“Reteared under the John FC Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1999 (a Use OT Hote). DATE: AS 14-2017 ' ‘. en ‘ . oo. pow MO we os \ Havana 64-153 ENTIAL 12/29/58 % On 11/21/58, HAV-33 informed that JOHN WILLIAMS has all his investment in the craps table at the St. Johns. casino and that an individual named ee is operating the table for him, nee an a ee Hon aN CASINO: : eee iar ncaa ts On 11/19/58, “WAV_31 “farormed that an individual named FRANK BYRD is reputed to have a substantial interest in the gambling casino in the Hotel Plaza. Source noted that J ASSI, FBI #559327, has atd+/!! least 50% of this casino, Source noted that the. casino’ "Was closed down by the Cuban Army Military Intelligence Service (SIM) on 11/19/58, and | °that STASSI's json ‘had, been arrested by SIM, ‘Source stated it appeared | that .IRENALDOXGARCIA BAEZ, chief of SIM, was attémpting to "shake down" . Cube ythe casino. operators! Source noted that AMLETTO BATISTI, Cuban Congress- i-man and owner of the Hotel Sevilla-Biltmore casino, had. ‘been feeling - the’ competition from the Plaza casino and might have used his political \/ i influence to cause the closing of the Plaza casino by SIM, 4 On 11/21/58, HAV-33 informed that the following individuals oO ad been observed in the casino,at the Hotel Plaza: J ASSI,/ GEORGE EVINE, JACK) REIDLANDER, FRAN TILE, GEORGY/ SHERMAN, MILT. ID, | f and ANTHON: YSTASSI. Oni ’ 12/5/58, HAV-33 advised that the operators | \ of the. Plaza casino had "made a deal” with ‘SIM and that uy were . \° operating smoothly. os _ ae SB A “od On 11/26/58, PCI Arthur Newman stated that JOE “STASSI “and GEORGE SHERMAN have substantial interests in the Hotel Plaza gambling ~— casino. Source noted that the PLAZA was doing well as a "sawdust joint" although initially the operators. of the casino had made a mistake in not taking in some Cuban interest holders. Source noted as a result in the beginning the casino had had no local protection and had been hounded by the police for "shake down" money until agreements with local law. enforcement officials were reached. — 'On 12/3/58, HAV-31 informed that the following are some of * the individuals with interests in the gambling casino at the Hotel Plaza: FRANK BYRD, JOE STASSI’, ROBERT "MUSCLES" MARTIN, GEORGE SHERMAN, PETE . SARNO, MILTON SEID and ” PRANK GENTILE, On 12/18/58, HAV-31 informed. that SOHN . WILLIAMS. (Boston Top Hoodlum) has an interested in the Plaza casino, Source noted that JACK. FREIDLANDER is also an interest holder in the casino. AR iemcncnemsesetrt [oie y HAV-31 advised on 11/19/58, that CHARLESYERUDNERS WEEE. a: alias CharliéYpeoad, is now the biggest single interest holder in the Havana- Hilton éasino with an interest of 25%. . EPs Be “on 13/5/58, HAV-33 informed that JOE SILESI (New york Top Hoodlum) continues to manage the gambling casino in the Hotel Havana- Hilton with the assistance. of LARRY aanand - . Hom, HAVANA’ HTEEON ‘CASINO: dave fina C. brat ahha ee eee en oe — aes : ——~ Docld: 32339975 Page 7
DATE: 11-14-2017 j * * ve ky a ° os , : ‘ rd Leanne Aes asecinatioen Reed is : BeEto Ac i 9 dd C2107 Hote). \ Havana 64-109 Mersin, 12/29/58 _ On 12/3/58, HAV-31 informed that the following individugis | were considered to bé the principal interest holders in the gambtins :/ CHARLES 'BRUDNER, FRANK "REDYAREED, AUHYGONZALEZ and SANTO {TRAFFICANTE, = / Ci; Se Vs Woo Be ae - Qn: 12/19/58, HAV-33 informed that SILESI is frequently seen “a in the Havana-Hilton casino in the company of his wife, ANNA, _ SI:/COMODORO CASINO: Havana, Cuba ae | a eee Lt CUBA On 8/23/58, HAV-4 informed that RALPHSKE INA was acting as ~ {4 manager of the gambling casino at the Hotel Comodoro. Source stated W that the principal interest holder in this casino is SANTO TRAFFICANTE, | -. Qn 9/24/58, HAV-31 informed that an individual named "SAL" had replaced RALPH REINA as manager of the. gambling casino in the .. l Hotel Comodoro, . Source noted that "SAL" had been installed by SANTO | TRAFFICANTE. Source said that the following three employees had been ,released from the casino by "SAL:". TOMMY. "GAGS"J@AGLIANO, JOSEPH _- TAMBURRO and JERR¥}MICHAELS.. Source said that ‘these. individuals Had indicated that TRAFFICANTE had made "SAL" manager of the casino becaus "that is what SANTO.will do for you if you kill ANASTASIA." Source noted that he was disinclined to.believe that "SAL" had anything to ' do with ANASTASIA's murder. a Lae on 9/21/58, HAV-33 informed that sarvarons ech HOS the manager of the casino in the Hotel Comodoro and that he is a close friend of one RAFAEL COLLARES, a member of the Cuban Secret Police. ~ | Source noted that RALPH REINA had left for the United States, & eb pe On 11/21/58, HAV-33 informed that SALVATORE SCALIA had recently shot his own girlfriend. Source said_that because of resulting bad publicity SANTO TRAFFICANTE had removed SCALIA from his job as manager.of the Comodoro casino. On 12/5/58, HAV-33 informed that BENNY)-¥ ERNANDEZ is the new manager of the Comodoro casino. Source cypnnoted that FERNANDEZ was reportedly born in Italy. and later went to vze-"New York where he was associated with the Italian element. Source said that ‘subsequently FERNANDEZ went to Florida where he worked with associates of SANTO TRAFFICANTE. Source noted that FERNANDEZ is residing. in room 306 at the Hotel .Comodoro. | oo On 12/18/58, HAV-31 informed that FERNANDEZ is a gambler _ from Tampa, Florida, that he at one time worked in.a furniture store in Washington, D.-C., and‘that there were indications he would marry a girl named BERMAN from Washington, D. C. . moe - In connection with SALVATORE SCALIA, information was received by the Legat, Havana, that on.11/14/58, SCALIA was arrested by Cuban police in connection, with the shooting of a Cuban girl reported to_be , pokttats mistress. /HAV-32 has advised that subsequent to SCALIA's ](¢y[ venenatis Be EEE ae atte EE a Docld: 32339975 Page @
he = = = = - . of 19927 744-456-2107 Hote} D TE: 11-44-2017 : Hote} a0 er sa 3 we mr ye Havana‘ 64-153 12/29/58 i \ TH. and Trust Company, East Hill, Branch, Ross@lyn, New York. . MEDINA said LEVINE had the $20,000 #H TE A jer . MEDINA stated further. that LEVINE had $10,000 or $155,000''w rrEYRe bhecks in another paper bag which he wanted cashed but that- MEDINA refused to handle either transaction, MEDINA said in view of the fact that LEVINE is’ presently being sued by persons owning the Oriental Park Race Track, it was possible he was trying to sneak some of the assets of the track out of Cuba. According to source, LEVINE claimed that KEILLY had been arrested and needed the $20 , 000 to make bond. — ew | The December 10, 1958, edition of "Informacion," a Cuban Spanish language newspaper, contained an article indicating that MILTON WYNNE had purchased an interest in the Oriental Park Race Track and would operate it as a partner with GEORGE LEVINE. . oe an According to the article, WYNNE had previously been legal representative \. for the Belmont Park Race Track in New York and had subsequently «been associated with horse racing in Puerto Rico. an {Las _vecas_nicaTcuyp casino: = Hawaua, Cb a On 9/26/58, HAV-33 informed that LUCIEN TvARD had Cuch el | previously been one of the owners of the Las Vegas Night Club’ — located at Infanta and 25th Streets in Havana. Source stated, | | however, that in May, 1958, RIVARD. had sold his interest in this } | } Po | \ night club and had left Cuba.. Source said there was no indication that he had yet returned. . ; Extra copies of this letter have been prepared for forwarding by the Bureau to the following offices as indicated: New York (2) Albany (1) . “Miami (2)_ Cleveland (1) Salt Lake City (1) Newark (1) } Cincinnati (1) Boston (1) _ . ~ “ en see sear a ~~ CI pa we tewne ees, Saco cootivod eae enn * &. i \ Docld: 32339975 Page 93