SSE ean = JFK Assassination System Date: 5/14/201 Identification Form ; Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER:  124-10286-10298 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILE NUMBER:  92-6054-581 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: SAC, CV TO: DIRECTOR, FBI TITLE : DATE: 01/31/1964 ‘ PAGES: 8 SUBJECTS : ; ; LCN, OC, LEADERSHIP, GAMBLING A/O CRIMINAL ACT, POLIT, MAFIA, ASSOC, MEMBERS, SMO, GM, SJL DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 06/29/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : OO rrr eee v9.1 DoclId:32304665 Page 1
- . OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 3 ' 5010-106-05 Spe, GSA GEN. REG. No. 2 oN eo ” | a | Wf + , UNITED STATES GC RNMENT ; . C) ; aia ; Memorandum - TOE ae | pate: 4/31/64 “DIRECTOR, FBI (92-6054) SAC, "CLEVELAND (92-748) ; Ou, cosa NOSTRA, aka a AR ~ CONSPIRACY | Re Cleveland airtel to Bureau dated 1/17/64. B 2 7Y2 J fh- ‘On January 15, 1964, CV 344-c was contacted by SA FRANK: Gs DOUDS and furnished the following informations. RE3. PITTSBURGH ORGANIZATION © An iar ooo en i. a cv 344~¢ advised that much has been said about the. ae fee leadership in the "organization" in newspapers in the: ee at | (eure B - 157-742) Q) 26 Ga “9-surry 7 4 Cincinnati ay 8-New York (92-2300) Do, B 8-Pittsburgh , oy 3) (2 = 92-534) — Z| | 29-Cleveland a ES 4 1° 92=167 SCALISH) 1 = 92-173 JOSEPH AIELLO): (l- PRANK MILANO) . 1 - 92-621 Crime” Conditions | 1 = 92-400 ANTHONY MILANO). Youngstown) (2 -= 92-New FRANK DE AUGUSTINE) — ‘1 ~ 92-280. WHITEY BESASE) (1.- 92-782 crime Conditions | 1 = 92-397 JAMES LICAVOLI). - Toledo) 2 _{1 ~~ 92-874 ANGELO PERNA) . ~(2 ~ 92-634: Crime conditions | 1 = 92-New GUS DEMA) . Warren) (1 - 92-912 BONES BATTISTA) (1 - 137- 1130) . | {1 + 92-869 LEO MOCERI) . Fs - 137- S4ieSA) (1 - 92-630 ERNIE LA SALLE) (2 - 92-718) © 1 - 92-810 ANTHONY. DELSANTER) (1 -- 92-768 TONY MOLLICA) . (1.- 137-10° PAT FERRUCCIO) (le 92-808 )DOMINIC MALLAMO) 1 = 92-988 JAMES PRAT X-] 15 92-477 Critiinal 1 = -92-New MIKE ROMEO! Rnfettdgence)_ (Ll 92-639 PAUL. ROMEO poe | get, 38 B ll repsix (55) a . | me & = . por Fes 5 aaa - wi t Docld: 32304665 Page 2? Ik
in the Pittsburgh area and especially in Washington or Allegheny _ meeting, he was merely there as a representative ‘of RIPEPI, He meeting was by no means a meeting of the real bosses of the Mafia, ‘but was a meeting of the, representatives of the real bosses, He~ - Stated as an. example-of this, JOHN T, SCALISH of Cleveland was at this meeting and if he was there, he, the informant,” “knows. merely there: as an- emissary of ANTHONY, MILANO. . of ‘the "organization" and had been a power, but at present he is. . allegedly in Poor health and dying. on or eo. Se -as a "nobody" ‘in the "organization" and net well thought of because “had been the "boss"“of the "family" and was later killed with two pittsburgh area, put the most powerful individual in the Pittsburgh area is TONY RIPEPI, He stated there is no one. higher Counties. He also exerts influence in West Virginia. He stated although "CHUCK" TEEMER is the front man for the Red Dog Club, a very- elaborate. gambling casino near Chester, West Virginia, and ' was previously at the Club 30 and the Jockey Club, large gambling 7 (gpotm. in Chester; West Virginia; TEEMER is merely tolerated for his political influence and all the ompioyees of the elub are working for TONY RIPEPI, “CV 3hbag stated that he is certain that RIPEPI is ‘the "boss". and although FRANK VALENTI allegedly attended the Apalachin. stated that from information he had obtained, the Apalachin that he is not the "boss" of Cleveland, If he attended, he was ove 344e0 advised that GABRIEL and SAMUEL: ‘MANNARINO of . New Kinsington, Pennsylvania, were unquestionably member | of the — "organization", but they would come under the domination | of od RIPEPI.. ae ! “cv 3use: stated he had. heard of ‘SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA and at he is. in the © ‘organization he would also be. under. RIPEPI, | “ev. 34heg: advised | that. he knows” MIKE ACQUARO ‘as: a member a He stated ‘he knows ANDREW MANGINI, as a ‘member | of the "organization" and engaged in numbers activities and other’ gambling in the Pittsburgh area. He stated he would describe him actuall: of being” known as a "sucker" in any gambling game which. runs in ‘the ‘Wheeling, ‘West Virginia, area, 7 cv 344-0 advised that the seven VOLPE brothers had been asvauies the Pittsburgh area in ‘the 1920s, He stated JOHN VOLPE of his brothers. at. Gianni Brazzano'!s Bar in Pittsburgh. He stated — - 2= ‘ Docld:32304668 Page 3
OY Cv 92-748 that BRAZZANO was murdered at a later date for his siispected part — in the VOLPE murders, CV 344-C stated BRAZZANO has a son still residing in the Pittsburgh area, namely JOHN BRAZZANO who is extremely close. to young MIKE ROMEO of Campbell, Ohio, who is the -gon of PAUL ‘ROMEO, PAUL ROMERO has retired, but Held in high respect by the "organization" and ° formerly a power in Campbell, Youngstown, and Mahoning County, ‘Ohio. | CV 344-¢ stated there are a couple of the VOLPE brothers — still residing in Pittsburgh, but he does not know them personally. CV 344~¢ stated he had known GUY VOLPE, who later died - of pneumonia. at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at one time when he | was wanted by the local authorities on some charge: around Pittsburgh, | Pennsylvania, ‘he had hidden out in the home of a. GUISSEPPI°  — PINDILLI, a member of the "organization" who was later deported to | Italy. PINDILLI was at that. time residing in the area of Scottse dale, Pennsylvania, where he was later arrested on a narcotics. — eharge. This. arrest had: taken place about 1927. CV 344-0 ° advised concerning the killing of. the VOLPE brothers in Pittsburgh, he had learned from GUISSEPPI PINDILLI- that: one of the alleged killers of the VOLPE brothers was a man named (FNU) SPINELLI, and he had fled to Italy to escape reprisals and was either apprehended there by authorities or "they" the organization’ caught him. and killed him in Ttaly. RE: NEW YORK ORGANIZATION a Meili deve es : 7 cv. 344—¢ advised a member of the "organization" who had been a power at one time was one PASQUALE NAPOLI, who controlled . the longshoremen in Brooklyn for many years. He stated he had __ died about one year a0. He was known personally by the informant. RE: _CLEVELAND ‘ORGANIZATION “ev 344-0: advised the “organization” | at. Cleveland, Ohio, was at one time under thé control of CICCIO (FRANK) MILANO, A Calabrese, MILANO. fled to Mexico owing. the United States” a great deal of money for the evasion of income taxes. NO cv 344g stated. CICCIO. MILANO, presently 1A ill health, was succeeded by his: brother ANTHONY MILANO, He stated that his i word is “law” at present even with the Sicilian group in Toledo, ' Akron, Canton, Sandusky, Warren and Youngstown, Ohio, i : { i °3- ‘ Docld: 32304668 Page 4
CV 92-748 CV 344-¢ stated that FRANK DE AUGUSTINI, Owner of the Roman Gardens, Mayfield Road, section of Cleveland, is the second in command in Cleveland under MILANO, He stated hé did not know FRANK BRANCATO well but he believed that he would be next in command in the Calabrese group in Cleveland and under MILANO and DE AUGUSTINI, “CV 344-¢ stated that there would be two distinct groups . in the organization in the Cleveland area or in Northeastern Ohio and as far west as Toledo. He stated the set up is unusual in , that the Calabrese group i8 more. highly respected than the Sicilian group in the geographical area. He stated his opinion comes from reactims to different. arguments which have arisen and would have later been settled by meetings. He stated the Sicilian group operates its own enterprises and there is apparently a pact that they and the Calabrese will not encroach en each other's enterprises, In this geographical area, the Sicilian group inclues JAMES” LICAVOLI, aka Jack White, Cleveland; "WHITEY" BESASE of Toledo. undér LICAVOLI and ANGELO PERNA of Toledo under BESASE. He: Stated they have enterprises operating in Toledo. 4 Informant.: stated LICAVOLI has GUS DIMA as the representa- tive at Sandusky, Ohio, who has his sources of income. there, : Informant stated PAT FERRUCCIO was the representative. for LICAVOLL for years, but lost out for some reason, FERRUCCIO Still a member is not in good standing at present. CV 344-c stated he has heard that a "BONES" BATTISTA of Canton, Ohio, is more or less in control in that city at present. He had supported the © right candidate in a local election there and was able to operate, but needed a "bank roll" for his operation. He sought outside help and, therefore, LEO MOCERI, ERNIE LA SALLE and ANTHONY DELSANTER became his partners in a bookie and humbers operation, ‘at Warren, Ohio, CV 344-¢ advised’ “ANTHONY: DELSANTER™ became "boss" of the area when.MIKE FARAH, a Syrian, was murdered (6/10/61). “The organization had put up with FARAH as long as he had influence and had the politicians in his pocket. When, he became..obstreperous and uncontrolable, the "organization" 'dumped": him, He also stated that CHARLES IMBURGIA, operator of the Sunrise Inn, East Market Street, Warren, Ohio, may now be affiliated with the Sicilian grotip of LICAVOLI, but at one time several years . ago he was part of the Pittsburgh group headed by RIPEPI,. - 4 i ' Docld:32304666 Page 5
sant CV 92-748 _At Akron, Ohio, the territory is controled by the Sicilian. group operating in Toledo, Canton, Warren, and Youngstown, Ohio. CV 344-c advised that JAMES LA FATCH seemed to be the represéerative of LICAVOLI in that area together with his brother, TONY, and would be under the diréct supervision of "WHITEY" BESASE of Toledo and LICAVOLI in Cleveland, Ohio. At Mansfield, Ohio; CV 344-C¢ advised TONY MOLLICA is an "organization" representative and although a Calabrese, will "hustle" with the Calabrese and Sicilian groups. Informant does not consider him a power, but stated he is a member of the "organiza- tion" and operates the Ritz Bar in Mansfield, Ohio. , At Youngstown, Ohio; the informant advised there are the Same two groups in the "organization" as in Cleveland, Ohio. ‘The Calabrese has: someaction and the Sicilian group under LICAVOLI have their own. ventures. Both have respect for oné another's enterprises. The Calabresé in Youngstown are run by: DOMINIC MALLAMO who is more or.less the sticcéssor to PAUL ROMEO, brother of MIKE “4 ROMEO and MALLAMO is closé.to ANTHONY MILANO. in Cleveland. MALLAMO is in a semi-retired position, but exacts tribute from those under him. Second in command, taking a more active part and soon to be . the leading representative of the Calabrese, is“ JAMES PRATO, aka "Two Gun” Jimmy" of Poland, Ohio, who is a nephew of MALLAMO, The informant stated when the. barbut game moved to Struthers, Ohio, | from Youngstown, Ohio, following the death of VINCE DE NIRO (7/17/61), they moved the game in thé property of the CARABBIA brothers and Co only put up with them since they controled the city administration in Struthers, Ohio, to the extent they would be allowed to operate without interference, , He stated that young MIKE ROMEO, the son of PAUL ROMEO, Campbell, Ohio, has some influence there as pointed out previously, and is very close to JOHN BRAZZANO, the son of GIANNA BRAZZANO, deceased, who wasinvolved in the VOLPE murders in Pittsburgh. _ Regarding the Sicilian group of the “organization” in _ Youngstown, CV.344-c ‘stated he could not say.if VINCE.d..DE NIRO, bombing victim of 7/17/61, was a member of thé "organization" or not. He stated, however, that DE NIRO's murder caused great ~ concern among all members of the “organization.” He stated that . of all the murders committed .in the. Youngstown area, this was the only murder where members of the "organization" .made active efforts to determine the persons responsible for Same. He cited inquiry made by JAMES PRATO, JAMES TRIPODL, Steubenville, and TONY RIPEPI = 5 4 ¥ Hi |; Docld: 32304668 Page 6