The New York herald., 1921-07-27
.$2,O00,OO0 SPURIOUS
RUM STAMPS SEIZED
IN RAID ON PLANT
Huge Stock of Counterfeit
Whiskey Labels Taken in
the Imperial Press.
THREE ARRESTS MADE
Storeroom in Fulton Street
Found Packed With Print
ing Skilfully Faxed.
BOOKS SHOW CUSTOMERS
Many Others Probably Will
Fall Into Net of Secret
Service Men.
BOOKS SHOW CUSTOMERS

face value of 100000, forged whiskey
labels, dies. cuts and printing presses
were seized by Secret Service men and
by the police late yesterday in the
plant OF the Imperial Press, on the
top floor Of the building at 50 Ann
street. and in storeroom in the build
ing at AZ Fulton street.
So far as IS known this was the
biggest haul Of Its kind made since
prohibition went into effect. The raids
were the result OF tip received ten
days ago by Detective Sergeant Michael
Fiaschetti. From the stock on hand It
was evident that the trafic had been
going on for months. 1t took two
trucks to carry the seized property to
Headquarters. Three men were ar
rested at the Ann street address, but
nobody was found in the Fulton street
storeroom.
Detectives and Secret Service agents
went to the Imperial Press ofYices only
to hEd 1t locked. The door was forced,
but no person was found on the premises.
the variety used on whiskey and other
liquor bottles to give the contents the
genuine appearance.
! Plant, Operated Day ana Night.
Concealed in boxes were dies and cuts
which could not be distinguished from
those used by the Federal Government.
Two. printing presses In the plant had
been used to turn out the forged papers
by the thousands. and there was evidences
that the machines had been In almost
constant use might and day 10 supply
the demand OF numerous boo.icgsers in
this vicinity. Forged labels Of choice
brands were found. and 1t Is well known
that liquor purchased for genuine goods
has borne such labels only to be found
later to be or the fooch variety.
AZ the raid was going on at SO Ann
street Victor Sileo. printer living at
s5 sandss street. Brooklyn, and Louis
Santanglo. also a printer. residing at
81 Jsmes street. Manhattan. walked into
the place and seeing the raiders at
tempted to escape. They were both
placed under arrest and admitted being
employed by the Imperial Press.
A few minutes later John Dochnahi
of 235 Irving avenue, Brooklyn. appeared
with good sized package under his
arm. The package was found to contain
dies which could be used for forging re-
movsl and transportation permits. He
was also taken into custody.
Books Show who Bought sta ps,
The officers. leaving the prisoners
went to the storeroom at ~ Fulton
street which they found locked and de-
serted. There was discovered thousands
OF similar labels done UP In small and
large bundles. each containing from 100
to 1000 Of the forged papers.
According to Secret Service Agent
John A. Lyons, Decimal said he was
salesman. Books seized In the
plant showed the names of a large num-
Der of customers. some of whom the
authorities say have been suspected OF
being members OF bootlegging gangs in
this and nearby cities. Every sale will
be traced with the object OF making
further arrests.
The raids were the direct result of the
arrests on Monday night OF Roffaelo
Legnante, Of % Mott street, vincenzo
Rolio. OF 1877 Mott street and Dante Sc
regnano. Of s5 Bayard street. by Dctec-
tive Sergeant F1aschetti and a squad
Of detectives who went to the home OF
the men upon receiving information that
they possessed counterfeit revenue
stamps and whiskey. labels.
In the home OF Seregnano IL 10 alleged
10000 counterfeit revenue strips stamps
were seised. He was cid on $4,000 bali
yesterday by United states Commission
er Hitchcock for a hearing on July 80.
Legnants and Rolio are still locked UP
In Police Headquarters where they have
been questioned. II 10 reported that In
the home of the latter thousands OF
forEcd stamps wcre found Of the exact
likeness OF those seized In the Imperial
Press plant and In the deserted store
room on Fulton street
After questioning Rollo yesterday
Sergeant Fiaschetti sent for the secret
service agents and told them Of the in
formation he had obtained regarding the
places on Ann and Fulton streets. The
name OF the owner OF the printing plant
u.ss not divulGed.