AGENCY INFORMATION AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER:  124-90068-10036 RECORD SERIES: - HO . AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 62-75147-210-101 LS X DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: NY TO: HO TITLE: 2 DATE: 01/20/1958 PAGES: 13 SUBJECT: | AMERICAN GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN CUBA DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER. TEXTUAL DOCUMENT ORIGINAL Unclassified NEW CLASSIFICATION: east CLASSIFICATION: REVIEW_DATE: 06/24/1998 UPDATE DATE: STATUS. Redact . ; RESTRICTIONS: JFK Act 6 (4) COMMENTS: MEMO NW 45693 DocId:32328085 Page i
NYO. files roflect that in 1931, COSTELLO and KASTEL organi-zed the Midtown Novelty Comp any in NYC, which company operated slot machines and was later forced out of business. In 1935, COSTELLO and Jasrst, together with REED. BRALNARD, and QUDLEY and HAROLBSOMTCURMAN, oreanized the Bayou Novelty ‘Company in Now Orleans. Ly B ge Sn ‘ On 10/9/39, COSTELLO, KASTEL and the GEI“ “ERMAN! S were indictéd by a Federal Yrand Jury at New Orleans on a charge of income tax violation. On L/3/l5, the New Orleans Office advised that KASTEL was then alleged to be the contact between COSTELLO, and the GERIGERMAN brothers who were. then in active management of COSTELLO'S New Orleans interests, In 1952, KASTEL was listed by the Kefauver Committee as one of the Top Hoodlums in the United States, FRANK COSTELLO testified before that Committec that KASTEL- was in partnership with him in the Severly Club and the Louisiana Mint Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, informant that MATTY PALERMO, was., Matt own, who lived at 1328 1) Strost., Whitestone, NYO) was a powerful bookmaker who had connections with | Top Hoodbums through- On 3/22/56 inf ormation Was “nates par un, an out the country including PHILIP KASTEL. NY 14.9-C advised in January, 1956, that MEYER. » LANSKY was then the head of the. syndicate running three hotels in Cuba, Informant. stated that these hotels were, the Nacional, the Tripcanna (Tropicana), and the San Soucie He stated that this syndicate consisted of most of the Top Hoodlums in the United States including FPR.NK COSTELLO, a . PHILIP K..STEL, LEFTY CLARK, (¥NU) MC CUTLERY from Cleveland, : and. TONY ROGERS from New York, Informant stated that these men controlled all - gambling including control of the number game (bolita) which took in anywhere from $175,000.00 to %300,000.00 operating only on Saturdays, NW 45693 DociId:32328085 Page 2
~ meve-866 CONFIDENTIAL DUTCH GOLDBERG is anf&jias for LOUTS SHOMBERG, a Top Hoodlum of the NYO, * _ In April, 19147, BEN MARDEN was resorted residing at 101 West SS5th Stroect, NYC, And pesortedly had been backing Rroadway shows for a fow prior seasons. i NY 165-C advised.in 1951, that he had heard that BEN MARDEN was operating in part in Havana, Cuba for the aubling syndicate end about two years earlier had been sent to the French Riviera to introduce the American crap game into French gambling houses. _ NY 99-C also advised in 1951, that BEN MARDEN had gone to 4urope as a representative of American zambling intcrosts. Informant stated that MARDEN'S purpose was to look into the possibility of opcning a gambling casino and to introduce the American game of crap shooting . Informant | stated. that MARDEN had started to gain prominence in 1930 _or 1°31 when he shot and killed his partner, HARRY BLOCK, who ws in partnership with MARDEN in the Alabama Club in NYC. According to a Pinkerton Detective ageney report dated 9/15/52, which was reesived- on a confidential basis from JOSEPH A. VaVON, 1°38 Harrison 5t., Hollywood, Florida, informants had advised that MARDEN hed an interest in the San Souci Restaurant in Havana. According to that report information had been received in NYC that MARDEN hed severed a connection with a jewclry exchengze at 37 West 7th St., three months earlier, Iformation had also been received that MARDEN was financially interested in the Blue Chain of Cuba, a Havana Radio Station, ny In May , 1953, EDWARD ran, 550 Park Avenue, . NYC, advised on.a confidential basis that it had recently cometo his attontion that BEN MARDEN had furnished financial backing to President BATISTA in Cuba for the revolution which placed BATISTA in power. He declined to give the source of this information and stated that as a result of this financial backing, MARDEN then had control. of all gambling in Cuba, SO . “ CONFIDENTIAL. NW 45693 DociId:32328085 Page 3
WY 156-¢ adwiscd in tps TIA L 19¢h,, that TONY _GOBELS Was 4 good friend of BEN MADEN. GOBELS was alleged. to have a good connection with Colonél BATISTA of Cuba and spent quite a bit of time in Cuba, TONY GOVELS is an alias of ANTHONY RTOCT, FBT. . #2772L,5A, a Top Hoodlum of the Miami Offiess In November, 1955, AL. 2937-G advised the Albany Office that BEN MARDEN had been at Saratoga, NY, during August, 1955. Informant stated thet M:.RDEN was alleged to be associated with DANNY ARNSTETN and NAT HERZFELD, wealthy NY busitnessmen, in purchasing Gulfstream Race rack in Florida. Informant stated that negotiations might be closed in the near future on a figure in the neighborhood of 95,900,000.00, TA vis "KA BURKE In 196, the Los Angeles Office advised that JACK BURKE was quité close to MICKEY COHEN sand had recently been maneging COYEN'S gambling joint in Burbank, Cali founda, Informants of the Los Angeles Offieo-had stated that JACK BURKE was among the numerous hoodlums, gamblers and petty’ crooks who hung around MICKEY COHEN'S Night Club, the La Brea Social Club in Los Angeles. , Tn 19K7, the Los Angéles Office advised that JACK BURKE had been identified by Assistant Chief of Police JOH REED, Los Angeles Pdlice Department, as boing one of the individuals associated with MICKEY COHEN in a gambling house opcration,. He stated that other individuals associated in this operation wore SANDY WATSON (former LAPD Officer), JIM CONTRATO (former Mayor of Huntington Park), DAVE RUBIN (well known member of the COHEN gong) end PHILIP CARIBI, . . LAPD #21),82, x MICKEY COHEN is a Top Hoodlum of the Los Angels Office. ~6- CONFIDENNAL NW 45693 DociId:32328085 Page 4
— CONFIDENTIAL NY. 92-886 CHLESI, wa., Joe Rivers, P Lenent a5 esis (E> In april, 1650, toSEPy é dpuorated a crap gome’ at from NYC, wes, w@norted ta have ; Harrison, J during 19)9fnd 1950 with JOSEPYADE GEORGIA, wa., Josafhktics, JAMNgAVINTLLONO, wa., "Jimmie The-Snith', and FPRangfVYIGGTANS » TetSs came wos reported to have been raided by the Westchester County Sheriff's  -ffice and the Harrison PD. Tn November, 1953, an informant advised that. Jon RIVERS operated a book at the Melann Tavern on Westchester Avenuc, Bronx, NY, and had previously worked at Yonkers ' Raccwaye 7 Tn 1953, information was received from the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau that JOSEPH SIGLESI of the Pine Paper Company, 532 West 57th St., WNYC, had been ejected from Hieleah Park 1/20/).7, for bookmaking. NY 136-C advised in Deéember, 1953, that JOR RIVERS and (FNU) MULLIGAN were operating a vory big crap game somewhere on LI, assisted »by a psrson nicknamed "Label". Informant advised that 36 Police officials were rocoiving $10,000.00 a oath pay-off for this gsonhee Informant:also advised that poyprenr wes also ons of the game's oporators and that JOBAD NTS, well known rocketecr, owned 2 phece of the @amc.e ae NY 207-C advised in March, 1954, thot an individual known as "Bandy" of "Banty" was the shylock for the mob at JoeB ADLNES'S game. Informant .statcd that this individual alw2ys carricd a large amount of ensh.on his person and was a short mitdle-aoge4 man wit ary bowed 1088+ QR) ww ATLEST , 265 Lafayette Stew NYC, (iy bookmaking suspects. In 195h5 JOSEPE was among a list of NycPpr NY 205+C advisod in September, 1954, that JOR RIVERS hac a lorge floating crap gamc in Nassau County, one of the threo largest gamcs in the NYC area., « ~ \? ad os an | Oe -10- \ NW 45693 DociId:32328085 Page 5
SO a Nb CONFIDENTIAL In January, 195),, Detective HBEKGEAT HUnLEY, District Attorney Staff, NYC, advised that according to informants, JOE hIVEKS was running a big crap game in LIC. WY 92-886 -- In March, 1954, FRANK NOLAN, Schenley Liquor Company, advised on a confidential basis that he had received information indicating that JOE K1VEnKS was © the right-hend man for JOU ADONIS and had a loan shark associate called "Label", WOLAN advised that hiVHxS— job was to collect the syndicate cut of gambling in NY. NY 207-C advisec a right-hand inan for JO largest dice games in Ny March, 195), that JOn KIVERS, NIS, was ee one of the In 1955, the Albany an advised that information from an informant indicated that JOE hiVEKS had been. effiliated with gambling casinos in Now Jersey, Saratoga Springs, NY, and in Las Vegas. AL 2937 had advised Albany Office that RiIVEAS*was associated with MAW BROWN, MATALIO#6nUNO, and JOkgDE STEFANA in tho ——, - of an elaborate gambling establishment sct up by BLANDI at Glendalc, MY. Similar information had boon recckbved | by the Albany Office from another informant. NY 842-C advised.in January, 1956, that E RIVERS was esgogiated with FHANZACOSTELLO, JANES (Soin fens, HAROLDPAARD,. and a JO i Jel all important ga ors, ina largcd@cerap game opera tiny in they arcae u NY 8h2-C advised in June, 1956, that JOE KIVEKS | | pains of a lan loating crap game together with ‘KD, HUGHIE LLIGAN and CHARLIE_'Nigeon Lips" JN OO ne fu) - ll - CONFIDENTIAL NW 45693 DociId:32328085 Page 6
4 . My 92-886 CONFIDENTIAL WY .136-¢ advised in JeNusry;- 1957, that the dice OTHER 4 game operated by JOB RIVERS and HUGHIE MULLIGAN was the biggest game in NYC, : Tn July, 1957, the Albeny Office .advised that according to PCI JOR. RIVERS was eonnected with a. croup operating the “Laky House". outsidc Lake George NY. - Cther individuals in this group were GUS (LNU -possibly MiTwPHY), who formerly worked for FRANK COSTELL® at the Villa Nova Club, NYC, GUS'S brother-in-low, ALEX (LNU), "Uncle Peto" MowISON, "Fat Boy" CNSTANTING, and JULIUS G°LDSTETN. 5/11/56, JSEPH'SILESI, wa., Joe Rivers, was interviewed by ‘SA THMAS J, cat 3 at SILESI'S residence, 265 Lafayette St., NYC. SILYS clviged that he was thon | employed as a mediator by the to vy Novelty Workers Union, Internati onal oeal 223, 132 West 3rd Ste, NYC. Tho: "New York Daily News" of 1/8/58, carrted an erticle stating that JC ISEPH STLEST, alias, Jog Rivers, age 60, of 265 Lafayctto St., NYC,: and SANT vy PLASPICANTE, re alias LouissSantos, age 2 of Tampa, Flofida, wore wante mee st | _ for questi sning in the ALBEIT ANAST/ STA killing, .According: ~ | to this article, District Attorney FPAANK H°GAN had announced at a pross -eonfercnce that it had bedome cxtromely important to examine RIVELS and. PRAPFICANTE before the Grand Jury concorning ‘the ANASPASTA killing on 10, /25/57,. HOGAN was quoted ss-saying that he hclievec their tostimony might shea light on the motivation for this killing. According to this article, RIVALS was describes by “strict Attorney HOSAN as boing “an cxtrpomely activo operator in gavibling circles and an intimate of many hoodlums, including the murdered ANASTASIA." RIVERS was described as 5! 8M, of - modium build, fark complexion, gray hair, and a conservative dresscr. dccording to the article, strict Attorney HOGAN emphasizca that LIVERS and TRABFICANTEH wore not wanted as the actual killers of sNASTASTA, NW 45693 DociId:32328085 Page 7