JFK Assassination System Date: 6/15/201 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: _— 124-90068-10116 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILE NUMBER: = 62-75147-210-151 a eeeeeeeeeSeSSSSSSSSeSSeSeeeeeeeeeeee ' Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: HAV TO: HQ TITLE: DATE: — 08/27/1958 PAGES: 13 SUBJECTS : AMERICAN GAMBLERS IN CUBA AMERICAN GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN CUBA DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: — 06/24/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: = INDEFINITE COMMENTS : MEMO ee Eee v9.1 38 NW 45693 Docid:32328165 Page i
stated that the| new law would prevent any further importation of this material and will also prevent the installation of siot machines in the gambling casino that BANTO TRAFFICANTS had hoped to open in the Hotel Piaza, LAISZY noted that the specific reference in the cecree to the shipment back to the United States of slot-machines located in the Customs warehouses in Mavana would have a direct ef- fect upon the “Wotel Plaza as it was their Slot machines "which are presently tied up in Cuban customs,” co 3S #8 : ‘ ‘ 2, The decrees Zacreasing the value that a hotel must have before it may apply for a ganbling liceuse is also aimed at the Motel Plaza and, - according to JACK LANSKY, is a direct result . aS £ action taken by Cuban Conzressnan_ AMLETTO U A BATTISTI who owas the gamnbliias concession wa “EH CHS HOtel Sevilla Biltmore. LANSXY noted that because of the close prozxinity of the aotei Flaza to the Hotel Biltmore, BATTISTI has been concerned that competition from the Hotel 2laza would definitely affect the casino operation in the Motel Sevilla Bilt- more, JACK LANSKY was of the opinion that the two Governnent regulations would make practically impossible j the opening of the gansling casino in the Hotel Placa by TRAFPFICANTE, CASINOS IN OPERATION Wilbur. Clark's Casino Hotel ilacional ot JACK LANSIY, Miami Top Hoodium, continues to be the overseer in the cambling casino at the Hotel Nacional. fav-31 acvisecé on July 2, 1935S, that. he had ascer- . tained that there is considered to be a loose working re-~ lationship amoag all the casinos in Havana. This source 7 said that the casinos in the Hotel Havana Riviera and the Hotei Nacional are considered to be practically Joint opera- tions because of the interests of MEYER UANSIY in both, +14 Calin 2 - oS = NW 45693 DociId:32328165 Page 2
Havana 64-153 : nn sire ; "8/27/58 oe On July 7, 1958, P ‘(L __ df dice table one 4 boss at the Hotel Havana Hilton casino conceal), advised that MEYER LANSKY continues to be a very powerful ficure in gambling in Cuba and is the major interest holder in _bae casinos in the Motels Nacional and Riviera, Pci /* ptated in addition that few pcovle are aware ° Nye that SAMATUCKER,. one of the interest holders in the / Ali, Naci Sal Casino, is an important figure in American t ‘ ganbiing and is reputed to be worth many millions of 4 Goliars, This source said that TUCKER is a large in- Ce terest holder in the Desert Ina in Las Vegas ana the ; new Stardust in Las Vegas , as well as in- the Hotel Na- ; cional casino, Source related further that TUOXER has a investments in a large aunber of 0% ‘her operations both in tw Plorica and Nevada, | On July 14, eee Hav-Gl advised that he had as- certained from a source he considered reliable that the following cominations have interests,in the Hotel Na- .Cional ganbling CASING ee 1. Floriaa combination mposed of MSEYE Rh and Senses. 5. JACK : TANSEY, Mecancnae ALC, was, Yany flo ‘and _iunay, "Blue~Z and 50 DONUTS, representad. aE thos el Naeioual by ~ JACK LANSRY, f) ‘ i fo | 2. Cleveland JoabivAtion composed of, ZAM Ta _ TUCKER, GEORGERGORDON, and THCMASAMCGINTY, “_— represent se-a ae tue PAG Nacional casino. by ; SAM -TUCXER and occasionally represented 42 TUCKER's absence by GEORGE GORDON, ce Now.Yor's, combination conposed of FRANK RERICKSON and ABNER es —“YOpreseated at’ tie Sotel Nacional by ae BER’ A BRIGGS ,— Zo = Guba ».f > Source advised in -ddditioa that "BIG ALY (POLIS / of gea either to the New York or Cleveinad conblnatic ation aiso had an interest in the Nacional casino, { Source stated that GEORGZ GORDON had recently veen at the casino in the Motel Nacional because SAM TUCKER hac been absent due to the ceath of TUCZER's brother-in-law in Cleveland. Source stated that an individua 12 named _BOBBY Kuz had represented the Cleveland group at the Hotel Nacional Lace pf nh, LL NW 45693 DociId:32328165 Page 3
Havana 66-153. . C0 NTI AL 3/2'1/58 casino a year ago during G4 “4 TUCKER's absence .in Burope, Source noted that he noliod. od GEORGE GORDON maintained ‘a residence in Jest saln Beach, ‘Florida, since GORDON had piaced a telephone call to his wife. there, mource ad-= vis further that GORDON ; recer tA y made a fotephone | call to 2 goxnosms (an alias of Jon} WELSSI, a business associate “SANTO " TRAFFICANTS) and SH¥Ige need ReGIRS to place an individual by the uname of LoUoss in the Hotel Havana Milton as a dealer, Cube —A—— Source noted th in an enterprise called " at SAM TUCKER is in partne hip el oe idiani Skyways" with BAUNIZ Keariag C8L On July 25, 1958, Uav-31 advised that pavgMfarns; | th former Chicago gunman, hac been in Havana cource said . that YARAS' son was recently loaned $200. by SAM -TUCKER, Coie On ‘July 29, 1988, Bav-21 advised that BERT BRIGGS had been on vaca tion from the Hotel Nacional gan- bling casino and that he had vacationed in New York City. source said that BRIGGS was reported to have contacted FRANS SRICKGON while in ew York. ma . A . . 2 Cal arr TIAN ~ On August $, 1953, Hav-31 adyised that JACK LANSKY had received a ietter from DAN "DUSTY: SB2ENS, Credit ‘Mana- ger at the Hotel : Hava na Riviera gambli ag icasino. This letter requested JAC" LANSRY to pake reservations at the Desert Inu in Las Togas for FAY DPERDUS, Uav-31 stated taat he recalls PERDUZ as having beenla Miami police of- 2. wT a iW 2: . eee ee Le a re aad ficer who was "on the take rom ganblers” in Fiorida, Cok _ a eee On August €, 1958, JACK LANG, aavised .that interes holders in the Setel Nacional casino were having & meeting on that cate in New Yor: city with representatives of the ‘Intercontinental Hoteis Corporation, which operates. the. > Hotel Nacional, in an ef? ort to reach sone agreenent con- , cerning the sale of the casino. . LANSKY indicated that business in the casino hac improved to the extent where the casino was breaking even, é Ou August 1, 1253, THomaa Je KELLEY, Resident , Manager, Hotel Nacional, advised that-an individual naned wks ur ict ainzy nad been making inquiry concerning. possible C purchase of the gambling casino in the Hotei Nacional. JIA Mr, KXSLLEY said that MoLANZY WaS Supposed to operate the YY u' higion Restaurant 28 Miami, The Mian telephone directory ndicates a_MICHAZL J) (A MCLAMEY res iding at 7909 Harbor Isle and shows the address’ of the u'figion ag bas Harding Avenue, Surfside, Gay 4 NW 45693 DociId:32328165 Page 4
— 9 & } o¢ ! » © Mem ° ‘ . - 4 - Havana 64-153, 0/21/58 On August 8, 1958, iit, XGLLEY statec he had also receyved information that an individual known by the name cape. RAYARYAI hac indicated an interest in purchasing the ca- . o Sino in the Motel Nacional, bye . . * -- ws tes = . - (fen e EHlotel Savana Riviera Casino | 4 Oa June 25, 1988, PCI ‘OTHER 4 (conceal) advised that HARRY and Bal OULTE Toronto hotel owners who have a part=intorest in thé Hotel Havanai Riviera hotel and casino, arrived at the Hotel Navana Riviera on June 22, 1958, eci[__] stated that on June 24, 1953, a private conference was held in the conference room on the 4th floor of the Hot ‘el Havana Riviera, Ne informed that the following Andividuais had attended the conference: “TA wih! | JA ny anc ESN SUIT? i HS IER LANSKY SENIGARD i bource stated that as a result of the conference TARRY SMITH was removec as President of the Havana Riviera corporation, and FELDEN was iustailed as Yresident, Source Stated this change was caused by the bac publicity received by the SMITH brothers in connection wien their arrest in ' Canada on charges of frand, On June 30, i583, T, JAMES BMWIC, Manager, Hotel mavana Riviera, advised that there had been a change in top officers of the Havana Riviera Hotel Corporation, He-.said that HARRY SHITH was no longer President and that BSN SMITH nac been removec from the Board of Directors, Ze noted that IRVING FELDMAN hac become President, Mr. ZNNIS stated that the SMITHS brothers continue to have interests in the hotel anc gambling casino, He noted that MEYIR LANSIY stili nas the major interest in the hotel and gambling casino in-spite of the fact that he does not appear as a corporation O32 . RS 22LACCr, ‘ . \ Oa duly 1, 1983, rerD_ (econ) acvisec that MEYER LANGXY and his wife had been residing at the Motel Havana Riviera during the preceding week but that they Hac not permanently changec their residence. Source stated that it appeared that MEYER LANSKY intendod to pernanocntly maintain his apartment at Callo 12 No, 20 since he had re- cently purchased a substantial amount of furniture for it. coe CONAENTIAL NW 45693 DociId:32328165 Page 5 ‘
‘\ . d= CO Culo— 02 Waly ‘10, 1958 IOS 5 2Gat ioned above, advisee that Ray ALA SCY had departed for ilorida on dul 8; i953, Source stated that MEYER LANOSY'S wife had renained in Havana. Source noted that HARRY SMITH was ob- sone’ in the Hotel Havana Riviera on July 7, 1958, but at to his kxnowlcdge there had not beer aay ‘additional nostings at the hotel, Source informed that SJOMPALINK, ve who formerly worked as a shift boss in the Hotel’ TaAvana Riviora casino a Who nas previously been roported to have purchased a part-interest in the casino, is presently assceiated with “the ganblins casino in the Joozey Club ‘at the Oriental Park Race Traci, Source said that LINE has an interest in the Jockey Club. 3/27/58 . A i informed that the sambiing busi- PCr ro) ra ganbiing casino is practically ale al ness in the Hotel Riv vier . Ae ow ft : r ei July 18, 1022, Per [_____Jacvised that _=DDIZ a ~- : * 2 a TORRES from Las Vegas is presently employed in the Sanbling castno at the Hotel Havana Riviera, Source said, #hat TORRES isa snite Boss anc has replaced {RVING "HIGGI3" DEVINE» arr a es ee me Fee Hotel Capra Casino ’ Oa July 2, 1950, Bav-31 advisec that in connection with the working relationship of gambling casinos in Havana, the following casinos were considered to be eo opera- tions because SANTO TRAFFICANTE has an interest ail of, them: - . . Capri pans Souci - Deauville - Conodoro . Hilton Dhe foregoing information was confirmed by PCI mentioned above, on July 7, 1958, PCr aiso snformec that an individual by the nane of RICHARDOON, who is associated with the operation of the ganbling casino in the Hotel Capri, is a partner of MORRIS LAIMA in one of XLSINMiT's gambling operat: ons ia las Las Vogase yu ht | CONT AL OTHER 4 NW 45693 DocId:32328165 Page 6
Qs, a . Hava waa Ga4153 CO 8/27/58 PCI stated that "Frat Tia BUTCH” (an alias’ for NICOLAS DB COSTANZO) aud his "crowd" Sad Simply - moved in ‘om-the-othér ihterest holders of the ganbling casino of the Hotel Capri. Source stated that "FAT Tam BUTCH" hac actually invested very little money in the casino but had. nanaged to Scare the other interest holders into accept— ing him and his group, ‘ Hotel savana 2 diiton Casino _. . Oa duly 7, 1950, 2CcI[ advised that the Hotel Savana Milton casino. is operating profitably and is . necting its expenses ont the slot machine operation’ alone. He notec-that Ancré f Surpriscc at the fout in the casinos, Source Sood Cuban tur rife Livers continues to nanage SILZSL, wa. the casino, ‘Source saic eae" Y RGD continue to have intésests-in 7 tSO Fedo Ling casino - in the Hoygl Havana.. Siiton,, and MARIQ“ENDOZA, EU2 838 with ihterests in the HOtGIsavand Bitten Gésino, Rave seer losing a substantial anount of money gambling anc that ROBERTO iERNDOZA is reported to have lost a half-million Gollars in recent nmonths,: On July 10, 1958, PerL_ stated that the following individuals have interests in the Hotol Havana | nae, enecn arene wr iets HAMS wee Amini rnaete ot Hiiton casino: ° ‘ M3 CHARLES BR UDG ait ‘CLIFEZIOINS _ ROBIRTO MRIS SANTO TRAFFICANT: ij Source said that JOMPOILESI, according to his in- formation, actually coes h fay DECEC interest in the casino of the Hotel Havana Milton, dource was unable to state whether this interest actually belongs | “to SLILESI or Whether | oILESI is ropresenting someone else, Source informed that SILIST is the unofficial manacer of the casino but that an incivicual named _LARRYUASit handies the technical opera- tion of the casino, Our’ e Saia that he understands that SILas1, during the time _WILLIAMvo'DyvER was, May r of New Yor? ;. hac an excellent PE NW 45693 DociId:32328165 Page 7 can gamsling daterests have been most Qt basses a fihtegYoruaian aac ERLE Sy "~\ a7 “Source informed that ROBE BRO dfn 07h 9. OTHER 4