JFK Assassination System Date: 6/3/2015 Identification Form v9.1 Agency Information AGENCY: FBI ; RECORD NUMBER: _ 124-90110-10039 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 87-58729-88 Document Information ORIGINATOR: — FBI FROM: MM TO: HQ TITLE: DATE: 09/26/1961 PAGES: 29 SUBJECTS : FRITZ WERNER DORIGO JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 08/06/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : RPT, INC ADMIN PAGE nw 45876 DocId:32334046 Page 1
Be Rey ties Bs FD-269 (Reve S-1-80) EAU OF INVESTIGATION SEP 26 1961] 6/1/61 - 9/12/61 ‘REPORTMADEBY OS™ Fvean ey HOMER R. HAUER mab CHARACTER OF CASE ITSP - MT | FEDERAL BUR OFFICE OF ORIGIN _ MIAMI © REPORTING OFFICE MIAMI TITLE OF CASE UNSUBS (2); Armed Robbery of Approximately $117,200.00 in Jewelry and Cason. Residance of | EDITH and FRITZ W, QRIGO, ' Hallandale, Fla., 3/20/61 : REFERENCE: ipeve of SA WILLIAM F. HEIST at Miami, dated 25 . = | CHICAGO ; AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BO { 1. 411 conduct an intensive investigation concern- ; « « ding IRVING HORNSTEIN, who is alleged to have fenced the ' Jewelry in this case. Maximum utilization of appropriate f '  gonfidential informants and other confidential techniques ' should. be exploited fully in the investigation of HORNSTEIN i to determine the present location of the jewelry. (per f gy W411 conduct an intensive investigation ; goncerning known jewel thief JAMES MARTIN. Maximum : utilization of confidential informants and other confidential 5 techniques should likewise be considered in the investigation ‘ DO NOT WRITE IN SPACES BELOW — COPIES, MAD: « (D- Bureau (87-5872 ) 2 - 87 © 2 = Chicago (87-16639) % 2 = Minneapolis ; a = 2 = Newark. — B SEP 28 1961 oe * 1 + New York (87-22200) (Info) "4 rs 5 = ames (2 67212 , ; =F ABderormence (SV- SET =. gg t— : Disesminetion Record of Attached Report VA Nototjons, mate j ! 7 | ; Date Fwd. ee Por beviow an” ee ’ Ss Pe hed Vr on" ° - b ‘ SOAS WALD Stine aad ae terns ent ataiemes mosemmeeree SHS aaiedal eeettintae eeee nme amaene nme timenses ts Gonetannae ae rasee NW 45876 « DocId:32334046 Page 2 | ons rae ae sence teate eeepc deietbi » OTD bab aenin PR tae late eee
MM 87~14090 ~ ; ‘ . A since investigation has determined that she was in no way connect#a@") with this robbery. Leads are not being set out in this report to identify the subscribers to the telephone numbers called from the telephone of NORMA SEID since this investigation was previously requested in Miami letter to Pittsburgh, copies to Chicago, dated July 25, 1961. JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA, principal suspect in se\Mere - INFORMANTS ~ By communication dated June 5, 1961, the Memphis Office advised the following: On May 17, 1961,[ ese JR. was . contacted at his residence, 938 Audubon Drive, Memphis, Tennessee, by SAs BON H, MC ELREATH and CORNELIUS A. MOYNIHAN, \ saawe ats "3 exhibited photographs of WALTER PATRICK: also known as PAT, MIKE/BWIATEK, ‘ke MIFE. TREADWELL‘ immediately identified the photographs exhibited to him as photographs of individuals whom he ~-.., knew . as PAT and MIKE in Miami. an F Though interviewed in detail, he was unable to furnish any information to the interviewing agents con- cerning robbery of the owner of the Hofbrau Haus in addition to that which he had made known previously to Bureau Agents at Miami. He likewise was unable to furnish any pertinent information relative to JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA other than to state that in his opinion, MEROLA was a member of the "syndicate". When asked to explain whet he meant by “syndicate", he became very vague and stated that it was a group of hoodlums operating out of Chicago, Illinois. He said that he became acquainted with MEROLA originally in connection with his endeavors to sell his airplane. -Es -Cover Page- . 87-58729 - NW 45876 DocId:32334046 Page 3 88 Jou this case, is currently incarcerated in the Federal seh \ merols Correctional Institute at Tallahassee, Florida, where 20 he is serving a five year sentence. rp i Jose ph fk, a er | 0 Bie Se caw antec are Schr ee a OTHER 4
APART ta cere Ara ORNM ENTREE ERS ET. NG - 4 4 MM 87-14090 He advised that he does not know and has never i met any individual named ANDREW NICHOLAS MASTRO. He likewise stated that he possesses no information with megard to the JOSEPH DIMARE murder case. [ery latated that he does not have any OTHER 4 information regarding the identity of any individual or group of individuals to whom MEROLA might have disposed of the stolen jewelry. -He did stats, however, that — j MEROLA had numercus contacts and it would be no problem to. dispose of stolen jewelry in Miami. He added, however, that he did not know from his personal knowledge who ' those contacts are. He was requested to advise the FBI in the event he was contacted at some future date by MEROLA, et al. i He was further requested to furnish any information that might come to his attention regarding activities cf jewel thieves operating anywhere. He stated he would do so. By communication dated June 21, 1961, the New York Office advised the following: New York PCI WYNN LASSNER was interviewed extensively on Juné 19 and 20, 196), by SA WILLIAM DAVID _ He furnished the following information: : LASSNER advised that he returned to New York on dune 18, 1961, frou California where he has been the guest of HARVEY HEWITT. He explained that HEWITT brought him out to the coast with him the first of May, 1961, in connection with a cosmetics business which HEWITT may : purchase. HEWITT wants LASSNER to enter biisiness with .: him. He stated that HEWITT is coming to Greenwt: eh, ; Connecticut, this week where he had hired a home for the i summer, LASSNER stated that he drove HEWITT's car back to New York for him. PSN POS ORE EO ERT CE Concerning MAURICE "RED" POLLACK, LASSNER advised that he has known him for years and that POLLACK is presently residing at 1175 York Avenue, New York City. He stated that he haa not seen POLLACK since he returned ~ ~Fe ~Cover Fage- SP a dg ey 87-58729 - 88 NW 45876 DocId:32334046 Page 4
HW 45876 DocId:32334046 Page 53 MM 87~14090 from Fort Lauderdale, and has no desire to have anything to do with him. He stated, however, that POLLACK called nie yesterday, while he was out and left a message for him te call back. LASSNER stated that POLLACK has never discussed his activities with him, but that he knows that POLLACK is broke and is probably ready to try for a "score". He said. that, despite his desire to remain away from POLLACK, he will maintain contact with him on behalf of the New York Office for any information he can develop. He stated that 4t¢. is very likely that POLLACK might ask him ( LASSNER) to accompany him to Cape Cod, if POLLACK goes there, since he has invited LASSNER to go with him for weekends in the past, LASSNER stated that he would not accompany POLLACK to Cape Cod, but will be alert to any conversation by POLLACK regarding plans to go to Cape Cod and will notify the New York Office immediately. Concerning the pousibility that POLLACK intends to "heist" the jewelry owned by PAT MAGEE, LASSNER advised that this possibility is very likely, inasmuch as PAT MAGEE has much valuable jewelry and POLLACK is desperate for woney. LASSNER stated that POLLACK would never even hint to him of such plans,: however, because POLLACK knows that LASSNER has bsen a close friend of PAT MAGEE for years and that LASSNER dated PAT long before she met HEWITT... In connection with information furnished by LASSNER to former SA CARL ROOD about the activities of the two "trigger men" named FAT and MIKE(from Chicago and their allegud kidnapping and murder activities, LASSNER advised that he received this information from HERKIE STYLES. He stated that STYLES obtained some of the information from living across the hall from PAT and MIKE and deduced some of it as a result of questions asked of him by the FBI concerning PAT and MIKE, LASSNER stated that STYLES is presently in New York and that if the FBI wishes to re-interview him, LASSNER will contact him for the New York ‘Office. : - LASSNER stated that, at no time, did he observe any weapons containing silencers, while at MEROLA's home. -Gs uCéver Page- 88
SONA e ea Te See ARENA WRAP SESE EN Sa ie ETO MM 87-14090 LENNY GAINES, 210 West 90th Street, New York City, advised SA KANE ‘on June 20, 1961, that he never Baw any weapon containing silencers, while at MEROLA's home. rCI GEORGE WEINGER advised SA WILLIAM F, HEIST , the following information on July 20, 1961: ‘ He, WEINGER, was in New York city from i approximately July’ 3, to July 12, 1961, at which time he visited and stayed with MAURICE "RED" POLLACK. WEINGER advised that during his stay hé overheard a conversation concerning the criminal activities of JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA in the Miami area. WEINGER stated that he learned that MEROLA masterminded the robbery of the owners of the Hofbrau Haus, and WEINGER believes there were three i individuals, other than MEROLA, who participated in this robbery. WEINGER did not learn the identities of these individuals. He advised that MEROLA and his associates had considerable difficulty in getting rid of the jewelry from this theft and were dissatisfied with the small amount of money rauceived compared against the expensive items stolen, WEINGER stated he heard that the jewelry was disposed of in Chicago ani received by an individual referred to as "DUNJO" (phonetic), who is either an owner, manager or affiliated with the Club Chez Paree in Chicago. By airtel dated August 30, 1961, the Chicago , < Office advised that inquiry through informants reflect that "DUNJO" is identical with DON JOSEPH\MEDLEVINE, Owner of the Chez. Paree. Night..Club.in. Chicago. nquiry of logical CIs and PCis failed to indicate Bny™ positive information that MEDLEVINE is fencing jewelry or furs, although, it is common kmowledge that MEDLEVINE in his capacity as owner of the night ¢lub is well known and associates with Chicago hoodlums. ' On August 15, 1961, MM 722-C telephonically advised SA H. WAYNE SWINNEY that he had learned from JOE MEROLA and MIKE SWIATEK, who were involved in this loss, that the jewelry was originally sold to an individual from New Jersey. This individual had offered to pay $30,000.00 for the total amount of jewelry stolen and had made a -H~ we com ~Cover FPage- 87-5829 88 HW 45876 Docld:32334046 Page 6
MM 87-14090 $15,000.00 deposit. The purchaser had given the subjects two days to determine wiesher or not they would accpt his offer. This offer was not accepted and the money was returned, as well as that-portion of the jewelry which had been given to the New Jersey man to hold. The informant was not aware just who had gone into the victim's home at the time of the robbery. It was his impression from talking to MIKE SWIATEK that the jewelry had gone to Chicago where it was subsequently sold to RED STEINHART of New York. The informant was not aware whether or not it actually went to STEINHART iniemuch as the informant was with MIKE SWIATEK in New _York the previous week, at which time they ran into RED STEINHART and STEINHART was not known to SWIATEK. It is noted that JOSEPH MEROLA 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 KENNEY and WILLIAM KEHOE. Prior to the commencement of the interview on August 14, 1961, Departmental Attorneys KENNEY and KEHOE spent approximately ten minutes alone with MEROLA, after which SAs PORTELLA and FORSYTH were called into KENNEY's office, Room 201, Federal Building, Miami. Before. the beginning of the interview, K&NNEY advised SAs PORTEJLA and FORSYTH that MEROLA had set the conditions that the Departmental Attorneys be present; that he would never testify to any snformation 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 d@iscuss any matter in which he had been participaft. On August 15,, 1961, JOSEPH R. MEROLA stated that this robbery was committed by him and MIKE SWIATEK and WALTER PATRIC: “YANG. MEROLA stated that “ANDREW NICHOLAS MASTRO hb * “othing to do with this armed robbery... , ; MEROLA stated that PAT and MIKE used a Nash Rambler automobile which they stole from the parking lot of the building where they were living and after the purglary left the Nash Rambler either on the same lot or one block away. He said that they definitely did not use -I- -Cover Page- . NW 45876 Docld:32334046 Page 7