AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 AGENCY FILE NUMBER : JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-90101-10071 HQ 92-4194-2 Document Information FBI HQ 04/23/1963 3 JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified 4 Redact 07/29/1998 INDEFINITE MEMO HW 45876 DocIdad:32332330 Page 1 Date: 6/2/2015
a 7 7 7 7 < 3 7 e Pi . ‘ . . 4 . i ; . we . : OPTIONAL FORM NO: 10 5010-106 ! ae ° ~ | 7 te May, > . 8 . ; * ° - S 1962 EDITION - ws . “= gg se GSA’ GEN. REG. NO. 27 UNITED STATES 5 C7eRNMENT Memorandum “ff Director, FBI April 23, 1963 \ SAC, Miami (92-463) Pm JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA, aka oy i IA | ener ati astremmminies sin oot AR OTHER 4 a On April 22, 96a, tenn MM 722-C)ya vised SA PRUE C. CLINKSCALES that he had just learned from JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA, FBI No. 4989299, of Miami Beach, a _ MEROLA contemplates two "shakedown" kidnapings from which a expects to obtain considerable money. One of the intended, ' - Map victims is GERARDO V. CATENA, aka Jerry, of Newark, N Jersey, who is known to the Bureau to be a member of the. Com- Bee - ak / 74 _ 2/7 on mission in the La Causa Nostra. Source learned MEROLA is. aware : of the fact that CATENA visits the South Florida aréa petiodically, Rim eS = man The other intended kidnap victim is MAXIE :RAYMOND,, aka “ee Maxie Eder, who is. considered a Lieutenant for MIKE COPPOLA: and. >. looks after COPPOLA's interest in the Fontainebleau’ Hotel, “Miami oe Beach. | “> a B [oT ]sai d he learned MEROLA has already teléphoni z cally contacted ID, aka ALiRose, "The Chinaman," of Pittsburgh 9; | and New Kensington, Pennsylvania, an "associate of MEROLA'S for ans many years. SEID is reportedly the "trigger man" for the MANNARINOs 5: "SAM and GABE," of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. ‘MEROLA has given {3 | some thought to utilizing the services of MI TEK, of Chicago, {7 as his "strong arm". man. ROLA, ¢ Contemplate use of a boat eh ‘9 MERO for holding the kidnap victims unti'l arrangements are made for the pay off money to MEROLA, a) or some designated represent ative rs Sa bi, da eeu192y v" wee a 4. qa APR 2 353 ty as 'S 137% =6257) to os if at is si Nin v4 9092-317) ee © 92-463) (MEROLA)(1 - 87-8049) (MEROLA). . nine. je 92-252) (CATENA) (1 = 92-467) (RAYMOND) G01 - 92-101) (COPPOLA) (1 = 137-2065) (GRAY) (6 i . (En | HW 45876 DocId:32332330 Page 2
OTHER 4 MM 92-463 [jaia that he had been approached by MEROLA to pick up the money. He said he declined such offer. -- Former MM -722-C said he did not learn any details as to the exact dates or places of the alleged kidnapings of CATENA and RAYMOND. He continued that it is very unlikely he’ will learn any further such details, as he declined to participate by picking up the pay off money. . Source advised that above information undoubtedly is known to only three or four individuals ther than himself and any utilization or dissemination of this information would without question seriously jeopardize his personal safety and even his life. Source advised that for his own personal wel- fare and safety he intends to contact both CATENA and RAYMOND in the very near future and advise each of them of MEROLA's ~ plans and intentions with respect to these alleged kidnapings and shakedowns. The Bureau is aware from previous correspondence volved in a major jewel theft in the Miami area previously, and MEROLA confided in Departmental Attorney WILLIAM KENNEY, Miami, of their participation in the same. that JOE MEROLA and MIKE SWIATEK, mentioned above, were in- | l By previous correspondence captioned "HENRY HARVEY HERMAN = VICTIM; KIDNAPING," furnished to the Bureau by Miami _ teletype dated January 11, 1961, HERMAN was the victim of a shakedown kidnaping in the Miami area.~ Continued reports have been received and reported to the Bureau indicating other similar shakedown kidnapings. By teletype dated July 26, 1961, captioned "MM C,"' the Bureau was advised of a.contemplated -. shakedown kidnaping on the part of MEROLA. i HW 45876 DocId:32332330 Page 3
MM 92-463 OTHER 4 As the Bureau is aware, MEROLA and the informant in this matter,[ _~—~—~——sihaave::‘ been close associates for many years. They have been jointly involved in illegal activity in the past. MEROLA has no visible means of support, however, the mode of his living is such that he apparently has unlimited funds. This money could be coming from such shakedown ‘kidnaping activity. No official complaint has been received concerning a violation of the Federal law in the previous kidnapings and in- vestigation and inquiry among informants has failed to reflect such a violation. -Based upon the information furnished as to the contemplated action, it does not appear a Federal law would be broken’in this instance. It is also known that in some of the past previous alleged kidnapings, which apparently took place according to informants, the victims have even denied these kid- napings for fear of their: lives. The above is submitted for the Bureau's information and the Bureau will be advised as soon as reports that he has discussed this-matter with both CATE RAYMOND. In view of[ __—_—sitticipated action, it is recommended this in- formation not be disseminated to local authorities. There is attached a letterhead memorandum for the Bureau's consideration in disseminating the same to the Department inasmuch as MEROLA is known to this office to be a lose acquaintance and informant of Departmental Attomey WILL NNEY in Miami. }Lé eee ee A amcumieware TELE ITE i HW 45876 DocId:32332330 Page 4