' Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 3107 Hofer. DATE: 11-14-2017 C NY DE 137-2879 him that he only went to work at Palm as he thought he could make some money but, as it turned.out, he “didn't eat or , @rink", ie, make any money from the deal. _ Informant advised that VALENTI told him that following his interview the previous Friday by the FBI he had contacted ‘JOE "WHIP" TRIGLIA and gave "JOE WHIP" all the details of the interview. VALENTI told Informant that he asked TRIGLIA to get . in touch with RUBINO right away and find out what RUBINO wants him (VALENTI) to do or say in the whole matter. On 3/11/63, Informant advised that VALENTI told him that TRIGLIA had contacted him and gave him a message from MIKE RUBINO to the effect "Don't bother me. I've got troubles of my own". Informant commented that VALENTI is now real hot at RUBINO. He said that really RUBINO made a big mistake in answering VALENTI's request like this as VALENTI's testimony could help "buyy RUBINO". Informant commented that he does not believe that VALENTI actually knows RUBINO, He said that certainly VALENTI has seen RUBINO a few times around town but that VALENTI, when he was associated with "the people" was employed in the numbers in the old Murphy House, which is now run by "FAT DOMINIC" CORRADO and TONY GIACALONE, and VALENTI wouldn’t have come in contact with RUBINO who represented another faction in the syndicate. He said that he knows that VALENTI knows SAMMY G. but that VALENTI displays nothing but contempt now for GIORDANO, Informant advised that VALENTI has been ranting and raving about “the people” having no-sense of loyalty or morals. Informant added that sot only does VALENTI realize this now but he is still afraid of them. He offered that VALENTI is not — afraid of,say, MIKE RUBINO or TONY GIACALONE, as a person but because they represent a strong organization - the syndicate. | Informant remarked that VALENTI had been employed _as a "pick-up man" and an office worker in the numbers for TONY GIACALONE but that VALENTI and GIACALONE got in "a big beef" one day and GIACALONE fired VALENTI. Informant said that VALENTI missed a "pick-up" one day at a particularly large "drop" and it caused a lot of confusion and the loss of “a day's business". Informant stated that VALENTI complained that he "made a tail" and thus wasn't able to make the "stop". He added that the two of them apparently got in a big hassle over it and the upshot was that VALENTI lost his job. Informant ad- vised that VALENTI is still "pretty hot" at GIACALONE over this whole incident. - 3 = Docld: 32315574 Page 4
Released under the -John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 Usc 2107 Hotter. DATE: 11-14-2017 DE 137-2879 Informant advised that he was at NICK DITTA's car . lot when the U.S. Marshal came to serve DITTA a subpoena on | the Palm Furniture case. Informant said that DITTA hasn't been around since the previous Saturday, 3/2/63, and he believes that DITTA is "ducking" this subpoena. He stated that DITTA may not have left town but was just "laying low™ at home. ‘Informant. advised that recently the Golden Griddle Pancake House on Gratiot Avenue and Frazho Road burned to the geound ina reported $200,000.00 fire. Informant stated that the fire occurred early Monday morning after closing hours on 3/4/63, and that he (Informant) JIMMY CORRADO, and SHARKY-/ | GOODRICH had just had breakfast at the Golden Griddle the Satur- day before. Informant related that in conversations he has had i in the past. with SAM LENTINE, the owner of the Golden Griddle - Pancake House , he has been told by LENTINE that business has been real bad. Informant revealed that LENTINE commented to him recently that he intended "to use fire" on his place and when Informant asked LENTINE if LENTINE would let him call NICK DITTA in on the "score" LENTINE replied to the effect that he doesn't need "The Old Man” (DITTA) as he can “blow it" himself. Informant revealed on 3/11/63, that he had been in company with NICK DITTA the previous day and Informant men- | tioned to DITTA about LENTINE's fire and commented that he (Informant) had heard that they found gas cans out behind the Golden Griddle Restaurant after the fire. Informant advised. that DITTA'’s comment to this was to the effect "that's good for ‘ SAM. He should have called me." Informant added that he him- self does not think that DITTA had anything to do with LENTINE's restaurant fire as it appeared to be a very "sloppy" job. He said that he wouldn't be surprised to see LENTINE go to jail as an arsonist on this fire. Informant advised that DITTA , . was real upset about a recent incident involving one of the cars off his used car lot. Informant stated that JOE VALENTI had sent a friend of his, DOMINIC VICARI, to borrow one of DITTA's cars and VICARI had wrecked the car in an accident with a truck. Informant said that VICARI, who is VALENTI's “compare }' had gotten in a big hassle with DITTA as the truck driver was contemplating a law suit in the matter. Informant claimed that i: DITTA was so angry he was even talking about having the truck driver receive a severe beating or else have his home be the recipient of a bomb. He stated that he thought that DITTA was only "flying off the handle" in these threats but that it is an indication to him of how DITTA "reverts to type." - 4 = Docld: 32315574 Page 5
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 WS¢ 2107 Hote. DATE: 11-14-7017 C NL DE 137=2879 Informant advised that he was recently talking to PETE DILORENZO at his market at 13227 Mack Avenue and DI LORENZO was complaining that he wasn't making any money in the store and DI LORENZO spoke of "burning" his place. Informant said that he offered to get "just the man" (DITTA) for the job but DI LORENZO declined by stating that he "doesn't need help" and "would do it" himself. Informant commented that he wouldn't be surprised to see DI LORENZO's Market destroyed in a "mysterious" fire sometime in the near future. Informant stated that while in conversation with | NICK DITTA recently DITTA again spoke of the "good job" he did on the Rainbow Recreation "fire". Informant. said that DITTA bragged that he took only eleven minutes to set up the "torch job" at Rainbow Recreation and that he and PETE DE ANGELO, who went with DITTA on this "score", were at least a mile away when the joint "blew". Informant said that DITTA is sometimes referred to as "Nhe master" when arson jobs? are discussed. EB revealed further that DITTA, in referring to the Rainbow Recrea- tion "fire", commented that "the more water they (the Detroit Fire Department) put on it the more it'll burn." - Informant advised that he was in company with PETE CILLUFFO recently and CILLUFFO admitted that he had sold his Home Juice Co. franchise in Macomb County back to BILLY GIACALONE. Informant said that CILLUFFO apparently was making money with the Home Juice franchise but that BILLY GIACALONE was giving CILLUFFO so much grief that it was obvious that © GIACALONE wanted him out of the Home Juice organization for some reason. He added that CILLUFFO, in commenting about MIKE RUBINO, revealed that RUBINO had "beat" him out of $2500.00. Informant said that CILLUFFO "has no love for outfit guys." Informant advised that ANGELO LOCRICCHIO, who is the * brother of PETE and NICK LOCRICCHIO, is presently living in the : Los Angeles, California area and is employed there in the _ produce business. Informant advised that PETE LICAVOLI still is in control of the "green sheets" in Detroit. He stated that LICAVOLI presently has DOMINIC "CRIPPLED DOMINIC" BUFFA handling the on- the streets operation of the green sheets. Informant said that he saw DOMINIC BUFFA earlier that day driving a red Mercury bearing Michigan license FL 3502. Informant described "CRIPPLED DOMINIC" as being about 5'8", 165 lbs., wearing a mustache and = 5 « Docld: 32315574 Page 6
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 19927 (44 USC 2107 Hotey DATE: i1- 14-7017 - | C oo . oO a DE 137-2879 and that he walks with a cane because of a crippled leg. Informant said that for many years BUFFA told the story that he was crippded as a result of a fight when a guy broke a chair over his back. Actually, according to Informant, "CRIPPLED DOMINIC" received his defect because of. syphilis. Informant remarked that AUGIE RUFFINO, who is a TV repairman and an uncle of. SAM RUFFINO, really hates" CRIPPLED DOMINIC" and has for many years as. ‘CRIPPLED DOMINIC'' "stole" AUGIE's wife. FL.3502 listed to DELORES WHITEHEAD, 5745 Barham on a 62. Mercury. Informant disclosed thathe was recently in company with STANLEY "LEFTY" HOJNACKI. He said that "LEFTY" was relating to him that le had been operating up in Flint, Michigan, and actually “stole a few pieces" but that he could not break in and returned. to Detroit. Informant advised that HOJNACKI's partner BRUNO "BROWNIE" TRANSKI was recently sentenced to the Detroit House of Correction allegedly for trying to steal.a carton of cigarettes out of a store. Informant added that JACK KOERNER has an office in the Civic Center, telephone number WO 2-5780, extension 462. Informant ' also revealed that BEN C. ROBINS, whom Informant refers to as "BENNY BOOM BOOM", was arrested recently for narcotics in a raid on Robins Drug Store at 31st and W. Warren Avenue, Detroit. Informant said that ROBINS has been a heavy gambler for years around town and that he has "gone the whole shot" at baccarat, barbute, craps, and cards. | ‘Informant advised that he was recently with SAMMY "MOUSTACHE" NORBER at the Imperial Hotel, 26 Peterboro. Informant commented that the Imperial Hotel is a joint where. the ‘who's who" in the Detroit underworld congregates, particularly at night. He said that "CHICKIE" SHERMAN operates his "open handbook" daily at the Imperial Hotel. Informant disclosed that he talked to MIKEY THOMAS and GEORGIE MONAZYM that night at the Imperial and SAMMY NORBER revealed to him that he and MIKE THOMAS were "in partners" in a salvage business at John R and Montana Avenues, Detroit. , Informant advised that he also spent time with LOUIE LA HOOD at the bar at the Imperial Hotel and in fact he drove LA HOOD to his home at 121 Avalon St., Highland Park, Mich. Informant said that LA-HOOD has been drinking too much, against his doctor's orders, and that LA HOOD is real worried about his ‘pending trial in Federal Court in Detroit where he is charged Docld: 32315574 Page 7