Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: HQ
Document date: 2/12/73
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

5/5/2015

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

RECORD SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

124-90073-10053

HQ

92-7599-35

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: HQ

TO :

TITLE :

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

02/12/1973

28

DAVE YARAS

DAVID YARAS

DOCUMENT TYPE:

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION :

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS :

4

"CURRENT STATUS:

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 02/11/1999

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

SUMMARY

v9.1

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## Page 2

Miami report dated 12/21/49 revealed that on 11/16/49, the

liquor license for the Tahiti Bar, 244 23rd Street, Miami Beach,

was transferred to Marilyn Yaras, wife of David Yaras.

The Tahiti

Bar was known as a hangout for hoodlums. It was believed by the Miami

Beach PD that Marilyn Yaras was obviously a "front"

for Yaras in the

operation of the Tahiti Bar since he could not obtain a license in

view of his

criminal record.

The PD also believed that Yaras was

possibly a "front" for Joe Massey, notorious hoodlum who migrated

to Miami Beach from Detroit, Michigan, and had extensive property

interests in the Miami Beach area.

Add.info.

8772825-32 p.8,9

CGII 3075 advised on 7/22/50 that Dave Yaras, a night-club

owner in Miami, handled all the transactions and dealings between

Leonard Patrick and Wally Block in their contacts with criminal

elements in Chicago.

Patrick and Block were regarded as possible

suspects in the murder of Abraham Davidian (72-472)•

72-472-371 p.95,2091

(20)

CGO 5741 advised that he questioned Ben Tilley, Boston,

acknowledged that he had, in the past.

about the Brinks Robbery (91-5535), Tilley freely

engaged in

large-scale robberies

and he mentioned having been involved in the past with Dave Yaras in

Tilley indicated that he had

not been involved in the Brinks

case. (Chicago letter 10/25/51)

91-5535-8031 p.3

(28)

In connection with a request from the Federal Grand Jury

inquring into local

crime at Miami regarding Miami racketeer David

saras, a summary of information dated 4/17/52 was prepared for

delivery to the Federal Grand Jury.

The summary set forth information

(continued)

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## Page 3

(continued)

REFERENCE

63-1106-1 ep. 1; outg. p.1

-2 ep. 1

-3 p.2; outg. p.2

SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER

Joseph Vinson, associated with the National Board of Fire

Underwriters at. Miami, advised that Max Caldwell, Miami Beach, was

making plans to kidnap Sam Friedland, wealthy owner of the Food

Fair Stores and Miami Beach hotels.

Davie Yaras' name had been

mentioned as the man to be used in

this kidnapping.

Yaras, Chicago PD# D-14360, was a well-known Chicago

hoodlum who haa

resided in Miami Beach for the past several years.

He received much publicity a few years ago due to his having been

Identified as one of the killers in a Chicago slaying.

also

reportedly had an interest in gambling in Havana, Cuba.

Miami letter, 10/15/53

62-64279-2 p.1,3

117)

Ernest Glaeser, Special Agent, Southwestern Bell Telephone

Missouri, furnishe

a list of extra toll charges

on Evengreen 2-7506 which belonged to John Joseph Vitale, suspect

in the Bobbie Greenlease kidnapping (7-6920). On 1/5/56 a call was

made from this number to Miami Beach-Mohawk 1-1394 to Davie Yaroz or

Jefferson 8-3255.

The Miami Office believed this person was possibly identical

with David Yaras, Chicago PD# D14360, a well-known Chicago torpedo,

who with two others tried to kill one James Ragen at Chicago when the

1062 ко 11 one

Capone group was taking over the Continental News Wire Service.

7-6920-6439 p.1,20

(2)

On 5/10/56 PCI John Earl Wilson advised that Harry Brown

(143-132) formerly operated the American Amusement Company in

Chicago, and that his partner in this enterprise was Dave Yarros,

who was very closely associated with the old Capone mob in the

Chicago

area.

(continued)

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## Page 4

Anthony Gironda, a symbol informant of the Chicago Office,

advised on 2/20/62 and 3/31/62 that Frank Diecidue (92-4936) was

believed to be related to Santo Trafficante, who in turn was a leading

gambling figure in Miami, Florida, where he had been associating in

the past with Dave Yaros, formerly from Chicago, Illinois.

92-4936=17 p.5

(38)

MM 509-C advised that on 3/30/62, between 1:00 PM and

2:30 PM, Barney Kaplan, Miami Beach PD Detective, had

been in the

count anot

constant company of Dave Yaras, Artie Samurin, Dusty Peters, Ben

Husick, racketeering figures, and Bernie Frank, a Miami Beach

On 6/14/62 MM 675-C advised that John McGauran, a Miami

Beach PD Detective who was suspended from the PD after being accused

of being involved in some burglaries with the thieves, allegedly had

Yaras coming to his aid and defense.

Add. info.

62-38824-972 p. 72,79,80,82,83,

(4,17)

103,105

The following references pertain to the investigations

and/or hearings of Congressional Committees.

intormation regarding

the criminal activities of David Yaras from 1930 to 1963 in Chicago

was set out in testimonies of individuals and exhibits.

COMMITTEE

REFERENCE

Special Senate Committee

to Investigate Organized

Crime in Interstate

Commerce

Permanent Subcommiteee

on Investigations, US

Senate

02-91933-615 pt.5 ep. 464,465

-692 ep. 82

-765X ep. 33

SEARCH SLIP

PAGE NUMBER

1201)

35-

(30-%

92-4282-169 ep.512

192

-15-

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Harola Konigsberg (92-5177) advised that in 1963, he had

been requested by Seymour Flax (not identified) to approach Teddy

Gleason, President of the International Longshoremen's Association,

Gleason, in turn, to contact Jimmy Hoffa, President of the

Teamster's Union, to secure a $900,000 loan for Frankie's Market,

Lod1, New Jersey.

Konigsberg did not know the ultimate outcome

deal, but did know that subsequently Joseph Zicarelli (not

identified) went to Chicago where supposedly he spoke with Dave

Yaras who was then to see Hoffa or else use his influence in obtaining

the loan. The loan was to come out of the Teamster's Pension Fund.

92-5177-156 ep. 2

(85)

The following references in the file captioned "Jack

Leon Ruby" pertain to David Yaras in Chicago and Miami from 9/26/63-

12/5/63. On 11/27/63 it was reported that there was a tie-in

between Ruby in Dallas and Yaras in Miami in connection with shylocking

and girls.

Yaras was interviewed in Chicago on 12/5/63 and denied

having any relationship whatever with Ruby, business or otherwise,

subsequent to Ruby's departure from Chicago approximately fourteen

years ago.

He did admit that he had known Ruby as "Sparky"

hustler and fight fan in Chicago.

• a young

Also, his brother) Sam Yaras

been acquainted with Ruby in Dallas, but Sam had died seven years

ago. Yaras had not been in Dallas since 1945 when he and his brother

had a "split"

The President's Commission requested information

regarding certain Individuals! telephone calls during the period

9/26/63-11/22/63.

One of these individuals, Robert Baker; 5900

North sheridan,

Chicago,

RA 8-4031, placed

a call to JE 8-3255,

Miami, listed to Yaras, 4410 Adams

Ave., Miami Beach, during this

period.

REFERENCE

44-24016-302 p.1,2

-482 p.1,2 (interviewed, 12/5/63)

-490 p.1

-804 p.29 (interviewed, 12/5/63)

SEARCH SEIP PAGE NUMBER

(15)

(15%

(15)

15)

-1366 p.80

PCI Bernard Katz advised on 3/19/64 that several years ago

Gus Lieb (not identified) ran one of the largest gambling operations

i, thon an used

In alcero, Illinois, which included crap gamerjuice"

card games, and

several other gambling type operations.

at these games

(continued)

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On 1/13/66 CG 6884-C-TE advised that in connection with the

operation of the Chicago sports lay-off center being operated by-

Frank Aurelli and Dominic Cortina (165-1143), one Lennie Abram

and I.

Minces (phonetic), both customers, owed large amounts of money.

Cortina was pressing these two individuals to pay up or else,

when

they reached out and contacted

Dave Yaras for help.

Cortina and asked him to leave both Abram

and Minces alone for the

time being.

165-1143-15 p. B

(88)

The 7/13/66 issue of the "Chicago Sun Times" carried an

article entitled

"Firm's Vast Gaming Output Related Here".

article revealed that the Illinois crime Investigation Commission

(ICIC) had uncovered evidence that organized crime syndicate

gangsters had been enriched by distributing gambling devices

put out

by the Empire Press, Inc. (166-1163), 644 N. Orleans, Chicago.

During

the ICIC public hearings, Empire employees were asked if they hao

seen David Marras at the plant.

The witnesses all stated that they

wouldn't be able to recognize

Yarras.

166-1163-A-"Chicago Sun Times"

(37%

7/13/66

On 10/28/66 IV 285-PC advised that at that time there were

only three mob bookie operations going in the country.

One was

in

Chicago, Illinois, "Jews with the mob."*

and was run by Lenny Patrick and Dave Yarras, who

were described as

162-1-65-169 p.2

(96)

The following references are reports dated from 12/2/53 to

5/22/07 furnished by Bureau Informants as set out below concerning

the hoodlum activities and associates of Davey Yaras in California,

Florida, Illinois and Michigan.

(continued)

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## Page 7

(continued)

INFORMANT

NY 206-C

DE 370-C-TE

LA 4335-C-TE

MM 1003-C-TE

OM 148-C-TE

REFERENCE

66-18621-96 ep.16,31

66-17867-33 p. 37,38

137-7378-68 p.1

137-7954-74 p.2

-82 p.7

137-9175-29 p.8,9

SEARCH SLIP

PAGE NUMBER

(30)

(32)

129)

(27)

(97)

187,337

On 6/21/67 MM 986-C-TE advised that several years ago

John Prokos

(165-1790) operated a "bust out"

crap game in Miami.

On one occasion "Doc"

Robbins of the Fontainebleau Hotel lost $15,000.

Robbins was pushed for payment of his debt, and the matter was finally

settled by Robbins paying the amount of money owed to Dave Yaras.

165-1790-145 p.4

(28)

on 10/16/67 Edwin L. Abercrombie, Vice President of the

Laundry,

Drycleaning and Dye House Workers

Local 218, Atlantag Georgia (159-2651), related several incidents which

had happened recently.

He believed the purpose of these incidents

was to scare him into

allowing hoodlums into his union in Miami and

felt it was an attempt by "the Mafia" or a big-shot hoodlum, David

Yaras in Miami, to get a man into his union as a business agent in

"Ieg man" for Yaras, had called Abercrombie

for a job with his union as a business agent. When

Abercrombie told Husick he could not have the job because of his

police record, Husick told Abercrombie he hoped that he (Abercrombie)

was never in Miami when Yaras was in town.

After this conversation

Abercrombie received several messages to

they might have been from Yaras.

messages to

call David and he assumed

He did not ever try to contact

Yaras.

159-2651-1 p. 1,4,6,7

(10)

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LA 4711-C-TE advised that duringla trip between 10/5/70 and

10/19/70 to Tampa, Florida, he made contact with Davie Yarras in

Miami.

They discussed the fact that Lefty Rosenthal in Las Vegas

called a gambling operation in Los Angeles weekly to place large bets.

Yarras was aware of Rosenthal's activities and advised that Rosenthal

by "bis money" of a sambling operation in las vegas which was backed

operations in various families in the US.

stated that while he (apparently Rosenthal) did not bank the operation

In its entirety, he was satisifed by taking a "chopper" which the

source described as layoff action.

165-42-263 p.C

(370)

The following references appear in the main files of the

individuals listed below.

These references

pertain to the gangster

and criminal associations and activities of these individuals and

Davia taras, Chicago ana Miami hoodlum, in California, Florida,

Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Texas,

washington, canada and cuba from

October 1945 to 8/20/71.

Also set forth was Information regarding

Yaras' association and

contacts with other members of the Chicago

and Miami criminal elements.

REFERENCE

SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER

James Allegretti

92-3205-51 p.1,3

Thomas Altamura

(25)

92-5388-18 p.1,3

Peter Julian Arnstein

63-87-1 p.2

92-4168-3 p.2

Charles "Babe" Baron

(25)

(85)

92-4595-34 p.1,2

Joseph Bommarito

63-144-1 p.8

(25)

1332

(continued)

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