(_ 3 ) Letter to the Director CONEIOBACIAL On June 5, 1958, JACK LANSKY stated that the Capri casino is doing excellent late night business and is probably the most success- ful gambling operation at present in Havana. On June 13, 1958, PCI [ Jalso informed that the Capri is the most successful OTHER 4 gambling casino presently operating in Havana. 7 OTEL HAVANA-HILTON CASINO Hava sa, Cuba | : Ww Jon May 9, 1958, HAV- 4)made available a list of the Americans who are employed in the gambling casino at the Hotel Havana-Hilton. A review of the list indicates that a majority of the employees in this casino have previously worked at the Sans Souci, Havana-Riviera and Capri casinos. On May 9, 1958, /GEORGE FENTRESS, an snfhoves at the Havana- Hilton, advised that JOEXSILESI, with alias Jo@yRivers, New York top hoodlum, is still managin; the casino at the HaVana- lilton Haile. SEBE EAD SILEST”is employing his brother, CHARLES SILESI, at the casino.” Source™ noted that recently IRVIN VITTS, a dealer, had a fight with CHARLES AS LLES , asa ‘result of which LEVITTS was fired by JOE SILESI. Cuba — On ‘May 13, 1958, HAV-4 ‘advised that NICHOLASZARROYO, the former Cuban Minister of Public Works and the present Cuban Ambassador to the United States, has an interest in the casino at the. Havana- ee ANT EMITS HiltonAiayy a Wow nN DiC, S previously indicated, on May 19, "1958, JACK LANSKY .stated that the edict of the Nevada State Gaming Board had .been directed principally at CLIFF JONES, former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and an interest holder in the Havana-Hilton casino. On June 13, 1958, pcI[~~~~_—~*dwStated ‘that the edict of the Nevada State Gaming Board, although directed at CLIFF JONES, had possibly done less damage to him than to other individuals in Havana who also had interests in Nevada because JONES has a relatively - small interest in the Havana-Hilton casino. PCI noted that ‘JOE SILESI is employed on a salary basis as manager oO he casino at the Hilton; however, he has some sort of profit arrangements that allows him to receive an extra bonus if business is good. Gk SANs SOUL. _NIGHT..CLUB_.CAS INo,H\ MCh Vrbtows aa a . aso 7 On May 16, 1958, PCI advised that se vyeral months ago he had received a credit inquiry concerning JOHNA ILLIAMS, Boston top hoodlum, from the Sans Souci casino. Source said he did not know the basis for this inquiry. Maga . Cuba ‘ \ It should be noted that the Sans Souci casino continues to be owned and operated by SANTOR TRAFFICANTE, a tops Regdiam, um, and by JOE TASSI, ‘FBI™ "No; 559327. VC SISHPG=Wepor NW 45693 DociId:32328150 Page 7
Letter to the Director On May 28, 1958, HAV-31 advised that DINO CELLINI, the OTHER 4 director of the gambling casino at the Hotel Havana-Riviera, is making nightly visits to the Sans Souci casino. Source said that in view of CELLINI's past close association with SANTO TRAFFICANTE, it was his Opinion that CELLINI has some financial interest in the,/Sans Souci casino. Source noted that a recent redecoration was made at the casino and CELLINI directed this redecoration. On June 4, 1958, HAV-31 advised that HENRYARUBINO is overseer of the craps tables : at the Sans Souci SBS TRO} phat ce (ha 4 previously advised that RUBINO was a close associate | “A TRAFFICANTE and that RUBINO will operate the Hotel Deauville casino when it opens. On June 17, 1958, 2, vex] ceoncea, “ who is employed in the apartment house where FFICANTE residés, advised that TRAFFICANTE has recently been associating with two "new Americans," whose identities were unknown to him. / ROPICANA NIGHT CLUB CASINO , Ravana Cu boas LE ET ot Set Ml heat ting gr ee Re IE TERE ES ‘This casino continues to be managed by WILLIAM, GUSTO... YBISCHOFF, with alias Letty7elark, Miami top hoodlum. On June 13, Fle, ‘I958, PCI advised that BISCHOFF receives a salary an in addition, has an interest in the casino. Source stated that Cah, business at the Tropicana has been very poor recently and that neha BISGHOFF's "take" is strictly limited to the salary he is receiving. HOTEL coMopoRO casino ) Have ow Ca bur <x Terre sat pas, RN Se PT A tT EN te a This casino continues to be managed..by. RALP INA, former Cub, Tampa.,,-Elorida.,-gambler.. HAV-31 advised on May 14, 195 that SANTO “24 TRAFFICANTE, SIDWJACOBS and DINO CELLINI- shave “interests. in_the Comodoro casino? Source said that JOSBPHATANBUBRO) 8 and TONY; (GAGLIANO . “eens me are employed in the Comodoro casino. PR MAA be, EA A RRS On May 27, 1958, PCI a Te that» JOSEPH TAMBURRO is a close associate/of SANTO TRAFFICANTE. wv YER “. AHOTEL PLAZA at fOTEL DEAUVILLE CASINOS pHavarn ry Cc ber, a Sources have previously advised the Legat, Havana, that SANTO TRAFFICANTE is the principal interest holder behind these two new casinos. Neither casino has opened as yet. On June 13, 1958, PCI informed that the opening of these casinos will probably be delayed for at least another month because of the poor’ tourist trade. ONE IDENTIAL QQO'EZ ~AaQoh | Nn NE ee ee a NW 45693 DociId:32328150 Page 8
Miore SEVILLA-BILTMORE CASINO, Havana Cuber. ‘This casino continues to be_owned by Cuban Congressman, | auuerrojparnise® It is managed by sam and appeals to a ; low-cla gambling crowd. Cuba. . \ edited . RIENTSL a RACE TRACK Information was " previously furnished Legat, Havana, that an individual known as "JOCKEY" (DENNIS, a former con man, had purchased an interest in the gambling casino at the Jockey Club.;at the Oriental Park Race Track. On May.29, 1958, HAV-31 advised that this individual OTHER 4 had died on that date of pleurisy. JH ava vn, Cu bw PROS SRO Jo June 16, 1958, PCI[——C—C] (conceal) verified the fact’ that "JOCKEY" DENNIS had died. This source stated that \ yb SEORG \LEVINE, FBI No. 382915, continues to operate the Oriental , yh e (Par Ce Track. as well as aS the casinos at the track. Source said t Wo AKPTR-VoKeh hat the track is losing about $5,000 a week but that LEVINE appears to have unlimited resources. Source noted that the profit at the casinos is not sufficient to offset the losses at the track. GENERAL INFORMATION : Sources have advised that there has been a recent improve- ment in tourism in Havana with the resultant slight increase in activity in the casinos. At present, only two casinos are reported to be breaking even or better. These are the casinos at the Hotel Capri and the Havana-Hilton. Sources feel, however, if the political situation remains reasonably quiet that all the casinos will eventually be showing a profit. On May 14, 1958, Mr. Thomas Kelley, mentioned previously, advised he had been visited by JOE Z-XLIPSKY, who claimed to_be_the/* owner of Gallagher's Steak House, 12605, .Biscayne..Boulevard,..Miami, \ Florida, and by JO HNASCHWARTZ, 710 ) Wayne Street, Miami Beach, Florida > Kelley Said these pal individuals attempted to interest him in.“ operating a hotel for them in Cienfuegos, Cuba. Kelley said this hotel is to be constructed in the near future and will have a gambling casino. He stated it will ostensibly be financed by Compania Cubana de Aviacion and that President Fulgencio Batista willihave an interest in the operation. Mr. Kelley said that LIPSKY and SCHWARTZ indicated they will operate the gambling casino and that Senator KENNETH{ JOHNSON of_Nevada will have an interest in the casino operation. Mr. Kelley 1 said that while he had not previously known LIPSKY, he recalled having met SCHWARTZ on several occasions many years ago in New York City. Kelley said at that time SCHWARTZ was considered to be a “right-hand arses 2 OER, ‘ a. NW 45693 DociId:32328150 Page 39
Havana files indicate that on January 1, 1958, Dr. Aristides Menendez, a contact of the Havana office, informed he had recefved infor- mation from a friend, who requested that his identity not be revealed, and who has contacts with labor leaders in New York City, that one JOHN SCHWARTZ, a labor racketeer from New York City, had been vacationing in Havana at the Havana-Riviera Hotel. Dr. Menendez said that his source claimed that SCHWARTZ was a "right-hand man" to FRANK COSTELLO. On May 20, 1958, the Spanish language newspaper, "Informacion," carried an advertisement concerning a land development project in the Isla de Pinos (Isle of Pines); Cuba. This advertisement indicated that a large hotel-motel and gambling casino would be constructed on the Isle of Pines. On June 5, 1958, JACK LANSKY advised that the publicity about a new hotel and gambling casino to be constructed on the Isle of Pines was simply a land-selling promotion on the part of the Mayor of Havana, JUSTO LUIS POZO, who has substantial property — interest there. LANSKY stated that tourism is and has always been "dead" on the Isle of. Pines and that the publicity was an effort on the part of POZO ~to realize a profit on his large land holdings there. LANSKY said he had serious doubts that any hotels or casinos would be built in the foreseeable future on the Isle of Pines. Qn June 3, 1958, HAV-4 advised he had received information that ROBERTO FERNANDEZ MIRANDA, the brother-in-law of President Batista, had installed a private guard force in all of the gambling casinos to insure there would be no difficulty in operation. Source said that. the head of this guard force is Lieutenant FERNANDEZ, who is usually located at the casino at the Hotel Capri and that the Hotel Capri pays FERNANDEZ' salary. &)) Uy) a, oO we Td | . “sy GAS . 7 On June 20, 1958, Mr. Malcolm McArdle,. branch manager , 23rd Street Branch of the} ational City Bank of New York, furnished the following confidential information concerning the group of Americans who are putting up.10_million dollars for the construction of the _Barlovento development... C Monte Carlo Hotel and gambling casino, in the . WALTER/KIRSHNER ,~ Belle Towers Apartments, Venetian Isle, bg Miami Beach. . IVAR J<2BLACKER, Hotel Deauville, Miami Beach. Flos. ~ SAMUELZE: ELMAN, .160 Broadway, New York City.. WilliamyMILLER, 3158 N. Bay Road, Miami.jFlorida. A EDWARD/MARSHALL, 300 E. Palisades Avenup, Englewood, N. J. TONY-H@ARTIN, DONALD{O'CONNOR and FRANKNSINATRA, allvof 7/7" |” a “A\ -Mr. McArdle indicated that this list was subject to revision. WO. a_i oe | WER “Aan. NW 45693 DocId:32328150 Page i0