CR-137-6257-38
Originator: FBI
From: ROSEN
To: BELMONT
Document date: 1961-07-27 00:00:00
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

# DOCID-32334109

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER: 124-90110-10102

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: SEE TITLE

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

ROSEN

TO : BELMONT

TITLE: [Restricted]

DATE :

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

07/27/1961

2

JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA

[Restricted]

DOCUMENT TYPE :

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION:

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS:

4; 10(a)2

CURRENT STATUS:

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW:

08/06/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

MEMO

18

v9.1

NW 66000 Docld:32334109 Page 1

Date:

6/2/2015

Heleased under the John F. Kennedy

ssassination Records Collection Act

992 |44 USC 2107 Notel. Case#N'

SEO00 Date: 11-03-2021

---

## Page 2

OPTIONAL FORM NG. 10

"UNITED STATES GOVE

WENT

Memorandum

TO

Mr. Belmonte,

FROM

SUBJECT:

A.

Rosen

CHESTER ZOCHOWSKI

INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF

STOLEN PROPERTY - TOP JEWEL THIEF

DATE: July 27, 1961

Tolson -

Belmont

Mohr -

Callahan

Conrad _

DeLoach

Evant: -

Malone -

Russian

Rosen 1

Tavel

Trotter -

Tele. Room

Ingram -

Gandy

11-

Chester Zochowski, confidential informant of the Miami Office since

7/19/60, has advised of an alleged scheme to defraud through the inflation of

across-the-counter stocks and the disposal of these stocks at an inflated price.

Zochoteski has Identitied the brincipal individual involved in this

scheme as Arthur Freedman, a Miami/ attorney, reportedly a friend and

associate of Sam/Kay, Miami Beach millionaire-financier who is an associate

of criminalS: This informant states that freedman is alleged to have inflated

the value of three stocks by selling and buying to his own interest at a cost

to him of reported $60,000. These stocks were described as the American

International (Baltimore, Maryland), a utility company stock of Tampa,

Florida, and the Fransportation Research and Development-Company stock

1al, 5

whose home office is unknown.

These stocks are all across-the-counter

stocks with a paper value in excess of one million dollars; however, there

are no buyers of these stocks at that value.

Leo Sagal, Newark, New Jersey, who is a possible witness and

subject in the John Jacob Samarin case involving counterfeit Ohio Turnpike

bonds which case has been presented to the Federal Grand Jury in Miami,

Florida, reportedly is to dispose of $1, 003, 000 worth of these stocks at an

unknown bank in Boston, Massachusetts. These stocks will be put up as

security on a loan and when the loan is defaulted the stocks. will have little

relative value.

16

REG

12

6

38

Zochowski further advised that these stocks were allegedly purchased

originally for approximately one dollar a share and through the buying and

selling of these stocks by Freedman and through his interest they have been

inflated to approximately $10 a share. A group of individuals involving Ayseid

tA:

a well-known Pittsburgh racketeer and hoodlum, Joseph Merola, convicted

for the theft and transportation of guns from an armory in Canton, Ohio 28

1961

1 - Informant Desk

Special Investigative Division

613

JGF: raj

(8)

66 AUG 3

1961

copies madel

Най Gooeph

2 26-28 56/9 le

fof revnew at BIHQ by

ESCAre L Jolf request o

(See Bufile #62-117290)

6-958

ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED

. Ur

HARE 1/31/95

168 s6 вс

NW 66000 Docld:32334109 Page 2

---

## Page 3

Memorandum to Mr. Belmont

RE: CHESTER ZOCHOWSKI

who has been out on bail pending his appeal which was denied, Mik

Swiatek,

reported Chicago burglar and friend of Merola have offered to dispose of

these stocks for Freedman.

Also included in this group is the informant,

Chester Zochowski. They will dispose of these stocks through Sagal and have

offered Freedman $4 a share for the stocks; however, he is asking $5 a

share. This group contemplates disposal of these stocks through a bank or

as collateral on a loan at between $7 and $8 a share.

The Miami Office has ascertained that the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC), Miami, Florida, is investigating the American Interna-

trona. baltimore.

Maryland), and contemplates obtaining an injunction against

the sale of the stock of this company within the near future.

ACTION:

Although the above scheme involves possible violations primarily

within the jurisdiction of SEC, the New York, Boston, Miami and Newark

Offices will thoroughly explore all facets of this scheme based on information

supplied by Zochowski in order to completely identify all individuals involved

as well as the companies being used to ascertain whether this scheme

constitutes violation within this Bureau's jurisdiction. This matter is being

closely followed.

NW 66000 Docld:32334109 Page 3

---