Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, SD
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 7/10/67
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 144 05C 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Date:

- 5/19/201

Agency Information

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

124-10287-10358

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

92-6054-2051, 2052

***=

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: SAC, SD

TO:

DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE :

Document Information

DATE :

'PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

07/10/1967

12

LCN, ASSOC, ARREST, NARCOTICS, GAMBLING, PHOTO,

TRA, RES, TEST, SUBPOENA, FGJ

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 07/08/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS : INC MEMO

v9.1

DocId: 32305228

Page 1

10

---

## Page 2

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

DATE: 11-14-2017

FBI

Date:

7/10/67

Transmit the following in

Via

AIRIEL

(Type in plaintext or code)

ALLATE - REGISTERED

(Priority)

10:

DIRECTOR, FBI (92-6054)

FROM:

SAC, SAN DIEGO (92-229) (P)

LA COSA NOSTRA

AR - CONSPIRACY

(00: New York)

Re San Diego airtel to Bureau dated 6/28/67•

SD 1064-C-TE was recontacted 7/5/67 and furnished

the following Information on La Cosa Nostra (LCN):

I.

LOS ANGELES DIVISION

Re:

YOUNGNAP

100:

LOS

Angeles)

Buffle 7-11777) -

(LA 7-1080) -

SUREAU AIAOGISLERI

3 - 92-6054)

1 - 137-9107)

Chicago (92-1173) (AM- REGISTERED)

Cleveland (Info) (AM-REGISTERED) -

Detroit (AM-REGISTERED)

- Kansas City (Info) (AM-REGISTERED)

- Las Vegas (Info) (AM-REGISTERED)

Los Angeles. (92-1112) (AM-REGISTERED)

New Orleans (AM-REGISTERED)

New York (92-2300) (AM-REGISTERED)

137-918

UNRECORDED COPY PILED

6854-2052

Tampa (92-218) (Info) (AM-REGISTERED)

San Diego

(1 - 137-1088)

JDA: KLO

(25)

56JYL 2519

4 JUL 12 1967

Approved:

Sent

- M

Per

Special Agent in Charge

DocId: 32305228

Page 2

---

## Page 3

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (41 USC 2107 Motel.

DATE: 11-11-2017

SD 92-229

Informant advised he had no information

indicating LCN involvement in YOUNGNAP case.

Informant was specifically asked concerning

possibility of FRANK JOHN VELOTTA, FBI No. 313 999 C,

presently residing in the Los Angeles Division, having

access to YOUNGNAP money, as set out in Los Angeles

teletype to Bureau 7/3/67.

Informant stated VELOTTA last visited him 6/27/67,

accompanied by RAYMOND FERRITTO. Identified FERRITTO as a

burglar from Erle, Pennsylvania and an associate of VELOTTA.

Stated that VELOPIA and FERRITTO drove from Los Angeles area

to San Diego in FERRITTO's 1966, gray Mercury station wagon

(California license SJC 005), because VELOTTA's 1965, black

Cadillac recently caught fire and burned. VELOTTA collected

Tha: in that bic 00.

$1,500 insurance money rather than have car repaired.

Intormant was of the impression VELOTTA in need of money at

this time and specializes in burglaries only. Stated

VELOTTA owns a ten-unit apartment house in the greater

On one occasion while visiting in

and possibly into San Fernando Valley area, where apartment

believes he purchased the apartment house and possibly some

private homes as an investment with other associates.

Intormant belleved two of these assoclates were RAY FERRITTO

and JULIUS PETRO.

Informant stated VELOTTA 1s an expert burglar

operacing wich artierent noodlums out or che clevelane area.

Informant believed RAY FERRITTO and ALBERT "Tubby" FIGER

were two of the persons with whom he operates. Informant was

very doubtful that VELOTTA would ever become involved in a

crime or violence such as kidnaping or the bomb murder or

GERALD JOSEPH COVELLI at Encino, California on 0/10/07•

Informant emphasized that VELOTTA has been contacting

him in San Diego occasionally for the past few months to

discuss with him his efforts to keep from being extradited

to Florida on a burglary charge, hoping that the informant

would have contacts through SANTO TRAFFICANTE, LCN boss in

Florida, to pay off some public officials in order to kill

- 2 -

DocId: 32305228

Page 3

---

## Page 4

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (41 USC 2107 Hote) -

DATE: 11-11-2017

SD 92-229

excradition process.

Informant also speculated that

VELOTTA and JULIUS PETRO have been contacting him to

develop friendship, with a hope of sometime being invited

to join LON.

Informant advised that at his last meeting

VELOTTA claimed he had received information through his

contacts in Cleveland that AL POLIZZI could help him.

Informant identified AL POLIZZI aS ALFRED POLIZZI OL

Coral Gables, Florida, former LCN boss in Cleveland, now

living in Coral Gables, Florida and a retired millionaire.

VELOTTA Claimed to the

informant that POLIZZI had sent

word back to Cleveland that 1f VELOTTA was willing to

return voluntarily to Florida and enter a guilty plea to

the local burglary charge outstanding against VELOTTA, he

would not serve more than six months in jail.

In accordance with Los Angeles celetype setting

forth VELOTTA as a possible suspect in YOUNGNAP, the informant

was questioned further regarding any conversations he had

Informant could not recall VELOTTA ever

mentioning RONALDDAVID CARABBIA or his brothers, ORLANDO

and CHARLES CARABBIA, Cleveland hoodlums. He could not

recall VELOTTA mentioning Cleveland fence TONY BUFFA.

Informant had no information connecting VELOLLA wich

burglary of drugs valued at $429,575 at Franklin Park,

Illinois on 5/22/67 from E. R. Squibb & Son.

Informant further advised he had no information

of VELOTTA recently visiting Cleveland, and from comments

of VELOTTA, he doubted that VELOTTA had been back in

Cleveland recently.

Informant stressed his opinion that VELOTIA is

an expert burglar, specializing in getting around burglar

alarm systems, and would not be involved in a crime of

violence if he could possibly avoid it.

Informant was not aware of any other contacts of

VELOTTA in the San Diego area and stated that VELOTTA spends

most of his time these days in the Los Angeles area and

identified some of his companions as RAY FERRITTO, JULIUS and

MIKE PETRO, NICK VALENTI, and NICK TIRABASSI in the Los Angeles

- 3 -

DocId: 32305228 Page 4

---

## Page 5

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

DATE: 11-14-2017

SD 92-229

area. Informant stated that these are all acquaintances

of JIMMY "The Weasel" FRATIANNO from the days when he

resided in the Cleveland area and are not friends of the

informant.

Informant stated that his association with

VELOTTA is not close enough to have detailed information

regarding burglaries being pulled by VELOTTA and his gang.

Informant advised that when VELOTTA contacts him again, he

win attempt to bring up the subject of YOUNGNAP money to determine

1f VELOTTA has any information of value.

Re: JOHN ROSELLI

Informant indicated he has been in recent conver-

sation with ROSELLI, and that ROSELLI is no longer making

plans to go to Chicago, and therefore informant assumes

SAM GIANCANA, aka Mooney, might not be returning to Chicago.

Note that in last contact with informant, he

indicated the possibility that GIANCANA would be returning

to Chicago in about a month.)

Informant speculated that GIANCANA might have

decided against returning to Chicago after receiving reports

regarding subpoenas being issued for FRANK LA PORIE and

other Chicago Heights hoodlums being subpoenaed before the

Federal Grand Jury at San Diego.

gambling operations of NICK SIMPONIS in the Palm Springs,

California area.

DESIMONE sent word to the informant through

ADAMO that when SINPONIS opened his new card room in Cabazon,

California, he had an understanding with DESIMONE that the

Los Angeles family would leave him alone and paid oft

$40,000 to the LCN leadership to leave him alone. DESIMONE

claims he is now going to honor this agreement and refuses

to give the informant permission to muscle in on SIMPONIS's

operation.

II.

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

Re: JIMMY PRATIANNO

- 4 -

DocId: 32305228 Page 5

---

## Page 6

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

DATE: 11-14-2017

SD 92-229

Informant advised that he has been in recent

telephone contact with FRATIANNO and learned that Los Angeles

criminal attorney JAMES CANTILLON has notified FRATIANNO and

his wife that he is no longer going to represent them at

San Diego because of the money FRATIANNO still owes him as

the result of representing them against state charges in

El Centro, California.

Re: CARL LEE CASPERSON

Informant stated that in conversations with

FRATIANNO, FRATIANNO has made no statement to indicate

that he is aware of CASPERSON's present location.

Informant was specifically requested to bring

up CASPERSON's name in his next conversation with FRATIANNO,

since both he and FRATIANNO Inew CASPERSON in prison.

Informant advised that he intended to do this but forgot to

do so.

III.

CHICAGO DIVISION

Informant still had no information regarding the

bomb murder of GERALD JOSEPH COVELLI at Encino, California

on 6/18/67• (COVELLI former Chicago hoodlum and gave

testimony against JIMMY "Monk" ALLEGRETTI - LCN member of

the Chicago family. It is noted at the time COVELLI was

murdered at Encino, California on 6/18/67, FRANK LA PORTE of

Chicago was with the informant at San Diego waiting to testify

before the Federal Grand Jury.

Informant stated that LA PORTE's reaction to the

killing was one of surprise, and that he did not think

LA PORTE knew anything about it. Informant had no infor-

mation indicating that COVELLI's murder was an LCN contract

killing.

He speculated, however, that it could have been,

as the result of the testimony he gave against ALLEGRELLI,

and that LA PORTE would not necessarily know about it unless

he was involved in it himself.

- 5 -

DocId: 32305228 Page 6

---

## Page 7

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (11 USC 2107 Hotel.

DATE: 11-14-2017

SD 92-229

IV.

NEW ORLEANS DIVISION

In accordance with New Orleans request by letter

dated 6/5/67, the informant was questioned regarding

FRANCESCO PAOLO COPPOLA, aka

"Three-Finger Frank."

Informan t

reminisced about his past association with COPPOLA and in

substance stated the following:

Informant has known COPPOLA for many years and

was on a very friendly basis with him.

COPPOLA is now living in Italy and claimed that COPPOLA is

Do tray and otto

very wealthy. Stated that in the past COPPOLA has invited

him to visit him in Italy, but he has never done so. Stated

that many years ago COPPOLA lived for a while in Los Angeles

when JACK I. DRAGNA was LN boss in southern California.

(It is noted in New Orleans reports on COPPOLA that he was

booked at Los Angeles County Jail on 7/7/31 and 10/27/31

for operating a still.

Informant confirmed that COPPOLA was very active

in the international narcotics traffic between Italy and

Detroit. He talked about COPPOLA having moved to Louisiana

and becoming involved in gambling at New Orleans and Baton

Rouge, Louisiana with SILVESTRO CARROLLO.

He talked about COPPOLA eventually becoming

involved in his Louisiana gambling operations with FRANK

COSTELLO, the former Commission member residing in New York

City. Informant related a story that during that time he

accompanied JACK I. DRAGNA from Los Angeles to New York City

for a meeting with the Commission. At that time FRANK

COSTELLO was attempting to get Commission approval for a

contract killing on COPPOLA. Informant stated that he

himself got into a nasty verbal exchange with COSTELLO

because COSTELLO objected to Informant calling him by his

first name.

His remarks to COSTELLO were so inflamnatory

that his boss, JACK I. DRAGNA, and the Detroit boss, JOb

siriull, who was present, cooled it off and sent the informant

home to San Diego. Informant was very critical of COSTELLO,

referring to him as a

"phony" whose only crime of personal

violence was probably the one that obtained LCN membership

for him.

He advised that the outcome of the meeting was in

COPPOLA's favor.

- 6 -

DocId: 32305228

Page 7

---

## Page 8

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (41 USC 2107 Hote)-

DATE: 11-14-2017

SD 92-229

He stated that sometime after this meeting in

about 1930, COPPOLA and his partner, CARROLLO, were

aeporcea tron kansas city as 1ilegal allens and residec

for a while in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, near

San Diego, attempting to gain legal re-entry.

He admitted

visiting wich COPPOLA at Tijuana on occasions. He admitted

that while COPPOLA was staying in Tijuana he was visited

by hoodlums from Kansas City and St. Louis, and specifically

mentioned TONY LOPIPARO and TONY GIARDANO of St. Louls.

He was reminded of the incident when he and some of these

hoodlums were arrested by Mexican police. He stated that

some of those arrested were not LCN members, but were simply

Italians from Sicily waiting in Tijuana for permission to enter the

United States. He stated that at the time of the arrest there

was a lot of publicity, and that the innocent immigrants were

mixed up with some of the ICN members visitig with COPPOLA in

Tijuana.

He was specifically questioned about SEBASTIANO

GALLO of San Diego, who was arrested with the group by

Mexican authorities. He stated that GALLO was a bar owner

in San Diego and an old friend of his who accompanied him

to Mexico and was not an ICN member. He advised that GALLO

is now deceased.

he was visiting COPPOLA in Tijuana, he met a

Informant advised that dudes this Pestone the

who at that time was a high official in a narcotios law

enforcement agency•

Informant could not recall if it was a

federal or possibly a New York state narcotics law enforcement

agency -

Informant advised that on one occasion, while all

chese hoodlums were visiting or laving in tajuana, colone

White came there and talked with some of them.

When WHITE

was introduced to the intormant he made some remarks

a San Diego "capo."

That on sange too prape that the tutorers no scarag enter

was only three days old, and therefore WHITE must have had an

Inside informant.

Informan day on one

Informant advised that his

From conversation with WHITE, he learned

that WHITE was acquainted with the LCN boss in New Jersey

called WILLIE MOORE Phonetic. Intormant claimed that

then deduced the LiN boss in lew Jersey,

must be WHITE's informant, for WHITE to know about the

informant's "capo" status

so soon. Informant claimed that he

notified DRAGNA, and they demanded an investigation of

- T .

DocId: 32305228

Page 8

---

## Page 9

Released-under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 144 USC 2107 Hotey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10'

MAY 1962 EDITION

GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum

TO

DIRECTOR, FBI (92-6054)

DATE:

7/13/67

FROM

REC

SAC, MILWAUKEE (92-262)

-P-

SUBJECT

LA COSA NOSTRA (LCN)

AR - CONSPIRACY

00: New York

Re San Diego airtel to Bureau, 6/28/67.

On 7/11/67, MI 623-C-TE, who is described as a hoodlum

who has furnished reliable information in the past, advised

SA CARLYLE N. REED at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as follows with

reference to FRANCISCO, BALISTRIERI, aka BIg Frank:

CALLE

Informant knows of no close ties at the present time

between BIG FRANK BALISTRIERI and his two sons who operate a

bar somewhere in the San Diego, California area or nearby with

the relatives of BIG FRANK in Milwaukee such as FRANK PETER

ALISTRIERI - Milwaukee_LCN boss, FRANK's brother PETER

DISTRIERI, or his father JOSEPH BALISTRIERI.

wes

BIG FRANK was a member of the Milwaukee LCN family.

He is reportedly in poor health and apparently does not make

visits back to Milwaukee as far as the informant knows.

Bureau (AM) (RM) (92-6054)

2

- San Diego (AM) (RM) (92-229) (1 - 137-1088)

2 - Milwaukee (92-262) (1 - 137-1318)

CNR/kaj

(6)

EX 108

REC 51

92-6054-2051

18 JUL 17 1967

JIJUL 211967

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

5010-108-01

DocId: 32305228

Page 9

---