Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, SF
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 04/24/1968
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

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

DATE: 11-14-2017

JFK Assassination System

Date:

5/20/201

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY :

RECORD NUMBER :

RECORD SERIES:

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

FBI

124-10288-10459

HQ

92-6054-1ST NR 2317

Document Information

ORIGINATOR :

FROM:

TO :

TITLE :

FBI

SAC, SF

DIRECTOR, FBI

DATE: 04/24/1968

'PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

4

LCN, LIFE MAGAZINE, ARTIC, "THE MOB", SJ FAMILY

MEMBER, CERRITO, JOE

DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 07/09/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

v9.1

DocId: 32305829

Page 1

10

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1902 (11 USC 2TUT Mote).

DATE: 01+1122017

CARBON COPY

FBI

Date:

4/24/68

Transmit the following in

Via -

_ ARIEL

(Type in plaintext or code)

AIR MAIL - REGISTERED

(Priority)

TO :

DIRECTOR, FBI (92-3434) 692-6054)

Attention: Assistant Director JAMES H. GALE

FROM: SAC, SAN FRANCISCO (92-124) 192-593) (P)

JOSEPH CERRITO, aKa.

00:

San Francisco

LA COSA NOSTRA

AR

- CONSPIRACY

00: New York

ORIGINAT FILED IN

92-3434

Re San Francisco aintels, 3/22/68 and 4/22/68.

The following information is the result of continied inquiries

being made of informants and sources concerning the effect of the

publication of the article entitled "The Mob,"

which appeared

in the 3/15/58 issue of "Life" magazine:

On 3/21/68

SF-2850-PC advised he had read the recent article

appearing in

"Life!

magazine regarding JOE CERRITO's position

in the San Jose Family of the LCN.

Po stated it appears that

the information was

• "Mafioso turned stool

pigeon" which, in his opinion, is the worst type of pigeon.

He stated he has not discussed the article with CERRITO and

6

~ Bureau (AM RM)

(3

92-3434)

92-6054)

2

- New Yonk (92-2300) (AM-RN)

44 =

San Francisco

(1-

92-124)

(1.-

32-593)

{1 -

92-635,

ARDIZZONE)

(1 - 92-1121, SALCICCIA)

92-6054=

NOT RECORDED

180 MAY L 2 1968

HKM: jab

(12)

10/00

1969

special

Agent in Charge

Sent

_ M

Per

DocId: 32305829

Page 2

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## Page 3

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Aot of 1992 (14 USC 2107 Mote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

SF-92-124

SF-92-593

HKM : jab

does not expect to do so; however, he agreed to consider contacting

CERRITO in an attempt to elicit an opinion from him.

On 4/2/68 SF-2689-C-TE advised he visited with SALVATORE TARANTO

Sunday, 3/31/68.

TARANTO advised that he saw MANNY FIGLIA a few days ago.

told TARANTO that JOE CERRITO was extremely distressed over the

recent "Life" magazine article and that the photograph of him

in company with FRANK GARAFOLO took him completely by surprise.

According to FIGLIA, CERRITO is now more determined than ever to

follow ührough on his libel suit against "Life".

FIGLIA also told TARANTO that SALVATORE MARINO "got the message"

in the "Life" anticle that a cheese man referred to therein was

he.

FIGLIA also advised TARANTO that DOMINICK ANZALONE waS also upset

by the

"Life' article and is in favor of CERRITO's determination

to get the matter into count and has offered CERRITO any financial

help he may need.

It is to be noted that SAi,VATORE MARIND is the owner and operator

of the California Cheese Co. at San Jose, Calif.

On 4/9/68 SF-2689-C-TE advised that he was

in personal contact

with BILL SCIORTINO on 4/4/68 in San Francisco.

SCIORTINO ad-

vised informant that he personally contacted JOE CERRITO at his

home in San Jose on the specific instructions of JIMMY LANZA.

According to SCIORTINO, JIMMY LANZA was emotionally disturbed

concerning the "Life" magazine article, especially in view of the

fact

that it plainly identified him as

leader of the San Francisco

family of the LCN.. SCIORTINO said that the purpose of his contact

with CERRITO at San Jose was to advise

CERRITO that LANZA approves

of

and will support CERRITO's decision to carry on his libel suit

against "Life".

The San Diego Office, by communication dated 4/10/68, advised inat

SD-1064-C-TE furnished the following information concerning his

visit with SANTO TRAFFICANTE, JR., LCN bOSS of Florida, when

they met in San Diego on 4/1/68:

- 2 -

DocId: 32305829 Page 3

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## Page 4

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

DATE: 11-14-2017

SF-92-124

SF-92-593

HKM: jab

Informant stated that SANTO showed displeasure with the fact that

the informant is now only a "soldier" after having been a success-

ful "Capo" before going to prison.

SANTO did not seem to be

sympathetic toward California LCN leadership, especially the way

it was portrayed in the recent "Life" magazine article

ridiculed the San Jose Family. He suggested that the informant

attempt to regain his "Capo" status. SANTO indicated he was more

closely connected with the Chicago leadership than with the Detroit

leaders and that he generally liked the idea of one LCN Family

for all of California

with closer ties to Chicago.

SANTO questioned the informant about the "Life" magazine article

regarding the san Jose lamily.

The

informant told him it was all

true.

He told SANTO that at the time he was a close friend of LCN

"Capo" ANGELO MARINO Of San JOSe.

He described how ANGELO's

father, SALVATORE MARINO, had been a

and

that several years ago, the San Jose LON boss, JOE CERRITO,

wanted SAL to step down.

ago at costa Tod

"Capo" in the San Jose Family

SAl contacted the informant to get his

opinion and the informant advised him that since CERRITO felt that

way, he should

step down, but only on condition that his son,

ANGELO, take his place.

CERRITO agreed to this and this is how

ANGELO

became "Capo",

SANTO described ANGELO as a very weak man who could not kill any.

one if his own life depended on it and that he had no talent what-

ever for LCN racket activity;

that most of his adult life was

spent chasing women and gambling while his father had to run the

California Cheese Co.

The informant told SANTO that around 1963 or 1964 ANGELO came to

contact the informant and told him that he had received an

execution contract

sought advice.

The informant advised

that ANGELO wanted him

to help him but he told ANGELO he was

on parole and could have nothing

to do with it. He told ANGELO

a couple of trusted "soldiers" and carry out the contract.

Sometime later he heard that the intended victim was picked up

by INS for deportation and he always suspected. ANGELO, instead of

killing the intended victim, made an anonymous call to have him

picked up rather than kill him. He stated that from questioning

ANGELO at that time, he learned ANGELO had even talked to the

intended victim while the contract. was in force and he also learned

the contract had been given ANGELO by the LON San Jose boss, doE

CERRITO.

DocId: 32305829 Page 4

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