRY DAVID KAHN, Oil Broker. Information reflects CIVELLO began contacting KAHN in 1955 relative to investing money in wildcat oil drilling. Informant said CIVELLO invested $19,000 in 1955 for interest in 8 oil wells known as the Caddo Levee Production near Oil City, La. CIVELLO's interest in these wells was 9/64 working interest. Informant further advised CIVELLO invested $3937.50 in 1957 on the drilling of two new wells at the same location. Informant also advised CIVELLO had 1/16 interest in the R. E, Collins Lease in Caddo Parish, La. near Shreveport, which was later either sold or given to his brother CHARLES EDWARD CIVELLO,. CIVELLO reportedly had 1/6 working interest in the Swinney Lease, Caddo County, Okla. which is located near Cement, Okla. -2-
)} Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 3107 Hote}. DATE: 11-14-2017 PCI stated that in 1955 CIVELLO brought the following : itidividuals to the office of HARRY DAVID KAHN and told KAHN he wanted to put up money for investment purposes for a wild- reat well that was being drilled in Throckmorton, Texas... / Informant stated this hole was drilled and it was a dry hole / and all interested parties lost the money they had placed in ame. The interested investors were as follows: PAIL... s~Dallas ; + JOSEPH J COLLETT, :. Dallas; Seen ~T95 Cl nton St., New Yor NK, SAM,. usa RINO, White Plains, N.¥.; RUD Mt. Ve ove The development of DL-105-C as a live informant in covering CIVELLO's current and past activities has been difficult in that informant has been closely connected with CIVELLO and his associates all his life, he himself being an Italian. He has furnished information concerning CIVELLO reluctantly and indirectly. Every effort has been made to have him prowide factual basis for his statements so that information could be properly evaluated. Dallas will continue to probe CIVELLO's activities in regard.to investments and financial dealings. Throughout ; this investigation CIVELLO has not been actively engaged in any criminal activity since the Apalachin Meeting and has not been known to have any organization, directed by him in Texas. Investigation indicates CIVELLO is in a stand- by position. sO In regard to top hoodlum investigation concerning associates of CIVELLO, the Dallas Office has investigated his principal associates, JOE IANNI, DL 92-192; PETER PELLEGRINO, DL 92-198; JOHNNY ROSS PATRONO, DL 92-231; FRANK TORTORIELLO, DL 92-196, Additional top hoodlum cases will be opened concerning any associate developed who appears to meet the requirements for a top hoodlum investi- gation, ; Continued efforts will be made to identify the CHARLIE GORDON referred to by DL-105-C. Every effort will be made to be aware of the identities of tie-ins between hoodlums in the Dallas area and other sections of the country 2s pointed out in relet. The effectiveness of a highly confidential source is well recognized as a means of obtaining coverage for ~3- TT ‘Docld: 323507377 Page 4