Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 sc 2107 Hotes. DATE: 41-14-2017 : DE 137-2879 Informant advised that he has been in frequent contact with NICK DITTA throughout the previous ‘week. He stated that DITTA claims to him to be in "bad shape" financially. He said that -he and DITTA have eccasionally talked about "burn jobs" but that DITTA. claims that he has been unable to come up with a "score". Informant advised that DITTA gets "'so much" money "in front" for a "burn job” and then he also gets a percentage of the "burn in- > surance". He revealed that DITTA. told him that he was interviewed by the FBI the other day and that DITTA apparently considered hin- self "real clever". when he complained to the FBI Agent that he wished it was true that he was “backed”. by the' Detroit criminal syndicate as then he (DITTA). would not have all the ‘bills that he does. Informant said that DITTA told him that he put on a good “cry act" about his bills and that he even 1 got them out to show the FBI. . Informant “advised that, to his knowledge, NICK DITTA does not. have any. checking or savings account. He said that he does ; not believe that DITTA has an account at any bank covering financial transactions of his carlot either. He revealed that DITTA. has "nothing but iron" i.e., junk cars, on his lot and that all of ‘DITTA's business ‘is "out. of pocket" ‘anyway. Informant advised that DITTA occasionally uses the Public Bank at. Van Dyke and Seven Mile ' Rd; for some type of banking transaction involving his lot, DITTA AUTO SALES, 10400 Gratict Ave., however, he does not believe that DITTA carries an account at Public Bank. ; ; - “Informant advised on 11/1/63, that he ‘was with NICK DITTA most of: that day. ‘He said that he bought a. car from DITTA at DITTA’s used car lot and that he: ‘gave DITTA his Cadillac asia trade-in. He added that DITTA bought this car lot, which is * lecated at 10400 Gratiot Ave., from NICK LUCIDO and that LUGIDO continues te hang around -the lot every day. Informant advised that NICK DITTA told him that he has a "mooshine still” that he wants to sell. He revealed that DITTA has this “still” hidden in his garage and that it is crated. In- formant related that DITTA told him that his. "still" is actually worth $4200.00 but that DITTA only wants $500 for it. He claimed that DITTA desired that. Informant attempt to sell this "still" and that he (Informant) could keep any amount of money he made for it over $500.00. Informant advised that during the time of year when the night harness tracks are running around the Detroit area there a Qe Docld: 32315654 Page 3
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 199? (dd usc 2107 Hote y- DATE: 11-14-2017 O DE 137-2879 exists in Detroit a gambling operation. known as. "night numbers". Informant stated that the Detroit Italian syndicate has nothing ‘whatsoever to do with might numbers", which: betting. is confined solely ‘to the Negro Numbers operators in. Detroit. - He- added that the payoff in “night numbers" is still the same, 500 - 1, however, there is only one. winning. number each- night and this. number is taken from harness race results each Monday through Saturday even- ings: at Hazel Park, Wolverine, Northville and Jackson Park ‘Harness tracks. : Informant advised that. anothe# form of gambling. presently exists in the- Detroit area whichis controlled by the Detroit Italian . syndicate. He identified this gambling. game as the Italian | lettery. He said that the Italian Lottery has been under the direct control of "BLACK BILL" TOCCO for many years and that. the Italian © ‘Lottery was run by "the people" before they got into the numbers racket. Informant explained that the Italian. Lottery. sheet is sold every Monday and. that the bettor picks six numbers. He added that the winning number each week comes out of Italy. Informant advised that there is no longer much "action" with Italian Lottery tickets in Detroit, however , PATSY CUVELLO, the barber for many years of the syndicate people, still has them in his barber shop in the Glan Gables Apt. pbuilding, 631.Selden Ave., Detroit. Informant advised that during the years that he ran a manit™ for MIKE RUBINO in PETE LICAVOLI's numbers house he’ “operated under some very. strict business rules. He. revealed ‘that. RUBINO allewed him; and others in- his. unit", to pick up: any numbers" "business" or "stops" around town that he wanted to with. the distinct. ex ception of any numbers. "business" ‘belonging to JOHN WHITE’s operation or to the Murphy House. Informant advised. that just prior to the time that he went to work fer RUBINO he and SAMMY GIORDANO were "in partners" in their own ‘independent. numbers operation. He said that he and "SAMMY G." were:.doing about: - $3500.00 a day “action" too. He stated ‘that: they used to “turn in" around $700.00 to $800.00 a day numbers layoff to a Negro -mumbers man named CURTIS LEWIS. Informant related further that in the early 1950's he used to_ be "in partners" with ODUS . TINCHER in an independent numbers house operation and that, even then, they “turned in” numbers "layoffs" each day to CURTIS LEWIS. Informant advised that each Friday morning prior to 8:00 a.m., EDWARD "TARZAN" CHRISTOPHERSKI leaves his apartnent in ' the Glen Gables Apts., 631 Selden. Ave., Detroit, and he drives to Lansing, Michigan, in his 1963: blue Ford convertible. He stated that he does not know any details regarding "TARZAN's". strange Friday morning trips, however "TARZAN" either is picking up a = 3.- Docld: 32315654 Page 4
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 2107 Hofey;. DATE: 11-14-2017 O CO DE 137-2879 "package" of money from some individual who lives in. the Lansing - area who he has blackmailed or else "TARZAN" is ‘picking up foot- ball pool ticket) bets from the Michigan State University campus. Informant. advised that in the ‘numbers: business in Detroit it is customary that all big numbers “hits” are paid off in $100. and $50.00. bills. Fe furnished the following recent winning ‘numbers in Detroit: First Race - . Second Race — Thursday. 10/31/63 ‘420 ; - 045 Wednesday 10/30/63 . 413 368 ‘Tuesday 10/29/63 : ‘T12 263 In regards to this office's investigation into allega- tions regarding PETE. LICAVOLI and the range of LICAVOLI's activities in the numbers business in Detroit, Informant advised specifically as follows: The “green sheet" is peculiar to the Detroit ‘numbers business and it has never been distributed in. any other city in the. United. States except Detroit, He explained that the "green sheet" would be useless anyplace but. Detroit because. Detroit. is the only city which gets its winning numbers from daily race results of various tracks,: which are selected, in fact, by PETE LICAVOLI and "RIP" KOURY. Informant emphasized that LICAVOLI has handled the "green . sheet" deal and the "service" for almost twenty-five years in the numbers in Detroit and that LICAVOLI has employed "RIP" KOURY, whom Informant refers to as "The Old Man", as the’ "general. superintendent" of both. of these lucrative ‘operations. ° Informant stated that the “dago numbers houses" ceased activity in the numbers on Friday, October 25, 1963, however, ‘Detroit still received the winning. numbers each day even though the syndicate "went out of actinn".... He ‘stated further that such numbers gambling is operated differently thrgughout the country and that he knows of no other city which has’such a sophisticated numbers operation as does Detroit. Informant said that Toledo, Ohio uses the daily U.S. Treasury ‘balance to select their winning “number ; Cleveland uses. stock exchange results}. Chicago _ has _ the policy "wheel"; and New York has, what he termed "one ‘in. the pocket", where "you bet two numbers and you got four ‘going for you." Informant, in expanding his comments about the syndicate ~ 4 - , ‘ Docld: 32315654 Page 5
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 27107 Hofey. DATE:, 11-14-2017 C © j . oy, DE 137~2879 ‘control over gambling in Detroit stated generally “if you think’ JOE ZERILLI or MIKE RUBINO is a.fool, forget it.". He emphasized “that "they"have | dominated the Italian: “working - stiffs".all their Lives in this town. Ie said’ that."a RUBINO. cannot dominate the intelligent, he dominates the. ignorant. me ‘Informant advised that THOMAS: FRANCIS "BOO. BOO" DAVIS, ‘who is LOUIE LA HOOD's_ ‘uncle,. is: selling narcoticsaround town.” He - gaid that’ "BOO BOO" .is selling - ‘black’ morphine tablets and that he "headquarters" his sales of njunk" out of the Strathmore Hotel, 70 W. Alexandrine St.,. Detroit. Informant added that he has also learned that "BOO BOO" DAVIS | is. using KOZANI's Tavern. as his "drop". ‘Informant advised that he continues: to hear the story around town. that JOE "HOOKS". MIRABILE "took.:a: beating" from MIKE | RUBINO - recently. He Stated that "JOE HOOKS" has. been employed. for years in the numbers ‘with RUBINO and that ‘he has. been stealing from - RUBINO: thro ughout that time. He said that "JOE HOOKS" "knows the rules of the game" and if he had a beating coming he will take it and - "keep his mouth: shut". about it. Informant revealed that, on the . other hand, "JOE HOOKS" ‘MIRABILE has a. younger: brother. ‘who’ ‘is’ about twenty-six years old and ‘who: is. called "LITTLE HOOKS" - MIRABILE., He ‘claimed that "LITTLE HOOKS". is a "real vicious kid" and that he | hates the- "syndicate Dagoes" and will. go out on his own to "avenge" his brother’ s beating if need be. He added that "LITTLE HOOKS" MIRABILE usually hangs. around the Field and. Jefferson area. ‘Informant advised that. about. a: year or so ago. MITCHELL -RAHAAL. saved. "JOE HOOKS". froma beating... He explained that. TONY | GIACALONE. ‘and his brother, BILLY, were looking: for "JOE HOOKS" ° | Geenday around | the Field and Jefferson area to set him up for a beating. He stated that they grabbed a little guy nained - "GAIDO", who is a. _close friend of JOE CORRADO, and ‘who ‘tthe GIACALONES, ‘pe- léeved would know "JOE HOOK's" whereabouts: - Informant advised that TONY GIACALONE gave. "GAIDO" twenty. minutes to’-call. ‘around town and. find. "JOE HOOKS". He added that ‘apparently "GAIDO" knew MIRABILE's . lecation but that he telephoned MITCH RAHAAL instead and that RAHAAL came over immediatey, met TONY GIACALONE, and. talked him out of carrying. out. his - intentions upon "SOR. HOOKS" . . Informant advised that he has not seen "BIG TIME PETE" . -AMORMINO. around town in the last ‘four: or five months. He claimed that AMORMINO .is supposedly. "on the lam" from the FBI and-is in hiding’ out of town. He stated that AMORMINO knows the Tampa, Florida area very well and could ‘be located there. He added that. ‘SAM RUBIN an attorney. in, Detroit who owns the Chateau Frontenac “Apts. at -°5 = Docld: 32315654 Page 6