ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 ‘HW 54097 Docld: 32334056 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-90110-10049 HQ CR 87-58729-28 Document Information FBI MM HQ 04/06/1961 _ 14 JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified 4 Redact 08/06/1998 INDEFINITE AT, INC ADMIN PAGE Page 1 Date: 6/2/2015 Peleased under the John Kennedy Wssassination Records ollection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). ases#: NW 54027 Date: ns—-25-2017
me On the afternoon of 3/21/6%;‘MM-722-c telephoni advised he was under the impression MEROLA may have pulled. this score and should be considered a suspect. He based... this on the fact that MEROLA had previously mentioned::to. . him the valuable jewelry. these. individuals owned and how nice it would be*to: get it. He also based this on the fact that he had heard MEROLA was frequenting Gulfstream Race. _ Track, which is directly across from the restaurant runby - - Subsequently MM-722-C advised SA PRUEC. CLINKSCALES that he was convinced MEROLA had “his two boys” = : pull this score. He based this on the fact that MEROIA had "© - jewelry. He had learned this from MEL ADLER, a close friend of MEROLA and the informant. Informant advised SA CLINKSCALES that MEROLA had sold two pieces for approximately $10,000 toa 1 individual and had offered a big piece for sale to SAMAKAY, a Miami Beach racketeer millionnaire. Also of interest in this matter, MM-722-C had earlier advised that he believed MEROLA's "two boys" were the individuals responsible for a number of kidnapings of . well-to-do individuals which had occurred on the Beach. These kidnapings consisted of the forcible taking of individuals and shaking them down for a sum of money. One such incident was reported to the Bureau by Miami teletype of 1/11/61 oe captioned UNSUBS (2); HENRY HARVEY HERMAN - VICTIM; KIDNAPING. This individual was abducted at a stop light, was not trans-. ported interstate and was released unharmed with the promise — that he would later pay his abductors the money demanded. . No federal violation was involved since no interstate . transportation. Information has been received re similar . = kidnapings handled in the same manner but Victims reportedly . . .,imvolved had refused to make an official complaint to policé TRO HW 54027 Docld:32334056 Page 2
y wet nN ™~= ed On the night of 4/3/61, pursuant to a specific request, MM-722-C telephonically contacted Supervisor . SWINNEY. He was asked to furnish all information concerning MEROLA's possible participation in this loss and was advised that information he had previously given to SA CLINKSCALES was known to SA SWINNEY. He was told it was absolutely necessary to determine from whom he had obtained this infor- mation and the complete details. MM-722-C advised he had learned from MEL ADLER that MEROLA had sold two pieces of jewelry immediately following instant loss to a local individual in order to get money for MEROLA's “two boys" to get qut of town until things cooled off. He also advised that CHARLES ELMONICO, son of Top Hoodlum CHARLIE "THE BLADE’ TOURINE, had told him, MM-722-C, he had recently purchased two pieces of jewelry from MEROLA for $7,500 in order for MEROLA to get money to sep his boys out of town until things cooled off. LA. ane MM-722-C also advised MEROLA had in his possession a gun with a silencer and it is noted a silencer equipped gun was used in instant robbery. In view of the foregoing information, it was considered desirable to interview MEROLA in an attempt to resolve whether he was implicated in this violation. Accordingly, SA SWINNEY telephonically contacted hin, requesting that he come to the Miami office on the morning of 4/5/61. He appeared voluntarily as requested and was interviewed by SA SWINNEY out of the presence of any other personnel since it was felt he would be more likely to admit any implication on his part under these conditions. ~4&- HW 54027 Docld:327334056 Page 3