Originator: FBI
From: PG
To: HQ
Document date: 6/11/59
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

6/2/2015

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER:

124-90100-10183

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

52-72398-NR

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

PG

TO: HQ

TITLE :

DATE: 06/11/1959

PAGES:

2

SUBJECTS :

JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA

STUART SUTOR

DOCUMENT TYPE:

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION:

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 10(a)2

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 08/08/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS: AT

Released under the John

f. Kennedy

Assassination Records

Collection Act of 1992

i44 USC 2107 Notel •

Case#:NW 56792 Date:

v9.1

HH 56792 DocId: 32331965 Page 1

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PG 52-1687

photographs in the space of approximately 20 seconds.

. At

present,

these photographs are being developed but it is

doubtful whether they will be of any value to this investigation.

No additional photographic surveillances are

contemplated from the POST home or elsewhere in New Kensington

because of the obstacles outlined above

The situation will be

followed closely, however, and in the event MANNARINO should

ever appear in public without sunglasses photographic

surveillances will again be considered.

ALBERTO ARDURA, aka., Alberto Ardura Moya

Investigation conducted to date in Miami and Jacksonville,

Florida, discloses that ARDURA, a Cuban National and part owner

of the Tropicana Nightclub, now living In Ormond Beach, Florida,

with his family since the collapse of the BATISTA government,

has been identified in connection with an exchange of long

distance telephone calls to NORMAN ROTHMAN, now under indictment

in this case,which included calls to "SAMMY" in New York City

during February, 1959, who is probably identical with

national top hoodlum SAMUEL MANNARINO.

For the benefit of all offices, ARDURA has long been

recognized by the Pittsburgh Office as a confederate of SAMUEL

MANNARINO. As an example, MANNARINO In October, 1956, advised

, that he had shipped a number of slot machines to ARDURA and

ROMAN in care of the Tropicana Nightclub in Havana, Cuba,

and pointed out that Cuban Government, at that time,

granted them permission to place the machines in various spots

thought tea ate eat a per that time admitted that

Moreover, Havana 4, Interviewed by the Legat in

September, 1956, described ARDURA as the principal importer

of slot machines in Cuba associated with MARTIN FOX in the

operation of the Tropicana Nightclub.

Havana 4 at that time

characterized ARDURA as a close personal friend of Colonel

ROBERTO FERNANDEZ MIRANDA, brother-in-law of former Cuban

dictator FULGENCIO BATISIA and director of the Cuban Nationa.

X(4)

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PG 52-1687

commission of Sports. Havana 4 said at that time that

through the influence of MIRANDA, ARDURA had no difficulty

1n placing slots on location In Cuba: (U)

To further demonstrate ARDURAIs closeness to

MANNARINO, It Is Interesting to note that during the Top

Hoodlum investigation In New Kensington, It was discovered

that during the perlod, March, 195%, to July, 1957, the

New Ken Novelty Company, operated by MANNARINO, shipped 137

slot machines and five boxes of slot machine parts to

ALBERT ARDURA, In care of the Tropicana Nightclub.

on the basis of

past experience in the Top Hoodlum

Program, there Is little doubt that MANNARINO, ROTHMAN and

ARDURA are very close and it is not beyond the realm of

possibility that ARDURA, along with ROTHMAN, could have been

the receiver of the National Guard

weapons when they reached

cuba.

It is significant that Dr. LOUIS C. PESSOLANO,

when first interviewed concerning the part he played in

the

gun-running conspiracy, came up with the name CECIL HARDURA,

as the person who instructed him to rent the twin engine

Beechcraft for a hunting and fishing party. Dr. PESSOLANO

has, of course, Implicated ROTHMAN as the man who instructed

him

in the matter

since that time but in his effort to hamper

the investigation, PESSOLANO may have unintentionally brought

out the fictitious name HARDURA knowing that ARDURA was

involved in the conspiracy.

PHILLIP JAMES MAINER,

FBI #868314A

It is recalled that MAINER and his associate, GEORGE

FLOREA, FBI #2888609, were named by Canton, Ohio,

Police

Department Informant at the beginning of

this investigation

as the men who committed the burglary at the Ohio National

Guard Armory on 10/14/58.

It is also recalled that supplemental investigation

In New Kensington established that MAINER was in contact with

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PCI HENRY ABRAHAM of this office arproximately two years ago

In an effort to sell a load of stolen cigarettes which may

have

eventually reached GABRIEL MANNARINO, owner of the

S&S Distributing Company, & cigarette vending machine

business In New Kensington. Most offices are aware that

the s & s Distributing Company panel truck was used to

transport part of the stolen weapons to the airport in this

case and, of course, GABRIEL MANNARINO 1s the brother of

SAMUEL MANNAR-INO.

When Interviewed In February, 1959,

POL ABRAKAM

claimed he was not acquainted

with MAINER but mentioned

two individuals had approached him some time ago with a

load of not cigarettes.

It may be

significant that ABRAHAM

brought out the name of a man sho tried to sell the hot

cigarettes who is now dead.

The following Inestigation was conducted to

again determine whether ABRAHAM could be acquainted with

MAINER•

On 4/21/59 PCI ABRAHAM examined & good photograph.

Of MAINER and advised SA JOHNS. PORTELLA

that MAINER was not

the person who accompanted UPrIE CHARLES, deceased, several

years ago in an effort to sell a load of stolen elgarettes.

ABRAHAM also denied that he ever referred CHARLES of anyone

else attempting to sell stolen merchandise, to GABRIEL

MANNARINO at the S&S Distributing Company or anyone

connected with the MANARINe gang:

It Is noted that earller in this investigation

confidential source MIKE ZERVOS, who is well acquainted with

ABRAHAM, posItively Identified MAINER as the person who

approached ABRAHAMwith another unknown individual approximately.

two years ago in an effort to sell a

load of cigarettes.

ZERVOS also pointed out at that time that he had seen MAINER

In New Kensington on a number of occasions loafing around the

Kenmar Hotel which Is a gathering place for members of the

MANNARANO gang.

As an example, DaNieL HANA, aka, SPEEDO,

who is already under indictment in this case

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P& 52-1687

Confi

ential

assisted in the loading of the weapons

che

Allegheny

valley Airport,

spends almost every afternoon in

Kennar Hotel lobby and cocktait lounge.

the.

PAT CARUSO

PCI HENRY ABRAMAM, On 4/21/59, advised SA PORTELLA

that PAT

CARUSO OF PAI FERRUCCIO, not further described of

onio, and a very close friend of Al SEID of the

MANNARINO gang in New Kensington, might have had something

to do with the National Guard Armory burglary. ABRAHAM

furnished this Intormation In response to a question by

SA PORTELIA as to whether ABRAHAM had any theories or ideas

as to who perpetrated the burglary.

ABRAHAM stated that

he has no positive information that CARUSO was actually

connected with the job but described him as an active

racket figure In Canton and one time lleutenant of "NICK

THE GREEK," who at one time controlled the rackets of

Canton.

ABRAHAM was of the opinion that lurther investigation

of CARUSO and his associates would be warranted in this case.

JEROME M. GLUCK, aka 2 Jerry 4110k, FBI #5039721

The following investigation was conducted to

Identify JEROME M. GLUCK, who was characterized during

the initial stages of this investigation as an agent for

the Dominican Republic attempting to purchase arms and

ammunition in Pittsburgh,

Pa.

This mase of theinvestigation

1s considered important since the name JERRY GLICK, nOW

identified as JEROME M. GLUCK, was first introduced into

the case in connection with a long distance telephone call

from JOE MEROLA's suite at the warwick Hotel In New York,

N.Y., on 9/6/58, to the office of JAMES A. ASHTON, attorney

at law, Pittsburgh:

A sunmary of this phase of the investigation will

be found on cover pages D through K,

in report of sa RIchard

GORDON DOUCE, Pittsburgh, 4/20/59.

On 5/5/59 MAXWELL KAHN, editor and publisher,

"Clairton Progress," weekly newspaper published in Clairton,

Pa., advised SAS DOUCE and THOMAS G. FORSYTH III, as follows:

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