STANDARD FORM “NO. G4 SB ee Office Memorandum + onirep states GOVERNMENT. TO + | DIRECTOR, FBI (92-2781) DATE: May 28, 1959 FRO SAC, SEATTLE (92-17) / SUBJECT: santd-PRAFFICANTR, JR., aka of ANTI-RACKETEERING ~~ Re letter 1/29/59, Legal Attache, Havana to. Bureau, » requesting background information concerning RON WARNOCK in that he was reported as making efforts to buy the Sans Souci Gambling Casino from SANTO TRAFFICANTE in Cuba. ; RON WARNOCK is the brother of TOM V. WARNOCK, who ~- was Sheriff of Snohomish County, Washington, 1/1/47 to 1/1/55. Prior to TOM's election, RON was a fight promoter in the 5 Seattle, Washington area. On his brother's election, he a “became Deputy Sheriff of Snohomish County and operated in that capacity. Informants have advised that RON WARNOCK was, during his brother's tenure as Sheriff, and has been since under TWITCHELL, current Sheriff, Snohomish County, the "yick-up" and "fix" man for-that county. A- confidential source in 198 advised that JOE GOTTSTRIN, BILL EDRIS, JOSEPH HART and OSCAR TJERSLAND had made arrangements with TOM WARNOCK to operate gambling in Snohomish County. The four above-named individuals were at that time prominent gamblers in the Seattle, Washington area. In May of 1956, SE-551-C advised that RON WARNOCK had been campaign manager for ARNOLD ZEMPLE, Snohomish County Prosecutor, and as a result had ZEMPLE's permission to permit gambling and was, in fact, the man who says whether a parti- cular place can or cannot operate in that county. RON WARNOCK is closely associated with HUGENE ALBERT PETERSON, PCI of the Seattle Office. PETERSON is a self-~admitted active gambler in Snohomish County at the . sg CAO Do ory dy ' hy ~ press - | MWY b l4/ ) peak, LA ZL bE vA ‘a | 1 - Legal Attache, Havana . | . 1 - Seattle J 2 2 ; Gful> ot Ve JUN 2 1959 yp CBH shaf hy) NAM Al Sous aa on Oe JUN § ee eee! UN 4 1959 . ee y | a DoctId: 32556390 Page 1 {
— > eo SE 92-147 present time. -PETERSON advised on 4/8/59 that he was departing this area for the purpose of going to the Kentucky Derby, at the conclusion of which he was going to Havana, Cuba, to Look into gambling interests there. ‘PCL PETERSON advised on 5/25/59 that he had just returned from Havana, Cuba. He advised that while in Cuba he was in contact with SANTO TRAFFICANTE, who was still trying to sell the Sans Souci Casino. He advised that TRAFFICANTE was supposed to have sold his interest in the Sans Souci but that actually he still owns the same interest as he formerly did. PETERSON advises that originally RON WARNOCK went to Havana, Cuba, in the hopes of putting Spanish language punch- boards in that area. He advised that WARNOCK was unable to make arrangements for the punchboard operation but that while he was in Havana, he was in contact with the operator of the Sans Souci Casino. .PETERSON advises that his and WARNOCK's. punch- board operation in Snohomish County depends on obtaining the boards from PAT ZURLA, Chicago, and ZURLA was to be the source . of the Spanish language punchboards. | PETERSON advises that the source of capital that was to be used in purchasing the Sans Souci. Casino was from Seattle. He stated that actually he and WARNOCK could not raise suffi- cient funds to purchase the Casino but at the same time, due to the inactive gambling patrons in the form of tourists in | Cuba, caused them to have: little desire to pay the amount necessary to purchase this Casino at this time, No further investigation being conducted under this caption. A separate letter is being addressed to the Bureau under the title "RON WARNOCK, ANTIRACKETEERING", instituting an | investigation under the Top Hoodlum Program, UACB. RUC, DoctId: 325356390 Page 2?