HAV 64-153 convertible. Source said that, based on his income from: gambling, COZZO could not operate in this fashion and it is believed COZZO is either involved in narcotics or in the fencing operation. ys HOTEL HAVANA HILTON On 4/2/58, Hav-3l-advised that, because of the OTHER 4 substantial fall-off in gambling patrons in Havana, the Hotel Havana Hilton Casino had initially cut the salary of all employees $50.00.a month. ‘Source said that, subsequently, CLIFF JONES had laid off several dealers who had come down to Havana from Las Vegas at their own expense and the only extra : compensation they received beyond their salary, was $300.00 7 ao . traveling expenses. Source stated that FRANKACUTI and FRANK. “~~, eae ALBA, both former wheel bosses at the Havana Hilton, have been. -« oS Tet go and that 14 Cuban dealers have been released. Eeba 7 2 4! MG. on 3/28/58, per'[_—" faa yiséd that CHARLIEXBRUDNER, ~ with alias. CharlieXpfoad, aud FRANK) SEED, both partners in a bookmaking operation, had headquarters in Miami and.in New York. y He states these individuals.were in Havana the previous week and.had asked[___—id| whether ‘he would be interested in handling any interests they might secure in the gambling casino in the Hotel Hilton. | said he indicated he was not interested because he had a onal. {= “A statea to work with the casino in the Hotel Nacional. stated that if BRUDNER and REED were able to buy up any points in the casino in the Hil on, it was because. CLIFF JONES ,had some points to sell. stated that ROBERTO "CHIRRIU£MENDOZA, who has the majority interest in the casino in the Hotel Havana Hilton, has a number of associates, including SANTO ° MIICANTE, and -is not in-a position to sell . any points. PCcI stated he could not definitely certain whether BRUDNER and REED had purchased an interest i he Havana Hilton Casino. Source stated categorically that MAX*x TNEY is presently in Europe on a tour and is definitely not interested in buying any pointe in the. Hilton-Casino,. ; , Lo Source noted that, because of the million dollar rental paid by the casino, the average minimum "nut" of the casino is $6,000 a day. Source stated he felt certain that in the-near future. an adjustment. would be made in the rental in order to reduce the daily overhead of the-casino. - Source said, further, that RAULXGONZALEZ is strictly a front man for the Cuban customers CUBA ; -6- —_ see Rees AY he. | AVS LR> WURZ NW 45693 DociId:32328142 Page 6
— 7 ‘ 1 | ' te aa nee Ne ca a et OR PN NE CN RT tS ee ON me et Yet ait le ee HAV 64-153 at the casino in the Hotel Havana Hilton and assists in protecting TRAFFICANTE's interest in the casino. Source noted _ that GONZALEZ owes the Hotel Nacional Casino $20,000, spends every cent he gets on women and gambling, and has no resources of his own. Source informed that in any gambling operation GONZALEZ could be no more than a front. CLES j 4 On 4/12/58, JOE SILESI, with alias Jo ivers, advised he is operating the casino in the Hotel Havana Hilton for CLIFF JONES and being assisted by LARRY SNOW. RIVERS indicated he was on a salary and also has a percentage of the casino. On 4/23/58, Hav-31 advised ‘that a dealer named VERNON Gtsttone is presently at the Hotel Havana Hilton. Source said that another dealer named IRVING\LEVITTS had recently had an \} argument in the Hotel Havana Hilton Casino, as a result of which he SHOLAN fired by JOE SILESI. Source advised further that "DUKE" is no longer working at the Havana Hilton. . On 4/30/58, Hav-31 informed that FRANK “RED Sieaff ana “y cnanasyengongecs definitely purchased an interest in-the gambling’ casino of the Hotel Havana Hilton. Source said that REED and BRUDNER had in fact recently bought an additional five : points in the casino. Source related that ROBERTO “CHIRRI" MENDOZA actually only has 30 points in the casino for himself and that the rest.of the points that he. owns actually belong to JOE SILESI, JOB\STASSI, with alias Joofffogers, and SANTO . TRAFFICANTE. SANS SOUCI NIGHT CLUB CASINO The Sans Souci Casino continues to be operated by © SANTO TRAFFICANTE and JOE STASSI. TRAFFICANTE has moved from his former residence in the’ Rosita de Hornedo Hotel to an | apartment house at Calle 12, #20, Vedado, Havana. pCcI[ _|- [____jadvised on 5/5/58 that SANTO TRAFFICANTE IS ‘living Ott n Apartmen e 4-B at this address and is closely associating with HENR BINO, who occupies Apartment 5-B in the same building. “It should be noted that MEYER LANSKY also has an apartment in this building. €vA Hav-31 advised on 4/23/58 that _RED "SICKLEOMMACE has ‘left the Sans Souci Night Club. Source related that recently TRAFFICANTE was short money and got an additional bankroll from EES HR - (OTA NW 45693 DociId:32328142 Page 7
ct A hc Re eS ee pL I he eS a a te Ne ec A rs HAV 64-153 Gambling Casino in the period 1951 to 1953, was going to operate the casino at the Hotel Plaza. This individual is probably Cup, identical with BOB "MUSCLES'AMARTIN, who has been observed frequently in Havana in récéat months. In addition, previous information furnished to the Legat, Havana, has indicated that JOE STASSI, as well as SANTO TRAFFICANTE, would have an interest in the Hotel Plaza Casino when it opened. Since MARTIN previously worked at the Sans Souci, it would appear logical for him to - represent Sans Souci interests in the Hotel Plaza Casino. The casino in the Hotel Plaza is not yet in operation. HOTEL SEVILLA BILTMORE CASINO _ | _. |, The Hotel Sevilla Biltmore Casino continues to be owned by Cuban Congressman AMLETT@ABATTISTI. ‘This casino is operated by BE FREEMAN, and. appeals principally to a lower class gambling crowd. ‘ ° _CuBs NO , ; HOTEL DEAUVILLE CASINO The Hotel Deauville Casino is not, yet open. Sources have indicated to, Legat, Havana, in the past that SANTO TRAFFICANTE may possibly have an interest in this casino. Sources have also indicated that HENRY RUBINO will operate s . casino. HENRY RUBINO has been reported by PCI | OTHER 4 [__|to. be closely associated with SANTO TRAFFICANTE. ORIENTAL PARK RACE TRACK PCI Oriental Park Race Track, has adv F »,Who was formerly — . associated with the Oriental Park Race Track, is now in Brazil and that BIRRELL fled from Cuba because he was afraid he might be returned to the United States because of a judgment which was. made against. him in excess of three million dollars in Federal Court, New York City. This \tacther was reported in Havan letter. dated 3/12/58. further informed that GEORGB<HEVINE Coe continues to operate the gambling casinos at the Oriental Park oe Race Track and that he is assisted by MI RIA. © weg ~ On 4/23/58, Hav-31 advised that "JOCKEY XDENNIS, a Cure: former con man, had bought an interest in the gambling casino ~~~ FP GuntkuelilA AWE R Aoge? | ~, . NW 45693 DociId:32328142 Page 8
27 oS ° o™, a? | ° eID Rt ond ae po Ny . ¢ ‘ ep -* ' A We » if) 2. | : a HAV 64-153 in the Jockey Club at the Oriental Park Race Track.. JOSE — MEDINA, local representative of the American Express Company, had previously advised that DENNIS was in Havana. GENERAL INFORMATION | | '.No additional information has come to the attention | of. the Legat, Havana, concerning the construction of further - gambling casinos. in Cuba.. Sources available to the Havana Office have indicated that, because of the fall-off in tourist trade as a result of revolutionary activities, projected con- | struction of additional casinos has been deferred until such time as the political situation stablizes itself. On 4/30/58, Hav-31 advised that, as.a result. of con- versations with members of the gambling element in Havana, this 4; , Source came to the conclusion that an individual named “O. =4.. SALVATORBAFELCONE in Miami may possibly be acting as a mail drop for ‘communications of importance among members of the gambling element. \ . . NORMAN ROTHAN, who is operating slot machines in the interior of Cuba, advised on 5/7/58 that because of recent revolutionary activities, the slot machine trade had been very slow and he was having difficulty retaining trained repair . technicians. He stated, however, that recently there had been an upsurge in the. business. mo, Extra copies of this letter have been prepared for forwarding by the Bureau to New York, Miami and Salt Lake City. whe ‘ . ANIC R~. 098.3 NW 45693 DociId:32328142 Page 39