AGENCY: JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-90073-10053 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER:  92-7599-35 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: HQ TO: TITLE: DATE: 02/12/1973 PAGES: 28 SUBJECTS : . DAVE YARAS DAVID YARAS DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: | Unclassified ; RESTRICTIONS: 4 “CURRENT STATUS :.  Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 02/11/1999 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : SUMMARY Docld: 32328349 Page 1 Date: . $/5/2015
. _ Cc YQ XN Miami report dated 12/21/49 revealed that on 11/16/49, the liquor license for the Tahiti Bar, 244 23rd Street, Miami Beach, was transferred to Marilyn Yaras, wife of David Yaras. The Tahiti Bar was known as a hangout for hoodlums. It was believed by the Miami Beach PD that Marilyn Yaras was obviously a "front" for Yaras in the operation of the Tahiti Bar since he could not obtain a license in . View of his criminal record. The PD also believed that Yaras was possibly a "front" for Joe Massey, notorious hoodlum who migrated to Miami Beach from Detroit, Michigan, and had extensive property interests in the Miami Beach area, Add.info. 87-12825-31 p.8,9 (Sa) CGII 3075 advised on 7/22/50 that Dave Yaras, a night-club owner in Miami, handled all the transactions and dealings between Leonard Patrick and Wally Block in their contacts with criminal elements in Chicago. Patrick and Block were regarded as possible suspects in the murder of Abraham Davidian (72-472). T2-472-371 p.95, 2094 (26) CGO 5741 advised that he questioned Ben Tilley, Boston, Massachusetts, about the Brinks Robbery (91-5535), Tilley freely acknowledged that he had, in the past, engaged in large-scale robberies and he mentioned having been involved in the past with Dave Yaras in | Chicago, Tilley indicated that he had not been involved in the Brinks Case. (Chicago letter 10/25/51) 91-5535-8031 p.3 (2a) In connection with a request from the Federal Grand Jury ingquring into local crime at Miami regarding Miami raeketeer David - Yaras, a summary of information dated 4/17/52 was prepared for delivery to the Federal Grand Jury. The summary set forth information (continued ) -6- eee ec nt a tt es Docld: 32326349 Page 2?
(continued) REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER ~3 p.2; outg. p.2 Joseph Vinson, associated with the National Board of Fire Underwriters at Miami, advised that Max Caldwell, Miami Beach, was making plans to kidnap Sam Friedland, wealthy owner of the Food Fair Stores and Miami Beach hotels. Davie Yaras' name had been mentioned as the man to be used in this kidnapping. Yaras, Chicago PD# D-14360, was a well-known Chicago hoodlum who had resided in Miami Beach for the past several years. He received much publicity a few years ago due to his having been identified as one of the killers in a Chicago slaying. He also reportedly had an interest in gambling in Havana, Cuba. Miami letter, 10/15/53 62-64279-2 p.1,3 (EX) Ernest Glaeser, Special Agent, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, St. Louis, Missouri, furnished a list of extra toll charges on Evergreen 2-7506 which belonged to John Joseph Vitale, suspect in the Bobbie Greenlease kidnapping (7-6920). On 1/5/56 a call was made from this number to Miami Beach-Mohawk 1-1394 to Davie Yaroz or Jefferson 8-3255, The Miami Office believed this person was possibly identical with David Yaras, Chicago PD# D14360, a well-known Chicago torpedo, who with two others tried to kill one James Ragen at Chicago when the Capone group was taking over the Continental News Wire Service. 7-6920-6439 p.1,20 CQL On 5/10/56 PCI John Earl Wilson advised that Harry Brown (143-132) formerly operated the American Amusement Company in Chicago, and that his partner in this enterprise was Dave Yarros, who was very closely associated with the old Capone mob in the Chicago area. (continued ) -8- Docld: 32328349 Page 3
Cm Cs — . Ny Anthony Gironda, a symbol informant of the Chicago Office, advised on 2/28/62 and 3/31/62 that Frank Diecidue (92-4936) was believed to be related to Santo Trafficante, who in turn was a leading gambling figure in Miami, Florida, where he had been associating in the past with Dave Yaros, formerly from Chicago, Illinois, ( _-92-4936217 p.5 (32) MM 509-C advised that on 3/30/62, between 1:00 PM and 2730 PM, Barney Kaplan, Miami Beach PD Detective, had been in the constant company of Dave Yaras, Artie Samurin, Dusty Peters, Ben Husick, racketeering figures, and Bernie Frank, a Miami Beach Councilman, On 6/14/62 MM 675-C advised that John McGauran, a Miami Beach PD Detective who was suspended from the PD after being accused of being involved in some burglaries with the thieves, allegedly had Yaras coming to his aid and defense, Add.info,. 62-38824-972 p.72,79,80,82,83, C34) 103,105 The following references pertain to the investigations and/or hearings of Congressional Committees. Information regarding the criminal activities of David Yaras from 1930 to 1963 in Chicago was set out in testimonies of individuals and exhibits, COMMITTEE REFERENCE. SEARCH SLIP ; PAGE NUMBER Special Senate Committee 62-91933-615 pt.5 ep. 464,465 (20. to Investigate Organized -692 ep,82 ( Crime in Interstate -765X ep.33 Commerce Permanent Subcommiteee g2e-4282-169 ep.512 t2) on Investigations, US Senate -15- he ~ eee Docld: 32328349 Page 4
~* C~ -~ ‘ ~ Re < . - NY Harold Konigsberg (92-5177) advised that in 1963, he had been requested by Seymour Flax (not identified) to approach Teddy Gleason, President of the International Longshoremen's Association, and for Gleason, in turn, to contact Jimmy Hoffa, President of the Teamster's Union, to secure a $900,000 loan for Frankie's Market, Lodi, New Jersey. Konigsberg did not know the ultimate outcome of this deal, but did know that subsequently Joseph Zicarelli (not identified) went to Chicago where supposedly he spoke with Dave Yaras who was then to see Hoffa or else use his influence in obtaining the loan. The loan was to come out of the Teamster's Pension Fund, 92-5177-156 ep.2 (aS) The following references in the file captioned "Jack Leon Ruby" pertain to David Yaras in Chicago and Miami from 9/26/63- 12/5/63. On 11/27/63 it was reported that there was a tie-in between Ruby in Dallas and Yaras in Miami in connection with shylocking and girls, Yaras was interviewed in Chicago on 12/5/63 and denied having any relationship whatever with Ruby, business or otherwise, subsequent to Ruby's departure from Chicago approximately fourteen years ago. He did admit that he had known Ruby as "Sparky", a young hustler and fight fan in Chicago. Also, his/brother\ Sam Yaras had been acquainted with Ruby in Dallas, but Sam had died seven years ago. Yaras had not been in Dallas since 1945 when he and his brother had a "split", The President's Commission requested information regarding certain individuals! telephone calls during the period 9/26/63-11/22/63, One of these individuals, Robert Baker, 5900 North Sheridan, Chicago, RA 8-4031, placed a call to JE 8-3255, Miami, listed to Yaras, 4410 Adams Ave., Miami Beach, during this period. REFERENCE SEARCH SEIP PAGE NUMBER ° | 4 24016-3002 p.1,2 . -482 p.1,2 (interviewed, 12/5/63) : | -804 p.29 (interviewed, 12/5/63) ee -1366 p.80 PCI Bernard Katz advised on 3/19/64 that several years ago Gus Lieb (not identified) ran one of the largest gambling operations in Cicero, Illinois, which includéd crap games, card games, and several other gambling type operations. The "juice" at these games (continued ) -16- Docld: 32328349 Page 5
oo . | om : . ‘; ~~ On 1/13/66 CG 6884-C-TE advised that in connection with the operation of the Chicago sports lay-off center being operated by- Frank Aurelli and Dominic Cortina (165-1143), one Lennie Abram and L. Minces (phonetic), both customers, owed large amounts of money. Cortina was pressing these two individuals to pay up or else, when they reached out and contacted Dave Yaras for help. Yaras called Cortina and asked him to leave both Abram and Minces alone for the time being. 165-1143-15 p.B (285 | The 7/13/66 issue of the "Chicago Sun Times" carried an article entitled "Firm's Vast Gaming Output Related Here". The - article revealed that the Illinois Crime Investigation Commission..-~ (ICTC) had uncovered evidence that organized crime syndicate gangsters had been enriched by distributing gambling devices put out by the Empire Press, Inc. (166-1163), 644 N. Orleans, Chicago. During the ICIC public hearings, Empire employees were asked if they had seen David Marras at the plant. ‘The witnesses all stated that they wouldn't be able to recognize Yarras. 166-1163-A-"Chicago Sun Times" BS). 7/13/66 On 10/28/66 LV 285-PC advised that at that time there were only three mob bookie operations going in the country. One was in Chicago, Illinois, and was run by Lenny Patrick and Dave Yarras, who were described as "Jews with the mob." 162-1-65-169 p.2 (sé) The following: references are reports dated from 12/2/53 to 5/22/67 furnished by Bureau Informants as set out below concerning the hoodlum activities and associates of Davey Yaras in California, Florida, Illinois and Michigan. (continued) -18- | Docld: 32326349 Page 6
(continued) INFORMANT | REFERENCE | SEARCH SLIP 7 | PAGE NUMBER NY 206-c 66-18621-96 ep.16,31 (30), DE 370-C-TE | 66-17867-33 p.37,38 (32. LA 4335-C-TE 137-7378-68 p.1 ¥29... MM 1003-C-TE 137-7954-74 pe hey OM 148-c-TE 137-9175-29 p.8,9 (8,33) On 6/21/67 MM 986-C-TE advised that several years ago’ John Prokos (165-1790) operated a "bust out" crap game in Miami. On one occasion "Doc" Robbins of the Fontainebleau Hotel lost $15,000, Robbins was pushed for payment of his debt, and the matter was finally ‘settled by Robbins paying the amount of money owed to Dave Yaras. 165-1790-145 p.4 (28) On 10/16/67 Edwin L. Abercrombie, Vice President of the Laundry, Drycleaning and Dye House Workers International Union, Local 218, Atlantay. Georgia (159-2651), related several incidents which had happened recently. He believed the purpose of these incidents was to scare him into allowing hoodlums into his union in Miami and felt it was an attempt by "the Mafia" or a big-shot hoodlum, David Yaras in Miami, to get a man into his union as a business agent in that area. Bennie Husick, "leg man" for Yaras, had called Abercrombie and asked for a job with his union as a business agent. When Abercrombie told Husick he could not have the job because of his police record, Husick told Abercrombie he hoped that he (Abercrombie ) was never in Miami when Yaras was in town. After this conversation Abercrombie received several messages to call David and he assumed they might have been from Yaras. He did not ever try to contact Yaras. - 159-2651-1 p.1,4,6,7 (ror -19- Docld: 32328349 Page 7
oO ~ NN. LA 4711-C-TE advised that during /a‘trilp between 10/5/70 ana 10/19/70 to Tampa, Florida, he made contact with Davie Yarras in Miami, They discussed the fact that Lefty Rosenthal in Las Vegas called a gambling operation in Los Angeles weekly to place large bets. Yarras was aware of Rosenthal's activities and advised that Rosenthal was the center of a gambling operation in Las Vegas which was: backed by "big money" operations in various families in the US. Yarras stated that while he (apparently Rosenthal) did not bank the operation in its entirety, he was satisifed by taking a "chopper" which the source described as layoff action. 165-42-263 p.c (3%) The following references appear in the main files of the individuals listed below. These references pertain to the gangster and criminal associations and activities of these individuals and David Yaras, Chicago and Miami hoodlum, in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Canada and Cuba from October 1945 to 8/20/71. Also set forth was information regarding Yaras' association and contacts with other members of the Chicago and Miami criminal elements. REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER James Allegretti (92-3205-51 p.1,3 - fas) Thomas Altamura 92-5388-18 p.1,3 (25) Peter Julian Arnstein . 63-87-1 p.2 CAR 92-H168-3 p.2 | (25) Charles "Babe" Baron 92-4595-34 p.1,2 | (25) | Joseph Bommarito | 63-144-1 p.8 833) | (continued) | -20- a . _ —) Docld: 32328349 Page &