Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-09
CRIME
CRIME
Public Officials Found
Involved in Network
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shouldn't be told how many
targets have been pinpointed
for intensive investigation.
Some of the names came to
Federal agents pronounced
Theoretically. Exact spellings
had to be determined. Some
came only as nicknames. The
names had to be traced. Va
lachi was getting on in years
and some of his old cronies,
the. one-time blood brothers in
the ceremonial osth-taking of
"Cosa Nostra," are deadly
natural causes or otherwise,
frequently otherwise.
Some have gone to prison
since Valachi was on the out
side himself. Half-a-dozen mar
cotics conspiracy cases alone
have accounted for scores of
Valachi's former companions.
Big Intelligence Operation
Identifying the names was
only the preliminary Skirmish
in the war. Finding out what
the owners of the names are
doing now amounts to a major
intelligence operation.
AS the names have been
identified and the FBI has ac-
cumulated additional intelli-
gence, the names have been
funneled to the Justice De-
partment's Organized Crime
Section. From there, they are
circulated to other Federal
agencies for their contribution
to the overall picture.
Then, the Federal enforce
ment agency most likely to de-
velop a Federal law violation
against the racketeer is desig-
mated to pursue the investiga-
ton Of the target.
For instance, if the mobster
is engaged in gambling, where
is he operating? If his ring
crosses State, lines, he's the
FB1's baby. Or if he failed to
get q gambling tax stamp and
pay q Federal tax on his gam
bling take, the Internal Reve-
nue. Services Intelligence Di-
vision will take 1t from there.
If he's m aking his money
loan sharking-as Valachi says
many Of the mob bosses do
he's also a target for IRIS. A
check on his net worth is likely
to produce evidence that he's
not reporting all the Doodle he
collected from his 20 per cent
loans.
The integral part Of the in
vestigations now going on CEN
ter on the associations between
the bosses of "Cosa Nostra"
and their lieutenants with the
button men" or soldiers" in
the organization. That's where
information drawn from Va
lachi and the undercover in
formants is particularly useful.
Once investigators know who
works for the bosses, they can
60 from the bottom up to de-
velop major cases against the
major figures who are reaping
the real profits Of organized
crime.
Leads on Official Protection
As the undercover informants
bUnTow into the organization,
they are coming up with in
formation that scarcely sur
prises old hands in law enforce
ment who are well aware that
organizations with the power
Of "Cosa Nostra" and its fami-
lies Of mobsters csnnot oper-
ate without the permission, II
not the protection, Of public
officials.
Justice officials steer clear Of
talking about that angle outside
Of confirming that undercover
informants are providing some
substantial leads. Attorney
General Kennedy said in his
last year end report that in
vestigations Of corruption were
underway In 20 cities. The
number repeatedly has grown
and several indictments have
been returned.
on the other hand, the Jus
tice' Department is working
with Officials OF some major
cities TO provide information by
Valachi on unsolved murders
and TO let them in on gambling
operations that don't involve
Federal violations but could be
knocked out at the local level.
Seek New Legal Weapons
The Information provided by
Valachi and reinforced by the
FBTs other sources has
prompted those closest TO the
war against organized crime to
look 10 Congress for more
weapons In their arsenal.
One Of the laws they seek