Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, CV
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 04/30/1964
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

JFK Assassination System

Date:

5/14/201

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY:

FBI

RECORD NUMBER:

124-10286-10351

RECORD SERIES :

HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

92-6054-1ST NR 623

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

SAC, CV

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE:

DATE: 04/30/1964

' PAGES:

10

SUBJECTS :

LCN, ASSOC, IDENT, PHOTO, CORRESPONDENCE,

FINANCES, REL, CRIMINAL ACT, BKG

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION : Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS :

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 06/29/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

v9.1

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27

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Released inder the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotey

DATE: 11OHObZPORMNO. 10

94. 1 Pe 00-05

MAY 1962 EDITION

§SA GEN. REG. NO. 27

UNITED STATES GOT INMENT

Memorandum

TO

DIRECTOR, FBI (157-742)

DATE:

4-30-64

FROM

SAC, CLEVELAND (157-127)

La COSA NOSTRA

SUBJECT:

CAVBOMB

Re Cleveland letter to Director, 3-30-64, and

Bulets to Cleveland, 4-16-64 and 2-5-64.

and SEBASTIAN VERMIGLIO, FBI #451960, who were mentioned in

He advised

that he did not know either, but he thought

very familiar. He stated he would retain the photographs

and would advise when and if he developed any information

on either. CV-344-C, on this occasion, made a letter from

his father, GUISEPPI PINDELLI, available written in Itallan

and which has since been Interpreted and reads as follows:

"BUENO

ATRES

March 5, 1964

6

"Dear Benny:

Bureau

(1 - 92-6054)

- 137-1826

1.1

62-9-11

66-2542

- Cleveland

"I received your letter and you don't know the

contentment I have had to hear from you. Its not the

137-341)

- 92-477)

- 137-1130)

92÷6054

NOT RACORDED

170 JUN

3 1064

FGD :ral

(12)

ORIGINAT, FILED IN

JUN 8

1964

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hobey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

ev 157-127

hundred dollars you sent

me, but It had been so

long since you had wrote to

me, and I didn't know what

to think I know you do a lot of running around and

I thought maybe something may have happened to you.

Because I always write to ROCCO (RAY) and always ask

about you, but he never tells me anything.

Dear Benny

I'm getting along fine outside of missing the family

and and the friends.

You told me about the Immigration

turning me down, 2t

really don't matter. You also say

you may have

some other hope, If you can do anything

do It, If not as long as we have our health. You also:

asked me to write to JIM TRIPODI and TONY RIPPEPPI

of pittsburgh and to thank them for what they have

done to help you in your troubles.

separate sesled letters one for Jim and one for REPPEPPI

and I'11 thank them for you.

I'm sorry to hear about

MIKE AQUARO's death, but when death comes there's nothing

you can do about 10.

MARGE sent me a card for Christmas

and told me she sent $10.00 in It.

But no $10.00.

If

you go to warren ask her how she sent the $10.00, because

And give her

my best regards.

ROCCO RAY has been ariage.

There isn't a month that

I can get by

for a month here but if something should happen I couldn't

get by.

Because here an Argentina there Is nothing a

person

can de.

the first place I'm 78 years old and

when

I get up

In the morning all my bones ache.

age 1s bad.

But thank God, up till now, I needed help

from no one but you and RoCc. You wanted the address

of where I bought the o11. It seems to me it was 210

grand Street, New Fork City.

I don't remember too well

but the brand

name

waS JAUSO and it was only 20% olive

o1l.

Then there are many places

in Newark, Nos. that

seals stuft like that line and for you it would be con-

venient to

carry stuft like that in your car, Because

If you get stopped for anything, you can say you seil

merchandise.

You also wanted the address of

JOSEPH

DI LIGORRE.

It's 687 Galorla Street,

Franklin, New

YOrk.

not go to this address:

Mrs. MARIE PAPALIA,

73 S. Kensington Ave.,

Is the daughter of PEPPINO CARBONE.

ROCK YARBO Centee Mother DE cousin

FRANCES CARBONE

Because this MARIE knows where PEPPINe

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DATE: .11-14-2017

eV 157-227

DI. LIQUORE stayS.

about every week.

Because they vloit with one snother

"PEPPINO DI IQUORE Is a painter and gets houses

012

contract.

He has his father and mother and brother

In this town you tell me about but I don't remember.

Te you write me let

me know If FRANK MEZZATESTA is stadl

In those parts.

ALSo let me know if God Father, PETE

18 stan 22 Steubenville and also TONY, the one that rur

around with God Facher,

PASQUALE NAPOLI. No more to

My niece and family send their regards to JIM

TRIPODI and famiy

My regards to TONY REPPErPI.

Also regards to FRANK DI AGOSTINO and all our

friends

and all our family. Your wife and children and I send

you my regards,.

"Your Lather,

"Guiseppi Pindell

"P.S.

"You tell me not to say anything to anybody about

my Immigration.

Who can I say anything to?

i don't

walte to anybody.

Add they knew is that you sent me

& check for a hundred dollars and I thank you very much.

Best

regards, Your father.

TOE PENDELAI".

ROCCO (BAY) PANDELA 18 the son of GUISEPPI.

MARGE mencloned Is the daughter of GUISErL.

TONY RIPErI waS described by CV-344-0 in Cleveland

letter to the Direstor, dated

January 31, 1964, captioned

"La dosa Nostra,

AR. - CONSPIRACY"

as the most powerful

Individual In

the organization In

the Pittsburgh area and

one who exerted Influence In the west VIrginia ares.

stated the elabozate gambling

He

casinos in the Chester, west

Virginia area are

contrealed by RIPEPI.

FRANK. DI ACOSTINO In the same letter was described

by CV-344-0 as

the second in sonmand of the

"organization"

In the Cleveland ares under ANTHONY MELAND.

=3-

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hobey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 457-127

CV-344-0 advised the PEIE referred to in the

latter part of this letter was an individual named

PETE

MARFRICI, a crippled Individual with a half foot who

returned

to Italy years ago and married and had seversa

children there.

on the ause of Mussonue, he was forced

Inee, and ne was smugged to the united States and ved

In steubenvie, 0h10,

running rega. enterprises unti

about 1950 when

In a11 hesith and destitute, his passage was

paid back to Italy by some of his associates.

He stated

PETE MARFRICT and PASQUAIE NAPOLI had baptized him (OV-344-C).

Regarding the roNY mentioned in the latter part of

the letter, he stated he Is Identical with an ANTHONY PALOMINA

who was a close associate of JAMES TRIPODI and resided In

Steubenville, Ohio, for years.

He stased several years ago,

PALMINA killed an Individual who allegedly tried to rob him

in Steubenvile.

There was

"heat" and a disagreement between

TRIPODI and PALOMINA and PALOMINA gan to get support from

TONY MILANO, Cleveland, In Ironing out the disagreement.

since TRIPODI was more powerfus and more Influential,

PALOMINA

wes forced out of steakenvie,

Ohio, and is presendly in the

Pistsburgh, Pennsylvante ares and closely assectated with

HONY RIFLET

C7-344-c advised PALOMINA 15 small, dark complexioned

and resembles a Mexican.

He stated prior to

coming to

steubenvisle, Onle ares he had been the righthand man of his

godtacher, PASQUALE NAPOIL,

who ran the docks for years In

Brooklyn,

New York,

and CV-344-c had stayed with PALOVENA In

New York,

about 1932.

07-344-0 left New York ares about that

time and

Lacer,

arter he had married, he and his wire returned

* New York about 1934 or 2935, and PALOMITA was there at that

worising with his godfather, NAFOLE.

Relative to FRANK MEZZATESTA,

the Cleveland letter

to the Director,

dated March 30, 1964,

captioned "CAVBOMB"

page 4, contained Information relative to MEZZATESTA and his

background, along with hls connection with the prime suspect,

DOVENIC MOTO Who

was murdered september 2.

, 1963.

on Aprad 23, 1964, CV-344-0 advised that he hac

contacted FRANK MEZZATESTA,

415 Earl Street, Kent.

Chio, on

the

previous day.

Hẹ had showed MEZZATESIA the lester from

his

Father in which he had mentioned him (MEZZATESTA).

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'Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotey.

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CV 157-727

MEZZATESTA,

siter reading the lobber,

then took

Cv-344-0

around the

Ohio area where he introduced

ham a3

an ad treena did toss brace associates hem in 1029,

he and CV-344-0 were bock hiding from the police in Debroit,

Michigan, and neither. knew the other was wanted.

Cv-344-6 stated that in 1929 he had escaped fron

the training school for BoyS,

washington, D. C.

By that

time his father had

ye-entered the united States illegally and

his father took him to Detroit to hide out.

It was while

there that he met MEZZATESTA through his father.

MEZZATESTA

Was

a fugitive on a counterfeiting charge and was not arrested

until some

eins later.

during the day and evening, brought

up the name of his good

friend, DOMINIC MOIO.

had known and been close to him for years and had met blin

in Detrolt, Michigan. He had been very close to him until the

tame of his murder.

MEZZAIESTA advised CV-344-C that his

father, GUISEPPI PINTITIE, S280 knew MOTO from about 1933

to 1947, when he was deported to Italy.

He had known him

in Detroit and

later when MOTO later settled in Canton,

cade, and when

PINDEuE was saving in Warren.

knew

MEZZATESTA 2130 advised CV-344-0 that FINDELU!

"CADILLAC CHARLIE CAVALIARO when both were Locssed

in the Pittsburgh area In the middle 1920's and later Nhen

PINDELET

saved in warmen and CAVALIARO had settled in

the Youngstown area.

CT-344-0 Inquired about other friends of has father

st111 around, and MEZZAlESIA stated that he was very friendly

FRANK GALLO, NImis02ZO Court, S.E., Canton, Chio.

It Is to be noced that the investigation of CAVBOMB

ReveaLed DOMINIC MOLO was in

daily contact with GAStO ab

Santon,

Oblo,

and that GALLO was an s11b1 witness for Moro in

inds

In Trumbull County,

Ohio, where he had

been

charged with setting fire to the wadswerth Feed Comany,

warpen,

onte, which ocourred on Febriary 12, 1967.

(Report of

SA JAMES F.

Cleveland, captioned "CAVBOMB" )

KELLY, dated 12-19-62, at

5

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CV 157-127

ReLative to the murder of Dominio Molo, or

September 2, 1903, prime suspect In the death of CHARLES

CAVALIARO, MEZZATESTA advised CV-344-C the following:

He stated from his own investigation of the

movements of MOIO prior to his death,

he believed that

MOTO had been killed in Youngstown and his body was then

taken to Canton,

Ohio, where it was recovered. He gave

no indication of those responsible, and CV-344-c did not

pursue this.

He stated that DOMINIC MOIO definitely was

responsible for the death of BILLY NAPLES who was blown

up in his car, July 1, 1962.

He stated that MOIO had been

ordered to set

Up NAPLES and took an active part In the

He did not elaborate on the details

or the others

Involved. He did,

however, state that MOIO "led BILLY NAPLES

around by his nose" and was on his payroll.

• He said MOLO

and BILLY NAPLES had many times visited together in his home,

and MEZZATESTA personally was very fond of BILLY. He stated

regardless of his feelings for BILLY when "they"

stated he

had to be eliminated, he was powerless to do anything to stop

his murder, regardless of his personal feelings.

According to CV-344-C, MEZZATESTA stated that

MOIO had been definitely for hire at all times and got mixed up

with too many of the warring factions in the Youngstown area

and that was why he was killed.

MEZZATESTA told CV-344-c to stay away from Youngstown

as it was a

mihad" town.

He said there was dissension between

various factions, and they were not organized with lines of

authority.

He amplified this by stating one group would have

control of the prosecutor, another would have the sheriff,

and another group would have the police department.

As an example,

he said when

a group would open up the barbut with the

consent of the prosecutor, the sheriff would interfere and

visa versa and this caused the bloodshed and jealousy.

MEZZATESTA stated his nephew, ANTHONY MADAFFARE,

Is no longer residing in his home but has taken a room in

the

town of Kent. He said the nephew came to the United States

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CV 157-127

on a visitor's visa and in order to halt his return to

Italy, he and MOIO arranged a marriage for several hundred

dollars with a prostitute (ROSE BRYSON) who hung out at the

NAPLES brothers sandwich shop.

MEZZATESTA stated ROSE BRYSON had called on him

on April 21, 1964. She has divorced his nephew and had

remarried, and she had stated she had been interviewed by

the INs that day but had "told them nothing" about her

marriage to MADAFFARE to stay his deportation.

CV-344-C told MEZZATESTA he had heard that his

nephew had been wanted for murder in Italy, and MEZZATESTA

stated someone was confusing his nephew with an ANGELO MACRI

He stated MACRI or MACREA had fled Italy after

murdering three or four police officers.

He had arrived in

Canada and later came to Kent, Ohio, where he stayed In his

home for about two months. He later went to New York City

where he was arrested and returned to Italy.

MEZZATESTA stated ANGELO had a brother who was

sought by the Italian Police, and they found him asleep

and killed him without giving him a chance.

Thereafter, ANGELO

was out to avenge his brother's death, and he sought out each

officer involved and killed them.

He told them they had killed

his brother when his eyes were closed, and he was killing

them with their eyes open and facing him.

cv-344-C stated in talking to VEZZATESTA he was

able to determine that although he appears to be a harmless

Italian, he is capable and apparently willing to engage in

He stated there

If he were asked to do so.

He also stated the possibility

exists that he had been an accomplice

of MOIO in several of

his bombings and arson cases, but he had given him no details.

CV-344-C stated he told MEZZATESTA that his father

had been turned down for re-entry into the United States, but

he was still working

; to try to get him back in the country.

MEZZATESTA stated at this point that 1f GUISEPPI ever came

they would call on all their "friends" in the "organiza-

on through the united states to renew friendships and for

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CV 157-127

"handouts" which would be owed GUISEPPI for his years of

silence and separation from his family, and for remaining

solid and not telling the police agencies anything.

CV-344-C stated he was surprised that MEZZATESTA

was as talkative as he had been with him, but he belzeve

he had been so as a result of his close friendship with

his father. He stated there is no doubt in his mind that

NEZZATESTA would go into the complete details of various happenings

including bombings and kIllings If GUISEPPI would return to

the area. He stated since he would be driving his father around

to meet his friends

such as MEZZATESTA and GALLO, he would also

acquire these details which would be of interest

to this Bureau.

He reiterated his father would not furnish Information, but he

could obtain the same through him and relay this to the Bureau.

The Cleveland Division, In no way wishes to be

argumentative and overly insistent in Its efforts to secure

the cooperation of the INS in getting PINDELLI Into the

United States on a parole basis; but it Is felt that his

re-entry into the United States 1s the best and most promising

avenue to obtalning the solution to the CAVALLARO murders and

others which occurred previously in the Youngstown area and

which are believed related.

The Bureau's patience and con-

sideration in this matter is appreciated.

CV-344-c himself pointed out that although there

is no doubt in his mind that through his father he can get

the true picture of these murders, including CAVALLARO'S,

this information would be not likely evidentiary. However,

It is pointed out there have been various and differing theories

of these murders reported by various informants.

If the true

story could be obtained, it would allow this division to

concentrate on obtaining evidence which might eventually

lead to the prosecution of those

responsible;

In view of the above, it is again requested that the

Bureau, through Ilalson with INS Headquarters, explore the

possibility that PINDETLI be allowed to return to the United

States on a temporary or parole basis, as it is felt his

presence will materially ald in the work of this Bureau

as well as the INS facilities.

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CV 157-127

INS has pointed out that PINDELLI If, In the United

States on a temporary or parole basis, would get out of line

he could be put out of the country Immediately and his presence

in the United States would in no way cause any embarrassment

ADDENDUM:

(FEB)

Information has just come to my attention to the

effect that CV-344-0 may himself soon be the victim of a gang

land killing.

This Information 1s being set out here as a part of

the over-all consideration the Bureau should give to my

recommendation that effort be made through INS to return

GUISEPPI PINDELLI to this country.

On November 25, 1963, CV-554-PC advised that on

that date he had been in wheeling, West VIrginia, and in

touch with PAUL HANKISH who had just been released from the

penitentiary on a burglary sentence.

Cv-554-pc said that

BILL LIAS was currently boss in wheeling and that from what

HANKISH told him there may be, in the not too distant future,

a struggle for power in wheeling between LIAS and HANKISH.

On January 17, 1964, when HANKISH entered his auto-

mobile parked in front of his

residence in Wheeling 1t blew

up, apparently as the result of a bomb being placed in 1t.

HANKISH was critically Injured and both legs amputated.

of his hands were badly mangled.

HANKISH Informed local

authorities he blamed LIAS for responsibility in the bombing.

On March 1, 1964, CV-554-PC visited HANKISH In

the hospital, and on

March 4, 1964, the Informant said HANKS!

nnton that

Is of the definite opinion that LIAS was responsible for the

bombing.

HANKISH told the informant he had been in touch with

Individuals in Detroit and New Jersey regarding the bombing, and

they told him they would obtain satisfaction for him and "take

care of the Greek"

HANKISH told the Informant that apparently

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 HoMeT

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CV 157-127

hias aid not clear the bombing, and it was an "outlaw deal"

At that time, HANKISH apparently did not know who did the

actual bombing.

The informant said that on about February 25, 1964,

hoodlum, had visited HANKISH

visit felt that ROSS is the type of Individual HANKISH might

use to retaliate against LIAS.

on March 17, 1964, CV-554-PC advised he had

learned that AL ROSS of Pittsburgh was going to

BENNY

PINDELLL and EARL DE ANGELIS.

He said he had also learned

that ROSS had come close to "dumping" DE ANGELIS and PINDELLI

four or five days ago.

Informant did not know whether this

Involved the HANKISH bombing but felt It was connected with

1t.

CV-554-PG said that both DE ANGELIS and PINDELLI, whom

he knows, are capable of having done the HANKISH job.

On April 29, 1964, CV-554-pc advised that on the

preceding weekend he had visited HANKISH and learned that

HANKISH 1s virtually positive that BENNY PINDELLI and one

other unknown Individual set up the HANKISH bombing.

The

Informant had also talked with an Individual known to him

only as

"BIG RED", who is a good friend of HANKISH and who has

houses of prostitution in and around Wheeling, west Virginia

and Reading, Pennsylvania.

"BIG RED" told the informant that

RED had warned HANKISH when BENNY PINDELLI was coming around

Wheeling.

He said apparently HANKISH was prepared for anyone

who might shoot at him but was not prepared for the bombing.

Informant is of the opinion HANKISH is waiting for the right

time to take care of both PINDELLI and LIAS and belleves

HANKISH will have the job done by AL RoSs.

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