Document date: 04/17/2018
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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FD-36 (Rev. 10-29-63)

FBI.

1/15/65

Date:

(Type in plain text or code)

AIR MAIL - REGISTERED

(Priority)

Transmit the following in

AIRTEI

Via

TO :

FROM:

RE:

Director, FBI

SAC, Los Angeles (92-1112)

LA COSA NOSTRA

ANTI-RACKETEERING -

CONSPIRACY

6

JAF

Re Los Angeles radiogram to Bureau and New York

dated 1/13/65.

on 1/13/65 LA 4448-C-TE furnished the following

information:

On the night of 1/12/65 informant was visiting

with NICK LICATA,

"Under-Boss"

of the Los Angeles

"Brugad"

of La Cosa Nostra.

they

Part of their discussion related to the intensified

investigation by local, and in particular. Federal investigative

agencies into the activities of La Cosa Nostra and its

leaders.

In this connection,

LICATA told informant,

Thing will never be destroyed"

• He expressed confidence ir

the ability of the organization to resist infiltration and

discussed certain reprisals taken against "members"

enemies in past years.

3) Bureau (REGISTERED)

→ Chicago (Encl. 4) REGISTERED

Clevelana inch;

4) (REGISTERED

Dallas (Enc1. 0) REGISTERED

Denver (Encl. 4) (REGISTERED

2

2

"Detroit (Encl. 4) (REGISTERED.

- Kansas City (Encl. 4) (REGISTE

- New YorK (RA 24) (REGSTERED)

- Phoenix (Encl.

4) (REGISTERED,

- Portland' (Encl. 4) (REGISTERED'

2

2

4) REGISTERED

- Pittsburg city EncI: 4) (REGISTERED)

2 - San Diego (Encl. 8)

2

- San Francisco (Enc.10)

(REGISTERED)

- Seattle (Enci. 4) (E

- Los Angeles

NEY/sef

92-6054

BE JAN 18 1965

Approved:

2919

Sent

- M

Per

rat Agent in Charge

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LA 92-1112

LICATA then

told informant that in addition to

the larger better-known

"Brugads"

of the bast and Mid-West.

that the

Now sork arousat in particular littie was inown of

organization"

had smaller

discussed

- about whom

-- located at various places throughout the

country.

As an illustration, LICATAmentioned "our group"

in San Francisco, and "our group"in San Jose, California.

He then identified the "Boss"

of the San Francisco group

JAMES LANZA and the "Boss" of the San Jose group as JOE

as

CERRITO. LICATA also spoke of another such group as

"our

group"

in Texas. He did not elaborate further, but the

inference drawn by informant was that other such small

sroups were located elsewhere, and their existence was not

a matter

of general knowledge

to all "members"

of other

"Brugads"

In connection with the San Francisco and San Jose

groups, informant advised that he had little contact with

these

one

"Brugad" with the atways presumed that they were part of

under one

"Boss"

with the other group operating as a

"Caporegima"

whom informant had thought was JOSEPH CERRITO.

He noted that this might still be the case and LICATA was

actually identifying the-man in charge

"on the spot"

as JOSEPH ADAMO might be referred to as the

"Boss"

of the

San Diego group, although he is actually a "Capo" under the

Los Angeles "Boss"

VICATA then referred again to the "Commissione"

City as its

City ate enthunters the

"organization"and New York

•He pointed out that since the

publicity of the Apalachin Meeting, that such large

meetings no longer occur and leaders of these smaller

the "Conmis fenerally, do not have direct contact with

In this connection, he mentioned that FRANK DESIMONE

"Boss" of the Los Angeles

"Brugad"

Western

"Brugads" before the

"Commissione" on thos smaller

on those

occasions when a Western U.

S. representative was necessary.

After such meeting:, according to LICATA, it was the

responsibility of DESIMONE to relay the instructions of the

"Commissione" to the "Bosses" of other Western "Brugads"

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LA 92-1112

LICATA did not further identify such groups.

He did mention that DESIMONE had numerous

expenses in connectior

le also mentioned that DESIMONE had to oc

at least a half dozen times last year and after

such trips he had to relay instructions to certain other

"Bosses"

• Again, LICATA did not further identify such

contacts except to mertionission lucil had amons other

Contact Texelayed sate

instructions to "the

, on at least one occasion last year (This

may possibly be JOSEPH FRANCIS CIVELLO Of the Dallas,

Texas area, known at least on occasion in the past, to have been

in contact

with the Los Angeles "Brugad"

LICATA then told informant in strict confidence --

requestine informant not to discuss this with any other

"member" of the

-- that DESIMONE had to be in

New York on 1/25/65 to attend a meeting of the

"Commissione"

LICATA did not state that he knew the purpose of

unis neeting, but speculated tost t possibly would relate

to the appointment of a new

for the JOE

by all the other

"Brusad" end, perhared "reconition of this "Brugad"

in La Cosa Nostra. He did

indicate, however, that after this meeting, "Bosses" to

it would again

be necessary for DESIMONE to contact other

relay "Commissione" instructions.

-

the late JACK DRAGNA (deceased in 1950) as

Los Angeles "Brugad"

of La Cosa Nostra.

DESIMONE was an

attendee at the Apalachin Meeting in November, 1957.

For a number of months, DESIMONE has not resided

in the Los Angeles area and his whereabouts are known only to

his very closest associates.

between himself and

"members" of the Los Angeles

of the Los Angeles "Brust"atact

matters

of special urgency only.

the only individual known

to have regular contact with him is "Under-Boss" NICOLO

LICATA.

of DESIMONE to the individual

It iS LIVATA who relainemerinstruction aga orders

LICATA has not confided to other "members"

as to the

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LA 92-1112

whereabouts of DESIMONE or where they meet.

Recent investigation has determined that DESIMONE

is presently residing at 517 Tyron Street, El Cajon,

California.

This home and all utilities are listed

in the

name of an

associate, PETE MONTANA. DESIMONE, has apparently

kept his residence here a well-guarded secret.

This

information has been handled in a most discreet manner

by the San Diego and Los Angeles Offices.

Following is a description of DESIMONE:

Name

Sex

Race

Nationality

Date of birth

Place of birth:

Height

Weight

Hair

Eyes

Marital status

FBI #

Automobile

Occupation

Characteristics

Residence

FRANK DESIMONE

Male

White

American

7/17/09

Fueblo,

Colorado

5'11"

190 pounds

Brown

Brown

Single

770 726 C

1960 White

Cadillac,

coupe De ville

license QXE 608

California

Attorney

Wears thick lensed dark glasses;

reportedly blind or nearly blind

in right eye.

7838 Adoree, Downey, California

-

RECOMMENDATION

Reference is made to information outlined

above indicating that DESIMONE

represents other

"Brugads"

in the Western United States at certain

"Commissione

meetings and that he then relays instructions to other

Reference is also made to certain remarks made

ESTER EIDAD So intorant (upra) inaluating the existence

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