TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : COMMENTS : v9.1 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-10209-10451 HQ 92-2713-443 Document Information FBI COLLINS, PATRICK J. JR. DIRECTOR, FBI 04/04/1967 53 Date: §/29/201 Released under the John Kennedy Wssassination Records oOllection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). ase#:NW 45655 Date: 1i-—16-2017 CM, IDENT RECORD, BKG, REL, RES, TRA, B/F INT, ASSOC, LST, JM, NP PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified 4; 11(a) Redact 01/07/1999 INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF IRS: HW 45355 Docld:32292675 Page 1
; ; J NO 92-36 SO | an ADMINISTRATIVE ' | On January 17,°1967, NO 1457-C-TE advised that. for the past six days CARLOS MARCELLO has been sick at home. — ‘ informant pointed out that MARCELLO's wife came out of the ee hospital on January 12, 1967, and is not yet ambulatory. NO 1457-C-TE has spent the past six days at the MARCELLO home earing for CARLOS and JACKIE MARCELLO. Informant stated that ‘ MARCELLO -has advised his family that he is ill with a bad back and that an arthritic condition is also bothering hin. Infor- mant stated that MARCELLO is taking warious medicines and is very morose. ‘Informant pointed out that MARCELLO is always ’ an early riser and always clothed in a suit, white shirt, and tie. During the past six days, ne has stayed in pajamas and robe and Has looked very unkept. NO 1457-C-TE pointed out that JOSEPH MARCELLO has _ | spent a lot of time at the MARCELLO home in the last six days, — and numerous other well-known New Orleans hoodiums have paid calls on MARCELLO. SO ! . Informant pointed owt that on January 13 and 14, 1967, there was a lot of telephone activity between SANTO - YTRAFFICANTE.. unknown individuals in New York City, and. \ JOSEPH MARCELLO, acting for CARLOS MARCELLO. Informant stated 2 | that informant managed to listen to several incoming calls over _a telephone extension. This, coupled with an argument between | the informant and JOSEPH and CARLOS MARCELLO relative to one oa of these calls, has lead the informant to believe that the . following method is the system of telephonic contact used for LCN business: : a An incoming. call comes to the MARCELLO, home - from a prominent hoodlum and he conducts a Do brief dmnocuous conversation. This individual will then indicate that he is busy and will call an bekin 15 minutes, one-halif hour, or an hour. ; “At time this individual imdicates that he will a call MARCELLO at "Girl friend #1; girl friend Vo #2, ov girl friend #3." In the past, CARLOS — MARCELLO would then proceed to a group of pay bo - (COVER PAGE) = ° \ cd Ate ean nae REL SEES Oe Ee One == — “ ee wen eet : HW 45355 Docld:32297675 Page 2?
. a ee , . . dee 7 oo a | c | oN | NO 92-36 | a . _ telephones somewhere in the shopping center . _- near the MARCELLO residence. However, in the past six days, JOE MARCELLO would proceed to ; . | this group of telephones. JOSEPH MARCELLO - will occupy a public telephone booth and at. the appropriate time will receive the business “call from ont of state. Informant stated that co i CARLOS and JOSEPH MARCELLO have stated to the | informant that this is the method of communication and the use of the term "girl friend" will throw | | off anyone Listening on the telephones. Infor mant stated that this process is inverted when . , MARCELLO initiates a contact with any LCN figure — —— | out of state. Informant stated that JOSEPH , and CARLOS MARCELLO have in their possession a list of "girl friends" out of state; however, they change the numbers around in a manner only they know. NO 1457- -C-TE advised that SANTO TRAFFICANTE arrived in New. Orleans sometime during morning of February 12, 1947. TRAFFICANTE spent most of the day with CARLOS and JOSEPH MARCELLO. CARLOS MARCELLO flew to Shreveport, Louisiana, ‘ afternoon of February 12, 1967, met Attorney MIKE MAROUN, and flew on to New York. TRAFFICANTE and JOSEPH MARCELLO departed New Orleans sometime after 11:30 AM, February 13, 1967, for New York. WO 1457- -C-TE not aware of where these . ~ individuals will be staying in New York. Ou February 22, 1967, at 3:00 PM, NO 1457-C-TE_ advised telephonically that SANTO was in New Orleans. He eould not advise his time of arrival or where SANTO was staying. He stated that SANTO had at times on trips before - been known to stay at the Fontainebleau Hotel. “On February 15, 1967, NO 1457-C-TE advised that. SANTO TRAFFICANTE had recently been back in New Orleans to ‘ gee CARLOS MARCELLO. Informant not aware of where TRAFPICANTE stayed; however, informant knows TRAFFICANTE was here for _ three days and spent considerable time with CARLOS MARCELLO. Se- . (GOVER PAGE) =. eae CSS TE cad Docld: 322797675 Page 3
‘ ro _ ee , : en FD-302 (Rev. 1-25-60) C) . ' FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIG(_JON , ; 7 Date 2/16/67 Mrs. MURDOCH MAVO, accompanied by her husband, Mr. RUFUS NAVO, was interviewed at the Office of Reverend HUGH MC KEE, St. Martins Episcopal Church, Jefferson Parish, Loudsiana, - > Wrs. NAVO furnished the following data relative ‘to the mur der of THOMAS STRACUSA in 1943: _ The evening prior to the disappearance of SIRACUSA, Mrs. NAVO, FRANK SPANO, and WHIT BLACKWELL arrived at the Willswood Tavern, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, at about 72:00 P.M. When they entered the tavern the only other having a large dinner. This table consisted of the following individuals; VITO LONGO 7 JOSEPH CHIMENTI - LEAH LONGO (VITO's wife) . \ ~ _ JEANNE (LEAH's. sister) c CARLOS MARCELLO NICK. CHRISTINA - Unknown Individual (This person was a white male, . about forty, very dark skin, heavy set, black © hair. ) Mrs. NAVO and party ‘sat at the bar and drank coca-colas, VITO LONGO’s mother was in the kitchen cooking and was waiting on all present. About fifteen minutes after Mrs. NAVO's arrival, -~ E- . (COVER PAGE) | oe . 2/9/67 at New Orleans, Lovisiana File #_ NO 92-36 0000 \ by _SA PATRICK Js COLLINS ; kbg Date dictated 2/10/67 This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. . party in there consisted of one table which was obviously —_ HW 45355 Docld: 32297675 Page 4 a ee]
NO 92~36/kbg/med | 2 o, ‘THOMAS SIRACUSA arrived. SIRACUSA appearéd surprised and then a afraid at finding the dinner party going on. SIRACUSA walked around the bar and back into the kitchen. Immediately after LONGO, CHRISTINA, MARCELLO, and CHIMENTI walked into the | “kitchen, Mrs. NAVO and party heard loud shouting in Italian, | pots and pans falling in the kitchen, and bodies bouncing around. Then there was silence for a brief period. VITO. LONGO’s mother opened the kitchen door and Mrs.: NAVO observed SIRACUSA sitting = / in a metal chair. CHIMENTI was holding a snub-nose revolver which was pressed against SIRACUSA's temple. CARLOS MARCELLO . was Slapping SIRACUSA. SIRACUSA appeared afraid for his life | and Was shouting in italian. : Mrs’. /NAVO asked FRANK SPANO what they were saying and SPANO appeared terrified. SPANO suggested immediate — departure and they did. Mrs. NAVO observed that the only car am in the lot was an old black totring car which belonged to SIRACUSA. She believed the other cars were parked behind . 4 the restaurant. . c One or two days later, Mrs. NAVO observed that ail the newspapers! were carrying front-page stories about the > disappearance of SIRACUSA.. She believes it was the morning after she witnessed this incident that the police discovered SIRACUSA's abandoned. car. | . if ‘ ™~ Mrs. NAVO notified the New Orleans Police Department of what she had witnessed. Captain HARRY GREGSON and WILLIAM GROSCH, Chief of Detectives, came to her then residence at 101. Central Avenue, and brought photographs. She identified the photograph of SIRACUSA. FRANK SPANO separately identified the photograph of SIRACUSA. Both identified the photographs of CARLOS MARCELLO. The police officers told her nothing. — ms a ; (COVER PAGE) | - eo sect ee - ‘ ee i i eee ae 45855 DoclId:322927675 Page 5
NO 92-36 ~, . ae . an Shé then went to see Sheriff CLANCY, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, and told him what she had seen and ‘that she was scared. “Sheriff CLANCY told her that if she kept her mouth shut she would not get hurt. ‘She later went to see Captain GREGSON at his home per his request and he © told her to keep her mouth shut about what she_had told him as they” would. kill her, Several weeks later Deputy CY DI LIBERTO of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, talked to. Mrs. NAVO and also told her to keep her mouth shut. He told her that he knew that CHIMENTI held the gun on SIRACUSA while CARLOS. _ MARCELLO worked him over. DI LIBERTO stated that.it was over a $10, 000. fraud that STRACUSA was” killed. Mrs.. NAVO stated that she once asked District. oo Attorney LANDRIDGE why he had CHIMENTI as his Chief Investigator, and he replied to her "When someone begs you for a job, what. do you do?" 1 “Among People Mrs. NAVO knew during the early forties as hoodilums in the New Orleans area was Mr. TROMBATORE, who was in bootlegging; Mr. CENTANNI, who owns and operates the Gold Seal Creamery; SALVATORE VALENTI, bootlegging; FRANK PALMISANO. and his son "BIB JOE" PALMISANO; and Mr. PATERNOSTRO. She stated that PATERNOSTRO disappeared years ago and his son used to come.to park at the dead end-of the street where he disappeared. PATERNOSTRO's car.was burned at this street, but the body was never found. °She stated that one VIOLET GUILLARD, Negress, who | lives on Welston Street, has-a-long-time poyfriend who’ has worked for many years for CARLOS MARCELLO, as MARCELLO's -. cook. This cook killed a woman in New Orleans about’ ten years ago and CARLOS fixed the case. -~ Ge- (COVER PAGE) = = ee a es Docld: 3227927675 Page 6
O “ ro; A j t ‘ i t 4 : . . . ~ C | NO 92-36 Mrs. NAVO stated that under no circumstances would she testify relative to her knowledge of the r SIRACUSA mur der. d a (COVER PAGE) 4 7 } es $$ eo — HW 45355 Docld:32297675 Page 7
YEK Act 6 (4) . NO 92-36 ON Several T symbols utilized in this report are om 14572C-TE to protect this informant's identity. - INFORMANTS IDENTITY OF SOURCE CONTACTING AGENT PCI : SA MAURICE A. KELLIBER NO T=2 is NO 1457-C-TE «SA PATRICK J. COLLINS, JR. mA _ and SA REED W. JENSEN ‘NO T- 3 “is No-1433-c | ‘SA ROGER E, MAXWELL NoT-4isD esse FORMER PCI (SA. REED W. JENSEN. NO-T-5 is NO 1457-C-TE - SA REED W. JENSEN and | = . ‘SA PATRICK J, COLLINS, JR. vo T=6 is 7] Ls: v | PCL SA DELBERT W. -HAHN no T-7 isL__ 7 | PCI SA LARRY L. GUGGISRERG NO T-8 is NO 1435-C-TE_ ‘SA JACK EVANS MEHL ‘ NO T-9 is NO 1252-C "SA REED W, JENSEN “NO T-10 is NO1291= 6 | ‘SA JOSEPH G. PEGGS “NO T-11 is JOSEPH LABAT, IRS SA ROGER E. MAXWELL : - | | Mea OT | — . an AF 7 ) HW 45355 Docld:32292675 Page &
.NO 92-36 nn | so (“JFK Act 6 (4) ‘ “t NO T-12 is NO 1456- PC, SA ROGER E. MAXWELL * No T-13 is rr - _ PCI —— SA WILLIAM F. DUKES NO T-14 is JN180-C 2 SA WILLIAM F. DUKES NO T-15 is TP 120-C ° SA JOEN AMBLER ‘No 1-16 is BOBBY G. GWINN ~ SA L. M, SHEARER, JR. NO T-17 is MO 182-€ SA MYRON G. TURNER HOUSTON DIVISION - AT HOUSTON, TEXAS ; Interview oilman FRANK WATERS re any association with CARLOS MARCELLO. EL. PASO DIVISION AT EL PASO, TEXAS Conduct eredit, eriminal, and indices check re Co MAURICE BELL. Determine how he financed his motel ‘and then consider interviewing him regarding the. ‘MARCELLOS.. TAMPA DIVISION — | , i a AT TAMPA, FLORIDA . | Conduct credit, criminal, and indices check re CHARLES SALADINO and Son, Ine. 7 ; - , . XN (COVER PAGE) | HW 45355 Docld:32297675 Page 9
c) 2. ped C . NO 92-36 |) NEW ORLEANS. DIVISION AT COVINGTON, LA. Interview CLARA RISPONE re her association with CARLOS. MARCELLO and any knowledge of LCN. é AT NEW ORLEANS LA. - Identify registrants of vehicles parked at ‘MARCELLO ' s residence and business office. . Spot check activities of subject. Will report results of numerous checks of out- of-state- license plates parked at MARCELLO' Ss business office. Maintain close contact with NO 1457-C-TE ‘re MARCELLO 's travel and activities. - Ke - (COVER . PAGE) ‘. ee HW 45355 Docld:32297675 Page 10
i a + 1 eS 1 a bea Ergo (Rev. 3-8-50) Copy to: NO T-5 advised that he believes SANTOA g _ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 - USA, New Orieans ; . Report of SA PATRICK J. COLLINS, “aR, Office: NEW ORLEANS Date: | APRIL 4, 1967 | : Field Office FileNo: NO 92-36 CO Bureau FileNos 92-2713 Titl . CARLOS MARCELLO | , . ’ Character: ANT I~ RACKETEERING” Synopsis: “NO T~1 believes MARCELLO is in the punchboard business in Columbia aural Venezuela. NO T-2 believes MARCELLO will give fifty acres of Churchill Farms, Inc. for the erection of the new dome stadium in New Orleans. NO T-3 believes _ MARCELLO “owns" District Attorney FRANK LANDRIDGE, Jefferson Parish, La. .NO T-4 believes MARCELLO has a “twenty per cent interest in the dome stadium. NO T-5, advised that MARCELLO's wife was patient in Baptist Hospital, New Or leans; week of, January 9, 1967, for surgery. NO T-5- adyssed MARCELLO - moved to residence at 3908 Clifford DrAves ATRAFFICANTE has /° (Ae visited CARLOS MARCELLO in. —la. several times in the ‘recent past. NO T-2 advised ¢ that MARCELLO has one JOHN ~ LA BRUZZO acting as his chauffeur. ‘NO T-5 believes MARCELLO sold land next to Holiday Motel, Jefferson Parish, La. > lieves SAM RECILE is a friend of CARLOS MARCELLO. -NO T-16 believes - that several years ago MARCELLO had NEMO NOLTI kill DONALD MELANCON over a $200 , 000 . debt. Ident record set forth. OPK Law l11(a) ~ Peo a, DETAILS : are 3-443 co _This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI 1 It is the property of the FB and ds loaned t to your agency; bid and | WW 45655 Of ee Docld: 322797675 Page il a
Le HW 45355 ‘NO 92-36 a L , . ACTIVITIES { NO T-2 advised on January 5, 1967, .that he had heard that CARLOS MARCELLO intended in the immediate future _to offer fifty acres of land of his Churchill Farms Estate free to the City of New Orleans as the site of the new dome ‘stadium. NO T-2 stated that MARCELLO was willing to give the choicest section of this estate free and clear to the city. NO T-4 advised on ‘January 5, 1967, that MARCELLO. stated recently that’ he has a twenty per cent interest in the new dome stadium deal. NO T-4 stated that recently MARCELLO had been in contact with FRANK WATERS, Houston, Texas, oil. man, who reputedly has some interest in the dome stadium deal. On January 20, 1967, NO T-5 advised that he believed that about one year ago CARLOS, JOSEPH, and SAMMY MARCELLO made numerous trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast: The reason for these trips. was that a small. -group of businessmen desired to have the MARCELLO brothers control gambling-on a small island off the coast as they were in the process of developing the island. CARLOS MARCELLO did not enter this deal as this business group did not sell him some real estate on the island. Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol (MHSP) | investi- gator JOE PRICE (NA), Gulfport, Mississippi, advised on January 9, 1967, that he. has received no information to the effect that the MARCELLOS have any business interest in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area or that they have been frequenting the area in recent months. x NO T-i3, Jackson "PCL, Biloxi, Mississippi, advised on January 20, 1967, that while recently in New Orleans, she — was in contact with SAM DI PIAZZA, who owns and operates pizza houses in New Orleans and who is a ‘close associate of. CARLOS MARCELLO. Informant advised that in a conversation with “SAM DI PIAZZA, DI PIAZZA said he had been on the Mississippi Gulf Coast several times recently attempting to locate some property around "the strip" near Biloxi, Mississippi, to purchase and put wp some pizza houses. DI PIAZZA did not tell informant that he was doing this.at the specific request of CARLOS MARCELLO, but informant assumed’ that in view of the known association between DI PIAZZA and MARCELLO, some of the racket money in New Orleans would probably be. used to help finance this business _venture in Biloxi, Mississippi, ‘if it takes place. - 18 , teen waa came nent eee sot we eee ee Docld: 322797675 Page 12
’ . ’ . ‘ - at . ns 4 \ S us i) . NO 92-36— - NO T-13 advised she would again be traveling’ to  «-, New Orleans in the near future and while there. would attempt. to contact DI. PIAZZA in an effrt to obtain further details “ about these pizza houses and any other information as to, a possible financial interest in which CARLOS. MARCELLO may ‘be involvea in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. SIMMONS continues to reside at New Orleans, Louisiana, where . She is employed by Delta Airlines. Informant advised that on . two occasions on recent weekends, CAROLYN SIMMONS has returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast accompanied by JOE MARCELLO, “2° gon of CARLOS MARCELLO. Informant was unable to advise the ‘ nature and identity of contacts made by CAROLYN and JOE - MARCELLO but stated that she would attempt’ to do so on the | ce 4 - NO T-14 advised on February 8, 1967, that CAROLYN» - | ( next occasion of their coming to the coast. NO T-5 advised on January 20, 1967, that. CARLOS | MARCELLO and his brothers recently sold a large amount of. land next to the Holiday Motel, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. _ NO T-8 advised on January 26, 1967, that he ' heard that CARLOS MARCELLO and NOFIO PECORA have recently. been meeting in Covington, Louisiana, at the residence of CLARA: - RISPONE. On January 19, 1967, °NO T-10 advised that CARLOS MARCELLO was recently in Shreveport, Louisiana, and held a meeting at the Town and Country Motel, Bossier City, ‘Louisiana. This meeting was attended by the majority stockholders: in the Sawyer Downs Race Track which is presently being constructed © at Shreveport,’ Louisiana. MARCELLO advised that he had no .. | financial interest in the race track but was. merely attempting © , to ‘Beip the stockholders out of. a difficult Situation, NO T- 10 stated there had recently been. ‘some mismanagement on the part of the present manager .efiSawyer!to : Downs' Race: Track: at Shreveport, ‘Louisiana. “MARCELLO was | attempting to resolve this difficulty. — a | 16 | | 7 , 7 | _ of ee ee) HW 45355 Docld:32297675 Page 13
——— NO 92-36 PJC:jas Characterization: Sources who have identified 4* MARCELLO as a member of LCN are PH 591-C*, PH 623-cCx and BS 837-C*, “The latter source in March, 1963, reported MARCELLO to be the "representando" in New Orleans. NO 1457-C-TE identified MARCELLO as the "boss" in Louisiana, On 9/23/66, MARCELLO stated to two Agents in New Orleans, "I'm the boss here," | WW 45855 Docld:32292675 Page 14 ==! —— 7 tee