Originator: FBI
From: DN
To: HQ
Document date: 11/05/1951
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

4/24/201

AGENCY :

RECORD NUMBER :

RECORD SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

FBI

124-90099-10018

HQ

47-40845-16

Heleased under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1 992 |44 USC 2107 Notel. Case#NW

64578 Date: 12-14-2022

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: DN

TO: HQ

TITLE :

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

11/05/1951

52

ANTHONY COLOSACCO

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT.

CLASSIFICATION :

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS:

4

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 07/21/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

RPT

v9.1

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$16

1.

47-1476

ValatH, a Los angeles gambler who was arrested in Denver in July

o? 1951 in connection with a race track swindle. He stated thai as of

August' 15, 195I NEVELEFF was still in Denver under bond awaiting

trial on the race track swindle and was living at Apartment 310,

Canelia House, I2th and Grant Streets,

'Denver, Colorado. KLINE

stated that he was personally renting this apartment and had lived

there for about two months in July of 1951 during which period he

and his wife were separated. He stated that he was permitting

NEVELErE to reside in the apartment as a favor pending disposition

of the state charges against him.

KINE specifically denied that he had any information

as to the identity of the unknown subject in this case.

CHRIS NERKURI, FBI Nunber 375631

Confidential Informant Denver I-6, who has previously

furnished reliable infornation to this office, reported that on

July 11, 1951 he received a telephone call from JOHN PRIDIA, victim

in this case who reported that he had been contacted by two

unknown individuals on July 10, 1951 representing themselves as

United States Internal Revenue

"Agents •

PRIOLA stated that these nen attempted to "shake him down"

for $2,500 in consideration of their covering up alleged income tax

irregularities on the part of PrIola.

Informant stated that PRIOLA

told him that these individuals stated that they intended to contact

JUNE VISI, TONY COLOSACCO, and the SAIDONE brothers as waLl as

nunerous other gamblers in Denver and vicinity who were alleged.

to have failed to properly report Federal Income. lax returns.

Informant

stated TRIOL reported that COLOSACCO had personally contacted him

on the morning of July It, 1951 and told him that he had been

"shaken down" by Internal Revenue Agents; that they had thrown hir

in jail, and had finally made a deal with him to cover up his

income tax irregularities if COLOSACCO would pay them a sum of money.

According to Informant PRIULA stated that COLOSACCO had

commented that he would probably be better to pay off these agents

in order to save a lot of trouble.

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DN 47-1476

r..

Informant reported that after this conversation with PRICIA

he was contacted by TONY GOLOSACCO who told him that he was. working

with DOLAN on a deal to "Shake-down" JOHN FRIOL.

He stated that

COLESACCO was at liberty on bond pending disposition of state

burglary charges against him and was badly in need of money.

iccording

to Informant, COLOSACCO stated that he told JOHN PRIOLA that Internal

Revenue Agents were "Shaking down", a lot of ganblers around Denver

and it would probably be a good idea for PRicIa to pay off in order

to save trouble.

Informant stated that COLOSACCO admitted that he had been

the "Finger nan" in connection with DOLAN contacting PRIOLA.

according

to Informant it was his understanding that another person had been

with DOLAN On July 10, 1951 when' he contacted fRIdI but the identity

of this person was unknown to him.

Informant stated that on the night of July 19, 1951, he

was in front of the Dover Hotel in lenver talking to COLOSACCO.

He stated that COLOSACCO related that he had just left the FBI Office

where he had been questioned about the DOLAN case and that he had

denied any participation with DOll in the attempted "Shake-downl

Of JOHN PRIOLE

Informant stated that CULUSACCO, explained that he had told

the FBI that he had personally been approached by Internal revenue

Agents who had attempted to "Shake him down" and that he had heard

that numerous other gamblers were

to be contacted for the sane

purpose by Internal Revenue Agents. COLOSACCO warned Informant that

in the event he was contacted by the FBI, he should tell the same

story.

Informant reported that on at least one occasion during the

month of august, 1951, he had observed JAlES HaRI lOT at the dog

races

at the Wile High Kennel Club north of Jenver, Colorado.

stated that on that occasion DOLAN was accompanied by CHRIS MEKURI

who,

according to Informant, resides at the Dover Hotel in Denver

and is known as a ganbler, ex-convict and "Finger Man" in numerous

burglaries.

He stated that VERKURI is a long time friend and

associate of ANTHONY COLOSACCO.

I-o further related that on the night of July 24, 1951,,

he was in front of the Dover Hotel in Denver, Colorado talking to

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DN 47-1476

CHRIS- MERKURI at which time WERKURI stated that TONY COLOSACCO

was in bad trouble on the DUIAN case and suggested that it would

•be a good idea if someone would try to "fix" JOHN PRIOLA tO

frevent him from testifying against DOLAN and COLOSACCO.

Informant stated that MERKURI then suggested to him that he

so out and talk to JOHN PRIOla and attempt to pay him $500 to prevent

hiin from identifying DOLAN or testifying against COLOSACCO.

Informant related that he declined to have anything to do

with such a scheme and stated that during the subsequent conversation

MERKURI never mentioned the identity of the unknown subject in the

• case.

(after this information was received, all witnesses and

victims in this case were immediately contacted and specifically

instructed that if anyone approach them concerning the case they

innediately report same to the Denver Office. Up to the present

tire there is no indication that any attempt has been made to

"pay off any witnesses or victims.)

I-6 has reported that ANTHONY CULOSACCO, in October, 1951,

has made the comment that the FBI appears to know everything about

COLOSACCO 'S activities

and has even been questioning DOWNICK GAUDIO

in Chicago, Illinois.

Informant described GAUDIU as a former Denver

gambler and ex-convict who now resides in Chicago, Illinois and

who for many years has been a close friend of CHRIS MERKURI and

ANTHONY COLOSACCO.

The following Identification Record under FBI Number

375631 dated September 7, 1938 was obtained through the Denver Police

Department:

CONIE.JBUTOP OF

ERFRINTS

NAME AN/ NUMBER

ARRESTED OR CHARGE

RECEIVED

DISPOSITICN

Í, Denver,

Col0.

Christ Do

Terkuri 3-17-31

alias C.K.

erkurt

#13552

•arson

-

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DN 47-1476

Confidential Informant Jenver I-6 furnished the following

information concerning TEDDY! PRICE: He stated that he has been

personally acquairted with "'EDDY' PRICE for over ten years; that PRiCE

is a professional gambler and is well acquainted with the SMALDONES,

TONE COLOSACCO and numerous other gamblers in the Denver, area.

fe

said that PRICE also frequently participated in barbuit games at the

"Bug Dust" Poolroun in Louisville, Colorado, which game was

frequented also by TONY COLOSACCO. He stated that during recent

weeks PRICE has frequented a barbuit game, at Wood.

, Colorado and is

usually accompanied by one "Farmer" ROUTA, a brother

of "Porky" ROUTA,

who is now serving a life sentence at the Colorado State Penitentiary

as a habitual criminal.

Informant reported that he doubts that PRICe is actually

involved in the DOIAN case but pointed out that PRICE is unpredictable

and unreliable and sometimes becomes violent when under the influence

of liquor.

For example, Informant pointed out that PRICE recently

borrowed approximately $1,100 from a gambler and during the first.

week in October when PRICE had not paid up as agreed, this gambler

went out to contact PRICE at the PRICE Plumbing Company on West

Colfax Avenue in Denver.

He stated that the gambler found "TEDDY"

PRICE sitting in an automobile in front of the plumbing company and

out

of the automobile and trained a .38 caliber revolver on the gambler

and threatened to kill him. Informant stated that the gambler

finally quieted PRICE down and no violence occured, and some two or

three days later the same gambler contacted "FEDDY" FRICE'S brother,

"ICKET" PRICE who paid the gambler the $1, 100 and made a specific

request. that no more money be advanced to "TEDDY" PRICE. According

to the Informant "ICKEY" PlICE informed the canbler that his brother

"TEDDY" PRICE was a

"wild man" when he is drinking and recalled that

a few weeks previously, lEDDY PRICE had appeared at "WICKEY" PRICE'S

house in a drunken condition, entered the living room where "iCKEY"

PRICE'S children were playing and fired several shots from a

revolver into the living room ceiling.

MILTON PRICE was interviewed at the Denver Office by Sa

KENNETH I RAUPACH and the reporting agent on Detober 16, 1951 at which

time he stated that he is commonly known as "HICKEY" PRICE and resides

-

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DI: 47-1476

instant case and at that time did not know DOLAN'S whereabouts.

I-8 reported by telephone un October 24,.

1951 that he had

just seen

DOLAN on the street in Denver accompanied by JOSEPH RAYOMND

Si.ETu and RAYND JAMES CONLEY and that DOIAN had told him that

they were in town to report for a hearing in state court on charges

of operating a race, track swindle in Denver in July, 1951. le stated

that DolAi told him that he expected to be in town for several days

and would contact rim later.

I-8 stated that if he could obtain

any pertinent information concerning this case he will immediately

report the same to the Denver Office.

On August 24, 1951, at the wile High Kennel club, north

of Denver, lICHAEL PRIOlA, who was a witness to the attempted swindle

Of JOIN PRICIA On JULy I0, 1951, informed the writer ard SA FRED

C. NcGaARY that he had just seen an individual who resembled the

unknown subject in this case.

he pointed this person out to

Agents who identified him as ir. IEC IYOR, 1756 Grant Street, Denver,

Colorado.

TYur was interviewed frivately by SA FRuD G. NnGEARI and

the reporting agent at the Mile High Kennel Club and stated that he

was born way 6, 1897 at Passaic, New Jersey, and had resided in denver

at 1756 Grant Street for many years.

He stated that his brother,

FAIL TIOR Operates the Colonial Motor Company at 4545 west Colfax

in Denver.

TZOR was subsequently observed by MICHARL PRIOlE and JOHN

PriCia on the evening of August 24, 1951 at the Mile High Kennel

Club and they stated that they did not believe, after closer

observation, that he was identical with the unknown subject.

NE. JAMES O'DONNELI, Chief of the lile High Kennel Club

Security folice, informed that he had been acquainted with TYOR

for many years and had never heard of his being engaged in any

illegal activities.

Ori August 23, 1951 Nr. JOSEPH CROW, Manager, Sacks - Lawlor

Company, Denver, Colorado, telephone number al 34hz, Informed sa.

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DN 47-1476

DOLAN, was:

UNKNOWN SUBJECI, Wa., "Chief"; ANTHONY COLOSACCO, Wa;

FUGITIVE: IMPERSONATION, CONSPIRACY are identified as fOLlovs:

I-l: C. S. FAY, Vice-Fresident, Mountain States Ielephone

and Telegraph Company, Denver, Colorado, who furnishec

information on a confidential basis to SA PAUL E. BUSF;

T=2: DR-108;

T-3: BR-100;

I-4: JOEY: GOODMAN, 340 North Oakhurst, Beverly Hill,

Califorria, who in August, 1951 was residing at the

irgonaut Hotel in Denver, Colorado. GOODMAN fursigned

information do SA'S FRED C. McGEARY and PAUL E. BUSH

with the understanding that his name would not be divulged.

Fe stated that he is a professional gambler and has a

wide acquaintance with gamblers throughout the United

States;

I-5: iNC. CARL MCHLIAN, Assistant Manager, Brown Palace

Hotel, Denver, Colorado, who furnished information to

SA PAUL E. BUSH with the understanding that his name

would not be divulged;

I-6: JOHN WEST, was., 2529 South High Street, Denver,

Colorado, Potential Criminal Informant;

I-7: LIBERT FINER, Plumber, Nourtain Plumbing Company,

Denver, Colorado, who furnished information concerning

"TEDDY" PRICE with the understanding that his name would

not'be divulged as the source of this information;

ETCHENCE :

Report of SA PAUL E. BUSH dated August 13, 1951 at Denver;

Report of SA JOHN E. BOYAJIAN dated October 10, 1951

at Chicago;

Report of SA WILLIAM G. MASHAW dated October 11, 1951 at

'San Diego, California.

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