JFK Assassination System Identification Form Date: 6/15/201 Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: _ 124-90068-10099 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER: = 62-75147-210-138 Document Information ORIGINATOR: — FBI FROM: NY TO: HQ TITLE : DATE: 06/16/1958 PAGES: 8 SUBJECTS : AMERICAN GAMBLERS IN CUBA AMERICAN GAMBLing ACTIVITIES IN CUBA DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 06/24/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : MEMO eo Cr v9.1 Docld: 32328145 Page 1 31
F Puen emie My Pawn Office Memorandum , UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT . ee STANDARD FORM NO. 64 i 1 ) / 4 TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (92=2867) pate: .6/16/58 a : FROM SAC, NEW YORK (92-886) SUBJECT “AMERICAN GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN Re NY letter to Bureau, 6/4/58. Seppe y <Z. Ay On 4/19/58, PCI EUGENE P. KEANE furnished the Y a fllowing information to SA EDMUND FLANAGAN, When reporting x tig L la this information, KEANE's identity should be protected and OM) ! bh he should be described as contact with whom has been (oy insufficient to determine his reliability. This information —_ ne a == == Coe (uloureau Ga2- DSP LI 210-1P F eh O oa - zu Lf eas . 7 ARES : : . ; GLASS ABP Ook g “JUL : 2 ay SS SRS EE AS EFS AK Ne ~ ~ . _ iP FN should be carefully paraphrased so as not to reveal identity. AMERICAN GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN CUBA Re Sans Souci 4 Oo Hee ec ec c ccc ee ein EEnAneEeenne . oe 7 > + » In June, 1957, KEANE and WILLIAM P, BUCKNER, . FBI #1652818, both of whom currently operate bingongames in the NYC area, went to Havana, Cuba, to operate ‘the bingo concession in the gambling casino of the Sans Souci? ‘KEANE stated the operation of the Sans Souci is controlled by SANTOS TRAFFICANTE with 60% interést; JOE STASSI, aka.; Joe Rogers, of New Jersey with 20% arid a Cuban: national, RAULKGONZALEZ with 20%. KEANE added that CONZALEZ has close connections with the "muscle men" in Cuba. BUCKNER and he are considered experts in the operation of bingo and because of this were asked to operate! the bingo game in the Sans Souci as this concession was consistently losing money. KEANE stated the average attendance at the a Souci was small and 400 patrons a night was considered good. 1-Miami (62-3398) (Info) 1-Salt Lake City (94-221) (Info) 1-New York + 25-836) (Subj) . mb ah 1-New York 92-886 ‘i Wy. se em A , a as JUN VE | EREsmeb hovel pop3 IN 38 1968. Docld: 32328145 Page 2?
, Sans Souci, they were to be given the concession of bing is “of the Sans Souci. They pointed out that if $22, 000 was the Lo 7 | AVSTR= Laahd — Docld: 32328145 Page 3 NY 92-886 To stimulate interest in bingo, KEANE and BUCKNER offered as a door prize a mink stole. After considerable advertising regarding the door prize of the mink stole, 1600 people were in attendance the night it was given away at the casino of the Sans Souci. KEANE added that the "wise guys" felt that this attendance was a "fluke." To show that they could keep the attendance high, KEANE stated the holders of ticket stubs for the mink stole door prize were told that the stub was worth $1.00 to play bingo on the following Monday evening. KEANE explained that Monday was the worst night for attendance at the Sans Souci. On this Monday night, 1100 people werGri.n... attendance at the Sans Souci. As a result of this é a? increased attendance and the promise that he and chef would supervise the entire gambling operation of the KEANE stated that because bingo consistently lost, he and BUCKNER did not feel that they could make any money. He stated that the bingo concession lost an average of $22,000 a month. He and BUCKNER, therefore, proposed that they be given a percentage of the entire gambling operation average loss per month and they operated the concession in the future for say $10,000 loss, they would in fact have made $12,000 for the casino. If bingo, for a given month, would. break even they would have made $22,000 for the casino. They also pointed out that they could keep attendance high at bingo by offering door prizes, etc., and that the side . games of "21, roulette and crap" would naturally profit from the added attendance. . AS a result of the above and with the understanding that KEANE and BUCKNER manage the entire operation of the Sans Souci, the breakdown was then to be: TRAFPICANTE 4O% STASSI 20% GONZALEZ 20% KEANE and BUCKNER 20% -2—
NY 92-3886 KEANE stated that now that he represented 20% of the Sans Souci he was offered the opportunity to see the books and observe the overall operation of the casino. He stated that for a period of about two weeks, he watched the operation of "21, roulette and crap," giving particular interest and attention to the security of the money to make sure "No one was taking off the top." He added that during the course of his obversation of the casino he talked to the cashier, a Cuban national who said the "bank" for the Sans Souci was about $400,000. On closer scrutiny of the books, howeves he determined that the actual cash on hand was $16,000 and the remainder of the $400,000 was in I.0.U.'s and checks "dated from the year 1", which he considered worthless. He said that because of the above and the following incident, he and BUCKNER left Cuba and returned ‘to the US. ¢ KEANE stated that he was in Cuba the last ne four or five days in June, 1957; for about eight or ten days in July, 1957, and from mid-September to the end of October, 1957. During this time, KEANE stated he never received any money, paid for him own expenses and did not put any money into the operation of the Sans Souci. KEANE said the main reason he left the Sans Souci and Cuba and returned to the US was the result of the small bank and the following: ~ He explained that slot machines were illegal in Cuba but that all casinos, hotels, etc. have a large number of slot machines. He states this was possible because a relative of Cuban President BATISTA, who KEANE believed was BATISTA's brother, had control of all these slot machines. He stated that the relative of BATISTA got 50% of the "take" from the machines and the remaining 50% went to the casino or hotel where the machines were located. He said that on one occasion he witnessed OLS =heogy Sana neha stan RAY atten mtd INSTEON t ihe  TE — T 4 Docld: 32328145 Page 4
donenetemeaeemar aiaieiendaimnete anitanemmmenananieinenenaiaaien=anaamntammetemniicmmeaaiainednmmntammmmentanaamemmmemmmmmaimnamemememmmeaieEmamenmmenmtaeneamentienimemmeeneneateet tenement ier ae on ; , ; um™ Nw NY 92-886 the "BATISTA people" taking money from the machines located in the Sans Souci and witnessed the counting of it. The total take from these machines was $11,000-$5,500 to the "BATISTA people" and $5,500 for the Sans Souci..:eHe said the $5,500 for the Sans Souci was taken to SANTOS TRAFFICANTE's office but that when the figure was entered in on the books, it was $2,700 and not $5,500. KEANE added that you could not ask.anyone about this discrepancy "because for this you | ~ “ could get killed, better you get out and go home." . KEANE requested that the information concernin the discrepancy in the take from the slot machines be kept in strict confidence. KEANE stated that from what he observed at the Sans Souci and the knowledge he obtained from , looking over the books of the casino, that the entire operation is losing from $18,000 to $33,000 a month. He stated that on thinking it over, he felt that Sans Souci "must be a drop or something, maybe junk." When questioned about the latter statement, he said, "This is strictly guess work. It does not figure that a joint would stay open just to lose money." Re SANTOS TRAFFICANTE KEANE stated that. SANTOSMRAFFICANTE, who iA. also used the name, LUISASANTOS, ts most of his money i from the "Bolita" game in’ Tampa, Florida. He added that Aube no Americans, to his knowledge, are in the numbers game in = Cuba as the operator of the game there gets only dbout 1% interest on his bank while in the US the average operator gets 4% interest on his bank. BoRS GW ITALY Concerning TRAFFICANTE's interest in the Sans Souci, KEANE stated he believed he has some interest, . but "fronts" for othersfor the total 40% or 50% that he represents.. KEANE went on to say that TRAFFICANTE "is not too bright." He stated that when he read in the NY newspapers concerning the Apalachin, NY, meeting 11/14/57, and read that one LUIS SANTOS ran into the woods, he felt that this individual was in fact TRAFFICANTE, he a geoge sods Docld: 32328145 Page 5
' all with the exception of CELLINI come to the US occasionally. (eee RE A TT can ter resent are j NY 92-886 . He stated "this shows the mental capacity of this character. Why run? Why use a phony name?" He stated that TRAFFICANTE spoke with a slight accent and he felt that TRAFFICANTE was born in Italy. ._He said also that TRAFFICANTE "spoke Spanish like a. native." stated that besides his interest in the TRAFFICANTE also has a percentage of the Deauville, mbling casino in Havana. KE; Sans Souci a small re KEANE stated that he felt TRAFFICANTE was a front man for others at :the San. Souci because DINO CELLINI did most of the talking for TRAFFICANTE concerning this cuBr casino. He stated CELLINI,is one of the main "fronts" in —— Cuban gambling in that he talks for TRAFFICANTE at the Sars Souci, is Night Manager of the casino and the Hotel | Riviera and runs a school \for Cuban :dealers, 4 t He said CELLINI originally came out of the Midwest, possibly Cleveland or Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been in Cuba for 8 or 10 years. Prior to his coming to Cuba, CELLINI operated a "gambling joint" in Washington, D.C. KEANE Stated he believed CELLINI was in trouble in Washington, D.C., "I think-over a shooting." He added that CELLINI has never been back to the United States an@ feels that it is because of the trouble in Washington, D.C. He said CELLINI's wife, his brother and his mother are all in Cuba and ° He added CELLINI's wife makes the most frequent trips. mG Re JOEYSTASSI, wa., Jo ISTASSI, as reported above, had 25% interest in Se8t the Sans Souci and later 20% interest (while BUCKNER and : KEANE had 20%).. He said STASSI, who comes’ from New Jersey, was never seen by him while he was at.the Sans Souci. — . KEANE stated STASSI's son, JOE STASSI, Jr. who -, is about 18 years old, watched out for his father's interest in Sans Souci. He said the younger STASSI was either a "stick man or dealer." a QWAVOeSYE | Docld: 32328145 Page 6
NY 92-886 stated RATTENI operates a garbage carting service in Yonkers, RATTENI, according to KEANE, is worried about the FBI inquiry and stated that RATTENI could not understand why the FBI was iyiterested in him as he hasn't done anything illegal. : Re GERA KEANE stated he knew captioned individual as JERRWICATENA who owns the Runyon Sales Co..of New York and New jersey with another individual by the name of (FNU) KEANE stated that this company sells juke boxes. He added that CATENA knows the FBI is interested in his activities and is worried about the FBI inquiry. Re De Feo Cadillac Agency KEANE stated this Cadillac agency, in either Yonkers or White Plains, has sold ¢adillacs to several “characters.'' KEANE stated he heard that ‘tthe FBI was asking De Feo for all background information concerning these "characters," including the serial and motor number of the automobile sold, credit information including the credit references given. NY 1894-c. during contacts April 7-14, 1958, advised \ SA THOMAS J, EMERY that he and a shylock friend of his, LUBA 4 JIMMK¥YCOLLANZA (ph) had been at Local 1804, ILA, to see QUE HENR “BUSTER ELL recently and BELL remarked that he had just returned ‘frém a trip to Cuba and Panama, supposedly on ILA business. BELL mentioned something about his union's plan to back a construction project in Panama in which about 15,000 housing units are to be built. BELL did not elaborate on this and the informant stated he is not aware exactly how this union fits into the Panama project. Informant advised that while in BELL's office at Local 1804 on South Street, NYC, BELL introduced them to a Cuban referred to only as Mr. "BOSQUE", who in ensuing conversation indicated he was one of BATISTA's -7- _ v9 CS =MWGRY Docld: 32328145 Page &
NY 92-886 top men, and was the one who was instrumental in getting MEYER LANSKY and LEFTY CLARK (true name WILLIAM BISCHOFF ) nationally known gamblers, and top hoodlums, into Havana casinos. This individual remarked to COLLANZO (ph) and. informant, that this "trouble", referring to the . current revolt in Cuba,: would.be over by next tourist season, and that plans are being: made to open several new casinos, and make Havana the biggest gambling center in the world. This Cuban stated that new casinos will not necessarily be connected directly with hotels, and that there will be a yearly license fee of about $100,000 to operate such.a casino. = ‘Informant was not aware of this individualss business with BELL, and knew only that he was supposed to be staying at the President Hotel, NYC, under the above name, "BOSQUE," The following informants in the NY area have . ' been: contacted for any information they might have regarding Cuban gambling activities with negative results. | ___NY 889-C was contacted by SA HOWARD C. LA DUKE on 2/28/58. NY 211-C was contacted by SA STEPHEN L. HALPIN on 3/14/58. on 5/8/58. 4/25/58. on 5/8/58. NY 2227-C was contacted by SA THOMAS T, MC SHANE was NY 1170-C contacted by SA LEON KELMER on NY 1763-C was contacted by SA JAMES T, MC SHANE J Investigation in NY is continuing to develop the identity of subscribers of telephone contacts made by WILBUR CLARK, ALLARD ROEN and T,J.MC GINTY when they were staying in NY hotels during first week of. May, 1958. Extra copies of this letter are being submitted to Bureau for forwading to Legat, Havana and information copies are disseminated for the Miami and Salt Lake City offices in view of the interest of these offices in this matter. P, AVOPR— ood Docld: 32328145 Page 3 mo